Top 5 Most Epic Surfing Movie Characters of All Time

Ask any millennial surfer about Blue Crush, and the response is either love it or hate it. Released in 2002, this flick tells the story of Anne Marie (played by Kate Bosworth) as she trains to take on Pipeline.

Blue Crush was notable for cameos from some of the core surf crew around at that time, including big wave surfers Keala Kennelly, Tom Carroll and Jamie O'Brien.

As for the actual surfing, having Kate Bosworth learn to surf and then paddle out at Pipeline was always going to be a hard no. Not just for Kate—but for any beginner surfer. So the production crew brought in Rochelle Ballard and Noah Johnson, who wore a wig while surfing to look like the Anne Marie character.

The film, directed by John Stockwell, was based on an article written by Susan Orlean in 1998 called "Life's Swell," published in Outside Magazine. It was about a real-life group of young female teenage surfers in Maui.

Fun fact: Blue Crush also starred Michelle Rodriguez, better known for her roles in the Fast and Furious franchise. Michelle's stunt double was world title runner-up, Megan Abudo.

Blue Crush may not be the best surf film ever to hit the silver screen, but Anne Marie has cemented herself as the woman who could, sparking inspiration for surfers all over the world for the past 20-plus years.

Jeff Spicoli : Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

“All I need in this world of sin is some tasty waves and a cool buzz.” That line pretty much sums up Jeff Spicoli, the cool, laid-back surfer portrayed by Sean Penn in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). This was one of those examples where Hollywood flexed its stereotypical best—and in fact, got some of it right.

Jeff is a slacker who puts fun and freedom above all else. He also has a rebellious streak and a nonchalance for the consequences of his actions, which only adds to his lovable character. These attributes combine to make Jeff an iconic surf character. He delivers so many classic one-liners, it's hard to pick the best one. Remember his interview with Stu Nahan? “Well, Stu, I'll tell you. Surfing's not a sport, it's a way of life. It's no hobby. It's a way of looking at that wave and saying, "Hey, bud, let's party!” These sentiments still resonate today. And long may they continue to do so.

Bodhi : Point Break (1991)

In Point Break, Bodhi (Patrick Swayze) is a far more interesting character than his counterpart, Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves). Bodhi takes the stereotype of surfing and warps it into a more extreme ideology, chasing the ultimate high through a life of petty crime.

When Utah is sent undercover to bust the crime/surf gang, he quickly becomes enamored by Bodhi's philosophy of life. In this way, Bodhi becomes one of surfing's most beloved anti-heroes.

Point Break is still relevant today, particularly as an exploration of male camaraderie. Perhaps that's why the movie is so loved. Just as the popular TV series Friends appeals to the masses, Bodhi and Utah's relationship explores the depths of male friendship. It's also fascinating to watch Bodhi pursue happiness via such extreme measures; it makes for an interesting mash-up of living life to the fullest and a metaphor of letting go.

It's a more cerebral film than what first appears on the surface. We'll always be here for that final confrontation between Bodhi and Utah in the face of the 50-year storm.

Lance Burkhart: North Shore (1987)

In North Shore (1987), Laird Hamilton plays the arrogant Lance Burkhart opposite protagonist Rick Kane, played by Matt Adler. Lance represents that aggressive, competitive side of surfing, whereas Rick represents the soulful side.

This is the underdog tale of Rick, a young surfer who grew up surfing a wave pool in Arizona, and then decides to head on over to the North Shore of Oahu to test his mettle. It is here that he meets up with Alex Rogers (Robbie Page) and Occy (Mark Occhilupo). The trio surf together the next morning, and Rick quickly realizes that surfing in the ocean is a lot more difficult than in a pool. Rick then meets Turtle, who introduces him to shaper and soul surfer Chandler—and the pair try to bring the heart back to surfing in contrast to Lance's macho, heat-cheat mentality.

But Laird's portrayal of Lance left its mark, representing the darker side of competitive surfing. He's also wildly believable, perhaps cracking under the sport's pressure to over-perform. It's a multi-layered approach to the character, and in some ways, is one of the more relatable Hollywood personas, especially if you have a competitive mindset.

There's also that scene where Lance is surfing a board Chandler has made for him. Lance paddles in and says the board's nose is too thick and that he wanted a longer board. Chandler dryly replies that he only "makes boards his way." On the one hand, why is Lance surfing a board by a shaper who is known for making boards that way? On the other hand, should a shaper be forced to respond to the whims of a disgruntled customer? And yes, we know it's a narrative plot point to show Lance's lack of soul. But still, boards aren't cheap.

Chicken Joe: Surf's Up (2007)

Has there ever been a better animated portrayal of surfing than the brilliant Chicken Joe, voiced by Jon Heder? This legendary rooster is friends with penguin pal, Cody Maverick, the hero of Surf's Up. Yes, Chicken Joe's character is meant as comic relief, but he embodies the spirit of the laid-back surfer. He truly cares about his friends, and he steals every scene he's in.

Surf's Up follows Cody's journey from Shiverpool, where he was a classic big fish in a little pond. He makes his way to the big leagues, competing against protagonist Tank Evans under the tutelage of soul surfer Big Z. There's a pattern of surf storytelling here.

Chicken Joe is Cody's pal, and he embodies the philosophy of surfing for fun. If you do, everything else will click into place. "You know, sometimes I just let the wave do all the work,” he says about his approach to life and surfing. Directly opposed to "Dude, I have no idea what’s going on,” and isn't that the balance we all crave? He's one of the most enduring characters in surf movies.

Despite its cutesy handling of Hollywood surfing, Surf's Up is a legitimately good surf film—if you want to turn your brain off and just take it all in.