Skateboarding, as it is today, was born sometime around the late ‘40s or early ‘50s, and it’s the surfboarders we have to thank for it. It was them who found that you could “surf the sidewalk” when the waves were flat, and skateboarding soon became a hugely popular phenomenon. However, the culture around it - with fashion, music, and attitude - formed a bit later, in the ‘70s. Most notably, of course, in Los Angeles, where the sun was always shining and dry levees, abandoned pools, and various stairways made a nice playground to, predominantly, the dudes in the sport. Oh yes, the dudes, since at first, girl skateboarders were shunned from this society, gaining their place in the world of skateboarding years later.
What we have now, however, is a full-fledged community of skateboarders with magazines, TV series, movies, and music, dedicated to this Olympic sport. Didn’t you know that skateboarding was added to the Olympics in 2020? Well, now you know! Anyway, we’re not here to talk about the Olympic Games but rather to invite you to check out the skateboarding movies that we’ve rounded up in this list!
Even if you aren’t a skater, you’ll definitely find these movies entertaining, if not heavily nostalgic! They do have a tendency to depict the decades of skateboarding in such a way that you are bound to reminisce about your own salad days, no matter where you grew up. And, if you’re a newbie at the sport, you’ll find quite a few documentaries on our list, too, that will shed some light on the history of this sport. But, if you’re a pro and the history is not something that you need a refresher on, you will most likely find some skateboarding-related movies that you haven’t seen yet here on this list!
So, what are we waiting here for? Let’s skip straight to the best skateboarding movies, shall we? Once you are there, vote for the ones you’ve enjoyed the most and share this compendium with the dudes and the gals.
#1 Dogtown And Z-Boys
2001 | 1 hour 31 minutes | Directed by Stacy Peralta
Starring Sean Penn (voice), Jay Adams, Tony Alva
Dogtown and Z-Boys is a documentary film following the story of pioneering ‘70s skateboard team Zephyr, of which the movie’s director was a member. So, a truly in-depth look at the formation of skateboarding culture! Contemporary interviews with people who took part in the happenings back then are merged with historical footage straight from the ‘70s, thus giving a viewer a nice perspective on the influence the team members of Zephyr actually had on this cultural phenomenon.
Report
31points
#2 Lords Of Dogtown
2005 | 1 hour 47 minutes | Directed by Catherine Hardwicke
Starring Heath Ledger, Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk
Lords of Dogtown is a biographical drama film written by the same Stacy Peralta, who was a member of the pioneering Zephyr skateboard team, and directed by Catherine Hardwicke. So, if watching a documentary about the back-then skate culture is not your cup ‘o joe, then why not watch an artistic rendering of the same happenings? Be that as it may, we will never have enough of ‘70s Venice Beach views!
Report
30points
#3 Mid90s
2018 | 1 hour 25 minutes | Directed by Jonah Hill
Starring Sunny Suljic, Katherine Waterston, Lucas Hedges
Mid90s is a coming-of-age comedy-drama film that’s the directorial debut of Jonah Hill. Inspired by his childhood, it follows the story of 13-year-old Stevie as he starts to hang out with a group of mostly older skateboarders in ‘90s Los Angeles. Even if you did not grow up during that time in that sunny place, Mid90s will still evoke feelings of nostalgia for the good old days of your teenage years, as this movie is relatable to anyone on so many levels. Mid90s is undeniably hipster in its visuals; however, it elevates the storytelling rather than reducing the movie to just that.
Report
28points
#4 Bones Brigade: An Autobiography
2012 | 1 hour 30 minutes | Directed by Stacy Peralta
Starring Tony Alva, Steve Caballero, Fred Durst
Bones Brigade: An Autobiography is a sports documentary recounting the story of the legendary skateboard team Bones Brigade. Its story started with six boys forming a team in the 1980s, reinventing the sport and themselves along the way to becoming the most famous and the most influential athletes in skateboarding. The movie includes interviews with such legends as Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen, Lance Mountain, and Peralta himself. So, if you’re just a skateboard newbie or someone who has been into the sport for some years now, Bones Brigade: An Autobiography is basically an almanac in any case.
Report
27points
#5 Minding The Gap
2018 | 1 hour 33 minutes | Directed by Bing Liu
Starring Keire Johnson, Bing Liu, Zack Mulligan
Minding The Gap is a documentary film chronicling the lives of three young men growing up in Rockford, Illinois (a part of the Rust Belt), united by their love of skateboarding. However, once they have to face adult responsibilities and hardships, unexpected discoveries threaten their friendship. Minding The Gap received critical acclaim and was even nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 91st Academy Awards. So, skateboarding and a masterful documentary merged together? Yes, please!
Report
26points
#6 Skate Kitchen
2018 | 1 hour 46 minutes | Directed by Crystal Moselle
Starring Rachelle Vinberg, Dede Lovelace, Nina Moran
Skate Kitchen is a teen drama following the story of Camille. Her suburban life drives her nuts with its bleakness; however, that all soon changes when she befriends a group of girl skateboarders in New York who call themselves “Skate Kitchen.” Interestingly, such a group did exist, and its actual members played fictionalized versions of themselves in this movie. Being not too heavy-handed on teenage drama and the ins and outs of serious topics, Skate Kitchen is an enjoyable watch that will definitely entertain you.
Report
24points
#7 The Search For Animal Chin
1987 | 1 hour 6 minutes | Directed by Stacy Peralta
Starring Chris Borst, Steve Caballero, Adrian Demain
The Search For Animal Chin is one of the first skateboarding films to have an actual plot, rather than just being a compilation of short clips. It follows the Bone Brigade skateboard crew searching for the legendary skater Won Ton Animal Chin. They have no success in finding him; however, along the way, they figure out that Animal Chin lives in each of them. It’s a fun movie that’s basically an ode to skateboarding.
Report
23points
#8 Gleaming The Cube
1989 | 1 hour 45 minutes | Directed by Graeme Clifford
Starring Christian Slater, Steven Bauer, Richard Herd
Gleaming The Cube is a neo-noir movie following the story of Brian, a sixteen-year-old skater, investigating the death of his adopted Vietnamese brother. Not only does he manage to solve this mystery, but he also uncovers a dreadful government conspiracy in the process. And although the critics weren’t too happy about Gleaming The Cube, you won’t find anything but good reviews from the viewers, naming it a staple of ‘80s entertainment.
Report
23points
#9 Thrashin'
1986 | 1 hour 33 minutes | Directed by David Winters
Starring Josh Brolin, Robert Rusler, Pamela Gidley
Thashin’ is a skater drama film featuring appearances of skateboarding icons like Tony Hawk, Tony Alva, and Steve Caballero. The story is basically that of Romeo and Juliet - two rival skateboard gangs are trying to establish supremacy against one another, and, lo and behold, two members of those gangs fall in love with each other. Oh, forgot to mention that Red Hot Chili Peppers also make an appearance in this movie that, by now, has found its way into the ledger of cult classics.
Report
22points
#11 Street Dreams
2009 | 1 hour 28 minutes | Directed by Chris Zamoscianyk
Starring Paul Rodriguez, Ryan Dunn, Rob Dyrdek
Street Dreams is a sports drama film with a story based where the skate culture was basically non-existent - in the Midwest. Derrick, the protagonist of Street Dreams, has a dream of getting a sponsor and going pro, but it seems that the whole world is against him. However, he’s not giving up on his dreams until he reaches them. It’s a witty and entertaining film that even non-skaters will find enjoyable.
Report
20points
#18 All The Streets Are Silent: The Convergence Of Hip Hop And Skateboarding (1987-1997)
Report
12points
