IMDb 7.3 2007 HD

The Man Who Souled the World

The Man Who Souled the World

2007
Documentary
87 min NR USA
6.3 / 10
7.3 IMDB

Steve Rocco, the controversial godfather of street, led a cultural revolution during the early 1990s topping the corporate giants who controlled the skateboard industry and ushering in the…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Bod Boyle / Steve Douglas / Matt Hill / Howard Paar
Starring
Steve Rocco / Jason 'Wee Man' Acuña / Johnny Knoxville / Sean Cliver / Rick Kosick / Mike Vallely / Jeff Tremaine / Celeste Baily

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

disruptive revolutionary controversial innovative savage entertaining raw influential cultural legacy anarchic bold

Reviews

I
Isabelle Dubois
May 4, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

This documentary dissects the controversial reign of Steve Rocco in the skateboarding world, painting a picture of a cultural revolution. The film captures the volatile spirit of the early '90s, a period defined by both innovation and a…

D
David Sterling
May 4, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A potent and often exhilarating dive into the mind of Steve Rocco, the man who undeniably altered the course of skateboarding. 'The Man Who Souled the World' doesn't shy away from the 'savage' and 'degenerate' aspects of the…

S
Sophia Chen
May 4, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

This exploration of Steve Rocco and his influence on skateboarding is a fascinating, albeit uneven, ride. The film grapples with the 'degenerate' and 'savage' elements of the era, juxtaposing them with undeniable innovation. While the director is uncredited,…

M
Marcus Bellweather
May 4, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'The Man Who Souled the World' is a vital, if unpolished, chronicle of a seismic shift in skateboarding. Steve Rocco emerges as a complex, almost mythical figure, whose drive reshaped the sport. The film captures the chaotic energy…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 4, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This documentary plunges into the raw, untamed heart of early '90s skateboarding, presenting Steve Rocco as its volatile architect. The film's tone is as anarchic as the era it depicts, a whirlwind of innovation and controversy. While the…

FAQs

The film positions the early 1990s as a pivotal era of cultural revolution within skateboarding, largely spearheaded by Steve Rocco. It marks a period where independent or 'street' culture challenged and overcame established corporate control. This era is described as exceptionally 'degenerate, savage, innovative & entertaining,' a stark contrast to what came before and a foundational period for modern skateboarding.