The Endless Summer

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The Endless Summer

1966

1h 32m

Documentary

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100%

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23 Reviews

91%

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5,000+ Ratings

Documentary filmmaker Bruce Brown, himself a competition-level surfer, follows surfers Michael Hynson and Robert August on an around-the-world surfing adventure. With Brown's wry, sardonic narration and a twangy, guitar-driven instrumental soundtrack by The Sandals playing over the silent footage, Mike and Rob leave their California home to visit Hawaii, Australia, South Africa and other secluded surfing spots in a search for the surfer's holy grail that Brown dubs "The Perfect Wave."

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William J. Nazzaro

Arizona Republic

08/19/2021

The Endless Summer is a film you will enjoy, even if you have no interest in surfing.

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Ian Buckwalter

NPR

07/25/2014

7/10

Part surfing film, part travelogue, occasionally even anthropological study and wildlife film, ultimately it visually taps into the wanderlust that sends us to far-flung beaches in search of an escape from life that we can't find at home.

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Linda Stasi

New York Post

08/07/2013

Just breathtaking.

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Sarah Cartland

Caution Spoilers

01/19/2019

3.5/5

A laid-back golden haze, a soundtrack of 60s summer tunes. The jokey racism and leering camera now grate; the surfing is still spectacular as two men, genuinely curious about the places they visit, travel the world in search of a perfect wave.

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Thrillist Entertainment Staff

Thrillist

11/28/2018

There's living the dream life, and then there's living the effin' dream.

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Andrea Beach

Common Sense Media

07/25/2017

3/5

Dated but fascinating surfing documentary still charms.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 07/07/2025

Real footage in 1 hour and 32 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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03/06/2022

I can put this movie on loop and watch it all day.

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07/09/2020

I saw this movie as a thirteen year old at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse theater in the early 70's. The movie changed my life! Corporate culture was strong everyone in their cubicle. Endless Summer showed a different lifestyle- Surfing Travel Eating Camping Making new friends Learning about and respecting nature and the weather Happy surfer for 53 years. Teaching surfing for 33 years!

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08/17/2019

The Endless Summer is a very laid back film showing an incredible snippet of the '60s (occasional racism included). I highly recommend watching this gem, which is best enjoyed with some friends and a chilled drink of choice in hand. It starts off very surf focussed but quickly takes you on a fantastic and very humorous journey all around the globe. It's an adventure, that travellers and surfers today can only dream of, visiting untouched lands and beaches that a densely populated today.

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07/13/2018

Literally one of the best movies of all time

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02/02/2017

Do you want to watch 90 minutes of surfing footage with a narrator that is talking like he's showing you his home movies? If so, this is for you! That said, it's a neat time capsule of a lost age and there's some spectacular footage on display, but it is very repetitive.

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Bruce Brown

Director

Bruce Brown

Narrator

Bruce Brown

Writer

Bruce Brown

Producer

John Blakeley

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Gaston Georis

Original Music

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Synopsis

Documentary filmmaker Bruce Brown, himself a competition-level surfer, follows surfers Michael Hynson and Robert August on an around-the-world surfing adventure. With Brown's wry, sardonic narration and a twangy, guitar-driven instrumental soundtrack by The Sandals playing over the silent footage, Mike and Rob leave their California home to visit Hawaii, Australia, South Africa and other secluded surfing spots in a search for the surfer's holy grail that Brown dubs "The Perfect Wave."

Director: Bruce Brown
Producer: Bruce Brown
Screenwriter: Bruce Brown
Distributor: New Line Home Video [us], Image Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Bruce Brown Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 15, 1966, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 23, 2014
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 15, 2015
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: Mono, Stereo