The coast may seem like a serene destination, but some of the most exciting movies of all time take place near the water. The top seaside movies feature stories about friendship, romantic relationships, and coping with life on the waterfront. This is a list of the top movies set in seaside towns featuring everything from Dan in Real Life to Moonrise Kingdom to Mermaids.
What movies will you find on this list of the top coastal films? Many movie fans would vote Jaws straight to the top. Set in the fictional New England town of Amity Island, this Steven Spielberg classic had movie-goers scared to even dip their toes in the water. Even its setting was authentic: much of Jaws was filmed on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. Dolores Claiborne is another good film set in a coastal region. The coast proved to be the perfect setting for the coming-of-age story of the ladies of Mystic Pizza. Other good movies featured on this best coastal films list include About Time, Message in a Bottle, and The Ghost Writer.
Which movie set on the coast do you think is the best? Give your favorites a thumbs up and add any great coastal flicks that are missing.
1
216Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Kate Winslet, Kirsten DunstReleased: 2004
Directed by: Michel Gondry
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 American romantic science-fiction comedy-drama... more2
2211Jaws
Steven Spielberg, Richard DreyfussReleased: 1975
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Jaws is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter... more3
143The Perfect Storm
George Clooney, Mark WahlbergReleased: 2000
Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
The Perfect Storm is a 2000 American biographical disaster drama film directed by Wolfgang... more4
167Mystic Pizza
Julia Roberts, Matt DamonReleased: 1988
Directed by: Donald Petrie
Mystic Pizza is a 1988 American coming-of-age film directed by Donald Petrie. It stars... more5
1912Shutter Island
Leonardo DiCaprio, Michelle WilliamsReleased: 2010
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Shutter Island is a 2010 American psychological thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese. The... more6
125Dolores Claiborne
7
149Message in a Bottle
Hayden Panettiere, Kevin CostnerReleased: 1999
Directed by: Luis Mandoki
Message in a Bottle is a 1999 American romantic drama film directed by Luis Mandoki. Based on... more8
60The Lighthouse
Willem Dafoe, Robert PattinsonReleased: 2019
Directed by: Robert Eggers
The Lighthouse is a 2019 black-and-white psychological horror film directed by Robert Eggers.... more9
62Evil Under the Sun
Maggie Smith, Diana RiggReleased: 1982
Directed by: Guy Hamilton
Evil Under the Sun is a 1982 British mystery film based on the 1941 novel of the same name by... more10
119The Way, Way Back
Steve Carell, Amanda PeetReleased: 2013
Directed by: Jim Rash, Nat Faxon
The Way, Way Back is a 2013 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Nat Faxon and... more11
96Mermaids
Cher, Christina RicciReleased: 1990
Directed by: Richard Benjamin
Mermaids is a 1990 American comedy-drama film directed by Richard Benjamin and starring Cher,... more12
75The Cider House Rules
Charlize Theron, Michael CaineReleased: 1999
Directed by: Lasse Hallström
The Cider House Rules is a 1999 American drama film directed by Lasse Hallström, based on John... more13
74One Crazy Summer
Demi Moore, John CusackReleased: 1986
Directed by: Savage Steve Holland
One Crazy Summer is a 1986 romantic comedy film written and directed by Savage Steve Holland,... more14
99About Time
Rachel McAdams, Margot RobbieReleased: 2013
Directed by: Richard Curtis
About Time is a 2013 British romantic comedy-drama film directed by Richard Curtis. A young... more15
1317Cape Fear
Robert De Niro, Nick NolteReleased: 1991
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Cape Fear is a 1991 American psychological thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and a... more16
50Blow the Man Down
Morgan Saylor, Sophie LoweReleased: 2020
Directed by: Bridget Savage Cole, Danielle Krudy
Blow The Man Down is a 2020 American dark comedy directed by Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle... more17
1114Dan in Real Life
Emily Blunt, Steve CarellReleased: 2007
Directed by: Peter Hedges
Dan in Real Life is a 2007 American comedy-drama film directed by Peter Hedges, starring Steve... more18
1114The Truman Show
Jim Carrey, Paul GiamattiReleased: 1998
Directed by: Peter Weir
The Truman Show is a 1998 American satirical social science fiction comedy-drama film directed... more19
79The Good Son
Macaulay Culkin, Elijah WoodReleased: 1993
Directed by: Joseph Ruben
The Good Son is a 1993 American psychological thriller film directed by Joseph Ruben and... more20
1114Moonrise Kingdom
Bruce Willis, Bill MurrayReleased: 2012
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Moonrise Kingdom is a 2012 American film directed by Wes Anderson, written by Anderson and... more21
711It
Tim Curry, Seth GreenReleased: 1990
Directed by: Tommy Lee Wallace
It is a 1990 psychological horror/drama miniseries based on Stephen King's novel of the same... more22
57The Weight of Water
Elizabeth Hurley, Sean PennReleased: 2000
Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow
The Weight of Water is a 2000 French-American mystery thriller film based on Anita Shreve's... more23
711Sabrina
Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey BogartReleased: 1954
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Sabrina is a 1954 American romantic comedy film directed by Billy Wilder, adapted for the... more24
59Muriel's Wedding
Toni Collette, Rachel GriffithsReleased: 1994
Directed by: P. J. Hogan
Muriel's Wedding is a 1994 Australian comedy-drama film written and directed by P. J. Hogan.... more25
612State and Main
Sarah Jessica Parker, Alec BaldwinReleased: 2000
Directed by: David Mamet
State and Main is a 2000 comedy film, written and directed by David Mamet and starring Philip... more
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25