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In Waves

Play trailer Poster for In Waves 2026 1h 31m Animation Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 6 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
In Los Angeles, AJ, a shy teenager, meets Kristen. She lives for surfing; he loves skateboarding and drawing. They fall madly in love, and a happy future seems within reach. But everything changes when Kristen faces a sudden illness. Together, they face adversity, driven by the strength of their love, their friends, and their newly shared passion for surfing and the ocean.

Critics Reviews

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Marya E. Gates IndieWire 2d
C
Features beautiful, emotional animation, but is bogged down by its clichéd story of a man coming of age by falling in love with a dying (surfer) girl. Go to Full Review Steve Pond TheWrap May 13
It’s a work of indie imagination that springs from a graphic novel but also recalls coming-of-age films like “The Fault in Our Stars.” Dungo’s drawings inspired it, but AJ and Kristen’s joy and pain help it connect. Go to Full Review Sheri Linden The Hollywood Reporter May 13
This is a movie that effortlessly marries primal poetry to the quotidian. Its aching heart understands that a full moon of brilliant perfection can illuminate one of the most painful moments of your life. Go to Full Review Liselotte Vanophem Geek Vibes Nation 5d
8/10
In Waves might not be able to escape the clutches of cliches, but because it’s based on a real-life story, we can more easily forgive Nguyen for those flaws. Go to Full Review Nadia Dalimonte Next Best Picture May 13
9/10
From the glowing color palettes and immersive animation to the compelling voice performances, each element of "In Waves" brings a uniquely personal yet universal experience to life with resounding vibrancy. Go to Full Review Stephen Saito Moveable Fest May 13
The beautifully bittersweet love story proves buoyant. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Phuong Mai Nguyen

Director

Stephanie Hsu

Kristen

Will Sharpe

AJ

Fanny Burdino

Screenwriter

Samuel Doux

Screenwriter

Priscilla Bertin

Producer
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In Waves

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Movie Info

Synopsis In Los Angeles, AJ, a shy teenager, meets Kristen. She lives for surfing; he loves skateboarding and drawing. They fall madly in love, and a happy future seems within reach. But everything changes when Kristen faces a sudden illness. Together, they face adversity, driven by the strength of their love, their friends, and their newly shared passion for surfing and the ocean.
Director
Phuong Mai Nguyen
Producer
Priscilla Bertin, Judith Nora, Nick Shumaker
Screenwriter
Fanny Burdino, Samuel Doux
Production Co
Silex Films, Charades Productions, Anonymous Content, France 3 Cinema
Genre
Animation, Drama, Romance
Original Language
French
Runtime
1h 31m