What's the Greatest Hawaii Movie of All Time?

Ranker Film
Updated August 11, 2023 1.0K votes 252 voters
Over 200 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of What's the Greatest Hawaii Movie of All Time?
Voting Rules
Movies must be set in Hawaii, as opposed to simply filmed in Hawaii. Vote up the best movies with Hawaii as a focal point.

With beautiful landscapes, big waves, and an often easy-going vibe, it's no wonder why movies set in Hawaii make the state look so appealing. Sure, not every Hawaii movie boasts a perfect setting or happy tone, but some of the greatest movies based in Hawaii are certainly more light-hearted. Regardless, some great movies have been based in the Aloha State (as opposed to filmed in Hawaii) and you can find the best of them right here. 

When it comes to the best Hawaii movies, Adam Sandler might come to mind for many, as he's done three big-time movies set here, including Punch-Drunk-Love, 50 First Dates, and Just Go With It—he must really love those Hawaiian beaches. Keeping with the comic side of things, Forgetting Sarah Marshall with Jason Segel has got to be a top Hawaii movie, complete with drama, romance, and humor. Of course, you also have some with more serious tones, like the war film Pearl Harbor, as well as hit drama The Descendants. But who could forget the classic Disney flick, Johnny Tsunami? Simply put, there are some great Hawaii movies out there—what's your favorite?

Check out the list of movies set in Hawaii below and vote up the best ones, whether they depict the vacation hot spot it is or the darker side of the Aloha State.

Most divisive: Pearl Harbor
Ranked by
  • 50 First Dates
    1

    50 First Dates

    Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Rob Schneider
    119 votes
    • Released: 2004
    • Directed by: Peter Segal
    In the romantic comedy 50 First Dates, marine veterinarian Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) lives an uncommitted life in Hawaii until he meets Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore). Tragically, Lucy suffers from short-term memory loss, unable to remember anything from the day before. Undeterred, Henry, smitten and determined, has to win her heart anew each day. Directed by Peter Segal with a supporting cast including Rob Schneider and Sean Astin, this film is a humorous yet touching exploration of love's persistence against adversity. Despite its comedic tones, it subtly sheds light on the challenges of living with a cognitive disorder.

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  • Forgetting Sarah Marshall
    2

    Forgetting Sarah Marshall

    Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis
    106 votes
    • Released: 2008
    • Directed by: Nicholas Stoller
    In the comedic romp Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) is a down-on-his-luck musician struggling to move on from his television star ex-girlfriend, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). In an attempt to heal, he takes an impromptu trip to Hawaii, only to find himself at the same resort as Sarah and her new rockstar boyfriend, Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). Amidst the tropical backdrop, hilarity ensues as Peter navigates heartbreak, unexpected friendships with hotel staff like Rachel Jansen (Mila Kunis), and the complexities of love.

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  • From Here to Eternity
    3

    From Here to Eternity

    Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr
    50 votes
    • Released: 1953
    • Directed by: Fred Zinnemann
    At an Army barracks in Hawaii in the days preceding the attack on Pearl Harbor, lone-wolf soldier and boxing champion "Prew" Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) refuses to box, preferring to play the bugle instead. Hard-hearted Capt. Holmes (Philip Ober) subjects Prew to a grueling series of punishments while, unknown to Holmes, the gruff but fair Sgt. Warden (Burt Lancaster) engages in a clandestine affair with the captain's mistreated wife (Deborah Kerr).

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  • The Descendants
    4

    The Descendants

    George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller
    79 votes
    • Released: 2011
    • Directed by: Alexander Payne
    Native islander Matt King (George Clooney) lives with his family in Hawaii. Their world shatters when a tragic accident leaves his wife in a coma. Not only must Matt struggle with the stipulation in his wife's will that she be allowed to die with dignity, but he also faces pressure from relatives to sell their family's enormous land trust. Angry and terrified at the same time, Matt tries to be a good father to his young daughters, as they too try to cope with their mother's possible death.

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  • Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
    5

    Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates

    Zac Efron, Adam DeVine, Anna Kendrick
    25 votes
    • Released: 2016
    • Directed by: Jake Szymanski
    Mike and Dave Stangle are young, adventurous, fun-loving brothers who tend to get out of control at family gatherings. When their sister Jeanie reveals her Hawaiian wedding plans, the rest of the clan insists that they both bring respectable dates. After placing an ad on Craigslist, the siblings decide to pick Tatiana and Alice, two charming and seemingly normal women. Once they arrive on the island, however, Mike and Dave realize that their companions are ready to get wild and party hard.

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  • Just Go With It
    6

    Just Go With It

    Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman
    71 votes
    • Released: 2011
    • Directed by: Dennis Dugan
    In Just Go With It, a romantic comedy, we dive into the tangled life of plastic surgeon Danny Maccabee (Adam Sandler). To avoid commitment, he pretends to be stuck in an unhappy marriage. His ploy works until he meets Palmer (Brooklyn Decker), who demands proof of his impending divorce. In a bid for escape, Katherine (Jennifer Aniston), Danny's loyal assistant, is roped into a fabricated tale of marital discord. As the lies pile up and they all end up on a Hawaiian vacation together, hilarity ensues. A web of deception, humor, and unexpected affection spins out in this engaging narrative.

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