Baywatch

On a sun baked California coastline, veteran lifeguard Mitch Buchannon runs a tight crew with a steady code and years of beach wisdom. A cocky new recruit named Matt Brody arrives, armed with celebrity swagger and a habit of bending the rules. They clash at first, but their skills begin to complement each other as danger surfaces. A string of suspicious activities around the community points to a criminal plot that could threaten the lifeguard program and the people who rely on it. As Mitch guards the bay and Matt learns to work as part of a team, they uncover a scheme that puts everyone at risk and tests their loyalties. Their unlikely alliance becomes the heartbeat of the story.

Directed by Seth Gordon, Baywatch reimagines the TV series for the big screen. It adapts the long running Baywatch property created by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz and Gregory J Bonann, bringing a sun soaked and glossy beach community to life.

Baywatch grossed roughly 178 million worldwide, with domestic receipts around 58 million, against a reported production budget near 69 million. The movie found a broad audience in theaters, especially among fans of the TV series and casual moviegoers and newcomers.

The film leans into Baywatch tropes and big audience friendly stunts, powered by the chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron. It generated some social media buzz and laughs, but it didn’t become a lasting cultural touchstone, instead existing as a glossy summer riff that lightens the heavy action load.

Critics offered mixed to negative takes, praising the cast's energy and the film's willingness to wink at its source while faulting the tone and gag heavy humor. Core themes include mentorship, teamwork, and balancing duty with personal ambition within a sun drenched resort community and a sense of self awareness.