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Riding Giants

Play trailer Poster for Riding Giants PG-13,  2004,  1h 42m,  Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 92% 90 Reviews Tomatometer 94% 5,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
92% Tomatometer 90 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Part sports history, part thrill ride, skateboarder Stacy Peralta's documentary pays homage to the brave, foolish surfers who dare ride the world's biggest waves. Peralta lays out the evolution of big-wave surfing from the '50s to today, touching upon changing trends and the constant search for ever larger waves. Then he shifts his focus to a handful of contemporary surfing superstars, among them Jeff Clark, pioneer of San Francisco's remote waves, and Laird Hamilton, known for tow-in riding.
Riding Giants

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A great addition to the existing surfing documentaries.

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Critics Reviews

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Bill Stamets Chicago Reader Aug 5, 2008
This is vicarious cinema at its best. Go to Full Review
Adam Smith Empire Magazine Apr 1, 2006
4/5
Easily bearing comparison with Bruce Brown's seminal The Endless Summer, this stands as the second-best surf documentary ever made. Go to Full Review
Stella Papamichael BBC.com Nov 30, 2004
3/5
Like an adrenaline rush, Riding Giants is fun for a while but it ends on a comedown. Go to Full Review
Paul Dale The List Apr 22, 2019
4/5
It's a treacherous, vivid and compelling ride, and Peralta is in his element assembling and seamlessly integrating old footage with new. Go to Full Review
Beth Pratt Common Sense Media Jan 1, 2011
4/5
Lively look at big wave surfing. Go to Full Review
Jay Antani Cinema Writer Aug 17, 2010
3.5/4
Just short of dropping you into the ocean with a surfboard, Riding Giants serves as the definitive (and immersive) guide to the essence of all that is surfing." Go to Full Review
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Riding Giants

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Stacy Peralta

Director

Darrick Doerner

Self

Laird Hamilton

Self

Dave Kalama

Self

Brian L. Keaulana

Self

Titus Kinimaka

Self

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Riding Giants

Riding Giants (2004) Riding Giants (2004) Riding Giants (2004) Riding Giants (2004) A scene from the film "Riding Giants." A scene from the film "Riding Giants." A scene from the film "Riding Giants." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Part sports history, part thrill ride, skateboarder Stacy Peralta's documentary pays homage to the brave, foolish surfers who dare ride the world's biggest waves. Peralta lays out the evolution of big-wave surfing from the '50s to today, touching upon changing trends and the constant search for ever larger waves. Then he shifts his focus to a handful of contemporary surfing superstars, among them Jeff Clark, pioneer of San Francisco's remote waves, and Laird Hamilton, known for tow-in riding.
Director
Stacy Peralta
Producer
Agi Orsi, Stacy Peralta, Jane Kachmer
Screenwriter
Stacy Peralta, Sam George
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Canal+
Rating
PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 9, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 9, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.3M
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital
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