Kicks

A fifteen-year-old named Brandon works hard to afford a pair of expensive sneakers, hoping they will improve his social standing and help him escape the hardships of poverty. Shortly after acquiring them, a local criminal steals the shoes. Brandon and two of his closest friends embark on a risky journey through Oakland and the wider Bay Area to track down the thief and recover the footwear.

The film was directed by Justin Tipping, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Joshua Beirne-Golden. This was the first of two films directed by Tipping, followed by HIM in 2025. The movie features a cast that includes Jahking Guillory in the lead role, alongside Kofi Siriboe, Mahershala Ali, Christopher Meyer, C.J. Wallace, and Molly Shaiken.

Produced by Focus Features and other companies, the project had a budget of 10 million USD. On TMDB, the film has a rating of 6.7/10 based on 160 votes. Film critics provided a slightly higher score of 6.9/10 from 40 reviews.