Inspired by motocross, BMX racing emerged as a massively popular trend among many kids growing up in the early 1980s. Going on to become a medal sport in the Summer Olympics, there is a lot to like about the extreme sport, from the speed and jumps to the endurance involved.
A cultural phenomenon of the modern world, in 1986, one film captured the imagination of an entire generation bazzled by BMX racing, and it was called Rad. Arguably the only movie to put a spotlight on the action sport (other than 1983’s BMX Bandits starring Nicole Kidman, which was still quite different), Rad may not have become the most popular film in 1986… but in the eyes of those between the ages of eight and sixteen years old, it was a dream come true.
Released in theaters on March 21, 1986, through Tri-Star Pictures, Rad featured direction from Hal Needham (famous for his work on 1977’s Smokey and the Bandit and 1981’s The Cannonball Run) from a script co-written by Geoffrey Edwards and Sam Bernard. Joined by a cast that included stars like Talia Shire and Ray Walston, there were also up-and-coming talents leading the cast, like Bill Allen as the lead, Cru Jones, and Lori Loughlin (pre-Full House fame) as romantic interest Christian Hollings. Matched with the perfect ‘80s film vibe, featuring eye-popping stunts and an outstanding soundtrack that included Real Life’s “Send Me an Angel,” it is no wonder Rad has sustained itself as a cult classic all these years later.
A vivid part of many childhoods, it was a top rental in video stores throughout the 1990s, a must-watch whenever it appeared on cable, and in 2020, it was released as a limited-edition 4K UHD/Blu-ray set through Vinegar Syndrome. Still at the forefront of memories, now in 2025, fans get the opportunity to experience A RAD Documentary.
Directed by Michael Kirsch (who previously conducted camera work on such films as 2007’s Resident Evil: Extinction and 2008’s Hancock), A RAD Documentary initially arrived for a limited theatrical run earlier in 2025. A rather cool event, the original film and documentary premiered on March 20, 2025, at over 700 theaters across North America on the eve of RAD Day 2025.
Made possible by Utopia and Fathom Entertainment, if you missed this exceptional experience, don’t worry, because A RAD Documentary became available on April 22, 2025, on several streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime and Apple TV. With that in mind, diehard fans can also find the documentary as part of the new Collector’s Edition Blu-ray release of Rad that arrived on June 17, 2025, through Mill Creek Entertainment.
Providing you with plenty of options to experience A RAD Documentary, some might ask – what does it add to the original film’s legacy? A good question, at just over an hour, A RAD Documentary provides multiple perspectives from key cast members, including Bill Allen, Writers Geoffrey Edwards and Sam Bernard, along with archival interviews with the late Hal Needham.
All accounts are intriguing to listen to, but perhaps the most interesting interviews come from the stunt riders themselves. Not natural actors, these individuals were inserted into Rad to lend a sense of realism and also execute some stunning BMX bike stunts that no one else could pull off. Adding personal, fond memories to the mix, you are given a whole new outlook and respect for the original film.
Well-paced, informative, and extremely fun, A RAD Documentary is an excellent homage to a highly underappreciated film that shaped the world of many ’80s youths. That is why A RAD Documentary is highly recommended, with Cryptic Rock giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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