Rooftops

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Rooftops

R

1989

1h 35m

Musical

Crime

Drama

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10%

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21 Reviews

36%

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1,000+ Ratings

A roof-dwelling combat dancer (Jason Gedrick) loves a crack king's (Eddie Velez) sister (Troy Beyer) in a Manhattan ghetto.

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Critics Consensus

A dance-driven drama with two left feet, Rooftops sees director Robert Wise returning to musical territory with surprisingly clumsy results.

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Eleanor Ringel Cater

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It's cliche-ridden, poorly acted and, worst of all, indifferently danced.

Jun 18, 2021

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Michael Pellecchia

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

The biggest letdown is the paucity of dance sequences that could have vaulted Rooftops into memorability.

Rated: 2/10

Jun 18, 2021

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Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

Wise's youthful, great-looking cast exudes talent and energy.

Jun 18, 2021

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Nathan Paige

Call and Post (Cleveland)

It's one of those films you forget a week after you've seen it.

Mar 29, 2022

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Chris Hicks

Deseret News (Salt Lake City)

The biggest problem with "Rooftops" is that it can't decide whether to be a light dance fantasy or a heavy-handed thriller.

Jun 18, 2021

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Barbara Shulgasser

San Francisco Examiner

Wise ought to be ashamed. But chances are that if he were capable of directing the vulgar and badly made "Rooftops," shame is beyond him by now.

Rated: 1/4

Jun 18, 2021

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Peter P

Underrated action-drama-romance in energetic B-movie style with New York locations you don't often see in movies. Don't expect too much action, there are no shootouts, mostly it's chasing among abandoned housings/rooftops and some brawling with the drugdealers, but it all is very physical and dynamic. Also there is some real sparkle between the main couple.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/27/23

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Audience Member

Ultra cheesy film about youth who live on the rooftops of new York and "combat dance". Final film of director Robert Wise.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Audience Member

its the only place to be.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

Totally silly movie drawing the last breath of your run-of-the-mill 80s street life movies. Has some cool dance moves in it and some capoeira as well. It has a certain kitsch value which makes it unintendedly humorous.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

A heavy on the cheese 80's film that tried to bank on the dance and martial arts craze that took place during this era thanks to films like FLASHDANCE, BREAKIN', RAPPIN', KRUSH GROOVE, BLOODSPORT and others. This is a definite predecessor to such films as YOU GOT SERVED and the rest of those shitty urban dance films. It has the same ol' 80's recipe as our hero learns the Brazilian martial art Capoiera to enhance his dancing skills and kick some drug dealer ass in the process. The flick has got all the standard elements... dancing, gang wars on rooftops, streetfights, training sequence, love and revenge. You could say this is all that made the 80's action cheese great rolled up into one movie! This guilty pleasure of mine might surprise you and who knows...you might actually like it!!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

first time I heard about capoiera

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Robert Wise

Director

Jason Gedrick

T

Troy Byer

Elana

Eddie Velez

Lobo

Alexis Cruz

Squeak

Tisha Campbell-Martin

Amber

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Synopsis

A roof-dwelling combat dancer (Jason Gedrick) loves a crack king's (Eddie Velez) sister (Troy Beyer) in a Manhattan ghetto.

Director: Robert Wise
Producer: Hawk Koch
Screenwriter: Terence Brennan
Production Co: New Visions Pictures, Mark/Jett Productions, Koch Company
Rating: R
Genre: Musical, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 28, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround

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