The 10 Most Iconic Sneakers In Movie History

I don'’t know about you, but with the 90th Academy Awards literally just around the corner, what better way is there to celebrate this incredible event than by commemorating the ten most iconic sneakers in movie history?

There have been countless notable sneaker moments in cinema, ranging from elements that have directly impacted the plot, to more subdued instances that may have only registered for those dedicated to the world of sneaker collecting. With all that said, let's take a look at the top ten kicks in flicks.

Nike Air More Uptempo

To start things off, the Nike Air More Uptempo starred in 1997’'s George Of The Jungle, which is a movie that we’'ve pretty much all laid eyes on whether you like it or not. Outrageously bold and overly futuristic, especially when shown beside Brendan Fraser’'s leopard print loin cloth, these retro runners were actually re-released quite recently.

Onitsuka Tiger Tai Chi LE

Legendary director Quentin Tarantino likes to pay homage to past cinematic moments and characters. In Kill Bill Volume 1, The Bride’'s iconic yellow jumpsuit and yellow Onitsuka Tiger Tai Chi LEs’ are a tribute to Bruce Lee'’s similar ensemble from Game of Death in which the martial arts legend dons a pair of Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66s.

Nike Air Woven

Probably the most peculiar looking shoe on this list, the Nike Air Woven was a hugely significant moment that pulled sneaker design and marketing into the 21st century. Who would’'ve thought you'’d ever see Bill Murray wearing a pair? In visionary director Sofia Coppola'’s classic Lost in Translation, he pulls them off with ruffled ease.

Air Jordan 11 'Space Jam'

Michael Jordan'’s Space Jam was a cultural phenomenon, and it holds the distinction of being the highest-grossing film ever made about basketball with profits of over $90 million. In the film, Jordan takes to the court a pair of shoes that hadn'’t yet been game worn: the Air Jordan 11, and boy, were they a thing to behold. The exact pair was actually re-released in November 2016 to celebrate two decades since the film'’s release.

Nike Cortez

The Nike Cortez was created by legendary Nike co-founder, Bill Bowerman. In February 2017, it was re-released and saw the value of the shoe triple in resale value on eBay. Many attribute the surge in popularity to the 1994 film, Forrest Gump. With running a prominent theme in the film, Nike saw a natural fit with the “can-do” attitude of Forrest Gump.

Vans Checkerboard Slip-On

According to Ridgemont High director Amy Heckerling, “";In those days, a lot of actors could decide what they wanted as their costume. I grew up in Bronx, New York, and when I came on to direct the movie, I wasn'’t really familiar with Southern California culture. When Sean (Penn) showed me the shoes for his costume, I trusted his judgment. The assistant cameraman, who was the son of our director of photography and a cool southern California kid, also wore blue Vans with a black palm tree pattern… so I knew the brand was cool.”"; Nearly forty years later, the Vans Checkerboard Slip-On remains as one of the most popular silhouettes available.

Nike Air Sky Force Hi

The Goonies all had their own special talents. For Data, it was his seemingly endless arsenal of tricks that he had up his sleeves. As the Fratellis closed in on them, he chose to employ his secret weapon: slick kicks, which had been crafted out of a pair of Nike Air Sky Force Hi’s in this appropriately retro purple and white colourway.

Reebok Alien Stomper

While Ripley had to get over the trauma of her daughter ageing and dying during her inadvertently lengthy hypersleep in Alien, she got some good future sneakers after that extended snooze in the form of the Reebok Alien Stomper, which were originally promoted as the Aliens Fighter. Futuristic with just the right amount of retro, everyone and their mother wanted a pair of these back in the '70s.

Nike Vandal

When Kyle Reese shows up in 1984 to protect Sarah Connor in The Terminator, he needed to look the part of someone from that era. Heading to the local shopping centre, he picks up a pair of stealthy Nike Vandals in an appropriately tech-noir colourway of black and silver.

Nike Air MAG

How in the world can there be any list commemorating the most iconic sneakers in movie history without including the legendary Nike Air MAGs?

When people talk about the second Back to the Future film, they talk about Marty McFly'’s self-fastening Nikes before the actual the plot itself. For anyone familiar with the film, Marty'’s time travelling trips finds him in 2015 - swapping out his Nike Bruins for something more “of the period.”

Here'’s a fun fact, when it came time to achieve the Power Laces effect back when the film was being shot, there was actually a prop man under the street who was pulling the laces together. Of course, we all know that this is a thing of the past, with the release of a fully operating Nike Air MAG in 2016 which comes complete with Power Laces!

What do you think of our list of the ten most iconic sneakers in movie history? Do you agree with it or do you think there should be a few more worthy mentions? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to keep it locked here at The Sole Supplier for the latest and greatest in sneakers!