screenshots / The Blue Lagoon / 1980 Columbia Pictures

Based Henry De Vere Stacpoole’s 1908 novel of the same name, the film depicts the story of two cousins in the Victorian period who are shipwrecked on a South Seas tropical island.

Christopher Atkins had no acting experience when he was cast in the role of Richard Lestrange, cousin to Emmeline (played by Brooke Shields). He later spoofed his screen character's signature loincloth in 1982's The Pirate Movie. He made a brief appearance as a teacher in the 2012 made-for-television film Blue Lagoon: The Awakening.

Director Randal Kleiser (Love Wrecked) was later the executive producer for the 1991 sequel Return to the Blue Lagoon. He would reunite with Christopher Atkins on the 1996 film It's My Party.

The film's music is by composer Basil Poledouris, who would also provide the score for the sequel. His later films included 1982's Conan the Barbarian, 1989's Farewell to the King and 1994's The Jungle Book.

Location filming took place on Nanuya Levu, a privately owned island in Fiji. Today a luxury vacation destination, the Turtle Island resort, is located just about a mile from the now named "Blue Lagoon" beach.