Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze star in this action thriller directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Rookie FBI agent Johnny Utah (Reeves) is sent undercover to identify and capture a four-man team of bank robbers known as the Ex-Presidents. The FBI suspect them to be surfers and so Johnny infiltrates the local surfing community where he meets Bodhi (Swayze).

As Johnny begins to master surfing, he grows closer to Bodhi and finds himself drawn to his adrenaline-fuelled lifestyle and perspective on life. However, when he begins to suspect that Bodhi and his group of surfers are the Ex-Presidents, he has some difficult decisions to make. The cast also includes Lori Petty and Gary Busey.