Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- breezy
- sunny
- romantic
- lazy afternoon
- beach vacation mood
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a glossy, harmless Elvis vehicle with attractive Hawaiian scenery and plentiful songs but a thin, uneventful story and weak dramatic acting.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The production emphasizes Hawaii's beaches, palm trees, luaus, hotels, ukulele arrangements, and dancers as a picture-postcard backdrop.
Chad resists his father's expectation that he join the family fruit company and instead chooses work as a tour guide.
Elvis Presley dominates the running time as Chad, with the plot accommodating numerous songs and his singer-performer identity.
Chad's career disagreement with his parents intersects with his relationship with Maile and his effort to define his own future.
Films like Blue Hawaii, and why
girls! girls! girls!
sunny musical romance, pop-star-centered performance, and escapist island atmosphere
paradise, hawaiian style
elvis musical comedy combining romantic entanglements, tropical scenery, and lightweight family conflict
g.i. blues
classic hollywood musical built around a charismatic singer, romance, and glossy escapism
fun in acapulco
breezy romantic musical comedy with scenic travel imagery and an independent young protagonist
Movie Details
- Director
- Norman Taurog
- Release Date
- 1961-11-22
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (160)
Cast
- Elvis Presley
- Joan Blackman
- Angela Lansbury
- Nancy Walters
- Roland Winters
- John Archer
- Howard McNear
- Steve Brodie
- Christian Kay
- Iris Adrian
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, MovieMe
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Blue Hawaii about?
- A freshly discharged Elvis returns to Hawaii, chooses tour guiding over the family pineapple business, and finds romance amid a sunlit musical paradise.
- What is Blue Hawaii like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Blue Hawaii as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Blue Hawaii violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Blue Hawaii.
- What did critics think of Blue Hawaii?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a glossy, harmless Elvis vehicle with attractive Hawaiian scenery and plentiful songs but a thin, uneventful story and weak dramatic acting.
- Which films are like Blue Hawaii?
- Films with a similar feel include girls! girls! girls!, paradise, hawaiian style, g.i. blues, and fun in acapulco.
- How long is Blue Hawaii?
- Blue Hawaii runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch Blue Hawaii?
- In United States, Blue Hawaii streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel.
