Keanu Reeves is Johnny Utah, a clean-cut FBI rookie assigned to track down a gang of bank robbers operating in Southern California. His partner (Gary Busey) is convinced that the robbers are surfers and decides that the only way to catch them is to get Johnny side by side with them in the barrels. He soon meets Bodhi (Patrick Swayze), a charismatic adrenaline junkie who'll do anything for a thrill...perhaps even bank robbery.As the two become friends, Johnny falls under the dangerous influence of Bodhi and becomes addicted to the endless days of surfing and the endless nights of partying. As Johnny gets closer to cracking the case, he learns the truth of Bodhi's most important lesson - if you want the ultimate thrill, you have to pay the ultimate price.