From the silver screen to the asphalt: the best sneaker films and documentaries

In the dazzling world of film, sneakers are sneakers are not always just accessories, but real icons in one or two films that have left a lasting impression. From the shiny "Air Mag" in "Back to the Future" to Forrest Gump's classic "Cortez" - sneakers have found their place in cinema history. And because they are now firmly anchored in the mainstream, there are countless documentaries on the subject of sneakers. And if you're in the mood to watch sneakers on TV, you've come to the right place, because we'll show you: Which shoes have made movie history? Which documentaries about sneakers are worth watching? And which films show the impressive development of sneaker culture over time? We delve into the world of the best sneaker films and documentaries.

The supporting role of sneakers in series

If you spend a lot of time looking at sneakers, you'll usually look at other people's shoes a lot more often. As they say in the scene: "I make shoe contact, before I make eye contact". Although we find the saying cringe-worthy, we have to admit that it also applies to us. It's not just on the street that we notice the latest and coolest sneakers, but also in movies and on TV. So every time we watch an episode of Prince of Bel-Air, we analyze which sneaker he's wearing this time. And there were many. The most legendary is probably the Jordan 5 Metallic, which Will Smith even wears in the intro. But the Prince also wore the Adidas Superstar, the Air Force High 93, the Air Max 180, the Huarache and many more. Jerry Seinfeld also always wears sneakers in his series of the same name, especially Nike models such as the Huarache Purple Punch, various Jordan 6s, Air Mowabbs and lesser-known models such as the Air Tech 3. And before the younger generation, who can't relate to Prince of Bel-Air and Seinfeld, get out: Which sneaker does Omar Sy wear in the series Lupin? Exactly, the Jordan 1 High, so much so that we wonder how much money Nike, or rather Air Jordan, spent on the placement of the shoes.

You see, the more attention you pay to your favorite series, the more iconic sneakers you will find. But that's no great wonder, because the actors have to wear shoes. That's why sneakers play a minor role in the aforementioned series for interested viewers. However, there are some films in which the sneakers worn have been staged in such a way that they have only become iconic because of their appearance in the film. And we'll show you those now.

Our favorite sneakers in movies

Sneaker brands have always worked with film productions to promote their models. Some of these collaborations have made sneaker and film history. Here are our favorites, in no particular order

Forrest Gump and the Nike Cortez

The Cortez is one of the icons of Nike, not least because it stars alongside Tom Hanks in the movie Forrest Gump. After Jenny gives her boyfriend Forrest a pair of the OG colorway, he runs around North America in the pair for three years. And who doesn't want a pair of sneakers that can last three years of continuous running?

Source: Zemeckis, Robert (1994): Forrest Gump [movie] Los Angeles: Paramount Pictures.

KILL BILL: VOLUME 1 AND THE ONITSUKA TIGER TAI CHI LE

The Bride, aka Black Mamba, played by Uma Thurman, wears an iconic yellow and black battle suit in her legendary fight against the Crazy 88s. Matching: the Onitsuka Tiger Tai Chi LE. The appearance is a little controversial, as Quentin Tarantino was very much inspired by Bruce Lee's outfit. Nevertheless, he turned the Tiger Tai Chi LE into an icon

Source: Tarantino, Quentin (2003): Kill Bill Volume 1 [Film] Los Angeles: Miramax

Back to the Future Part II and the Nike Air Mag

The Air Mag is THE movie sneaker on our list. It was designed by Tinker Hatfield for the journey of Doc Brown and Marty McFly. With self-closing laces and glow-in-the-dark elements, the Air Mag became the Holy Grail of countless fans. In 2011, it was first put on the market for auction in limited quantities. In 2016, the Air Mags came onto the market for a second time. In extremely limited quantities via Raffle. Some of the shoes were resold for over 100,000 euros.

Source: Zemeckis, Robert (1989): Back To The Future II [Film] Universal City: Universal Pictures

George - The one who came out of the jungle and the Nike Uptempo

One of the most inappropriate, but also funniest sneaker movie moments is the placement of the Nike Uptempo in the movie "George - The One Who Came Out of the Jungle". George, played by Brendan Fraser, arrives in Africa in a crate - which was sent by UPS. He jumps out of the box, Cut. He opens a box of black uptempos, puts them on and runs off into the jungle. That's it, that was the scene. And as stupid as it was, we think about it every time we buy a pair of Nike Uptempo we see.

Source: Weisman, Sam (1997): George - Who Came Out of the Jungle [movie] Burbank: Walt Disney Pictures

THE DEEP SEA DIVERS AND THE ADIDAS ZISSOU

When we think of Wes Anderson, we think of retro and when we think of retro, we think of Adidas. So: Wes Anderson, retro, Adidas, a "match made in heaven". In his movie "The Deep Sea Divers", the entire cast wears the Adidas Zissou. The sneaker was specially made for the movie and is inspired by the Adidas Rome. In 2017, at the We Love Green Festival in Paris, Adidas dropped a limited edition of 100 pairs of the legendary Adidas Zissou model.

Source: Anderson, Wes (2004): The Deep Sea Divers [movie] Burbank, Touchstone Pictures

Aliens and the Reebok Alien Stomper

When it comes to sneakers in movies, the movie "Aliens" and the Reebok Alien Stomper are a must. The model was only launched on the market a year after the movie was released. Since then, there have been various retros, including one in honor of the film's 40th anniversary. Since its appearance in the film, the model has been a perennial favorite on the resale and vintage market for film enthusiasts.

Source: Cameron, Jmes (1956): Aliens [film] Los Angeles, 20th Century Studios

Space Jam and the Jordan XI

The epic Jordan XI Space Jam also dropped with the movie Space Jam.

Michael Jordan first wore the pair on the court in 1995. Although several other Jordan models can also be seen in the movie Space Jam, the Jordan XI was the most interesting pair at the time, without question. Since then, the "Space Jam" colorway has also been seen on other Jordan models.

Source: Benvenuti, Leo (1996): Space Jam [Film] Los Angeles, Warner Bro's

The Terminator and the Nike Vandal

Kyle Reese lands in the past to protect Sarah Connor from the Terminator. He arrives there stark naked and has to flee from the police immediately. Meanwhile, he steals items of clothing here and there. The one that got the most attention was a pair of Nike Vandals in black and silver. The movie debuted in 1984 and therefore the Vandal is probably one of the first sneakers to be staged like this during a movie.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and the Air Jordan 1

In the new Spider-Man animated film, the Jordan 1 High is in the spotlight. Even though hardly any sneaker would fit Spider-Man's outfit better than the Jordan 1 High Chicago, the use of the shoe is of course sponsored by Nike throughout. The shoe was even released in the Spider-Verse colorway at the same time as the film.

Source: Persichetti, Bob (2018): Spider-Man a new univese [film], Los Angeles, New York City - Columbia Pictures, Marvel Entertainment

Marie-Antoinette and the Converse Chuck Hi

Marie-Antoinette was born in 1755 and certainly had no idea about sneakers, but this movie still makes it onto our list. Because here, too, a witty coup has been pulled off with the Converse Chuck Hi with a funny coup. In one scene, the camera pans over the shoes of the Queen of France and there is a Chuck Hi in purple. Some debated whether it was a mistake, but we're sure it was: Converse placed the sneaker there for a lot of money and amused us magnificently.

Source: Coppola, Sofia (2006): Marie Antoinette [film], Los Angeles, Columbia Pictures

Informative sneaker films and documentaries

In addition to iconic film appearances, sneakers now also play a major role in documentaries and biopics. There are now countless formats, not least from German third-party programs, which also explain the hype surrounding sneakers to a slightly older generation. We have listed some well-known documentaries and biopics that delve deeper into the subject.

Just For Kicks

Just for Kicks is simply THE sneaker documentary. It may be dated for today (it came out in 2005), but it shows the beginnings of sneaker fans, from New York basketball players in the 1970s to the rise of b-boys and hip-hop in the 1980s to Michael Jordan and Nike. The best part of the movie is the discussion of the sneaker scene in the mid-2000s. There are interviews with Stash, Futura, Jeff Staple, Bobbito Garcia, Dame Dash, Grandmaster Caz and Scoop Williams.

That's all we need to tell you, just watch it and enjoy.

->You can watch the documentary here

Germany's big clans: The Adidas Story

The ZDFzeit documentary "Germany's big clans: The Adidas Story" sheds light on the journey of Adidas from its humble beginnings to today's global conglomerate. The main role is of course played by the founding Dassler family.

-> You can watch the documentary here

There is one designer you need to know in the sneaker world: Tinker Hatfield. He is best known for his work on the Nike Air Max 1the first sneaker with a visible Air Bubble. But he has worked on many more sneakers. An episode of the series features Hatfield talking about his design process and a behind-the-scenes look at how he works through ideas and sketches to get a finished sneaker.

-> You can watch the documentary here

Sneakerheadz

In the documentary Sneakerheadz, not the series, that's no good. No, it's primarily about sneaker collections and the value behind them.

-> You can watch the documentary here

Duel of the brothers - The history of Adidas and Puma

The duel of the brothers is a biopic of the greatest German sneaker rivalry. The movie shows the war, the separation of the brothers and the founding of their own brands (Adidas and Puma). And for us, it's a must-watch to know exactly what you're wearing on your shoes. Because the history of Adidas and Puma is not at all rosy.

-> You can watch the biopic here

Stare At My Shoes

Stare At My Shoes is a documentary about the Berlin sneaker scene. It is now almost ten years old, but if you want to know the German heads of the sneaker scene, you have to watch it. Among others, Hikmet Sugoer, sneaker queen Julia Schoierer, Quote from Overkill and rapper Prinz Pi have their say.

-> You can watch the report here

AIR

If you've always wanted to know how Nike got the Michael Jordan deal, you should watch "AIR" with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Of course, there's also criticism of the shoe, as you see Cortez sneakers in glass cases in the movie and an eBay authentication tag hanging on one shoe. And neither of these things existed in the 80s. Anyway, you can watch the movie. However, you shouldn't hope for an appearance by Michael Jordan, because he doesn't appear in the movie at all, only his mother, played by Viola Davis.

->You can watch the biopic here

In some series and films, sneakers are not just simple shoes, but are an elementary component that underlines the personality of the characters. From "Prince of Bel-Air" and "Seinfeld" to "Forrest Gump", "Back to the Future Part II" and "The Deep Sea Divers". Sneakers often have their own story to tell and have become an important part of film culture. Even if, in many cases, sponsorship is the reason for the appearances. And since sneakers have solidified themselves in the mainstream, there are countless reports, documentaries and biopics that are worth watching, especially if you really want to immerse yourself in the history of sneakers.

Sneakers tell stories and shape memories that reach beyond the silver screen, at least for us. Sneakers are not just footwear, they are an integral part of our culture. Have fun sneaker binge-watching!