59 Best Basketball Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer

Critics Consensus: A heart-pumping, breathtaking, wonderfully crafted manga adaptation, The First Slam Dunk shoots and scores.

Synopsis: Shohoku's "speedster" and point guard, Ryota Miyagi, always plays with brains and lightning speed, running circles around his opponents while feigning composure. Born and raised... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Shugo Nakamura, Jun Kasama, Shinichiro Kamio, Subaru Kimura

Directed By: Takehiko Inoue

Critics Consensus: One of the most critically acclaimed documentaries of all time, Hoop Dreams is a rich, complex, heartbreaking, and ultimately deeply rewarding film that uses high school hoops as a jumping-off point to explore issues of race, class, and education in modern America.

Synopsis: Every school day, African-American teenagers William Gates and Arthur Agee travel 90 minutes each way from inner-city Chicago to St. Joseph High School in Westchester,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steve James, William Gates, Arthur Agee, Sheila Agee

Directed By: Steve James

Critics Consensus: Hustle doesn't have any fancy moves, but it doesn't need them -- Adam Sandler's everyman charm makes this easy layup fun to watch.

Synopsis: Stanley Sugerman's (Adam Sandler) love for basketball is unparalleled, but the travel weary Philadelphia 76ers scout who has higher ambitions of being a coach remains... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Adam Sandler, Juancho Hernangomez, Queen Latifah, Ben Foster

Directed By: Jeremiah Zagar

Critics Consensus: A fact-based drama that no one will dunk on, Air aims to dramatize events that changed the sports world forever -- and hits almost nothing but net.

Synopsis: From award-winning director Ben Affleck, AIR reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike's fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Viola Davis

Directed By: Ben Affleck

Critics Consensus: High Flying Bird takes a thoughtful and engrossing look at professional sports that sees Steven Soderbergh continuing to test the limits of new filmmaking technology.

Synopsis: A sports agent pitches a controversial business opportunity to a rookie basketball player during a lockout.

Starring: André Holland, Zazie Beetz, Bill Duke, Sonja Sohn

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh

Critics Consensus: It may adhere to the sports underdog formula, but Hoosiers has been made with such loving craft, and features such excellent performances, that it's hard to resist.

Synopsis: Failed college coach Norman Dale gets a chance at redemption when he is hired to direct the basketball program at a high school in a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper, Sheb Wooley

Directed By: David Anspaugh

Critics Consensus: This group of high school girls and their eccentric basketball coach easily win your heart with their unusual humanity and dynamism.

Synopsis: Filmed over a period of seven years, director Ward Serrill profiles Bill Resler, a university professor who coaches a basketball team comprised of high-school girls.... View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Ward Serrill

Critics Consensus: Confident directing and acting deliver an insightful look at young athletes.

Synopsis: Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) are two childhood friends who both aspire to be professional basketball players. Quincy, whose father, Zeke (Dennis Haysbert),... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Alfre Woodard, Dennis Haysbert

Directed By: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Critics Consensus: The Way Back's occasionally frustrating treatment of a formulaic story is often outweighed by Ben Affleck's outstanding work in the central role.

Synopsis: Jack Cunningham was a high school basketball superstar who suddenly walked away from the game for unknown reasons. Years later, he's now stuck in a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Affleck, Al Madrigal, Janina Gavankar, Jeremy Radin

Directed By: Gavin O'Connor

Critics Consensus: Though not without its flaws, He Got Game finds Spike Lee near the top of his game, combining trenchant commentary with his signature visuals and a strong performance from Denzel Washington.

Synopsis: Jake Shuttleworth (Denzel Washington) has spent the last six years in prison after accidentally killing his wife during a violent domestic dispute, leaving his son,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Denzel Washington, Ray Allen, Milla Jovovich, Rosario Dawson

Directed By: Spike Lee

Critics Consensus: White Men Can't Jump provides a fresh take on the sports comedy genre, with a clever script and a charismatic trio of leads.

Synopsis: Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson) is a white basketball hustler who banks on black players underestimating his skills on the court. When he pulls one over... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Rosie Perez, Tyra Ferrell

Directed By: Ron Shelton

Critics Consensus: Despite the predictability of its plot and its similarity to Good Will Hunting, Finding Forrester has an honest, solid feel to it and good rapport between Connery and Brown.

Synopsis: A unique relationship develops between an eccentric, reclusive novelist and a young, amazingly gifted scholar-athlete. After the novelist discovers that the young athlete is also... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sean Connery, Rob Brown, F. Murray Abraham, Anna Paquin

Directed By: Gus Van Sant

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: "Chang Can Dunk" follows Chang, a 16-year-old, Asian American high school student in the marching band, who bets the school basketball star that he can... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bloom Li, Dexter Darden, Ben Wang, Zoe Renee

Directed By: Jingyi Shao

Critics Consensus: Putting an Indigenous spin on the classic sports movie formula, Rez Ball dominates the court with its authentic feel for culture and setting.

Synopsis: In the heart of Chuska, New Mexico, the Chuska Warriors, a high school basketball team rich in Native American heritage, face their greatest challenge. After... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jessica Matten, Amber Midthunder, Kauchani Bratt, Devin Sampson Craig

Directed By: Sydney Freeland

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Audiences have never seen a story like that of the Antetokounmpos. After emigrating from Nigeria to Greece, Charles and Vera Antetokounmpo (Dayo Okeniyi and Yetide... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dayo Okeniyi, Yetide Badaki, Uche Agada, Manish Dayal

Directed By: Akin Omotoso

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: The story of Lithuania's 1992 Olympic basketball team whose athletes won the bronze medal.

Directed By: Marius A. Markevicius

Critics Consensus: Shoots and scores, dunking us into the underdog life of Stephen Curry with a smooth swish.

Synopsis: "Stephen Curry: Underrated" is the remarkable coming-of-age story of one of the most influential, dynamic and unexpected players in the history of basketball. This feature... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steph Curry

Directed By: Peter Nicks

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Disney comedy about a professor who invents a revolutionary flying rubber, which he dubs "flubber". Not only does the professor's Model T Ford fly through... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk

Directed By: Robert Stevenson

Critics Consensus: Dry and upbeat, this story of overachieving academics struggling as underdog athletes is a winner (even if their basketball team isn't).

Synopsis: The men's basketball team at Caltech attempts to break a 21-year losing streak in the final game.

Directed By: Rick Greenwald

Critics Consensus: Sporting a terrific voice cast, nifty animation, and a solid moral for youngsters, GOAT plays a familiar game with enough style and finesse to come close to the greats.

Synopsis: From Sony Pictures Animation, the studio behind Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, comes GOAT, an original action-comedy set in an all-animal world. The story follows Will,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Steph Curry, Nicola Coughlan

Directed By: Tyree Dillihay

Critics Consensus: Though the film may not delve as deep as some would prefer, More Than a Game is an inspiring documentary featuring likable youngsters, a positive message, and some exciting in-game footage.

Synopsis: Filmmaker Kristopher Belman chronicles the early career of basketball superstar LeBron James. James and four other talented teammates were a powerhouse combination at St. Vincent-St.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: LeBron James, Dru Joyce, Romeo Travis, Sian Cotton

Directed By: Kristopher Belman

Critics Consensus: This sports bio documentary is given a few fresh angles, including culture clash issues, and the friendship that develops between Yao and his interpreter.

Synopsis: This documentary chronicles Yao Ming's first year of playing in the National Basketball Association. When Ming signs with the Houston Rockets, he becomes the first... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ming Yao, Shaquille O'Neal

Directed By: Adam Del Deo, James D. Stern

Critics Consensus: Though well-intentioned and serious in its exploration of teen violence, O is an uneven experiment that doesn't quite succeed.

Synopsis: Moving the classic tale of Othello onto the basketball courts of a high school, the story focuses on a young black man named Odin (Mekhi... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mekhi Phifer, Josh Hartnett, Julia Stiles, Andrew Keegan

Directed By: Tim Blake Nelson

Critics Consensus: It won't win many converts, but High School Musical 3 is bright, energetic, and well-crafted.

Synopsis: Amid preparations for a basketball championship, prom, and graduation, sweethearts Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) and Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) vow to savor every moment, knowing... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel

Directed By: Kenny Ortega

Critics Consensus: Linsanity offers a compelling enough look at its basketball star subject for fans and curious viewers, even if it never really delves below the surface.

Synopsis: Filmmaker Evan Jackson Leong chronicles the rise of basketball star Jeremy Lin, the first man of Chinese/Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA.

Starring: Daniel Dae Kim, Jeremy Lin, Ming Yao, Landry Fields

Directed By: Evan Jackson Leong

Critics Consensus: Even though it's based on a true story, Coach Carter is pretty formulaic stuff, but it's effective and energetic, thanks to a strong central performance from Samuel L. Jackson.

Synopsis: In 1999, Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) returns to his old high school in Richmond, California, to get the basketball team into shape. With tough... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Ri'chard, Rob Brown, Ashanti

Directed By: Thomas Carter

Critics Consensus: Kyrie Irving's crossover to comedy is amiable enough to score with basketball fans, but Uncle Drew is held back by formulaic plotting and too much product placement.

Synopsis: After draining his life savings to enter a team in the Rucker Classic street ball tournament in Harlem, Dax is dealt a series of setbacks,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kyrie Irving, Lil Rel Howery, Nick Kroll, Shaquille O'Neal

Directed By: Charles Stone III

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A gifted basketball player struggles to fit in with his new team at an elite prep school.

Starring: Michael Rainey Jr., Josh Charles, Brian White, Sharon Leal

Directed By: Ryan Koo

Critics Consensus: Although its apparent attempts to be uplifting can often come across as patronizing, Champions is an amiable enough comedy with some seriously talented stars.

Synopsis: Woody Harrelson stars in the hilarious and heartwarming story of a former minor-league basketball coach who, after a series of missteps, is ordered by the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, Ernie Hudson, Cheech Marin

Directed By: Robert Farrelly

Critics Consensus: Though it uses a well-worn formula, 17 Again has just enough Zac Efron charm to result in a harmless, pleasurable teen comedy.

Synopsis: Mike O'Donnell (Matthew Perry) was a high-school basketball star with a bright future, but he threw it all away to marry his girlfriend and raise... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Matthew Perry

Directed By: Burr Steers

Critics Consensus: A pleasant and innocuous diversion for kids, but adults may have trouble sitting through the movie's predictable plotlines and schmaltz.

Synopsis: Fourteen-year-old, hoops-loving Calvin Cambridge has a dream: to be a famous basketball player -- to mix it up among the NBA's greatest. But in a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Shad "Bow Wow" Moss, Morris Chestnut, Jonathan Lipnicki, Robert Forster

Directed By: John Schultz

Critics Consensus: As formulaic as sports movies get, this underdog story still triumphs on the strength of its inspiring story.

Synopsis: After being appointed the new coach of the 1966 Texas Miners, Don Haskins (Josh Lucas) decides to build a team based on talent rather than... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Josh Lucas, Derek Luke, Austin Nichols, Jon Voight

Directed By: James Gartner

Critics Consensus: Although Shooting Stars isn't without its engaging moments, this dramatized look back at LeBron James' early years is less entertaining than simply watching him play.

Synopsis: Shooting Stars is set in the 1990s, where a young LeBron James (Marquis "Mookie" Cook) and his three best friends -- Lil Dru (Caleb McLaughlin,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Wood Harris, Marquis Mookie Cook, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalie Paul

Directed By: Chris Robinson

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Increasingly estranged from his own daughter, a boozy busboy (Sam Rockwell) gets a shot at redemption when an old friend (Rob Corddry) hires him to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Emma Roberts, Rob Corddry, Shareeka Epps

Directed By: James C. Strouse

Critics Consensus: Air Bud's wacky concept isn't entirely enough to fill a feature-length film, but this rather silly family-friendly outing is partly redeemed by its extremely charming title character.

Synopsis: Diffident in the wake of his father's death, high schooler Josh (Kevin Zegers) struggles to adapt to his new home in Washington state. That all... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Jeter, Kevin Zegers, Wendy Makkena, Bill Cobbs

Directed By: Charles Martin Smith

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A high-school basketball star (Duane Martin) is torn by loyalties to a drug dealer (Tupac Shakur) and an ex-player (Leon).

Starring: Duane Martin, Leon, Tupac Shakur, David Bailey

Directed By: Jeff Pollack

Critics Consensus: Well-intentioned but formulaic, Just Wright has winning leads but can't overcome its preponderance of cliches.

Synopsis: Physical therapist Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah) lands the dream job of working with basketball superstar Scott McKnight (Common). All goes well until Leslie finds that... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Queen Latifah, Common, Paula Patton, James Pickens Jr.

Directed By: Sanaa Hamri

Critics Consensus: In spite of its young leading man's heroic efforts to hold it all together, a muddled message prevents The Basketball Diaries from compelling as a cautionary tale.

Synopsis: Jim Carroll (Leonardo DiCaprio) is consumed by his life as a high school basketball star. Pressured by a wicked coach (Bruno Kirby) and a concerned... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Bruno Kirby, Lorraine Bracco, Ernie Hudson

Directed By: Scott Kalvert

Critics Consensus: Though Michael J. Fox is as charismatic as ever, Teen Wolf's coming-of-age themes can't help but feel a little stale and formulaic.

Synopsis: When high school nerd Scott Howard (Michael J. Fox) learns from his father, Harold (James Hampton), that being a werewolf runs in the family, he... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael J. Fox, James Hampton, Scott Paulin, Susan Ursitti

Directed By: Rod Daniel

Critics Consensus: While it's no slam dunk, Space Jam's silly, Looney Toons-laden slapstick and vivid animation will leave younger viewers satisfied -- though accompanying adults may be more annoyed than entertained.

Synopsis: Swackhammer (Danny DeVito), an evil alien theme park owner, needs a new attraction at Moron Mountain. When his gang, the Nerdlucks, heads to Earth to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight, Theresa Randle, Larry Bird

Directed By: Joe Pytka

Critics Consensus: Its heart is obviously in the right place, but The Mighty Macs is too blandly formulaic to transcend the genre's many clichés.

Synopsis: In 1971, Immaculata College finds a new coach, Cathy Rush (Carla Gugino), to head its women's basketball team. Right from the start, Cathy faces an... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Carla Gugino, Ellen Burstyn, Marley Shelton, David Boreanaz

Directed By: Tim Chambers

Critics Consensus: Boogie misses its shot with a contrived plot and uneven tone.

Synopsis: From acclaimed writer, producer and restaurateur Eddie Huang comes his directorial debut BOOGIE, the coming-of-age story of Alfred "Boogie" Chin, a basketball phenom living in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Taylor Takahashi, Taylour Paige, Pamelyn Chee, Mike Moh

Directed By: Eddie Huang

Critics Consensus: Director William Friedkin is working with a strong cast, but an excess of sentimentality renders this basketball drama more than a little flat.

Synopsis: Pete Bell (Nick Nolte) is a college basketball coach who has to improve his team's standing -- by any means necessary. His hopes are pinned... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nick Nolte, Mary McDonnell, Shaquille O'Neal, J.T. Walsh

Directed By: William Friedkin

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A team of middle-aged Texas women, all former high-school basketball champions, challenges the current team of state champions to a series of games to raise... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brooke Shields, Daryl Hannah, Virginia Madsen, Camryn Manheim

Directed By: Susan Seidelman

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Anthony is a standout player on his Manhattan high school's basketball team with seemingly everything going for him: a killer three-point shot, a loving girlfriend,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Shannon, Carla Gugino, Taylor John Smith, Chris Bauer

Directed By: Bart Freundlich

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A teenage klutz (Taylor Gray) becomes the star of his high-school basketball team when he magically acquires the abilities of his hero, NBA star Kevin... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kevin Durant, Taylor Gray, Brandon T. Jackson, Larramie Doc Shaw

Directed By: John Whitesell

Critics Consensus: Never mind being able to get air -- the White Men Can't Jump remake struggles to come up with reasons for its own existence.

Synopsis: From 20th Century Studios, the all-new comedy "White Men Can't Jump" is a modern remix of the iconic 1992 film that celebrates the streetball hustling... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sinqua Walls, Jack Harlow, Teyana Taylor, Laura Harrier

Directed By: Calmatic

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Hall of Famer Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton makes history as the first African American to sign an NBA contract, forever changing how the game of basketball... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Everett Osborne, Kevin Pollak, Jeremy Piven, Cary Elwes

Directed By: Martin Guigui

Critics Consensus: Despite LeBron James' best efforts to make a winning team out of the Tune Squad, Space Jam: A New Legacy trades the zany, meta humor of its predecessor for a shameless, tired exercise in IP-driven branding.

Synopsis: When LeBron James and his young son Dom are trapped in a digital space by a rogue A.I., LeBron must get them home safe by... View Full Synopsis

Starring: LeBron James, Don Cheadle, Cedric Joe, Khris Davis

Directed By: Malcolm D. Lee

Critics Consensus: Semi-Pro is an intermittently funny, half-hearted attempt at sports satire, and one of Will Ferrell's weaker cinematic efforts.

Synopsis: In 1976, singer Jackie Moon (Will Ferrell) uses the profits from his only hit single to fulfill a longtime dream of owning a basketball team.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, André Benjamin, Maura Tierney

Directed By: Kent Alterman

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Billy Crystal stars as Sammy, an agitated agent lost in the forest of the modern world, who happens upon a gentle giant with a tall... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Billy Crystal, Kathleen Quinlan, Gheorghe Muresan, Joanna Pacula

Directed By: Michael Lehmann

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: An American basketball coach (Kevin Bacon) learns how to play the Kenya way as he scouts a tall African (Charles Gitonga Maina).

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Charles Gitonga Maina, Yolanda Vazquez, Winston Ntshona

Directed By: Paul Michael Glaser

Critics Consensus: Whoopi Goldberg may demonstrate that she can coach a basketball team with the best of them, but not even she can whip this dreary script into shape.

Synopsis: Chauffeur Edwina "Eddie" Franklin (Whoopi Goldberg) is fanatical about the New York Knicks basketball team. After she wins a contest to be their honorary assistant... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Whoopi Goldberg, Frank Langella, Dennis Farina, Richard Jenkins

Directed By: Steve Rash

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Brothers Kenny (Marlon Wayans) and Antoine Tyler (Kadeem Hardison) have always wanted to be basketball heroes, standing out as child athletes and now as college... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Marlon Wayans, Kadeem Hardison, David Paymer, Michael Michele

Directed By: Randall Miller

Critics Consensus: Rebound ought to entertain its target audience, but there's nothing here for those who've seen The Bad News Bears or its countless derivatives.

Synopsis: Roy McCormick (Martin Lawrence) is a college basketball coach more famous for his temper than for his coaching ability. After one of his rages gets... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Martin Lawrence, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Breckin Meyer, Horatio Sanz

Directed By: Steve Carr

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Mike (Daniel Stern) and Jimmy (Dan Aykroyd) are disconsolate after watching their favorite team, the Boston Celtics, lose a game in the NBA finals. They... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Damon Wayans, Daniel Stern, Dan Aykroyd, Gail O'Grady

Directed By: Tom DeCerchio

Critics Consensus: With its tired premise, Juwanna Mann's jokes fall flat.

Synopsis: When pro basketball star Jamal Jeffries gets booted from the big leagues after an outrageous on-court stunt, his unwillingness to give up the sport leads... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Miguel A. Núñez Jr., Vivica A. Fox, Kevin Pollak, Tommy Davidson

Directed By: Jesse Vaughan

Critics Consensus: Good-natured but prepared with an absence of craft, The Cookout is an unappetizing collection of warmed-over jokes.

Synopsis: College basketball player Todd Anderson (Storm P) signs a $30 million deal with the New Jersey Nets and promptly moves to a wealthy suburb. His... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ja Rule, Tim Meadows, Jenifer Lewis, Quran Pender

Directed By: Lance Rivera

Critics Consensus: This heartfelt but incompetent, cliche-ridden sports picture is the cinematic equivalent of an airball.

Synopsis: The lives of a gifted athlete (Wesley Jonathan) and his best friend (Anthony Mackie) change when they take a fateful trip to Los Angeles. The... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Wesley Jonathan, Anthony Mackie, Wayne Brady, Kristen Wilson

Directed By: Preston A. Whitmore II