Though inline skates were around for many years prior to the ‘90s, it wasn’t until brothers Scott and Brennan Olson created their own company, Rollerblade Inc., that inline skates became known as rollerblades. Rollerblades started to become super popular around 1993 when the special brake on the back of the skate was created, making the skates much safer and more accessible to the average user versus just the sports community. Did you have rollerblades, with all of the pads that went with them?
While eventually rollerblades faded from popularity as the kids of the ‘90s grew up, in the meantime a handful of different movies featured rollerblading, either as a main focus of the film, or as a fun action sequence that now totally dates the film to that era. Today we’re going to take a look at some of the films that featured rollerblading in the ‘90s.
Prayer of the Rollerboys (1990)
Have you seen Prayer of the Rollerboys? It’s what you might call a ‘90s deep cut, a movie that’s hard to find anywhere legitimate today, about a near-future Los Angeles that has suffered an economic collapse from an overabundance of greed (sound familiar?!). ‘80s movie hunk staple Corey Haim stars as a young man who infiltrates a neo-fascist group called the Rollerboys who peddle a drug called Mist to weed out the weak. Fun fact: this movie was written and directed by the writers of Point Break.
The Mighty Ducks (1992)
From a deep cut to a family favorite, we have The Mighty Ducks. Now, this film is really about ice hockey, but that’s why the ducks use rollerblades, to practice their skating. Or really, to help a recruited member learn how to skate. Somehow, Emilio Estevez’s Coach Gordon Bombay decides it’s okay for the group to rollerblade through a mall. Ridiculous indeed, but the movie as a whole, though cheesy at times, does fit that sporty feel good niche.
Airborne (1993)
Ah, yes, Airborne, that staple of HBO afternoon reruns in the ‘90s — you probably more likely saw it on HBO than when it actually released in theaters. This movie actually features rollerblading as a main story element rather than just a blip along the way. California native Mitchell Goosen has to move to Cincinnati to live with his cousin, and uses his rollerblading skills to win over the locals and compete in the final big race to defeat their rivals. The movie features some great early performances from Seth Green and Jack Black. And every boy you knew probably wished they were as cool (and good at rollerblading) as Mitchell.
D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994)
In this sequel to The Mighty Ducks, D2: The Mighty Ducks continues to feature rollerblading with a much longer sequence of the Ducks forming up and going on an epic skate around the city. The point of the skate is to get the gang back together, with leader Charlie (Joshua Jackson) skating around to each person until they’re all together again. If you haven’t seen this movie, basically Gordon Bombay had redeemed himself to the point of playing professional hockey again, only to get injured and given the opportunity to coach the USA youth team for the Goodwill Games. In many ways, this movie is actually more fun than the original, with some new players and additional hijinks.
Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers (1995)
Now this is classic ‘90s. You’ve not only got rollerblading, but the frickin’ Power Rangers, in their very own movie! Yep, in the Power Rangers movie that came out in 1995, the rangers have a nice moment away from the action where they get to just do some rollerblading through their city while “Free Ride” plays over the action. You’ve got the classic Power Rangers look as well, where each character only wears the color they are known for when they morph into their ranger suit. Was there anything more ridiculous or ‘90s? Probably, but this is high up there. I mean, they have matching blades.
A Kid in King Arthur's Court (1995)
In A Kid in King Arthur’s Court, a young little league player gets transported back to the time of King Arthur, where he falls for a princess and uses his modern ways to help defeat some bad guys. In one scene, he has the local blacksmith fashion a pair of rollerblades so he can woo said princess, using his own modern rollerblades as a template. Only… how does he have his modern rollerblades with him?! He wasn’t wearing them when he got magically transported, and his backpack looked really empty as well. Whatever, don’t think too deeply into it.
Hackers (1995)
Another classic ‘90s combo happens in Hackers. In the mid-’90s, the internet was just becoming a thing, so we’ve got the combination of internet wizardry mixed with one scene of rollerblading. Indeed, while the hackers try to evade some authorities, the traffic lights all start turning green for them thanks to a bit of hacking they’ve done on said lights. There is no real rollerblading magic done here, it’s a very quick scene, but it’s just another example of how rollerblades were everywhere in the mid-’90s.
D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996)
In the final movie of the Mighty Ducks trilogy (and the worst in the bunch, let’s be honest), there are two rollerblading sequences. One features the gang skating together, then Goldberg going off on a madcap “I don’t skate” adventure with Charlie in pursuit, and the other features the gang playing street hockey with Coach Bombay to get them back in the spirit. The Goldberg sequence is just ridiculous — he says he can’t skate, yet goes backwards down a hill rather effortlessly and manages to land on his feet after jumping off a bridge. Yeah. Sure you can’t skate, sure.
Batman and Robin (1997)
Everyone’s least favorite Batman movie, Batman and Robin, featured rollerblading in a four minute sequence where Batman and Robin must face off against Mr. Freeze’s henchmen in some kind of rollerblade battle. It’s absolutely ridiculous in every way. All of Mr. Freeze’s dozens and dozens of henchmen are wearing rollerblades, but Batman and Robin are wearing ice skates, which is somehow possible on the same surface? Sure. Great stuff!
Brink! (1998)
The final movie of the ‘90s to really feature rollerblading was Brink! about a young man named Andy “Brink” Brinker, played by one of our ‘90s teen dreamboats, Erik von Detten (click to read our article on him), who is good at rollerblading. He is lured to join a rival, “evil” team from his “soul skater,” laid back good guy group. Brink! was a Disney Channel Original Movie, so this story obviously falls into the more wholesome variety rather than being very edgy or anything. Nonetheless, it certainly looms large, being one of the only movies to actually feature rollerblading as a major part of the story.
Were you a rollerboy or rollergirl (or are you still?)? Did you see all these movies? Let us know in the comments!
Want even more rollerblading? Check out our other article: Brink! vs Airborne: Which ’90s Rollerblading Movie is Totally Da Bomb?
- The idea for rollerblades came about before roller skates – in-line skates were created in the early 1700s when a Dutchman attached wooden spools to strips of wood and nailed them to his shoes.
- Rollerblades as we know them were invented in 1980 by Scott and Brennan Olson in Minnesota to practice hockey in the off-season.
- Though there are many different in-line skate manufacturers today, Rollerblade Inc. is credited with introducing the first polyurethane boot and wheels, the first heel brakes, and the development of Active Brake Technology.
- Rollerblade Inc. has about 200 patents and 116 registered trademarks.
- The Olson brothers eventually sold Rollerblade Inc. It is now owned by Nordica, which is part of the Tecnica Group.
- The idea for rollerblades came about before roller skates – in-line skates were created in the early 1700s when a Dutchman attached wooden spools to strips of wood and nailed them to his shoes.
- Rollerblades as we know them were invented in 1980 by Scott and Brennan Olson in Minnesota to practice hockey in the off-season.
- Though there are many different in-line skate manufacturers today, Rollerblade Inc. is credited with introducing the first polyurethane boot and wheels, the first heel brakes, and the development of Active Brake Technology.
- Rollerblade Inc. has about 200 patents and 116 registered trademarks.
- The Olson brothers eventually sold Rollerblade Inc. It is now owned by Nordica, which is part of the Tecnica Group.
