Nicolas Cage headlines a new psychological thriller, The Surfer, and there are varied options for where to watch it. Anticipation for The Surfer can be traced back to early 2024 when the movie made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Lorcan Finnegan (Vivarium) and written by Thomas Martin, the movie was held from release for nearly a year after its festival debut. This allowed the Nicolas Cage-led film to play at various festivals, including SXSW 2025, and earn critical acclaim, with an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, ahead of the general public getting a chance to see it.

The basic premise of The Surfer revolves around a group of surfers tormenting Nicolas Cage’s unnamed surfer as he tries to surf on a beach that’s only meant for locals. What unravels from there is a twisted story and exploration of toxic masculinity. With the movie including another great modern Nicolas Cage performance, it’s undoubtedly something for cinephiles and anyone wanting to watch as many of Cage’s 100+ movies as possible. Mae Abdulbaki’s The Surfer review for Screen Rant called it “an addictive watch”

The Surfer Releases In Theaters On May 2, 2025

It’s A Long-Awaited Debut

Nearly a year after debuting at Cannes, The Surfer finally makes its debut in theaters on May 2, 2025. The Australian production is hitting domestic cinemas through Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate. This will make the R-rated thriller more widely available for audiences. As Cage’s first major release after Longlegs was a box office hit, the positive reviews could help give the actor another theatrical hit.

Find Showtimes For The Surfer

Theatrical showtimes from Friday, May 2, onward can be found via the links below:

• Fandango
• Regal
• AMC Theatres
• Alamo Drafthouse
• Cinemark

When Will The Surfer Release On Streaming?

A Streaming Launch Is Unclear

Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate may have The Surfer‘s domestic distribution rights, but the streaming rights are less clear. The movie originally comes from the Australian subscription service Stan, though. If Lionsgate handles the streaming rights for The Surfer, the timing of the release and where it lands might still need to be worked out. Lionsgate typically sends its films to Starz first after roughly six months. The data projects The Surfer for an October 2025 streaming debut in that case.

When Will The Surfer Release On Digital?

A Quicker Release Should Happen

Studios are more likely to move films to digital if they are not major box office performers, which The Surfer is likely to be. That could mean as short as an 18 day gap between the theatrical and digital release dates. Even if the studios give The Surfer some extra time, it would be a surprise if the Nicolas Cage thriller is not available to buy or rent on PVOD by the end of May. It will certainly happen in June at the latest.