Baywatch 2: Deep Cover

Baywatch 2: Deep Cover (2026) is the outrageous, action-packed sequel that no one saw coming—but everyone is talking about. Picking up three years after the events of the 2017 reboot, this new installment dives deeper (literally and figuratively) into the absurd, sun-soaked world of elite lifeguards who do way more than just rescue swimmers.

Directed by David Leitch (John Wick, Bullet Train), Baywatch 2 ups the stakes, shifting from beaches to international waters. When a string of luxury cruise disappearances is linked to an illegal smuggling ring, the Baywatch team is recruited by a covert government agency to go undercover—posing as staff aboard an opulent cruise ship headed for the South Pacific. What follows is a wild mix of slow-motion lifeguard heroics, explosive stunts, tropical espionage, and, of course, cheeky comedy.

Dwayne Johnson returns as the fearless Mitch Buchannon, bringing his usual charisma, muscle, and deadpan humor. Zac Efron reprises his role as Matt Brody, now a slightly more mature but still gloriously reckless former Olympian. New to the team is Aisha Cruz (played by Jenna Ortega), a tech-savvy infiltration expert who proves she's just as capable in the field as she is behind a screen. Her dynamic with Brody adds both tension and laughs, injecting fresh energy into the ensemble.

The film balances high-octane action with over-the-top comedy, never taking itself too seriously. From jet-ski chases through coral reefs to a covert nightclub brawl in Tahiti, Baywatch 2 gleefully embraces its own ridiculousness. But there are also moments of surprising sincerity—especially in Mitch’s quiet scenes with an old flame (played by Michelle Yeoh in a delightfully unexpected cameo), which add unexpected emotional weight to the otherwise wild ride.

Visually, the movie is stunning. Sunsets explode with color, ocean depths are rendered with dazzling clarity, and the camera work keeps up with every daring rescue and outrageous fight. The soundtrack blends tropical house with tongue-in-cheek throwbacks, setting the tone for what’s clearly designed as a blockbuster popcorn flick.

Critics may be divided, but audiences have embraced Baywatch 2: Deep Cover for what it is: bold, ridiculous, and unapologetically fun. It's not trying to change the world—but it might make you laugh hard enough to fall off your beach chair.