The Surfer has become a streaming hit on Hulu. Directed by Lorcan Finnegan (Vivarium), with a script written by Thomas Martin, the 2024 psychological thriller stars Nicolas Cage as a father who returns to his childhood beach in Australia to surf with his son, yet he is continually thwarted and tormented by a group of locals who don’t want outsiders around.
Other than Nicolas Cage, the cast is made up almost entirely of Australian actors, including Julian McMahon, Nic Cᴀssim, Miranda Tapsell, Alexander Bertrand, Justin Rosniak, Finn Little, Rahel Romahn, Charlotte Maggi, and Nina Young.
Now, a year after its release, The Surfer ranks third on Hulu’s Top 15 movies in the United States for today, September 29, where it has been for the past two days. It ranks below The Man in My Basement, Swiped, and above Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, Desert Dawn, Practical Magic, Would You Rather, and John Wick: Chapter 4.
It also ranks above The Devil Wears Prada, The Other Woman, Night at the Museum, The Proposal, World War Z, Fear Below, and The Amateur.
What The Surfer’s Streaming Success Means For The Movie
The Surfer‘s streaming success is somewhat surprising, since it had been underseen up until this point. The movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024 and garnered acclaim from critics, resulting in an 84% Rotten Tomatoes score, with The Surfer reviews praising Nicolas Cage for skillfully navigating the currents of toxic masculinity in a gritty and sand-choked arena of suffering.
However, before its recent streaming success, The Surfer hadn’t been very popular among audiences. It was eventually released in theaters in May 2025 and made only $2 million at the box office. It divided moviegoers, sporting a 46% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, since the story lacks enough depth to carry most viewers. However, Cage’s performance is captivating and Australia’s striking landscape provides a breathtaking backdrop.
Our Take On The Surfer’s Streaming Success
Cage’s performance in The Surfer is one of his best in years. It’s an intense, committed, and often unhinged portrayal of a man unraveling. The film’s exploration of toxic masculinity and gentrification is also especially compelling, and has the makings of a cult classic. The Surfer features another wonderfully wacky and wild turn from its lead star, providing another entry in the ever-expanding pantheon of crazy Nicolas Cage performances.
