# Surf's Up 2: WaveMania
**Surf's Up 2: WaveMania** is a 2017 American direct-to-video animated comedy and the sequel to the Academy Award-nominated *[Surf's Up](https://www.edgepedia.org/surfs-up-film)* (2007, Best Animated Feature), produced by [Sony Pictures Animation](https://www.edgepedia.org/sony-pictures-animation) and [WWE Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/wwe-studios) and released on DVD and Digital on January 17, 2017 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.[1](https://www.wwe.com/article/surfs-up-2-wavemania-available-jan-17-2017) The film follows surfer penguin Cody Maverick, who joins The Hang 5, a world-famous big-wave surf crew voiced by WWE personalities, on a journey to a mysterious spot called The Trenches, where the biggest waves in the world are said to be found.[1](https://www.wwe.com/article/surfs-up-2-wavemania-available-jan-17-2017)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | DVD and Digital, January 17, 2017, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment; direct-to-video sequel to a theatrical release[1](https://www.wwe.com/article/surfs-up-2-wavemania-available-jan-17-2017) • [2](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Surfs-Up-2-Wavemania) |
| Studios | Sony Pictures Animation and WWE Studios[1](https://www.wwe.com/article/surfs-up-2-wavemania-available-jan-17-2017) |
| Director / writer | Directed by Henry Yu; screenplay by Abdul Williams; produced by Michelle Wong[3](https://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/projects/films/surfs-2-wavemania) |
| The Hang 5 | John Cena (J.C.), Undertaker, Triple H (Hunter), Paige (Saraya), and Mr. McMahon (Vince McMahon)[4](https://www.fandango.com/surfs-up-2-wavemania-195027/movie-overview) |
| Returning cast | Jon Heder as Chicken Joe, Diedrich Bader as Tank Evans, Jeremy Shada as Cody Maverick[1](https://www.wwe.com/article/surfs-up-2-wavemania-available-jan-17-2017) |
| Runtime / rating | Approximately 84 minutes; PG for some rude humor and mild action[2](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Surfs-Up-2-Wavemania) |
| Reception | 29% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer from 2 reviews; 250+ audience ratings[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/surfs_up_2_wavemania) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Cody Maverick, hungry for a new challenge, convinces The Hang 5, an infamous big-wave riding crew known for their extreme stunts and personalities, to let him join them on a journey to a mysterious surf spot known as The Trenches, where legend holds that the biggest waves in the world can be found.[3](https://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/projects/films/surfs-2-wavemania) The crew challenges him on the skills required for membership: power, speed, endurance, and teamwork.[1](https://www.wwe.com/article/surfs-up-2-wavemania-available-jan-17-2017) The studio's synopsis states that before long, Cody comes to realize that the existence he abandoned may hold more heroism than even the most dangerous wave can provide.[3](https://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/projects/films/surfs-2-wavemania)
The Hang 5's captain, Mr. McMahon, voiced by WWE executive [Vince McMahon](https://www.edgepedia.org/vince-mcmahon), may be retiring, and the team will be looking for a new leader, a prospect that drives the Pen Gu Island surfers to join the trek to Slaughter Island and the Trenches, described as the most dangerous surfing beach in the world.[6](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/surfs-up-2-wave-mania)
### Place in the franchise
*Surf's Up 2: WaveMania* is the second feature in the Surf's Up franchise, which began with the 2007 theatrical film.[2](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Surfs-Up-2-Wavemania) In 2024, Deadline reported that Thunderbird Entertainment Group's Atomic Cartoons was developing a *Surf's Up* series spinning off from the original film.[8](https://www.gamereactor.eu/surfs-up-sequel-series-in-the-works-1608283/)
## Production and cast
The film was a co-production of Sony Pictures Animation and WWE Studios, directed by Henry Yu from a screenplay by Abdul Williams, with Michelle Wong producing.[1](https://www.wwe.com/article/surfs-up-2-wavemania-available-jan-17-2017) • [3](https://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/projects/films/surfs-2-wavemania) It was made by digital animation in the United States.[2](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Surfs-Up-2-Wavemania) The animation was produced by Rainmaker Entertainment, the studio behind *[Escape from Planet Earth](https://www.edgepedia.org/escape-from-planet-earth)* and *Ratchet & Clank*.[7](https://www.netflixmovies.com/surf-s-up-2-wavemania-2017)
**WWE crossover casting.** The five members of The Hang 5 are voiced by WWE personalities: [John Cena](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-cena) as J.C., The Undertaker as Undertaker, Triple H as Hunter, Paige (Saraya) as Paige, and Vince McMahon as Mr. McMahon.[4](https://www.fandango.com/surfs-up-2-wavemania-195027/movie-overview) Every character design for the film had to be approved by WWE before it could appear.[7](https://www.netflixmovies.com/surf-s-up-2-wavemania-2017) [Jon Heder](https://www.edgepedia.org/jon-heder) and [Diedrich Bader](https://www.edgepedia.org/diedrich-bader) returned from the first film as Chicken Joe and Tank Evans, and Jeremy Shada voiced Cody Maverick.[1](https://www.wwe.com/article/surfs-up-2-wavemania-available-jan-17-2017)
Unlike the 2007 original, which was directed by Ash Brannon and [Chris Buck](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-buck) and voiced by [Shia LaBeouf](https://www.edgepedia.org/shia-labeouf), Jeff Bridges, and [Zooey Deschanel](https://www.edgepedia.org/zooey-deschanel), the sequel lacks those big-name stars and its smaller budget shows, according to a Common Sense Media review, which nonetheless called it an earnest and basically likable effort that keeps a character-driven plot.[6](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/surfs-up-2-wave-mania)
## Release and home media
The film debuted on DVD and Digital on January 17, 2017.[1](https://www.wwe.com/article/surfs-up-2-wavemania-available-jan-17-2017) The Numbers classifies it as a direct-to-DVD sequel to a theatrical release with an early or simultaneous video-on-demand release.[2](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Surfs-Up-2-Wavemania) It received limited international theatrical runs: Czech Republic (January 20, 2017, as *Divoké vlny 2*), Slovakia (February 3, 2017), Turkey (March 10, 2017, as *Neşeli Dalgalar: Dalgamanya*), and Portugal (September 1, 2017, as *Dia de Surf 2*).[2](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Surfs-Up-2-Wavemania)
The home release included bloopers, a behind-the-scenes featurette with John Cena, Triple H, and announcer Michael Cole, an animated featurette called "Chicken Joe's Extreme Slaughter Island Tour," character drawing lessons from director Henry Yu, and a piece on the score with composer Toby Chu.[1](https://www.wwe.com/article/surfs-up-2-wavemania-available-jan-17-2017)
## Box office and reception
Because the film was direct-to-video in the United States, its theatrical earnings came only from a few international territories: $376,110 in Turkey, $163,550 in Portugal, $142,754 in the Czech Republic, and $90,144 in Slovakia, for an international total of $772,558; estimated DVD sales added $1,186,296.[2](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Surfs-Up-2-Wavemania)
On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 29% Tomatometer from only 2 reviews, with 250+ audience ratings.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/surfs_up_2_wavemania) Common Sense Media gave it 3 of 5 stars, noting that it stays with the original's mockumentary format, in which a documentary television crew follows the Pen Gu Island surfers, and that viewers need not have seen the first film to follow the plot.[6](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/surfs-up-2-wave-mania) The review also observed that WWE's quest for cross-promotional opportunities continued here, as the wrestlers had previously appeared in *The Flintstones* and *Scooby-Doo!* movies.[6](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/surfs-up-2-wave-mania) The film has since drawn strongly negative audience responses on the aggregator, with reviewers criticizing the portrayal of Cody and the prominence of the WWE cast.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/surfs_up_2_wavemania)
## References
1. [WWE Superstars are "The Hang 5" in "Surf's Up 2: WaveMania", WWE.com (November 30, 2016)](https://www.wwe.com/article/surfs-up-2-wavemania-available-jan-17-2017)
2. [Surf's Up 2: Wavemania (2017) – Box Office and Financial Information, The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Surfs-Up-2-Wavemania)
3. [Surf's Up 2: WaveMania, Sony Pictures Animation](https://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/projects/films/surfs-2-wavemania)
4. [Surf's Up 2: WaveMania Tickets & Showtimes, Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/surfs-up-2-wavemania-195027/movie-overview)
5. [Surf's Up 2: WaveMania, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/surfs_up_2_wavemania)
6. [Surf's Up 2: Wave Mania – Parents' Guide & Movie Review, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/surfs-up-2-wave-mania)
7. [Surf's Up 2: WaveMania (2017) on Netflix, NetflixMovies.com](https://www.netflixmovies.com/surf-s-up-2-wavemania-2017)
8. [Surf's Up sequel series in the works, Gamereactor](https://www.gamereactor.eu/surfs-up-sequel-series-in-the-works-1608283/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Animated and family franchise film entries › Comedy and adventure entries*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license