In Waves
Seen it?2026 | 91 min | Animation, Romance, Drama
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (66 on Metacritic), though it had almost no lasting buzz and a box office loss. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for romantics and animation lovers. If you loved An Officer and a Gentleman or Heartstopper Forever, start here.
- The mood
- Emotional (bring tissues), warm and romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 31 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
In Los Angeles, shy teenager AJ meets Kristen, who lives for surfing; he loves skateboarding and drawing. They fall madly in love, and a happy future seems within reach. But everything changes when Kristen faces a sudden illness. Together, they face adversity, driven by the strength of their love, their friends, and their newly shared passion for surfing and the ocean.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
66 on Metacritic
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
Award season hasn't happened yet, so this isn't counted.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$1 million worldwide on a $7 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 27K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Phuong Mai Nguyen
- Rio VegaAJ (voice)
- Lyna KhoudriKristen (voice)
- Paul KircherEon (voice)
- Birane BaFrancisco (voice)
- Gauthier BattoueJeff (voice)
- Taiana TullyLa princesse hawaienne (voice)
- Amélia EwuL'infirmière / L'amie de Kristen (voice)
- Céline RontéLa prof de dessin (voice)
- Clara SoaresYvette (voice)