Meticulously remastered in 4K from the original 16mm film prints, Thicker Than Water and The September Sessions will return to theaters for the first time in 25 years. Previously unavailable to stream or purchase, these screenings mark the first opportunity for audiences to experience both films since their original release. For surf fans from the late nineties, this is a chance to relive the films in their most vivid form and for a new generation, an introduction to the works that fused surf, film, and music into a cultural movement. Accompanying the screenings will be newly reissued limited edition vinyl of the original soundtracks.
At The Coast Film Festival in Laguna Beach on Saturday, November 8, and Sunday, November 9, 2025, Jack will present Thicker Than Water and The September Sessions, respectively. Additionally, Jack will perform with friends, Hermanos Gutiérrez, G. Love, Todd Hannigan, Xocoyotzin Moraza, bandmates Adam Topol, Merlo Podlewski, and Zach Gill, on Saturday and G. Love, Donavon Frankenreiter, bandmates Adam Topol, Merlo Podlewski and Zach Gill, along with Matt Costa on Sunday.
Thicker Than Water, filmed across the globe by Jack Johnson, Chris Malloy, and Emmett Malloy, captured the beauty, camaraderie, and wanderlust of surf exploration at the turn of the millennium. The film’s soundtrack introduced audiences to Johnson’s music for the first time, sparking a career that would soon reach audiences worldwide.
The September Sessions, filmed during a spontaneous trip to Indonesia, remains one of the most intimate portraits of surf legend Kelly Slater ever put to film. With unforgettable waves from Kelly, Rob Machado, Brad Gerlach, Shane Dorian, Ross Williams, and Luke Egan, the movie captured the essence of surf life away from competition, raw, soulful and timeless, and inspired generations.