Summary

• Skateboard movies are a unique genre of sports films, often more dramatic in storytelling and incorporating themes of race, class, and cultural tensions.
• Both documentary and fictionalized skateboard movies have a large fan base and attract top talent behind and in front of the camera.
• Many skateboard movies have had a significant impact on the sport and have helped launch the careers of skateboarders and filmmakers alike.

Over the years, the best skateboard movies usually belong to documentary films, many of the early examples created by skateboarding companies to help popularize this extreme sport. Skateboarding as a sport began in the 1950s when surfers in California wanted something to do when the waves in the ocean were flat. After serving as part of the counterculture in the 1970s, the sport enjoyed an explosion in popularity in the 1980s thanks to names like Jason Lee and Tony Hawke. In 2020, skateboarding broke through to the Olympics and is now a worldwide competition at the Summer Games.

Skateboard movies continue to be fan-favorite films with viewers. They're a certain type of genre of sports movie that is different from most and oftentimes are more dramatic in their storytelling. There are also a large number of documentary movies about skateboarding that have been made either about the professional skateboarding industry itself or about particular skateboarders. However, there are also critically acclaimed fictionalized movies about skateboarding as well. Both versions, documentary and fictional, have a huge fan base, proving to be a popular subgenre and bringing in top talent behind and in front of the camera to honor the sport.

20 Wassup Rockers (2005)

Commentary On Race Relations In America From Director Larry Clark

Released in 2005, Wassup Rockers is an independent skateboard movie by Kids' director Larry Clark. The movie follows some Guatemalan American and Salvadoran American teens in South Los Angeles who took up skateboarding and punk music. This allows them to avoid some of the violence of teen life on the streets and gives them a more creative alternative for burning their energy. However, the movie shows that even when attempting to avoid danger, it is hard to completely avoid racial tensions and trouble. The movie has a cast of non-professional actors and is a commentary on class and race relations in America.

19 The Search for Animal Chin (1987)

One Of The First Skateboarding Movies With A Plot

Released in 1987, The Search for Animal Chin might be the first skateboard movie that actually had a plot rather than just skateboarding stunts or performing a music video. The main star of the movie is the Bones Brigade, a skateboarding team that rode under the Powell Peralta banner. Bones Brigade started making skateboarding videos in 1982 and was the pioneer of this form of entertainment for the rest of the decade. The movie itself has the Bones Brigade (which included the legendary Tony Hawk) set out to find the first skateboarder — the mythological Won Ton "Animal" Chin.

18 Mouse (1996)

Spike Jonze's Cult Classic Slice Of Mid-90s Skateboard Culture

Spike Jonze is one of the biggest names in filmmaking when it comes to promoting skateboard movies. His career started as a teenager when he photographed BMX riders and skateboarders. Many of his early music videos included skateboarders, as well. In 1993, he created the skateboarding company Girl Skateboards in 1993 with Mike Carroll and Rick Howard and then worked with Howard on the 1996 skateboard movie Mouse. The movie features several real-life skateboarders of the era, including Guy Mariano and Sean Sheffey, remaining a cult classic to this day.

17 Kids (1995)

A Controversial Movie Known For More Than Skateboarding

Kids is known for a lot of things, but not enough people talk about its skateboarding scenes. This is an NC-17-rated movie about teenagers living in New York City and takes place over the course of one single day. The movie is about many hot topics, including drug use, sexual assault, underage sex, and AIDS. The main males in the movie are skateboarders, and not only use them to get around but use them as weapons at one point in an attack on a man on the streets. Kids really pushes the limits of decency, but it was critically praised, with nominations at Cannes and the Independent Spirit Awards.

Kids was Rosario Dawson's first movie role.

16 Plan B - Questionable (1992)

The Movie That Put Plan B Skateboards On The Map

There is a good argument that Plan B - Questionable might be one of the all-time best skateboard movies ever made. The 1992 was made in conjunction with the Plan B Skateboards company based in San Diego. They have been selling their products since 1991, and this movie hit just one year after they went into business. This company started out as a possible super team with names like Danny Way, Colin McKay, Rodney Mullen, and more. These skateboarders all appear in this movie, directed by David Scholssbach, Jacob Rosenberg, and Mike Ternasky, and introduced the kickflip underflip and casper slide to the world.

15 Street Dreams (2009)

Narrative-Driven Drama Of A Skateboarder Persuing Their Passion

Professional skater Paul Rodriguez stars as Derrick Cabrera, a Midwestern amateur skater aspiring to reach the professional ranks in the 2009 drama Street Dreams. Alienated by family members and classmates who cannot comprehend his true passion, skating with his friends is the only place where Derrick feels at home. As he improves his skills with the desire to become noticed, Derrick perfects the one unique skating trick sure to make him famous while having a fallout with his idol.

While it is one of the best skateboard movies thanks to Rob Dyrdek's involvement, there's nary a review to be found for the movie, meaning the incredibly niche drama flew under many critics' radar. In addition, the film grossed about $122,575 worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). That being said, it is an intriguing watch, and Rodriguez proves that he does have talent both on and off the skateboard. Rodriguez's skills as a skater may not be commonly ranked as one of the best sports movies of all time, but the storyline makes it one of the best dramatized skateboarding movies.

14 Grind (2003)

A Group Of Amateur Boarders Go To Extreme Lengths For A Sponsorship

Directed by Casey La Scala, Grind tracks a foursome of friendly amateur skaters who shadow their favorite skateboarding idol during his summer tour in hopes of being discovered and professionally sponsored. However, their trip is halted by one obstacle after another, including rejection from the idol's manager.

The film was positively reviewed by audiences, but critics, unfortunately, didn't feel the same. Critics lampooned the film for its gross-out humor and skateboard stunts that they didn't feel were enough to hold up the plot. However, the brand of humor is par for the course in the best skateboard movies, and those passionate about the sport likely won't agree with critical perception. The real appeal of this skateboarding movie is the cast, which sees a young Adam Brody (Shazam! Fury of the Gods) and Bam Margera.

Grind is available to stream on Peacock.

13 Waiting For Lightning (2012)

Danny Way's Journey To Jumping The Great Wall Of China

Waiting for Lightning is a documentary movie that focuses on telling the story of professional skater Danny Way. It looks at the skating industry as well, with appearances by other professional skaters like Tony Hawk throughout the movie. The film tracks Danny Way's life and career, culminating in a 2005 attempt to jump the Great Wall of China. This skateboarding documentary movie is definitively an intriguing look at Danny Way's life and can be seen as a triumph of the human spirit. One of the best skateboard movies, Waiting for Lightning showcases Way's enormous talent and proves how much drive and daring is required to make it professionally in the sport.

Waiting For Lightning is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

12 Gleaming The Cube (1989)

Government Conspiracies Meet Half-Pipes In A Radical Late-80s Skateboard Movie

Christian Slater plays Brian Kelly in Gleaming the Cube, a radical skateboarder who changes his entire lifestyle following the murder of his Vietnamese half-brother, Vinh (Art Chudabala). Until tragedy strikes his life, Brian spends his days skating empty pools, half-pipe ramps, and abandoned warehouses with his large group of friends. But a government conspiracy leads to his brother's death, sending him into a grievous spiral where he becomes determined to discover who's responsible for taking Vinh's life.

One of the best skateboard movies, professional skateboarder Stevie Williams has cited Gleaming the Cube as being the first inspiration behind his prolific career. What makes Gleaming the Cube different than the other best movies about skateboarding is the scope of the storyline. Not often do government conspiracies and sports dramas intertwine, making for a truly unique addition to the genre.

Gleaming the Cube is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

11 Thrashin' (1986)

The Skateboard Movie That Started Josh Brolin's Career

One year after starring in The Goonies, a young Josh Brolin took center stage in Thrashin', a film about a teenage skater determined to win an organized competition while defeating a rival gang. Corey Webster (Brolin) is a midwestern teen staying in Los Angeles with friends, where he plans to enter and win a downhill skating competition. Corey soon falls for Chrissy (Pamela Gidley), the young sister of rival gang leader Hook (Robert Rusler). With his crew "The Ramp Locals," Corey's determination leads to an epic competitive showdown.

Outside of being one of the best skateboard movies of all time, Thrashin' sees a young Josh Brolin in the beginnings of his illustrious career, and it's clear he has talent even back then. Thrashin' is described by The Board Sport industry as "legendary" and remains one of the most iconic of the best movies about skateboarding.

Thrashin is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

10 Bones Brigade: An Autobiography (2012)

The True Story Behind One Of Skating's Most Influential Teams

A decade after earning acclaim for Dogtown and Z-Boys, Stacy Peralta turned in another now-cult-classic skateboarding documentary called Bones Brigade: An Autobiography. The film chronicles the formation of the Bones Brigade skating team, which consists of six teenage skaters in the 1980s. The film charts how the team blazed trails and pioneered new trends in the nascent sport of skateboarding at the time, and how their influence is still felt decades later.

The film has been described as navel-gazing by some critics. However, credit is deserved where credit is due, and the team is nothing short of wildly talented. In one of the best skateboard documentary movies, the Bones Brigade performs some truly incredible tricks that have to be seen to be believed, and their impact on the skating world as it is today is unquestionable.

Bones Brigade is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

9 Video Days (1991)

Jason Lee's First Movie

One of movie director Spike Jonze's first endeavors saw Jason Lee's first foray into the acting world, and his role in the 1991 skateboard movie Video Days is what caused Kevin Smith to cast him in several future projects. One of the best skateboard movies despite its relatively short length, Video Days is a short film that showcases the talents of five skaters: Guy Mariano, Jordan Richter, Mark Gonzales, Rudy Johnson, and Jason Lee. The 24-minute entry focuses on various tricks that the group can perform in different locations and is definitely worth viewing for any fan of the sport.

If seeing Spike Jonze's first movie and Jason Lee's first film appearance isn't enticing enough, the short film received wildly positive reviews from critics and has been cited as an important entry to the genre. The best skateboard movies are really about the outrageous stunts that are performed with finesse and skill, something Video Days showcases perfectly.

One of movie director Spike Jonze's first endeavors saw Jason Lee's first foray into the acting world.

8 All This Mayhem (2014)

A Deep Dive Into Skateboarding's Dark Side

All This Mayhem is a disturbing documentary that looks at the darker side of the professional skating industry by focusing on and telling the story of two brothers, Tas and Ben Pappas, who became popular skaters in the industry. The two brothers are charismatic and close making them fan-favorite skaters. The movie tracks their rise to fame and their eventual downfall through drug addiction and self-destructive behavior.

All This Mayhem is certainly one of the best skateboard movies precisely because of the nature of the story. Tas and Ben Pappas aren't the only public figures to fall from grace thanks to issues with addiction and unresolved issues, but the film documents their journey uniquely. It's a sad film, to say the least, but the fact stands that All This Mayhem has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, exemplifying the fact that it's one of the best movies about skateboarding.

7 Skate Kitchen (2018)

The Critically Praised Female-Led Skateboarding Movie

In one of the most recent skateboard movies, Skate Kitchen features a refreshing gender-reversal of the often male-dominated subgenre. In the New York City-based movie, a shy and lonesome teenager named Camille (Rachelle Vinberg) comes of age while skating with her new female friends. Once she joins the clique of fellow skaters, Camile's life begins to change for the better, especially when she becomes romantically interested in Devon (Jaden Smith), a cool skater from another crew.

The reason Skate Kitchen is one of the best skateboard movies of all time that it's a fresh take on the genre. It's incredibly rare to see a female-driven skateboard movie. The film got overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. In addition, Skate Kitchen was so well-liked that the film spawned a limited spinoff series, Betty.

6 Skaterdater (1966)

The First Known Skateboarding Movie

One of the best skateboard movies of all time is actually the very first skateboard movie to ever be made. Skaterdater is a 1966 student short film by Noel Black. While there's technically no dialogue, the movie follows a simplistic storyline of a group of skateboarding youths. Two of the boys have eyes for the same girl, so they challenge each other to a skating duel on a hilly street.

Skaterdater is an easy watch and features a catchy surf-rock soundtrack. One of the best movies about skateboarding for more reasons than its historical importance, the movie won the Palme d'Or for Best Short Film at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival and was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short. In addition, Skaterdater won prizes at international festivals in Moscow and Venice.

5 Lords Of Dogtown (2005)

Award-Winning Skateboard Drama Starring Heath Ledger

Written by former pro-skater turned documentarian Stacy Peralta, Lords of Dogtown chronicles the rise of surfing and skateboarding subcultures in Venice and Santa Monica, California during the 1970s. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke of Thirteen and Twilight fame, the film tells the story of the Z-Boys, trailblazing skaters who perfected the craft of big-ramp and swimming pool riding in the homes of unwitting owners in sunny Los Angeles.

Seeing one of the best Heath Ledger performances, the actor earned rave reviews for his turn as Skip Engblom, a pioneering surfboard and skateboard designer instrumental in launching the sport. Heath Ledger's performance in one of the best skateboard movies won him Actor of the Year from The Central Ohio Film Critics Association and is listed on Empire's "The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time."

4 Mid90s (2018)

Jonah Hill's Directorial Debut

Mid90s is a coming-of-age story that follows a young teenager growing up in Los Angeles in the 1990s. Stevie is trying his best to navigate his teen years between his rocky home life and his new group of friends. The movie focuses on Stevie's summer as he tries to reckon with his home life and balance spending time with his skater friends he recently met at a skate shop.

Jonah Hill's directorial debut didn't go unnoticed by critics and audiences, as it's easily one of the best skateboard movies out there. The movie was nominated for five awards in ceremonies like the Berlin International Film Festival and the Critics Choice awards and eventually won one for the Top Ten Independent Films from NBR. It's a nostalgic tale and a successful first endeavor for Hill, making it one of the best skateboard movies.

Mid90s is available to stream on Max.

3 Minding The Gap (2018)

Oscar-Nominated Documentary About Skateboarding And Family

cOne of the best skateboard movies of all time and one of the few to receive mainstream awards recognition, Bing Liu's Minding The Gap earned an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature in 2019. While skating provides refuge for the film's three main subjects, the movie is really about the family dynamic of each young man and how maturity and responsibility threaten to rip their friendship apart. Along with Liu, fellow skaters Keire Johnson and Zack Mulligan are featured in the film, which was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Documentary.

Minding The Gap is available to stream on Hulu.

2 Dogtown And Z-Boys (2001)

The Award-Winning Documentary That Inspired Lords Of Dogtown

Twilight director Catherine Hardiwicke's Lords of Dogtown is loosely based on the 2001 documentary Dogtown and Z-boys, written and directed by Stacy Peralta. Much like its dramatized counterpart, the film charts the evolution of surfing and skating subcultures, which rose to unparalleled heights in the Dogtown neighborhood of Santa Monica, California during the 1970s. Iconic skaters such as Tony Alva, Steve Cabellero, Jay Adams, Tony Hawk, and more are on hand to give testimonials from the era.

One of the best skateboard movies ever wouldn't be complete without a stellar soundtrack, and that's something that Dogtown and Z-Boys certainly provides. As well, the documentary actually scooped up two awards from its entry into the Sundance Film Festival: the Audience Award and Directing Award for Peralta. The movie also won the Independent Spirit Award upon its release, with critics lauding the documentary for its entertaining recount of history.

1 Paranoid Park (2007)

Critically Lauded Skateboarding Murder Mystery

Movie director Gus Van Sant brings his trademark artistic flourishes to Paranoid Park, a murder mystery that ensnares a young skateboarder named Alex (Gabe Nevins) following the unexplained death of a security guard. Alex illegally hops a train en route to Eastside Skatepark (aka Paranoid Park). When security notices him onboard, Alex hits a stranger with his skateboard as a warning. However, the man falls from the train, and his body is severed in half, leading to an intense interrogation from Detective Richard Lu (Daniel Liu).

Easily one of the best skateboard movies, Van Sant captures the coming-of-age burdens of a guilt-ridden teenage boy quite well and the movie wastes not a single moment. Outside of appearing on a number of critics' Top Ten lists in 2008, Paranoid Park won the Piaget Producers Award, the 60th Anniversary Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Best Director and Best Cinematography at the Boston Society of Film Critics, and was nominated for four more accolades.