Rooftops (1989): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Rooftops is a 1989 action crime film directed by Robert Wise, starring Alexis Cruz as Squeak, Jason Gedrick and Tisha Campbell. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes and earned $2 million worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 38m (98 min)
- Director
- Robert Wise
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Koch Company
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Rooftops About?
The premise of Rooftops without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Living atop an abandoned building, T and his friends have created a rooftop house where they practice ‘combat’—a fight that pushes opponents out of the arena. When drug dealers move in and kill T’s best friend, he vows to eradicate the drug presence, but his friends hesitate, recalling the tragic fate of the friend who crossed the dealers.
Rooftops Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- bare chested male
- male underwear
- man undresses
- skinhead
- teenage boy
- homelessness
- boxer briefs
- subway
- sex scene
- running through traffic
- shell game
- chase
+38 more Show fewer
- prostitute
- hideout
- fire escape
- hero
- ladder
- rooftop
- coat
- jumping from rooftop to rooftop
- graffiti
- disguise
- water tower
- rooftop garden
- vigilante
- urban decay
- crime boss
- scrap collector
- thrown out of apartment
- reference to ed koch
- reference to larry bird
- reference to michael jackson
- six pack of beer
- dance battle
- wino
- nightclub
- power outage
- biker gang
- full moon
- motorcycle
- helmet
- thug
- mural
- police
- betrayal
- landlord
- falling through a roof
- young
- new york city
- murder of a child
Rooftops Cast & Characters
Alexis Cruz leads the cast as Squeak, with Jason Gedrick as T and Tisha Campbell as Amber. Directed by Robert Wise; 35 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Robert Wise
- Alexis Cruz as Squeak
- Jason Gedrick as T
- Tisha Campbell as Amber
- Lauren Tom as Audry
Also Starring in Rooftops
· 31 more- Troy Byer Elana
- Robert LaSardo Blade
- Luis Guzmán Martinez
- Rockets Redglare Carlos
- Paul Herman Jimmy
- Eddie Velez Lobo
- Jamie Tirelli Officer Rivera
- Allen Payne Kadim
- Stuart Rudin Wino
- Robert Weil Hotel Clerk
- Bruce Smolanoff Bones
- Daniel O'Shea Rookie Narc
- John Canada Terrell Junkie Cop
- George Gerard Man in Street (uncredited)
- Rafael Báez Raphael
- Steve Love Jackie-Sky
Show all 35 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Millie Tirelli Squeak's Mom
- Angelo Florio Cop at Dance
- Kurt D. Lott Zit
- Jay Boryea Willie
- Peter Lopez Burn
- Woodrow W. Asai Yard Foreman
- Edouard DeSoto Angelo
- Coley Wallace Lester
- Imani Parks Young Sister
- Cynthia Elane Dancer (uncredited)
- Edythe Jason Lois
- Jose Ynoa Young Cook
- Herb Kerr III Jorge
- Jed James X
- Diane Lozada Older Sister
More from Robert Wise
More films directed by Robert Wise, best-rated first: The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Sound of Music, The Haunting and The Body Snatcher.
Rooftops Plot Summary
What happens in Rooftops from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Set against the gritty backdrop of New York City, Squeak, Alexis Cruz is drawn into trouble after he and his best friend tag the wrong place, drawing a local crew of misfits who are determined to teach him a hard, unforgettable lesson. What starts as a reckless act spirals into a tense chase through busy streets, through abandoned buildings, and along perilous rooftops, where danger lurks at every corner and loyalties are tested at every turn. Squeak is eventually cornered, but the film pivots on a rescue as the city’s most unlikely ally, T, Jason Gedrick, swoops in to pull him to safety.
Full summary
The whole story of Rooftops, scene by scene
Rooftops Box Office
Rooftops grossed $2 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$2M
- US & Canada
- $2M
How Well Do You Know Rooftops?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In which city is Rooftops set?
Cars in Rooftops
53 cars on screen, including the 1983 Cadillac Seville and the Honda CB 750 C.
-
1983 Cadillac Seville Important role -
Honda CB 750 C Important role -
1979 Cadillac Coupe DeVille Minor role -
1967 Cadillac DeVille Convertible Minor role
Rooftops Also Known As
8 alternative titles, including “East side story” and “Rooftops – Dächer des Todes”.
- Also known as
-
- East side story
- Rooftops – Dächer des Todes
- Покриви
- Střechy
- Nos Telhados de Nova York
- Combat Dance - A colpi di musica
- 루프캅
- Çatılarda
Seen Rooftops?
Movies Like Rooftops
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Rogue City, Roofman and Street Mobster.
Rooftops FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Rooftops, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Rooftops?
Rooftops runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).
When was Rooftops released?
Rooftops was released on March 17, 1989.
Who directed Rooftops?
Rooftops was directed by Robert Wise.
More films by Robert Wise Who is in the cast of Rooftops?
Rooftops stars Alexis Cruz as Squeak, Jason Gedrick as T and Tisha Campbell as Amber, among 35 credited actors.
How much did Rooftops make at the box office?
Rooftops grossed $2 million worldwide.
Does Rooftops have a post-credit scene?
No. Rooftops has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
