6 Best Boardwalk and Pier Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 21, 2026

Flashing lights, carnival games and salty air make boardwalks a nostalgic setting. Wonder Wheel unravels a troubled Coney Island family, Adventureland sees a graduate stuck in a humiliating summer job at a rundown park, and Big has a boy wishing himself into adulthood at a carnival. The Lost Boys finds vampires among the seaside crowds, and Splash and Coney Island complete the six.

Wonder Wheel (2017)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A troubled Coney Island family's lives unravel amid infidelity, jealousy and long-buried resentment.

Directed by Woody Allen · 1h 41m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Adventureland (2009)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A recent graduate's humiliating summer job at a run-down theme park turns into an unexpected coming-of-age.

Directed by Greg Mottola · 1h 47m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Big (1988)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 98% Metacritic 73

A young boy magically turned into an adult must handle work and love with a child's heart.

Directed by Penny Marshall · 1h 44m · Rated PG

Nominated for 2 Oscars12 wins & 15 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Lost Boys (1987)

IMDb ★ 7.2 RT 75% Metacritic 63

Two brothers move to a California town secretly run by a gang of teenage vampires.

Directed by Joel Schumacher · 1h 37m · Rated R

3 wins & 5 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Splash (1984)

TMDB ★ 6.3

A man falls in love with a mysterious woman, unaware she is secretly a mermaid he once met as a child.

Directed by Ron Howard · 1h 50m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Coney Island (1943)

TMDB ★ 6.3

A nightclub owner's rivalry with his business partner over a talented singer plays out against a bustling amusement park.

Directed by Walter Lang · 1h 36m · Rated NR

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Boardwalk and Pier Movies

Wonder Wheel (2017)

Adventureland (2009)

Big (1988)

The Lost Boys (1987)

Splash (1984)

Coney Island (1943)

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