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Action drama

Gleaming the Cube (1989): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Gleaming the Cube (1989) movie poster

Gleaming the Cube is a 1989 action drama directed by Graeme Clifford, starring Christian Slater, Ed Lauter and Steven Bauer. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes and earned $2.8 million worldwide. Critics gave it 29% on Rotten Tomatoes and 40 on Metacritic.

Rotten Tomatoes
29%
worldwide gross
$2.8M
Metascore
40
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Gleaming the Cube (1989) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 40m (100 min)
Director
Graeme Clifford
Genres
Action , Drama , Mystery
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Gleaming the Cube About?

The premise of Gleaming the Cube without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A rebellious skateboarder in California investigates the death of his adopted Vietnamese brother. His search for answers leads him down a dangerous path, uncovering secrets related to the Vietnam War and the circumstances surrounding his brother's life. Driven by a need for justice and fueled by a thirst for vengeance, he confronts a complex web of deception and must navigate a perilous journey to find the truth.

Gleaming the Cube Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • 1980s
  • teenage boy
  • murder investigation
  • detective
  • amateur detective
  • teen angst
  • death of brother
  • murder
  • father daughter relationship
  • father son relationship
  • mother son relationship
  • adopted son
+38 more
  • skater
  • brother brother relationship
  • organized crime
  • xenophobia
  • revenge
  • interracial relationship
  • skateboarding
  • vietnamese american
  • skateboard
  • extreme sport
  • conspiracy
  • breaking and entering
  • empty swimming pool
  • car chase
  • crying
  • accidental killing
  • explosion
  • hostage
  • teenage girl
  • mourning
  • arms smuggling
  • murder disguised as a suicide
  • cult film
  • urban setting
  • arrest
  • abduction
  • following someone
  • car theft
  • villain
  • motorcycle
  • bicycle
  • grave
  • police station
  • police car
  • telephone booth
  • funeral
  • telephone call
  • airplane
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Cast & crew

Gleaming the Cube Cast

Christian Slater leads the cast, with Ed Lauter and Steven Bauer. Directed by Graeme Clifford; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Graeme Clifford

More films directed by Graeme Clifford, best-rated first: Frances, Write & Wrong, Family Sins and Profoundly Normal.

Full filmography
Ratings

Gleaming the Cube Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Gleaming the Cube 29% on Rotten Tomatoes and 40 on Metacritic.

Plot

Gleaming the Cube Plot Summary

What happens in Gleaming the Cube from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the sun-drenched suburbs of Orange County, California, we meet Brian Kelly, a high school student whose life is characterized by a lack of direction and purpose. His passion for skateboarding frequently clashes with his parents’ growing frustration over his reckless behavior, which has led to numerous encounters with the law. Amidst this turbulent backdrop, Brian finds a source of solace and understanding in his adopted Vietnamese brother, Vinh. Vinh is a hardworking shipping clerk at the Vietnamese Anti-Communist Relief Fund (VACRF), an organization dedicated to sending vital medical supplies to Vietnam. However, Vinh uncovers a troubling discrepancy in their records that he feels compelled to address.

Full summary

The whole story of Gleaming the Cube, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Gleaming the Cube Box Office

Gleaming the Cube grossed $2.8 million worldwide.

1989 box office

Worldwide gross

$2.8M

US & Canada
$2.8M
Videos

Gleaming the Cube Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Gleaming the Cube.

Gleaming The Cube HD - OFFICIAL TRAILER - SKATE
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Gleaming the Cube?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the primary passion of the main character, Brian Kelly?

Cars

Cars in Gleaming the Cube

74 cars on screen, including the 1988 Chevrolet Corvette C4 and the 1981 Chevrolet Impala.

All 74 cars
  • 1988 Chevrolet Corvette C4 in Gleaming the Cube 1988 Chevrolet Corvette C4 Important role
  • 1981 Chevrolet Impala in Gleaming the Cube 1981 Chevrolet Impala Important role
  • 1978 Ford Courier in Gleaming the Cube 1978 Ford Courier Important role
  • 1983 Kawasaki GPZ 550 in Gleaming the Cube 1983 Kawasaki GPZ 550 Important role
Details

Gleaming the Cube Also Known As

17 alternative titles, including “A Brother's Justice” and “Skate or Die”.

Also known as
  • A Brother's Justice
  • Skate or Die
  • Rebellen auf Skateboards
  • Tödliches Risiko
  • 危险之至
  • Tödliches Risiko - Gleaming the Cube
  • Al filo del abismo
  • Gleaming Heart
  • California Skate - Gleaming the Cube
  • 滑出彩虹
  • Достигая невозможного
  • Halálos biztonsággal
+5 more
  • Mistrz deskorolki
  • Skates: Na Pista da Morte
  • 스케이트 보드
  • Jdi do toho!
  • Al límit de l’abisme

Seen Gleaming the Cube?

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Movies Like Gleaming the Cube

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Thrashin', Code of Silence and A Dangerous Place.

FAQ

Gleaming the Cube FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Gleaming the Cube, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Gleaming the Cube?

Gleaming the Cube runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).

When was Gleaming the Cube released?

Gleaming the Cube was released on January 13, 1989.

Who directed Gleaming the Cube?

Gleaming the Cube was directed by Graeme Clifford.

More films by Graeme Clifford

Who is in the cast of Gleaming the Cube?

Gleaming the Cube stars Christian Slater, Ed Lauter and Steven Bauer, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Gleaming the Cube make at the box office?

Gleaming the Cube grossed $2.8 million worldwide.

How is Gleaming the Cube rated?

Gleaming the Cube has 29% on Rotten Tomatoes, 40 on Metacritic and 60% on TMDB.

Does Gleaming the Cube have a post-credit scene?

No. Gleaming the Cube has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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