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Minding the Gap (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Minding the Gap (2018) movie poster

Minding the Gap is a 2018 documentary starring Bing Liu, Zack Mulligan and Kiere Johnson. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes and earned $90,328 worldwide. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 89 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.0/10. Stream it on Hulu.

IMDb rating
8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes
100%
worldwide gross
$90.3K
award nominations
2
Minding the Gap (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 33m (93 min)
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Minding the Gap About?

The premise of Minding the Gap without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Growing up in Rockford, Illinois, a city in America's Rust Belt, two young skateboarders navigate the complexities of friendship and masculinity. Over twelve years, filmmaker Bing Liu documents their lives, revealing the impact of abusive home lives and the challenges of forming adult identities. The film explores the fragility of relationships and the lasting effects of trauma as the friends confront difficult truths about themselves and the world around them.

Minding the Gap Themes & Keywords

· 21 tags
  • coming of age drama
  • father son relationship
  • dysfunctional family
  • child abuse
  • skateboarding
  • substance abuse
  • high school dropout
  • half sibling
  • film director as character
  • rockford illinois
  • tattoo
  • no trespassing sign
+9 more
  • roof of building
  • parking garage
  • shotgunning a beer
  • domestic abuse
  • aunt niece relationship
  • what happened to epilogue
  • scene during end credits
  • wedding
  • masculinity
Where to watch

Where to Watch Minding the Gap

Stream it on Hulu. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Stream 1

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Minding the Gap Cast

Bing Liu leads the cast, with Zack Mulligan and Kiere Johnson.

Ratings

Minding the Gap Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Minding the Gap 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 89 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 90/100, strongest in art & craft (92) and weakest in story & flow (85).

90 /100

Minding the Gap Echo Score Breakdown

Minding the Gap excels in its empathetic portrayal of young adulthood and societal pressures. Reviews highlight Bing Liu’s intimate direction and dynamic editing that link skateboarding sequences to themes of violence and hope. The film’s balanced pacing and authentic interactions sustain engagement while confronting economic and personal struggles. Despite some remarks on occasional looseness in narrative cohesion, the documentary maintains a resonant impact. Overall, it leaves a lasting impression as a heartfelt and thought-provoking exploration of friendship and resilience.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 92

    In terms of art and craft, the film showcases consistently striking camerawork and precise editing that underscore its themes. Critics noted the fluid transitions between past and present, and the skateboarding interludes are captured with low-gliding compositions. Production design remains understated, allowing environments to convey economic reality. The overall visual coherence amplifies the emotional narrative, resulting in a polished yet grounded aesthetic.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    When it comes to character and emotion, the documentary delivers deeply felt portrayals of three friends navigating adulthood. The director’s familiarity with subjects fosters authenticity, drawing out nuanced reflections on family dynamics and masculinity. Emotional resonance emerges through candid interviews and moments of vulnerability during conversations, particularly involving the filmmaker’s own history. This sustained intimacy engenders strong empathy and a compelling connection to each individual’s journey.

  • Story & Flow 85

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative occasionally felt loosely structured, with an opening section that some viewers found aimless. However, the chronological shifts and reflective voiceovers create a cohesive arc that charts the subjects’ growth over several years. Pacing accelerates around key revelations, maintaining engagement through contrasts between youthful exuberance and sobering realities. Ultimately, the documentary delivers a clear and emotionally impactful coming-of-age progression.

  • Sensory Experience 88

    When it comes to sensory experience, the film’s visual style is its strongest asset, combining crisp skateboarding sequences with an understated color palette. Sound design remains subtle, allowing ambient noises of wheels on pavement to heighten authenticity. The cohesive audiovisual approach reinforces the documentary’s grounded tone. Overall, the sensory presentation supports rather than distracts, enriching the viewer’s immersion in each moment.

  • Rewatch Factor 87

    For rewatch factor, the film offers strong lasting appeal through its layered thematic exploration. The interwoven timelines and evolving friendships invite return viewings to catch subtle narrative details. Emotional depth and thematic resonance around family and societal issues remain compelling on repeat, though the somber tone may temper casual revisits. Overall, the documentary maintains considerable replay value for viewers interested in nuanced character studies and social commentary.

Plot

Minding the Gap Plot Summary

What happens in Minding the Gap from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Three young men come together in a quest to break free from the turbulent dynamics of their families in their Rust Belt hometown. As they confront the challenges of adulthood, unexpected truths put their decade-long friendship to the test.

Full summary

The whole story of Minding the Gap, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Minding the Gap Box Office

Minding the Gap grossed $90,328 worldwide. $11,998 came from the US and Canada and $78,330 (87%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$90.3K

US & Canada
$12K
International
$78.3K
US & Canada 13% Rest of the world 87%
Awards

Minding the Gap Awards & Nominations

Minding the Gap was nominated for 1 Oscar. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.

2 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Minding the Gap Trailers & Videos

3 videos: 1 trailer, 1 clip and 1 featurette.

Full Trailer
  • Clip
  • Featurette Featurette
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Minding the Gap?

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 setting of 'Minding the Gap'?

Details

Minding the Gap Also Known As

10 alternative titles, including “Minding the Gap: An American Skateboarding Story” and “화해의 조건”.

Also known as
  • Minding the Gap: An American Skateboarding Story
  • 화해의 조건
  • 行き止まりの世界に生まれて
  • Соберись перед прыжком
  • 滑板少年
  • 我們為什麼溜滑板
  • Jutro albo pojutrze
  • Tablas rotas. Minding the Gap
  • להתגבר על הפער
  • Προσοχή στο Κενό

Seen Minding the Gap?

FAQ

Minding the Gap FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Minding the Gap, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Minding the Gap?

Minding the Gap runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).

When was Minding the Gap released?

Minding the Gap was released on August 17, 2018.

Who is in the cast of Minding the Gap?

Minding the Gap stars Bing Liu, Zack Mulligan and Kiere Johnson.

Where can I watch Minding the Gap?

In the US, Minding the Gap is streaming on Hulu (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Minding the Gap make at the box office?

Minding the Gap grossed $90,328 worldwide ($11,998 domestic, $78,330 international).

How is Minding the Gap rated?

Minding the Gap has 8.0/10 on IMDb, 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 89 on Metacritic and 77% on TMDB.

Was Minding the Gap nominated for any awards?

Minding the Gap received 2 nominations across 2 ceremonies.

Does Minding the Gap have a post-credit scene?

No. Minding the Gap has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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