Best Beach Movies

From Directors: Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich, starring Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe
Rated G

Finding Nemo is a 2003 American computer-animated adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The story follows the journey of a clownfish named Marlin, who along with a regal blue tang named Dory, searches for his abducted son Nemo, all the while in danger from predators such as sharks and anglerfish. Along the way, Marlin and Dory meet a host of colorful characters and face life-threatening challenges as they try to reunite father and son. With the help of his friends, Marlin ultimately succeeds in his quest, finding Nemo and learning to take risks and believe in himself. The film was both a critical and financial success, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time and inspiring the sequel Finding Dory (2016).

From Steven Spielberg, starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary
Rated PG

Jaws is a 1975 classic thriller directed by Steven Spielberg, based on Peter Benchley's best selling novel. The film follows a small community on the fictional island of Amity off the coast of Long Island, New York that is terrorized by a great white shark. Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) is the police chief of Amity who is convinced a killer shark is terrorizing his island. With the help of a scientist, Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), and a local shark hunter, Quint (Robert Shaw), Brody dreads the worst as the trio set out to hunt the creature. With its intense suspense and heart-pounding soundtrack, Jaws is a classic thriller that has inspired many films to come.

From Gore Verbinski, starring Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
Rated PG-13

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is an action adventure movie directed by Gore Verbinski and released in 2003. It stars Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow, a captain of the Black Pearl, a notorious pirate ship. The film follows Sparrow as he teams up with Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann, two young lovers, to rescue Elizabeth’s father and break an ancient curse that has been placed on the ship. Along the way, they must battle against a cruel villain, Captain Barbossa, and his crew of zombie pirates. Sparrow and his allies will have to use all of their wits and courage to succeed in their mission and break the curse.

From Rob Reiner, starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell
Rated R

Stand By Me is a 1986 coming-of-age drama film directed by Rob Reiner, based on the novella "The Body" by Stephen King. The film follows four boys: Gordie Lachance, Chris Chambers, Teddy Duchamp, and Vern Tessio, as they set out on a two-day journey to find the body of a missing boy. Along the way, they confront their fears, confront the adults in their life, overcome their differences, and learn the importance of friendship. As they battle the elements and themselves, they come to understand the fragility of life and the power of friendship. At the end of their journey, the boys have become men, with a new understanding of themselves, each other, and the world they live in.

From David Mickey Evans, starring Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Art LaFleur, Patrick Renna
Rated PG

The Sandlot is a coming-of-age story set in the summer of 1962 in the suburban San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. A new kid in the neighborhood, Scotty Smalls, soon meets a group of boys who call themselves "The Sandlot" and spend their days playing baseball at the local sandlot. With the help of the boys, Scotty learns to play ball and soon becomes part of the team. Along the way, they have plenty of adventures, including finding a legendary ball signed by Babe Ruth that's been lost in a mysterious back yard. The boys must then team up to figure out how to reclaim the ball from a menacing dog known as "The Beast" that guards the yard. Ultimately, the boys must come together to save the Sandlot from being destroyed by the owner of the land.

From Marc Webb, starring Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Geoffrey Arend, Chloë Grace Moretz
Rated PG-13

500 Days of Summer is a romantic comedy-drama directed by Marc Webb and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. It follows the tale of Tom Hansen, an architect, and Summer Finn, a free-spirited receptionist, and their on-again, off-again relationship. Tom falls head over heels for Summer, who is not looking for anything serious, and tries to make their relationship work despite the odds. Throughout their journey, Tom is forced to reassess his expectations and learn to accept life as it is. The movie examines the complexities of modern relationships, the power of perspective, and the importance of living in the present.

From Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker, Don Hall, Chris Williams, starring Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison
Rated PG

Moana is a 2016 Disney animated feature film directed by Ron Clements, John Musker, Don Hall, and Chris Williams. It follows the story of Moana (Auli'i Cravalho), the daughter of a Polynesian chief, who sets sail in search of a fabled island and is joined by the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson). Along the way, she meets a variety of creatures, and with the help of Maui and her grandmother's spirit, she discovers the truth about her heritage and her connection to the ocean. With the help of her newfound knowledge, she is able to save her people from a terrible darkness. The movie is filled with adventure, fun, music, and a powerful message about the importance of staying true to oneself.

From Luc Besson, starring Jean-Marc Barr, Jean Reno, Rosanna Arquette, Paul Shenar
Rated PG

The Big Blue is a 1988 French romantic adventure film directed by Luc Besson, starring Jean-Marc Barr, Jean Reno, and Rosanna Arquette. The film follows two professional freedivers, Jacques Mayol (Barr) and Enzo Molinari (Reno), as they compete to reach depths that no one else has ever reached before. Along the way, they develop a deep bond of friendship and love. The film examines themes of friendship, loyalty, and competition. It also looks at the relationship between humans and the natural world, as the two men strive to push the limits of their physical abilities in the depths of the open ocean. The beautiful underwater photography and a dreamy synthpop soundtrack provide an immersive, magical atmosphere for the story.

From J.A. Bayona, starring Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Oaklee Pendergast
Rated PG-13

The Impossible is a 2012 Spanish-American disaster drama film directed by J.A. Bayona, starring Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor and based on the experience of María Belón and her family in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. It tells the story of a family caught in the midst of the devastating natural disaster, and their struggles to survive and reunite in its aftermath. The film follows the family as they are swept away by the massive wave and struggle to stay alive in its aftermath. Along the way, they must battle injuries, hunger, and the crushing force of the ocean, all while trying to find their way back to each other. Through their incredible strength, courage, and determination, they eventually find hope in the unlikeliest of places.

From Directors: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, starring Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb
Rated PG-13

From Anthony Minghella, starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett
Rated R

From Jacques Audiard, starring Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts, Armand Verdure, Céline Sallette
Rated R

From Gore Verbinski, starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jack Davenport
Rated PG-13

From Directors: Andrew Stanton, Angus MacLane, starring Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O'Neill, Kaitlin Olson
Rated PG

From Directors: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders, starring Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, Tia Carrere, David Ogden Stiers
Rated PG

From Harold Ramis, starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Imogene Coca, Randy Quaid
Rated R

From Robert Mulligan, starring Sam Waterston, Tess Harper, Gail Strickland, Reese Witherspoon
Rated PG-13

From Nicholas Stoller, starring Kristen Bell, Jason Segel, Paul Rudd, Mila Kunis
Rated R

From Gore Verbinski, starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Geoffrey Rush
Rated PG-13

From Directors: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly, starring Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Lee Evans
Rated R

From Jacques Deray, starring Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, Maurice Ronet, Jane Birkin
Rated GP

From Emile Ardolino, starring Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach, Cynthia Rhodes
Rated PG-13

From Jay Russell, starring Frankie Muniz, Kevin Bacon, Diane Lane, Luke Wilson
Rated PG

From Rawson Marshall Thurber, starring Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, Ed Helms
Rated R

From Adrian Grunberg, starring Mel Gibson, Kevin Balmore, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Jesús Ochoa
Rated R