Determined to redefine surfing and legitimize it as a professional sport, they pushed the limits in the water while challenging the cultural status quo. But their swagger and ambition clashed with the sacred traditions of Hawaiian surf culture, igniting fierce local backlash and threats of violence.

Through electrifying archival footage, intimate interviews, and a powerful soundtrack featuring artists like David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and Leonard Cohen, Bustin’ Down the Door chronicles the birth of modern pro surfing—a story of vision, rivalry, cultural friction, and the high personal cost of pioneering change.