From Flicks to Kicks -- 10 of the Best and Worst Movie-inspired Sneakers

When it comes to sneaker design inspiration, few stones are left unturned: TV shows, video game characters, the Seven Deadly Sins. And movies. Always movies. Even if sneakers didn't play a prominent role in said movie (even if no one in the movie wore sneakers at all), there's always some stylistic element that can be pulled and twisted ad turned into a limited release. Some are good ideas. Others, not so good. Here's 10 that stand out.

See the best film-inspired footwear after the jump then follow the link for the worst.



"Back To The Future II" - Nike "McFly" Hyperdunk

It's hard to believe that it took Nike so long to come out with a Marty McFly shoe. Not that sneakerheads even existed in 1989 when "Back to the Future II" came out, but kids of all ages have been clamoring for a McFly shoe ever since Marty pulled them out of the box. (Um, they came in a box, right?) Well, the floodgates have opened. And while the Innovation Kitchen has yet to sort out self-tying laces, the "McFly" Hyperdunk (pictured) and Hypermax pay worthy homage to (and use design cues from) the Tinker Hatfield designed sneaker that never was.


"Rad" - Vans Era

Unless you're a BMXer, a hipster, or both, you probably don't remember "Rad" at all. A four-word synopsis would read something like this: Rocky on BMX bikes. The 1986 movie was also a product placement extravaganza-Mongoose bikes, Kix cereal and Vans sneakers. Long before Nike ID was even a thought, Vans offered custom options of all their styles. The "Rad" midsole strip was just one possibility. Simple and, well, rad. The Rad shoes returned more recently as well...but you still can't get an official version of the movie on DVD. Haters.


"Star Wars" - adidas Consortium Super Stars

There might be cooler movie-to-shoe tie-ins than the "Star Wars" adidas Consortium Super Stars, but there's no way there's ever been a pair with cooler packaging. Both the Darth Vader black pair and the Yoda off-whites came on a blister card much like those that contained the original "Star Wars" action figures. And while the concept may have soared over the heads of younger collectors, the over-30 crowd--the ones who knew Greedo shot first--ate these up.


"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" - Nike "Ferris Bueller" SB Dunk Hi

There are those people who believe Ferris Bueller's outfit from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" should have been incinerated, not turned into a sneaker. Those people, it appears, do not work for Nike SB. Which is a good thing, because somehow brown, tan, white, yellow and leopard print turned into something good. Danke schön.

"White Men Can't Jump" - Nike Hyperizes

"White Men Can't Jump" was always about the sneakers. Yes, it was also about people, especially how Rosie Perez wanted to go on "Jeopardy" and kill off a few million innocent viewers with her voice. But it was the shoes-Sidney Deane's immaculate Air Flight Lites and Billy Hoyle's battered Command Forces-that told the story even before the story was told. Nike has finally paid homage with a couple pairs of Hyperizes, including this Sidney Deane pair. Note how the tongue extension mimics his Colnago bike hat, then go listen to some Jimi. If you can.