10 Best Skateboard Movies on Netflix and Rated by IMDb

November 3, 2022 by Brad Hanson

Most people believe that skateboarding is just a sport, but did you know that skateboarding is even popular in Hollywood movies? 

There are a lot of films out there that feature skateboarding or just hint at it, and because these movies are viewed by many as art, it stands to reason that they will be ranked.

So without further delay, let us look at the top 10 skateboarding movies available on Netflix and the Best Skateboard movies ranked according to IMDb.

ALSO CONSIDER: Best Skateboard Decks | Best Skateboards for Beginners | Best Longboards for Beginners

Best Skateboarding Movies on Netflix

Below is the list of the Best Skateboarding movies available on Netflix.

1. Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001)

Dogtown and Z-Boys is an award-winning documentary film that tells the account of a group of teenage skateboarders from Los Angeles who, in the 1970s, pushed the fledgling sport to new heights. 

They have a profound influence on the future of skateboarding and contemporary youth counterculture. Using a variety of filming techniques, including vintage footage, modern-day interviews, and reenactments, the viewer is taken on an engrossing voyage through three decades.

From the origins of skateboarding to the eventual formation of the Zephyr team, this documentary takes the viewer on an exciting ride through the lives of a group of skateboarding pioneers. 

2. Thrashin’ (1986)

Thrashin’ is a 1986 drama film. It has a run time of 1 hour, 39 minutes, and 52 seconds and was directed by David Winters and written by Joe Genna, and was released in the United States on February 1 of 1986. 

It is rated PG-13 for language, some violence, and teen partying. The stars in this movie are Josh Brolin, Robert Rusler, and Suzi Simpson. Its genre is drama, action, and sports. It is a story about a young man who seeks to rebel against the strict rules of his father.

This film should be watched by anyone who likes a feel-good film and especially those who like sports films. It will leave you feeling the same way Grant’s friends felt when they took the time to admire his talent.

3. Gleaming the Cube (1989)

Gleaming the Cube (1989) is a film that I think is underrated. The film stars Christian Slater as Kevin Corrigan, a skateboarder with a down look on society and a father who doesn’t give him the attention he deserves. 

Kevin lives in a not-too-great suburb of California and, after falling asleep in an abandoned factory, he finds himself in another reality. 

This reality turns out to be a government agency that, during the 1980s, was developing a machine that could harness the power of the mind and body. In the end, Kevin escapes, only to be placed in a super prison for the next 30 years.

4. Back to the Future (1985)

Back to the Future is a beloved science fiction film that has been loved and watched by millions across the globe. It’s a film that could only come from the 1980s, but it has left its mark on the history of cinema. 

The film stars Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, a teenager who travels back and forth through time, encountering multiple conflicts with his parents and the people he knows in the past. 

While much of the dialogue is cheesy, the film does not lack creativity, with many fun elements and scenes to watch for. The film has transcended its own era, being nostalgic for many, as well as being something that many not even born during the 1980s can enjoy and love.

5. Kids (1995)

One of the best films of all time is the 1995 film Kids directed by Larry Clark, one of the best directors to ever navigate the halls of film. He explores the lives of a group of young teenagers in New York City. 

In this film, we are introduced to the character of Telly, the leader of the gang, and his best friends, Casper and Justin. The gang lives in a dangerous place, and their friendship and loyalty are tested as they have to deal with the harsh realities of the streets. 

This film is a chilling portrayal of the problems of adolescence, the dangers of drugs, prostitution, and STDs. If you are a fan of films like Cinema Paradiso (1987), Kids is a must-see!

6. Paranoid Park (2007)

Paranoid Park is a drama film released on August 31, 2007, directed by Gus Van Sant. It was based on a novel with the same name. The film follows a teenager who accidentally kills another teen and then struggles with guilt. 

It stars Gabe Nevins, whose performance in the film was critically acclaimed. It won the 2008 Black Panther Award for “Best Narrative Film” at the third edition of the AfroPunk Film Festival.

Paranoid Park was produced by River Road Entertainment and The Walt Disney Company. The film grossed $235,489 on its opening weekend in the United States. 

It ended up making $716,456 domestically and $1,295,714 in other territories, totaling $2,012,170. The film was met mostly positive reviews from critics.

7. Mid90s (2018)

Mid90s follows Stevie, a 13-year-old in the 1990s who is bored with his life. On his 13th birthday, he gets a new pair of Ray-Bans, a skateboard, and a friendship with a group of skaters. 

At first, he meets Sunny, a natural-born skater who leads the group. Stevie idolizes him. As the story progresses, Stevie works up the courage to skate with his new friends. Through his experiences, he becomes more and more confident. 

This leads him to grow as a person and he starts to see himself as an individual who has a lot to offer instead of someone who is just a spectator.

8. Bones Brigade: An Autobiography (2012)

Bones Brigade: An Autobiography is an entertaining read. The movie is focused on the life and experiences of the famous skateboarding team, The Bones Brigade. 

The team is made up of many well-known names in skateboarding including, Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, Lance Mountain, Tommy Guerrero, and Stacy Peralta. 

The book goes through the history of the team and gives some inspiring stories of the ups and downs during their careers. 

The team was an important part of skateboarding and helped shape it into what it is today. This is an inspirational story for skaters or those who are just interested in the sport.

9. Wassup Rockers (2005)

Wassup Rockers is a skateboard movie released in 2005, which stars Bam Margera, Brandon Novak, and Ryan Dunn. 

The film is known for being the first skateboarding movie to have a story, rather than just containing a bunch of random skateboarding clips. 

It debuted the same year that Bam Margera left Jackass, but he remained the movie’s star and the story revolved around him and his friend Brandon Novak. 

The film’s events include Bam Margera’s car getting egged and vandalized, Brandon Novak getting hit by a car, and Bam Margera getting into a fight with a group of teenagers.

10. Skate Kitchen (2018)

Skate Kitchen (2018) is a coming-of-age film about a group of female skateboarders who band together as they navigate their lives as young adults in New York City. 

The movie stars Jaden Smith, Rachelle Vinberg, and Dede Lovelace. The film is directed by Crystal Moselle and written by Moselle and Sybil Robson Orr. 

It’s a small indie film and the first of its kind to showcase the women’s skateboarding community so the budget wasn’t as high as a film that’s 100x as expensive but it’s still an entertaining film. 

The skaters and the director come from an authentic place and display the struggles skaters face in the film and try to show the complexities of being an adult.

Best Skateboarding Movies Rated According to IMDb

Below is the list of the Best Skateboarding movies ranked according to IMDb.

1. Waiting for Lightning (2012) | ⭐7.4

“Waiting for Lightning” is a skateboarding video that came out in 2012 by skateboard company Baker. 

Baker is a skateboard company that was founded in 1990 and is located in California. The video was directed by Ty Evans. It features skateboarders such as Ryan Sheckler and Gilbert Crockett. 

The video follows the journey of skateboarders as they travel to different places to skateboard and wait for lightning to strike. This is a really great video and I definitely recommend it!

2. Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator (2002) | ⭐7.2

This documentary covers the rise and fall of the Gator skateboard company. Founded by Mark Anthony Rogowski.

The movie Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator (2002) is about a young skateboarding enthusiast who struggles with his father’s strictness. 

Gator has a new girlfriend, Holly, and a few friends, who skate together. They also have a pet turtle named Skid. The group of friends encounters problems such as discrimination and anger. 

Gator is an interesting character. He is a cartoonist and enjoys acting. He is also a musician. In the movie, he creates an album and a skateboarding video. He rides his skateboard in the movie and listens to his iPod.

3. Skateboard Madness (1980) | ⭐7.2

With the skateboarding boom still at its peak in the late ’70s and early ’80s, this film was released. It featured skating from some of the best skateboarders of the time and even had music from artists such as AC/DC. 

The movie took a while to hit the shelves and was met with positive reviews. It quickly climbed the charts and landed at number 4 on the holiday list of best-selling DVDs. 

It showcased some of the most popular skateboarders at the time including Tony Hawk, who remains one of the most well-known and successful skateboarders to this day. 

Though it was met with positive reviews and did well at the box office, it also received some criticism for attempting to replicate the success of the popular movie, “Rocky”.

4. Thrashin’ (1986) | ⭐6.6

Thrashin’ (1986) is about a group of skateboarders who take on the police and their rival gang. The movie takes place in the 1980s in California

It follows the group of skateboarders as they attempt to create a skate park and gather as much attention as they can. 

Thrashin’ was met with a fair amount of controversy upon its release, mostly due to its depiction of the police, but it was very well-received by both fans and critics.

5. Gleaming the Cube (1989) | ⭐6.3

Gleaming the Cube is an American science fiction thriller film that was released in the year 1989 and was directed by the two brothers Albert and Allen Hughes. 

The screenplay was written by Albert Hughes. The movie is about a group of skateboarders who have to fight against a group of mysterious aliens. 

It is their main objective to capture the human species for research and attempts to conduct interbreeding experiments. The movie contained a lot of suspense and action, which kept audiences on the edge of their seats. 

The movie contained a lot of exciting scenes that made you want to watch more. It contained just the right amount of humor and action that made the movie a must-see movie.

6. Street Dreams (2009) | ⭐6.2

One word describes the life of a street racer: passion. For those who are passionate about their love of street racing, it is not just a hobby, but rather, a lifestyle. 

No matter the circumstances, these speed demons show their commitment to the sport and their love for the thrill of driving as fast as they can. 

Street Dreams is a documentary about the street racing culture. It follows several racers in the Midwest who have family bonds and are all trying to obtain sponsorship from car manufacturers. Their racing styles are different, as are the cars they choose. 

The production quality is great for a documentary. The music and editing may be a bit off-putting for some, but the cinematography is solid.

7. Grind (2003) | ⭐6

Grind is a 2003 American Grind movie. The movie is about two brothers, the younger one an amateur surfer, who travel to Mexico to capture the perfect wave but when confronted by the local gangsters, they must run for their lives.

It is one of the best skateboard movies ever made! It has everything you could possibly want: action, romance, horror, and comedy. The plot is great and the dialogue is well written. 

The actors and actresses are superb at what they do, and they were well chosen to play their roles. If you haven’t seen this movie already, see it. You won’t regret it!

8. Skateboard (1978) | ⭐ 5.3

This film, directed by Stacy Peralta and released in 1978, tells the story of the world of skateboarding. The film includes many well-known skaters, such as Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta himself. 

The film is unique in that it shows the key events that have shaped the history of skateboarding, such as the invention of Freestyle and the Zephyr team.

This is a great movie to watch with your kids. It really gets them motivated to try new things, and they’ll be inspired by the main character!

9. Deck Dogz (2005) | ⭐4.9

Deck Dogz is a film that was released in theaters in 2005. It was directed by William Leonard, Jesse V. Johnson, and Michael Jai White. 

This film is a story about a man who has to go through a lot of challenges in order to fulfill his dream. After being sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit, a man must leave his life behind to go on a journey to clear his name. 

He experiences a wild roller coaster of emotions and experiences, but eventually gets to hold his dream in his hands… And you’ll have to watch it to find out what that was.

10. The Skateboard Kid (1993) | ⭐2.8

When a teenage boy’s (Shawn Levy) parents (Oliver Platt and Martha Plimpton) give him a new skateboard for his birthday, he is initially happy. 

But when he is ridiculed by other kids, he decides to hide the skateboard in a tree and goes back to the toy he always loved: a baseball. 

But the boy soon learns to overcome his fears and accept skateboarding for what it is — a fun and creative way to travel. The movie The Skateboard Kid is a classic.

Conclusion

The list of skateboarding movies is endless. There are a lot of movies out there that are all-time classics in the eyes of many people. 

There are so many movies that all have their own different styles and approaches to skateboarding. Whether you’re into fast-paced action, or maybe a documentary about the birth of skateboarding, you’re bound to find a skateboarding movie that you will love. 

So, make sure you buy yourself a ticket and hopefully, you’ll get a chance to experience the thrills, spills, and excitement of skateboarding!