Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Surfing, boarding, and positive lessons for kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Johnny Tsunami
What's the Story?
In JOHNNY TSUNAMI, Johnny Kapahala (Brandon Baker) is a teen whose passion for surfing was cultivated by his legendary wave-riding grandfather, known throughout the islands as Johnny Tsunami (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagama). The younger Johnny's dad (Yuji Okumoto) decides to move the family to Vermont -- which turns out to be Hawaii's polar opposite in more ways than the obvious one. Johnny experiences extreme culture shock among his new group of prep-school peers, and he struggles to find a niche in his new home. With the help of new friend Sam (Lee Thompson Young), Johnny tries out the closest thing Vermont has to a surfboard and discovers that he's just as good at snowboarding as he was at riding the waves. But his new hobby causes quite a stir among his snobby classmates.
Is It Any Good?
The movie's premise is by no means unique: An unexpected life change tests a teen's determination and sense of self when he's forced to find common ground with a new set of peers in an unfamiliar place. But add a dusting of Disney magic to that timeworn scenario and, in Johnny Tsunami, you get an entertaining, heartwarming movie that's practically popping with positive messages for kids.
Brimming over with themes of perseverance, friendship, forgiveness, and finding common ground with people who seem different from you, Johnny Tsunami has lots to offer kids in addition to the action-packed surfing and snowboarding scenes. Johnny's emotional growth will speak volumes to tweens who've experienced similar identity-testing situations. There's so much to love about this movie that parents will likely find themselves drawn in by the same magic that hooks their kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about peer relationships. Kids: Do you think Johnny Tsunami does a good job showing how tweens and teens relate to each other? Have you had any similar experiences? What situations have you been in that compare to Johnny's? How did you handle them? Would you have done anything different if you were in his shoes? If so, what?
What are some of the differences between characters portrayed in the film? Do people make any assumptions about others based on these? What does the movie teach about differences and learning to find common ground?
Johnny demonstrates courage, integrity, and good communication skills. Why are these important character strengths? Can you think of times you've shown these in your life?
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 24, 1999
- Cast : Brandon Baker , Cary-Hiroyuki Tagama , Yuji Okumoto
- Network : Disney Channel
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Integrity
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate