Beach Party was the first of several beach party party films from American International Pictures (AIP) that were made with the teen audience in mind. It was directed by William Asher and starred Robert Cummings, Dorothy Malone, Frankie Avalon, and Annette Funicello. The film is often credited with starting the beach party film genre. Beach
Party was the highest grossing film AIP had made to that date, earning more its
opening weekend than any of its competition.