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The studio [[New Line Cinema]] released ''Surf Ninjas'' two weeks earlier than its commercial release date in [[Evansville, Indiana]] and [[Lubbock, Texas]] as part of a test of regional markets. The early release marked the first time that a major film was released in Evansville before its national opening without any local ties. The president of theatrical marketing at New Line, Chris Pula, selected Evansville for its family-oriented audiences. Pula explained: "Evansville is traditionally a strong family market. Also, we have a strong relationship with the exhibitors in that area". The president said that the studio was testing the film in a larger market than usual due to its uncertainty about the film's reception, and that the studio would measure its marketing success with ticket receipts.<ref>{{cite news | first=Sherry | last=Crawford | title=Evansville to get early showing of 'major' film in marketing test | work=[[Evansville Courier & Press]] | date=July 31, 1993 }}</ref>
''Surf Ninjas'' was widely released in 1,321 theaters in the United States on August 20, 1993. Over its opening weekend, the film grossed {{nowrap|$2 million}},<ref name=bom/> placing 13th in box office rankings ahead of ''[[Manhattan Murder Mystery]]''.<ref>{{cite news | title=
==Critical response==
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Stephen Hunter of ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]'' thought the film's lead, [[Ernie Reyes, Jr.]], was too old (20) and too muscular to be received believably as a 15-year-old. Hunter otherwise found the Reyes to impress with their fighting skills, though the film's martial arts sequences were "bloodless and absurd". Hunter also criticized the director for depriving the film of personality, with its lack of danger, seriousness, or spontaneity.<ref>{{cite news | first=Stephen | last=Hunter | url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1993-08-21/features/1993233093_1_surf-ninjas-ernie-reyes-leslie-nielsen | title=Tepid 'Surf Ninjas' is a wipeout and a waste of its comic and martial arts talent | work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] | date=August 21, 1993 }}</ref> Richard Harrington of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' found the film to be "a harmless summer's entertainment" for young people who enjoyed the [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#Feature films|''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' films]] and ''[[3 Ninjas]]''. Harrington enjoyed Reyes, Jr. as the protagonist but found Nielsen to be disappointing.<ref>{{cite news | first=Richard | last=Harrington | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/surfninjaspgharrington_a0ab78.htm | title='Ninjas': Silly surfing safari | work=[[The Washington Post]] | date=August 21, 1993 }}</ref> Paul Sherman of the ''[[Boston Herald]]'' thought that ''Surf Ninjas'' was "little more than a succession of dudespeak, surfing, skateboarding, video games, generic rock soundtrack and strained knucklehead humor". Sherman admired the story arc in which the protagonists learn to accept their destinies, but he thought that "the manufactured thrills along the way get obnoxious". Sherman thought that the film would only appeal to children under 12 years old, though the film's locations in Thailand in the second half added an exotic atmosphere.<ref>{{cite news | first=Paul | last=Sherman | title='Surf Ninjas' tries but is too juvenile | work=[[Boston Herald]] | date=August 21, 1993 }}</ref>
Desmond Ryan of ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' thought that Leslie Nielsen was deceptively portrayed in a major role similar to that of [[Lieutenant Frank Drebin]] from [[The Naked Gun (film series)|''The Naked Gun'' films]], instead having merely "a running and unfunny gag about his malfunctioning answering machine and generally wasted otherwise". Ryan also found the film's dialogue to be "painful" and considered ''Surf Ninjas'' to be "beyond airheaded".<ref>{{cite news | first=Desmond | last=Ryan | title='Surf Ninjas' hits the beach with gags and a vengeance | work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] | date=August 23, 1993 }}</ref> Mick LaSalle of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' considered the story of ''Surf Ninjas'' to be "harmless and painfully dull". LaSalle thought that the pacing of the film was too long with only "two smirks over the course of 90 minutes".<ref>{{cite news | first=Mick | last=LaSalle | title='Surf Ninjas' Wipes Out | work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] | date=August 21, 1993 }}</ref> Sean Piccoli of ''[[The Washington Times]]'' thought that the film's "dull stretch" was buoyed by the presence of Rob Schneider. Piccoli compared the martial arts choreography in the film to the "cartoon fantasies that little boys re-enact on neighbors' lawns: the good guys, alone and outnumbered by the charging horde, air-punch their way to glory".<ref>{{cite news | first=Sean | last=Piccoli | title=These
Ron Weiskind of the ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'' perceived Reyes, Jr. as "a likable presence on screen" and Schneider to be occasionally humorous in his series of gaffes. Weiskind thought that even with the abundance of martial arts in the film, the scenes were generally too lifeless.<ref>{{cite news | first=Ron | last=Weiskind | title='Surf Ninjas' chops at humor but ends up a total wipeout | work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] | date=August 21, 1993 }}</ref> Joe Holleman of the ''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]'' thought that ''Surf Ninjas'' pushed "the right buttons to guarantee adolescent enjoyment". Holleman acknowledged that the film was "not exactly a milestone in cinematic achievement", but he applauded the acrobatic choreography and the delivery of Schneider's throwaway lines in "the movie's funniest moments".<ref>{{cite news | first=Joe | last=Holleman | title=Wave of cool humor just right for teens | work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] | date=August 25, 1993 }}</ref> Sean P. Means of ''[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]'' described the film as a [[Toys "R" Us]] version of ''[[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom]]'', with "the cartoonish martial-arts sequences [owing] their entire existence to the villains' stupidity". Means thought that the film was ultimately "as silly as it is forgettable".<ref>{{cite news | first=Sean P | last=Means | title=Goofy, inconsequential 'Surf Ninjas' coasts on a wave of inanity | work=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]] | date=August 26, 1993 }}</ref>
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