When it comes to Hollywood films, fishing movies are quite rare. Despite the popularity of this pastime, there simply aren’t too many films about fishing.

Additionally, many of the fishing movies that do get released simply aren’t that good. As a result, finding a quality film can be tough in this genre. But, this article can help. Below you’ll find our top five recommendations.

1. A River Runs Through It

This is a movie about fly-fishing and growing up into an adult. It’s a powerful film that won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography, and was nominated for numerous other awards.

A River Runs Through It follows two young brothers, Norman and Paul, as they grow up in rural Montana. Fishing plays a pivotal role in this film, with the two brothers spending much of their time casting for trout on the Blackfoot River.

As the boys get older, their lifestyles begin drifting further and further apart. Norman is studious and works towards bigger goals, while Paul becomes a rebel and an outcast.

A River Runs Through It is an emotional film, but one that’s worth watching if you like fishing and well-crafted dramas.
 

2. Low & Clear

This is one of the best, and most realistic, films about fishing. It doesn’t try to tell an overly complex story, or build itself up with special effects either. Instead, Low & Clear tells the powerful tale of two old friends who’ve drifted apart and are now trying to reconnect during a fly-fishing trip.

The majority of the movie takes place in the outdoors, during the trip. As both friends cast their rods and talk about their lives, they slowly begin to understand why they grew distant in the first place.

Low & Clear has some great fishing scenes and tells an important story about friendship, strained relationships, and how people can overcome differences between one another. It’s a good film and one that stays engaging without delving into typical Hollywood antics.
 

3. Grumpy Old Men

A fun film starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, Grumpy Old Men is the story of two rivals who constantly compete over everything.

Although the movie covers many topics, and the main plot line is about a love-triangle, fishing still plays a central role in the story. The two rivals spend plenty of time casting rods and competing for the biggest catch.

Interestingly, Grumpy Old Men is set during the winter, meaning that all the fishing scenes are ice fishing scenes. These were all filmed on-location in Minnesota, and the freezing temperatures were tough on the cast. Walter Matthau was even hospitalized after contracting pneumonia during the shoot.
 

4. The Perfect Storm

This is both a fishing film and a disaster movie. Additionally, The Perfect Storm is based on a true story.

The movie tells the tale of a commercial fishing boat that was lost at sea during the 1991 “Perfect Storm.” It’s a powerful film, and one that serves as a good reminder on the importance of staying safe while on open water.

The Perfect Storm was also nominated for two Academy Awards and enjoyed tremendous success at the box office.

If you’re in the mood for a somber film that showcases some of the more dangerous aspects of fishing, as well as showing how these situations could have easily been avoided, then this movie is worth watching.
 

5. The Old Man and the Sea

There are two versions of this film and both are worth watching. One movie is live-action and stars Spencer Tracy, and the other is a short animated flick that won an Academy Award.

Both pictures are adaptations of Ernest Hemingway’s classic short story, however each tells the tale in its own unique manner. The Spencer Tracy version is incredibly faithful to the original source material, and is a scene-for-scene recreation of the short story’s events.

The animated adaption of The Old Man and the Sea condenses events down into a much shorter film. While the movie is a lot shorter, it’s also beautiful to watch. Each frame has been animated by hand, with the artist painting over 29,000 glass frames for this flick. The results are nothing short of amazing.

The Old Man and the Sea is a classic fishing story, and both of its film versions do a wonderful job translating the tale onto the big screen.