25 of the Best Ocean Movies for Summer Movie Night

We watch a lot of movies in the summer time. When planning family movie nights I like to pick movies that go along with the time of year. Summer is the perfect time to visit the beach, so I have picked a list of some of the best ocean movies to watch this summer!

Best Ocean Movies for Summer Movie Night

Watching movies at home is the perfect family entertainment when you are on a budget. Many of these movies, documentaries and show are available to stream for free or a few dollars, and you can pop your own popcorn right at home.

Let’s take a look at this list of 25 of the best ocean movies for your next summer family movie night.

Family Ocean Movies

1. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) G – Jump aboard the Nautilus in the original film based on Jules Verne novel in this undersea adventure story.

2. Moby Dick (1956) Not Rated – Another classic ocean adventure based on the novel by Herman Melville about Captain Ahab on a quest to find the giant white whale that bit off his leg. This treacherous sea voyage encounters many dangers, including a giant squid!

3. Life of Pi (2012) PG – Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning adaptation of Life of Pi brings the original novel to life on the big screen. It follows Pi Patel, who survives a shipwreck and shares a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger.

4. Soul Surfer (2011) PG – This is the true inspiring story of Bethany Hamilton, a young surfer who loses her arm in a shark attack. It follows her as she faces a hard time with the loss of her arm, but ultimately overcomes her challenges with determination and faith.

5. True Spirit (2023) PG – The true story of a 16 year old Australian girl, the youngest person ever to sail solo, non-stop and completely unassisted around the world. She faces numerous challenges and extreme weather on the ocean to make maritime history.

Animated Films About the Ocean

6. Song of the Sea (2014) PG – An absolutely beautiful animated film of Irish folklore, about a young boy and his mute sister, who discover she is a selkie (a mythological creature). They embark on a magical journey to save mythical beings and reconcile their family’s past.

7. Little Mermaid (1989) G – This is a classic Disney film about the story of Ariel, the Little Mermaid, who dreams of life on land. She makes a deal with Ursula the sea witch, to become human and pursue Prince Eric’s love.

8. Finding Nemo (2003) G – This is one of our favorite Disney movies about a clownfish named Marlin who searches for his son, Nemo. He gets help from a forgetful fish named Dory. The fish characters are hilarious, and it is action packed and heartwarming.

9. Finding Dory (2016) PG – The long-awaited sequel to Finding Nemo follows the forgetful fish Dory as the main character. She embarks on a journey to find her long-lost family, with the help of Nemo and Marlin.

10. Moana (2016) PG – A young Polynesian girl sets sail on a daring adventure to save her island and discover her own identity. Featuring some amazing songs, new characters and the Rock as the hilarious Maui who helps her on her quest.

11. Deep (2017) PG – This movies takes place in the future, when there are no humans on the earth. A playful octopus and his friends embark on a perilous journey to save their underwater city.

Diving Movies

12. The Frogmen (1951) Not Rated – Few know of this 1950s gem, an American war movie about the Navy Underwater Demolition Team called “the frogmen,” during World War II. It follows the new commander’s efforts to earn his men’s respect amidst their daring missions.

13. The Abyss (1989) PG13 – This deep sea movie follows a team sent to the bottom of the ocean after a nuclear submarine sinks and discovers a mystical underwater entity. It is well known for its groundbreaking special effects and realistic portrayal of deep-sea environments. It was a real feat of film production and is considered one of the best underwater movies ever made.

14. Ray: A Life Underwater (2011) Not Rated –  This is a documentary about Ray Ives, an avid scuba diver who spent decades exploring and salvaging underwater treasures like a modern-day pirate. It highlights his passion for diving, the artifacts he’s collected, and his deep connection with the sea.

15. The Big Blue (1988) PG – A great ocean film about the deep rivalry and friendship between two world-renowed free divers, Jacques Mayol and Enzo Molinari. This movie has stunning visuals of under the ocean and shows the competitive spirits and personal struggles as they dive.

Action Adventure Ocean Movies

16. Avatar The Way of Water (2022) PG13 – James Cameron’s sequel to Avatar explores a new breathtaking underwater world on Pandora. Set years after the original film, it follows the Na’vi and humans as they navigate conflict over resources.

17. Titanic (1997) PG13 – This box office hit starts Kate Winslet and Leonardo Dicaprio and is a fictional retelling of a storyline that happened when the Titanic sunk. It is an epic love story, with some nudity that you may want to fast forward through, but is a great account of history when learning about the Titanic with older teens.

18. The Perfect Storm (2000) PG 13 – Based on a true story, a fishing boat captain played by George Clooney and his crew battle a massive storm in the North Atlantic while trying to bring in a lucrative catch.

19. In the Heart of the Sea (2015) PG-13 – Chris Hemsworth stars in this drama based on Moby Dick that tells the story of the sinking of an American whaling ship by a giant white whale.

Ocean Documentaries

20. Chasing Coral (2017) – Follow along with a team of divers, photographers, and scientists as they document the devastating effects of coral bleaching on coral reefs around the world.

21. Mission Blue (2014) – This documentary follows oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle’s mission to raise awareness about the importance of marine conservation and the threats facing our oceans today.

22. A Plastic Ocean (2016) Not Rated – This is a thought-provoking documentary uncovering the widespread impact of plastic pollution in the open ocean. It examines how plastic debris harms marine life and advocates for sustainable solutions to address this global environmental challenge.

23. My Octopus Teacher (2020) Not Rated – A Netflix original documentary about a filmmaker who forges an unusual friendship with an octopus that lives in a South African kelp forest who shares the mysteries of her world with him.

24. Blue Planet Series (2001- 2017) Not Rated – This groundbreaking documentary series by the BBC and Discovery Channel is narrated by David Attenborough. It explores the diverse marine ecosystems and the challenges they face and is a great way of teaching kids about the ocean and marine life.

25. Great Blue Wild (2015-2020) – This documentary series dives into global marine life, from vibrant coral reefs to deep-sea mysteries. It shows the wonders of the ocean and challenges of these ecosystems while teaching about marine scientists and conservation.