Skate Movie Directed By Jonah Hill Still Feels Raw
The skate movie directed by Jonah Hill is Mid90s, his 2018 feature debut about a Los Angeles teenager who falls in with a group of skateboarders during the 1990s. The film has divided viewers because many praise its authentic skate culture and coming-of-age mood, while others find its rough, loose style more observational than conventionally dramatic.
What the film is about
Mid90s follows Stevie, a 13-year-old boy living in Los Angeles, who escapes a difficult home life by spending time with a crew of skaters he meets at a skate shop. The movie centers on friendship, identity, masculinity, and the way skateboarding becomes a refuge rather than just a sport.
Jonah Hill both wrote and directed the film, making it a personal project rooted in the skate and hip-hop culture he grew up around. Its period details, 4:3 framing, and use of nontraditional casting helped shape the film's lived-in feel.
Why it divides viewers
Skate culture fans often respond well to the film's authenticity, especially its casting of real skaters and its focus on the social world around skating rather than polished stunt sequences. For those viewers, the movie feels raw, specific, and emotionally honest.
Other viewers want a more conventional narrative or a bigger sports-movie payoff, and they may see the film's loose structure as intentionally small-scale or even meandering. That split explains why the movie can feel like a vivid memory to some audiences and a frustrating slice of atmosphere to others.
Release and reception
Mid90s premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2018, and A24 released it in theaters on October 19, 2018. Early critical response was strong, with one report noting a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score from 20 reviews at the time of its rollout.
The film's reception was also shaped by Jonah Hill's reputation shift, since audiences knew him primarily as an actor in comedy before seeing him as a writer-director tackling a more intimate subject. That contrast likely amplified the debate around whether the movie was a breakthrough or simply too understated for some viewers.
Key details
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Title | Mid90s |
| Director | Jonah Hill |
| Release year | 2018 |
| Premiere | Toronto International Film Festival, September 9, 2018 |
| Theatrical release | October 19, 2018 |
| Setting | 1990s Los Angeles |
| Lead actor | Sunny Suljic |
What viewers notice most
Mid90s is remembered for its mood as much as its plot, with critics and viewers repeatedly pointing to the film's nostalgic texture and its focus on adolescent uncertainty. The movie's rough humor, casual violence, and street-level perspective give it a documentary-adjacent feel even though it is scripted fiction.
Supporters tend to admire that approach because it resists a glossy Hollywood version of skateboarding. Detractors sometimes argue that the same qualities make the film feel less emotionally shaped than it could have been.
Scene-by-scene appeal
- Authentic casting helps the film feel close to real skate scenes rather than studio recreation.
- Period detail gives the movie its strong 1990s identity through fashion, music, and visual texture.
- Coming-of-age themes connect the skate story to family tension, friendship, and self-image.
- Low-key structure makes the movie feel intimate, but also explains why some audiences find it uneven.
How to read the film
- Watch it as a character study first, not as a traditional sports drama.
- Pay attention to the group dynamics, because the skaters function as a surrogate family for Stevie.
- Notice how the film uses skateboarding as a social language, not just a visual spectacle.
- Expect a reflective tone, since the movie is built around memory, mood, and adolescence.
Notable context
Jonah Hill described the film as a chance to explore the world of boys and masculinity through a specific subculture, which helps explain its emotional focus. That framing matters because the skate scenes are not just action beats; they are part of a larger story about belonging, pressure, and identity.
"Jonah Hill's directorial debut shone as an original skate film all on its own," one early review said, capturing the enthusiasm of viewers who appreciated its distinct voice.
Frequently asked
Expert answers to Skate Movie Directed By Jonah Hill Still Feels Raw queries
What is the skate movie directed by Jonah Hill?
It is Mid90s, Jonah Hill's 2018 directorial debut about a teenager drawn into a skate crew in Los Angeles.
Why did the movie divide viewers?
It divided viewers because some loved its authenticity and emotional restraint, while others wanted a more polished, conventional storyline.
Is Mid90s based on a true story?
The film is not presented as a direct true-story adaptation, but it is widely described as deeply personal and rooted in Jonah Hill's memories of skate and youth culture.
When was Mid90s released?
It premiered at TIFF on September 9, 2018, and opened in theaters on October 19, 2018.
Who stars in Mid90s?
Sunny Suljic leads the film as Stevie, with supporting roles from Lucas Hedges, Katherine Waterston, Gio Galicia, and others.