How does one go about investigating a group of armed robbers who might also be surfers? Rookie FBI agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) is sent to go undercover on the beaches of Los Angeles. As he gathers intel on local surfer bros, the wide-eyed Utah befriends the charismatic Bodhi (Patrick Swayze), a free-spirited wave rider. He suspects Bodhi and his gang might just be the criminals he is looking for, but he is inexplicably drawn to Bodhi and his way of life.

Reeves made his mark in the action genre as Utah after his well-received comedic turn as Ted in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Though his acting style would become a subject of derision for a good part of his career after Point Break, his deadpan yet earnest delivery is central to his character and would eventually be embraced by fans of The Matrix and the John Wick series. Director Kathryn Bigelow harnesses the electrifying on-screen chemistry between Reeves and Swayze to great effect, making Point Break an action bromance of the highest calibre. The film’s popularity and influence continued to grow following its initial release, earning cult status among action film fans.

Kathryn Bigelow (b. 1951, United States) is a film director, producer, and screenwriter. She earned her master’s degree in film from Columbia University. Her debut feature, The Loveless (1981), starred Willem Dafoe in his first leading role. In Point Break (1991), Bigelow directed two of the most iconic male actors—Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze—of the 1990s. Her unrivalled ability to depict masculinity eventually brought her mainstream recognition with The Hurt Locker (2008), which led her to become the first woman to win Best Director at the Academy Awards.