HBO is set to dive into the smooth sounds of “yacht rock” with a new documentary, Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary, premiering on November 29 as part of its Music Box Original Documentary series.

The film explores the West Coast soft rock phenomenon that ruled FM radio in the late 1970s and early ’80s, featuring hits from iconic artists like Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan, and Toto. Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary includes interviews with these very legends, offering firsthand stories from the voices behind the smoothest hits of the time.

Originally coined in 2005 by a parody web series and often dismissed by rock critics, “yacht rock” has since made a remarkable comeback.

The film promises a nostalgic journey through an era of feel-good hits and West Coast cool, showcasing the genre’s lasting influence and redefined relevance. Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary will debut at DOC NYC on November 13 ahead of its HBO release, with an Australian release date still to be confirmed.