A top 10 list of the greatest skateboard movies ever made

A top 10 list of the greatest skateboard movies ever made

Helix Odhiambo
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:23 PM

Skateboarding is a popular sport that involves performing tricks and riding on a skateboard. It is an adventurous activity where riders try to balance while performing mesmerizing tricks. Over the years, many films and documentaries have been made about the sport. Some of the greatest skateboard movies have generated massive incomes at the box office in the film industry.

80s skateboard movies
Actor/skateboarder Emmanuel Howell attends "Skate For Kids" at Garage Board Shop on 9 August 2014 in East Los Angeles, California. Photo: Keipher McKennie
Source: Getty Images

The relationship between skateboards and cinema has existed for more than 50 years. Classic skateboard movies often feature the life experiences of professional skaters. Besides the entertaining aspect, the movies also help us better understand the game and its top athletes.

Best skateboard movies

Popular skate movies like Mid90s, Lords Of Dogtown, and Minding The Gap have made great numbers in the theatre. Watching the athletes perform tricks on the screen may appear easy, but it is an art that requires dedicated practice to perform.

Meanwhile, anyone can access the best skateboard movies on Netflix, Hulu, Showmax, Amazon Prime, and other streaming platforms. Perhaps our skateboard movies list below could help you decide which film to watch.

10 greatest skateboard movies ever made

10. Grind (2003)

Best skateboard movies
Casey LaScala (r), Chad Fernandez (l), and Ehren McGhehey (2nd r) during Skatefest appearance for Warner Bros.' "GRIND" aboard in New York, United States. Photo: Sylvain Gaboury
Source: Getty Images

The film features four aspiring athletes who try to gain the attention of their skateboarding hero Jimmy Wilson (Jason London). Grind delivers spectacular comedy scenes as the four friends overcome several obstacles in their quest to meet their idol.

9. Street Dreams (2009)

Street Dreams follows the life of amateur athlete Derrick Cabrera. The drama film features Derrick's journey and challenges in the sport. He teams up with Ryan Dunn and pro skater Rob Dyrdek. Interestingly, the role of Derrick is played by professional skater Paul Rodriguez.

8. Thrashin' (1986)

Considered one of the best 80s skateboard movies, Thrashin offers the audience great entertainment. The movie depicts the life of Corey Webster (Josh Brolin), a teenage skater determined to win a competition by defeating his rivals. However, he falls in love with the sister of one of the rival gang-leader. What follows are twists and turns that make the story thrilling.

7. Skate Kitchen (2018)

New skateboard movies
Ajani Russell (r) and members of Skate Kitchen attend the Premiere of "The Everything", A film by Humberto Leon For KENZO, on 7 September 2018, in New York City. Photo: Ilya S. Savenok
Source: Getty Images

Written and directed by Crystal Moselle, the movie follows a group of female skateboarders hoping to break the gender barriers in the sport. Camille (Rachelle Vinberg) is one of the lead characters whose lives change after taking bold steps by joining a group of talented skaters.

6. Minding The Gap (2019)

Hulu's Minding The Gap explores several themes, including friendship, abuse, and racism. It is a fantastic documentary that features three friends who grow up together in Rockford, Illinois, because of their love of skateboarding. The film earned an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature in 2019 and Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Documentary.

5. Paranoid Park (2007)

Gus Van Sant's masterpiece is among the best skateboard movies of the 2000s. The film, which has high intensity, revolves around a young Portland athlete called Alex (Gabe Nevins). Alex finds himself in a difficult situation after hitting a stranger with his skateboard while on a train. The man falls off and dies, leading to investigations by the police.

4. Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001)

New skateboard movies
Jay Adams falls from a skateboard in a scene from the film 'Dogtown And Z-Boys', in 2001. Photo: Columbia Pictures
Source: Getty Images

The film documents the history of the sport in America, focusing on the Zephyr skateboarding team. It was directed by Stacie Peralta, one of the original members of the Zephyr team. The documentary also features stunning archive footage from the influential 70s skate team.

3. Mid90s (1990)

Mid90s is one of the oldest skateboard movies on our list. The film features a young teenager, Stevie, growing up in Los Angeles in the 1990s. The enthusiastic teenager tries to balance spending time at home and with his skater friends. Directed by Jonah Hill, the film has well-shot scenes and memorable performances, with an intriguing storyline.

2. Wassup Rockers (2005)

Wassup Rockers follows a group of young Latino skaters in Los Angeles. They are keen on having fun with no idea what could happen next. The group is obsessed with the Ramones music group and tries to incorporate that lifestyle into their skating life. The film was written and directed by Larry Clark.

What is the best skate video of all time?

Lords Of Dogtown tops our list thanks to its originality and storyline. It was written by former pro-skater turned documentarian Stacy Peralta. The film chronicles the rise of the sport in Venice and Santa Monica, California, during the 1970s.

1. Lords Of Dogtown (2005)

Best skateboard movies on Netflix
Tony Alva (3rd from right) and guests during "Lords of Dogtown Los Angeles" premiere at Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California, United States. Photo: Jeff Kravitz
Source: Getty Images

The 2005 film tells the story of the popular Zephyr team and how they perfected the craft of the sport to conquer their rivals. It shows the team's transformation from surf to skate culture, including memorable performances. Emile Hirsch plays the leader of the team in a scene-stealing performance.

Skateboard movies in the 70s

One of the most popular films during the 70s is the Skateboard 1978 masterpiece. The movie is about a Hollywood agent who finds himself in debt to a powerful bookie. The agent creates a team of talented skaters and enrolls them in a race to win the prize money and pay his debt.

D. Wolf and George Gage wrote the film. It stars Allen Garfield, Kathleen Lloyd, and Leif Garrett. The Unholy Rollers (1978) is another popular film in the 70s.

Disney skateboard movies

Disney skateboard movies
Brandon Baker, star of "Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board," attends the Disney Channel Games 2007 All-Star party in Epcot Center on 26 April 2007 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Photo: Gerardo Mora
Source: Getty Images

Brink! (1998) and Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board (2007) are popular Disney channel movies on skating. Brink! was among the channel's first original movies, starring Erik von Detten, Sam Horrigan, and Katie Volding. Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board feature Johnny Kapahala, a teen snowboarding champion from Vermont. The film stars Brandon Baker, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, and Jake T. Austin.

New skateboard movies were also released in 2022 by different producers. The films capture many aspects of the sport and are safe to watch with family. Some people have also developed an interest in the sport by watching films about it.

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Authors
Helix Odhiambo photo
Helix Odhiambo
Helix Odhiambo is an award-winning Kenyan journalist and content creator with over 6 years of experience. In 2016, he won the Goal Blaze Correspondent Award for young writers.