Skate films you should watch

A few days passed since we noticed that we can’t go out our homes, and it seems it will take bit more time until we can skate back again. For this reason we just prepared this article with a skate films and skate documentaries you should watch, so let’s prepare some popcorn…

Skate films

1. Thrashin’

Release: 1986.

Director: David Winters.

Starring: Robert Rusler (Tommy Hook), Pamela Gidley (Chrissy), Brooke McCarter (Tyler), Josh Richman (Radley), Brett Marx (Bozo), David Wagner (Little Stevie), Chuck McCann (Sam Flood), Tony Alva (T.A.), Mark Munski (Monk), Sherilyn Fenn (Velvet).

Duration: 92 minutes.

Description

There’s no doubt that Thrashin‘ is one of the most popular skateboard films in the world. 

It was released in the middle of 80’s and it reflects the boom of skateboarding during this decade. The film shows all the skate styles and the lifestyles related (freestyle, street, vert, mini, downhill).

A skate film which main theme is the skate bands and the rivalry in between. The climax scene became history in the skateboarding culture, a downhill race between the two main bands.

A classic between the skate films that you must watch and know.

Trailer

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2. Lords of Dogtown

Release: 2005.

Director: Catherine Hardwicke

Starring: Emile Hirsch (Jay Adams), John Robinson (Stacy Peralta), Victor Rasuk (Tony Alva), Heath Ledger (Skip Engblom), Michael Angarano (Sid), Nikki Reed (Kathy Alva), Rebecca De Mornay (Philaine), William Mapother (Donnie), Vincent Laresca (Chino), Elden Henson (Billy Z), Mitch Hedberg (Frank Nasworthy), Stephanie Limb (Peggy Oki), Mike Ogas (Bob Biniak).

Duration: 107 minutes.

Description

Released after the success of “Dogtown & Z-Boys” documentary. Lords of Dogtown is a drama with skateboarding as main theme, represented in the events described in the Stacy Peralta’s documentary. That group of boys in the film called the “Z-boys” forging the skateboarding roots.

It’s true that Hollywood made its magic, but this skate film is well produced, and there’s good performances from the actors.

Trailer

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3. Street Dreams

Release: 2009.

Director: Chris Zamoscianyk

Starring: Paul Rodriguez (Derrick Cabrera), Ryan Dunn (Cash), Rob Dyrdek (Troy), Terry Kennedy (Reese), Ryan Sheckler (Eric Jones), Adam Wylie (Mikey Robbins), Brendan Miller (Brad), C.C. Sheffield (Taylor Jones), Jordan Valacich (Jordan Valley), Yancey Arias (Tim Cabrera), Kate McGregor-Stewart (Virginia), Peter Reckell (Dan Reynolds), Al Woodley (Alfred Woodley), Luke Van Pelt (Bruce).

Duration: 88 minutes.

Description

A film with actors such as Paul Rodriguez, Ryan Sheckler, Ryan Dunn (RIP), Terry Kennedy, Sean Malto and Rob Dyrdek.

The story in the film is obvious and probably is not going to surprise anybody, but if you are skater it deserves to be watched. A group of young people whose goal is getting a professional skateboard career, anyway the tricks in the film are so good and it gets appeared the skatepark of Tampa. 

Trailer

Street Dreams, full film

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4. Grind

Release: 2003.

Director: Casey La Scala.

Starring: Mike Vogel (Eric Rivers), Vince Vieluf (Matt Jensen), Joey Kern (Sweet Lou Singer), Adam Brody (Dustin Knight), Jennifer Morrison (Jamie), Jason London (Jimmy Wilson), Summer Altice (Winona), Bam Margera (Bam Margera), Erin Murphy (Hot Mama), Stephen Root (Cameron), Christopher McDonald (Mr. Rivers), Brian Posehn (Orville), Jason Acuña (Pequeño Timmy), Donte Calarco (Chica Buxom), Christine Estabrook (Sarah Jensen), Randy Quaid (Jock Jensen), Lindsay Felton (Denise Jensen), Chad Fernandez (Rival Skater #1), Alfred Briere (Rival Skater #2), Ehren McGhehey (Rival Skater #3), Brandon Mychal Smith (niño Skater), Jake Muxworthy (Pro), Shonda Farr (Sandy Moore), Bob «Bobcat» Goldthwait (Bell Clerk), Tom Green (Tendero colorado skateshop), Ryan Sheckler (Rod St. James), Guillermo Aguilar (Guillermo Aguilar), Preston Lacy (Preston Lacy).

Duration: 105 minutes.

Description

Grind has Bam Margera and other Jackass members as main characters, and it was in the best moment of their careers.

It is the typical american film where a group of adolescents just finished the high school and the only thing they are looking for is party and skateboarding. 

Its cache gets increased by the actors and skaters greatness as in the film you will find Bam Margera, Bob Burnquist, Bucky Lasek, Pierre Luc Gagnon and more.

Trailer

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5. Paranoid Park

Release: 2007.

Director: Gus Van Sant.

Starring: Gabe Nevins (Álex), Daniel Liu (Detective Richard Lu), Jake Miller (Jared), Taylor Momsen (Jénnifer), Lauren McKinney (Macy), Olivier Garnier (Cal), Scott Green (Scratch), Winfield Henry Jackson (Christian), Dillon Hines (Henry), Brad Peterson (Jolt), John Michael Burrowes (Guardia de seguridad), Emma Nevins (Paisley), Joe Schweitzer (Paul), Christopher Doyle (Tío de Tommy), Grace Carter (Madre de Álex), Jay Small Williamson (Padre de Álex).

Duration: 84 minutes.

Description

Skateboarding is not the main theme in the film but it is so present in it, by the way it is a quite cool film that you should watch.

A young skater (Alex) use to go the Paranoid Park skatepark in Portland suburbs and one day he accidentally murder a security guard. 

The story relates the time when it start an investigation while Alex is trying to hide himself.

«Paranoid Park» was nominated as best film in 2007 Cannes Festival.

Full film

The quality is not the best but you can find the full film in Youtube.

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6. Skate Proof

Release: 2012.

Director: Jesse Anthony

Starring: Becky Forbes, Mark Feero, Greg Brewer, Whitney Slipp, Eric «Ceeb» Claybourne, Josh Palmer.

Duration: 78 minutes.

Description

It is an independent skate film whose main theme is skateboarding, it doesen’t appear any professional actor. 

The friend of a young skater is murdered by a drugs dealer, the young guy feels so scared to be the next one, so he decides to take the justice by his own hand. 

Full film

Skate Proof full film is available on Youtube but it can’t be shared, so here you can find the link.

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7. Mid90’s

Release: 2018.

Director: Jonah Hill.

Starring:Sunny Suljic (Stevie), Lucas Hedges (Ian), Gio Galicia (Ruben), Na-kel Smith (Ray), Olan Prenatt (Fuckshit), Ryder McLaughlin (Fourth Grade), Alexa Demie (Estee), Katherine Waterston (Dabney).

Duration: 84 minutes.

Description

Even though Mid90s is an independent film, this skate film has been in most of the international billboards. 

Jonah grows up skating in Los Angeles, an adolescent lost in his life. Jonah lives beside the shadow of his brother until he discovers the skateboarding and its community values. 

A really good drama that has become a classic between the skateboard films.

Trailer

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8. Wassup Rockers

Release: 2005.

Director: Larry Clark.

Starring: Jonathan Velasquez, Francisco Pedrasa, Milton Velasquez, Yunior, Usualdo Panameno, Eddie Velasquez, Luis Rojas-Salgado, Carlos Velasco.

Duration: 111 minutes.

Description

Probably the best film in this list. The director Larry Clark always had skateboarding in mind since “Kids” and “Ken Park” times, but it wasn’t until he made “Wassup Rockers” when he made something related with skateboarding.

This time he made it from the point of view of a latin adolescents living in Los Angeles. They went frm Hip Hop into the gangster liflestyle to challenge the society.

The film relates the life of a group of young guys, his effertos to get into Hollywood looking for some skate spots, and how this goal turns into something dangerous.

Larry Clark focused part of his career on young skaters as we saw in Kids and lately in Ken Park. Some time later, in this comedy of these guys that prefer the skateboarding culture than the street bands.

Trailer

Wassap Rockers Full Film

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Skate documentaries

1. Dogtown & Z-boys

Release: 2001.

Director: Stacy Peralta.

Starring: Jay Adams, Tony Alva, Bob Biniak, Chris Cahill, Paul Constantineau, Skip Engblom, Jeff Ho, Shogo Kubo, Jim Muir, Michael Ramsey (voice), Peggy Oki, Stacy Peralta, Nathan Pratt, Wentzle Ruml IV, Allen Sarlo, Craig Stecyk, Glen E. Friedman.

Duration: 91 minutes.

Description

A skate documentary that had a huge influence as it recover the beggining of skateboarding and its international boom.

Directed by Stacy Peralta several years after leaving Powell Peralta, this documentary is made with oldschool media and an amazing soundtrack focused on Santa Monica and Venice Beach trendy music from the 70’s.

A group of young skaters gathered in front of Jeff Ho and Skip Engblom store, Zephyr. Between them Stacy Peralta, Tony Alva, Jay Adams and more. They discoverd the skateboarding possibilities and got them into a next level. They developed new skills, materials and surfaces to skate, and they were the first ones skating empty pools starting the “vertical era”.

Narrated by Sean Penn who’s born in this area, this documentary is probably one of the most powerful reasons to love the modern skateboarding roots.

Full documentary

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2. The Bones Brigade an autobiography

Release: 2012.

Director: Stacy Peralta.

Starring: Stacy Peralta, Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen, Steve Caballero, Lance Mountain, Mike McGill, Tommy Guerrero, Christian Hosoy, Tony Alva, George Powell.

Duration: 111 minutes.

Description

Another jewell in this list, this skate documentary shows the 10 years of Bones Brigade history. The most legendary skate team in the whole history, made by Powell Peralta during the 80’s.

This skate team made popular skaters such as Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, Rodney Mullen, Lance Mountain and many more.

Directed by Stacy Peralta and with testimonials from all the main characters, this documentary is one of the best skate films that was ever made. The 80’s were a big boom for skateboarding worldwide, an extension of “Dogtown & Z-Boys” documentary from one of the most popular skaters in the skate history.

Full documentary

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3. Waiting for lightning

Release: 2014.

Director: Jacob Rosenberg.

Starring: Danny Way, Tony Hawk, Rob Dyrdek, Lird Hamilton, Travis Pastana, Paul Rodriguez, Ken Block, Bob Burnquist…

Duration: 96 minutes.

Descripción

Danny Way is one of those persons who reach the limits on a skateboard, at the same time, he is one of the Plan B Skateboards brand owner.

This documentary shows the history of a guy with some family troubles that discover the skate and take a break from his life.

Effort and personal growth are the main themes in this skate documentary.

Featured not so long after Danny Way jumped over the Great Wall of China, it is a good overcoming example as a real declaration of love to skateboarding.

Trailer

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4. We are blood

Release: 2015.

Director: Ty Evans.

Starring: Paul Rodriguez, Chris Colbourn, Clint Walker, Clive Dixon, Jamie Thomas, Jordan Maxham, Sean Malto, Chase Webb, Tiago Lemos, Luis ‘Moose’ De Los Reyes.

Duration: 191 minutes.

Description

Ty Evans, as almost anyone in the skateboarding industry has his own followres and haters. During 2015 he released this big production that shows the best from skateboarding, with an incredible photo direction that makes it look like cinema.

There’s no doubt about it, if you’ve never seen this skate video and you like to skate, you should.

Full film

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We really hope you got what you were expecting from this page. This quarentine fighting coronavirs is not a wonderful time so let’s try to keep our minds skating by keeping our bodys at home.

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