Baywatch is a popular American action-comedy film that was released in 2017, based on the popular television series of the same name that aired from 1989 to 2001. The film follows a team of lifeguards, led by Dwayne Johnson’s character, Mitch Buchannon, who must uncover a criminal plot that threatens the future of their beloved beach.
The primary themes of Baywatch include teamwork, loyalty, and the importance of saving lives. The movie also explores the themes of redemption and personal growth, as some of the characters face personal challenges and must overcome them in order to become better versions of themselves.
People love Baywatch for a variety of reasons. For many, it’s a nostalgic throwback to the original TV series, which had a huge following during its 12-year run. The movie also has a strong ensemble cast, including Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, and Priyanka Chopra, who bring their own unique styles and personalities to the film. Additionally, the movie features lots of action, comedy, and eye candy, which appeals to a wide audience.
Baywatch has become incredibly popular, with fans around the world. The film grossed over $177 million at the box office, making it one of the highest-grossing movies of 2017. Its popularity has also spawned a variety of merchandise, including t-shirts, hats, and swimwear.
Some interesting facts about Baywatch include that it was primarily filmed in Georgia, rather than in California where the original TV series was filmed. Additionally, David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson, two of the original stars of the TV series, make cameo appearances in the movie. The film also features several nods to the original series, including a slow-motion beach running scene and the iconic red swimsuits worn by the lifeguards.
If you enjoyed Baywatch and are looking for similar movies to watch, here are nine options to consider:
- 21 Jump Street (2012) – This action-comedy movie follows two police officers who go undercover as high school students to bring down a drug ring. Like Baywatch, it features plenty of action and humor.
- Magic Mike (2012) – While Baywatch focuses on lifeguards, Magic Mike follows a group of male strippers. It features a mix of drama and comedy, as well as plenty of shirtless scenes.
- The Other Guys (2010) – This action-comedy movie stars Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as two mismatched police officers who must team up to take down a financial criminal. Like Baywatch, it blends action and humor.
- Fast and Furious series (2001-2021) – If you enjoy the high-octane action in Baywatch, the Fast and Furious franchise might be a good fit. The series follows a group of street racers who get involved in increasingly dangerous and thrilling heists.
- Central Intelligence (2016) – Dwayne Johnson stars in this action-comedy movie as a former overweight high school student who becomes a CIA agent. Kevin Hart co-stars as his unlikely partner.
- Bad Boys (1995) – This action-comedy movie stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as two Miami police detectives who must take down a drug lord. It’s known for its humor and high-energy action scenes.
- Point Break (1991) – This classic action movie follows an FBI agent who goes undercover to infiltrate a gang of surfers who are also bank robbers. Like Baywatch, it features plenty of adrenaline-fueled action scenes.
- Lethal Weapon (1987) – This action-comedy movie stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as two police detectives who must work together to stop a drug cartel. It’s known for its humor, action, and the chemistry between the two leads.
- Baywatch Nights (1995-1997) – If you’re a die-hard Baywatch fan, you might want to check out this spin-off TV series. It features many of the same characters and takes a more serious tone, with the lifeguards investigating paranormal and supernatural cases at night.
1. 21 Jump Street (2012)
21 Jump Street is an action-comedy movie that follows the story of two police officers, Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum), who go undercover as high school students to bust a drug ring. However, things don’t go as planned when they find out that high school has changed since they were last there. The movie is a modern-day remake of the popular 1980s television series of the same name.
Similar to Baywatch, 21 Jump Street is a comedy-action movie that blends humor and high-octane action sequences. Both movies feature an odd-couple pairing of two unlikely heroes who team up to take down a common enemy. In Baywatch, it’s the lifeguards against a drug lord, while in 21 Jump Street, it’s the two police officers against a drug ring.
The humor in 21 Jump Street is more raunchy and adult-oriented than in Baywatch, with plenty of crude jokes and physical comedy. However, both movies share a similar tone of irreverent humor that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Overall, 21 Jump Street is a fun and entertaining movie that delivers plenty of laughs and action. It’s a good choice for fans of Baywatch who are looking for a similar blend of humor and action.
2. Magic Mike (2012)
Magic Mike is a drama-comedy movie that follows the story of Mike (Channing Tatum), a male stripper who takes a young dancer, Adam (Alex Pettyfer), under his wing and teaches him the ropes of the business. The movie explores the themes of friendship, ambition, and self-discovery, as both men grapple with their own personal issues.
While Magic Mike is more of a drama than an action-comedy like Baywatch, it shares some similarities with the movie. Both films feature a group of attractive and charismatic men in skimpy clothing, which provides plenty of eye candy for the audience. Additionally, both movies explore themes of friendship and loyalty among a tight-knit group of individuals who share a common goal.
However, Magic Mike is a more serious and introspective movie than Baywatch. It delves deeper into the personal struggles of its characters, including Mike’s desire to leave the stripping world behind and start his own business. While it’s not as light-hearted as Baywatch, it’s still an entertaining and engaging movie that showcases Channing Tatum’s talents as a dancer and actor.
3. The Other Guys (2010)
The Other Guys is an action-comedy movie that follows the story of two mismatched police officers, Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg), who must team up to solve a financial crime. The movie is known for its humor, which is often absurd and over-the-top.
Similar to Baywatch, The Other Guys features a comedic pairing of two unlikely heroes who must overcome their differences to work together. Both movies also feature plenty of action sequences, although the tone of the action is different. In Baywatch, the action is more physical and focused on water rescues, while in The Other Guys, it’s more explosive and gun-focused.
The humor in The Other Guys is more slapstick and absurd than in Baywatch, with plenty of physical gags and silly one-liners. However, both movies share a similar irreverent tone that pokes fun at the conventions of the action genre.
Overall, The Other Guys is a hilarious and entertaining movie that showcases the comedic talents of Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. It’s a good choice for fans of Baywatch who are looking for a similar blend of action and humor, with a more exaggerated and absurd tone.
4. Fast and Furious series (2001-2021)
The Fast and Furious series is a long-running franchise of action movies that follow the adventures of a group of street racers turned international spies. The movies are known for their high-octane action sequences, flashy cars, and over-the-top stunts. The series has evolved over time, with later entries incorporating more complex storylines and a wider range of characters.
Like Baywatch, the Fast and Furious series is an action-packed franchise that delivers plenty of thrills and excitement. Both movies feature a group of charismatic and attractive heroes who must work together to take down a common enemy. Additionally, both franchises have a strong emphasis on teamwork, with each character bringing their own unique skills and strengths to the table.
However, the Fast and Furious series is more focused on car chases and explosions than Baywatch. The movies feature a wide variety of high-performance vehicles, which are used in elaborate and often dangerous stunts. Additionally, the action in the Fast and Furious movies is more global in scope, with the heroes traveling to different parts of the world to take on their enemies.
Overall, the Fast and Furious series is a thrilling and entertaining franchise that has become a pop culture phenomenon. It’s a good choice for fans of Baywatch who are looking for a similar blend of action and camaraderie.
5. Central Intelligence (2016)
Central Intelligence is an action-comedy movie that follows the story of Calvin (Kevin Hart), a mild-mannered accountant who gets caught up in a dangerous CIA mission with his high school friend, Bob (Dwayne Johnson). The movie is known for its humor, which is often based on the contrast between Calvin’s nervousness and Bob’s confidence.
Like Baywatch, Central Intelligence is an action-comedy movie that blends humor and high-stakes action sequences. Both movies feature an odd-couple pairing of two unlikely heroes who must work together to overcome a common enemy. Additionally, both movies have a strong emphasis on the chemistry between their lead actors, with plenty of banter and comedic moments between the characters.
However, Central Intelligence is a more light-hearted and family-friendly movie than Baywatch. The humor in the movie is often silly and slapstick, with plenty of physical gags and one-liners. Additionally, the action in Central Intelligence is more grounded than in Baywatch, with fewer elaborate stunts and more emphasis on hand-to-hand combat.
Overall, Central Intelligence is a fun and entertaining movie that showcases the comedic talents of Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson. It’s a good choice for fans of Baywatch who are looking for a similar blend of humor and action, with a more family-friendly tone.
6. Bad Boys (1995)
Bad Boys is an action-comedy movie that follows the story of two Miami police detectives, Mike (Will Smith) and Marcus (Martin Lawrence), who must solve a drug case while dealing with their own personal issues. The movie is known for its humor, which is often based on the contrast between Mike’s coolness and Marcus’s nervousness.
Like Baywatch, Bad Boys is an action-comedy movie that blends humor and high-stakes action sequences. Both movies feature a pairing of two charismatic and attractive heroes who must work together to overcome a common enemy. Additionally, both movies have a strong emphasis on the chemistry between their lead actors, with plenty of banter and comedic moments between the characters.
However, Bad Boys is a more gritty and realistic movie than Baywatch. The action in the movie is more violent and intense, with plenty of gunfights and car chases. Additionally, the humor in Bad Boys is more adult-oriented than in Baywatch, with plenty of foul language and crude jokes.
Overall, Bad Boys is an entertaining and action-packed movie that showcases the charisma of its lead actors, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. It’s a good choice for fans of Baywatch who are looking for a similar blend of humor and action, but with a more mature and gritty tone.
One of the key similarities between Bad Boys and Baywatch is their use of buddy cop tropes, with two charismatic leads working together to solve a crime. However, while Baywatch focuses more on physical humor and comedic banter, Bad Boys relies more heavily on gunfights and car chases to drive the action.
Additionally, both franchises have become known for their over-the-top sequels, with Bad Boys spawning two more entries and the Fast and Furious series continuing to deliver increasingly wild and extravagant stunts.
In conclusion, the Fast and Furious series, Central Intelligence, and Bad Boys all share similarities with Baywatch in terms of their blend of action and humor, charismatic lead actors, and emphasis on teamwork. However, each franchise also has its own unique style and tone that sets it apart. Fans of Baywatch are likely to enjoy these movies for their similar themes and high-energy entertainment value.
7. Point Break (1991)
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, Point Break is a classic action film that tells the story of a young FBI agent, Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves), who goes undercover to infiltrate a group of extreme sports-loving bank robbers led by the charismatic Bodhi (Patrick Swayze). As Utah becomes more and more involved with the gang, he begins to question his loyalties and his commitment to the law.
Like Baywatch, Point Break features a blend of action and drama, with a strong emphasis on the camaraderie between the characters. Both films also highlight the thrill-seeking nature of their main characters, with Johnny Utah and Bodhi seeking the ultimate rush through surfing and bank robbery, respectively. Point Break is a classic action film that has stood the test of time and is definitely worth checking out for fans of Baywatch.
8. Lethal Weapon (1987)
Directed by Richard Donner, Lethal Weapon is a classic buddy cop film that stars Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs, a suicidal and unpredictable police officer, and Danny Glover as Roger Murtaugh, a seasoned veteran nearing retirement. Together, they investigate a drug trafficking operation while dealing with personal and professional challenges along the way.
Like Baywatch, Lethal Weapon relies heavily on the chemistry between its lead actors and the humor that arises from their banter and differences in personality. Both films also feature action-packed sequences, with Lethal Weapon being known for its intense car chases and shootouts. Lethal Weapon is a quintessential 80s action film that has spawned several sequels and is definitely worth a watch for fans of Baywatch.
9. Baywatch Nights (1995-1997)
Baywatch Nights is a spin-off series from the original Baywatch show that aired from 1989 to 1999. The series follows Mitch Buchannon (David Hasselhoff) and his team of private investigators as they solve crimes and protect the residents of Los Angeles.
Like Baywatch, Baywatch Nights features a mix of action and drama, with a focus on the relationships between the characters. While the original Baywatch series focused on lifeguards and beach-related incidents, Baywatch Nights takes a more serious tone and tackles more complex and darker storylines. Despite not being as popular as the original series, Baywatch Nights is worth a watch for fans of Baywatch who want to see a different side of the characters they love.
Here’s a table with the IMDb ratings and Rotten Tomato scores for the movies we’ve discussed:
| Movie Title | IMDb Rating | Rotten Tomatoes |
| Baywatch | 5.5 | 17% (Tomatometer) |
| 21 Jump Street | 7.2 | 85% (Tomatometer) |
| Magic Mike | 6.1 | 80% (Tomatometer) |
| The Other Guys | 6.6 | 78% (Tomatometer) |
| Fast and Furious Series | Varies | Varies |
| Central Intelligence | 6.3 | 69% (Tomatometer) |
| Bad Boys | 6.9 | 43% (Tomatometer) |
| Point Break | 7.3 | 69% (Tomatometer) |
| Lethal Weapon | 7.6 | 82% (Tomatometer) |
| Baywatch Nights | 4.2 | N/A |
Note: The Fast and Furious series varies in rating and score depending on the specific film in the series.