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Since James Naismith invented basketball in 1891, the game has evolved into one of the world’s most popular sports. Incredible stories of triumph and success within the game have come from gyms and playgrounds the world over.
Some films have retold the sport’s great tales, whilst others devised their own. Some sought out the talents of real-life players, and other times actors had to learn the skills necessary to hang with the best on the court. Whatever play the filmmakers chose to run, the results have given us some of the sports movie sub-genre’s greatest additions.
10 Above The Rim Is The Hood Movie With Hoops
The conclusion to Barry Michael Cooper’s Harlem Trilogy is as hard-hitting and gritty as you’d expect. A movie about far more than basketball, Above The Rim gives audiences all the excitement of the game of basketball alongside a haunting look at gang life and the teenagers that get sucked into it.
Tupac Shakur steals the show as gangster Birdie. The rapper’s performance was widely praised, and with Bernie Mac and Marlon Wayans in the mix as well, Above The Rim more than earns its place among the best.
9 All Is Fair In Love And Basketball
Anyone who says girls can’t play the game clearly never saw Gina Prince-Bythewood’s romantic drama Love & Basketball. Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps star as childhood sweethearts pursuing their respective basketball careers, and falling in love while doing so.
The film has gained a huge following since its release in 2000. Its emotional story, soundtrack, and excellent direction cement the movie as a true cult classic and the love story you never knew the game needed.
8 Semi-Pro Is A Comedy Worthy Of The Court
For a light-hearted look at one of the world’s most popular sports, Semi-Pro is the ticket. Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, and Andre 3000 team up to deliver a hilarious spoof of professional basketball in the 1970s. Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, owner, coach, and player for the fictional Flint Tropics, an ABA team on a mission to join the big leagues of the NBA.
The film is littered with over-the-top action and outrageous cameos, including one from legendary soul singer Patti Labelle as she appears in a dream and invents the famous alley-oop play for the Flint Tropics to use in-game.
7 The Way Back Covers Heavy Topics
The Way Back’s suffering at the box office due to the COVID-19 pandemic meant that the film missed the eyes of many basketball and movie fans in 2020, which is a shame as star Ben Affleck’s performance alone makes the movie worth watching.
The film focuses on an alcoholic as he coaches the basketball team at his former high school. No stranger to great performances, Affleck drew from his own experiences with addiction and gave the film a welcome dose of realism to support its terrific on-court action.
6 Ray Allen Is An Asphalt Ace In He Got Game
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee is a hugely significant figure in American cinema, and his addition to the basketball movie sub-genre is no different. He Got Game is the story of convict Jake Shuttlesworth and his attempts to persuade his son Jesus, a high-ranking basketball prospect, to go to college in exchange for a shorter sentence.
Legendary shooting guard Ray Allen plays Jesus opposite Denzel Washington’s Jake, and both performances earned praise from audiences and critics alike.
5 When It Comes To Basketball Movies, Coach Carter Knows How To Win
A sports drama of the highest quality, the true-to-life tale Coach Carter is gripping and emotional through all four quarters. As well as giving audiences a thought-provoking look at the life of the student-athlete, the film accurately captures the excitement and thrills of basketball in a way that few movies have managed.
Samuel L. Jackson gives an all-star level performance in the title role, and his sensational speeches are some of the best of his career. He’s backed up by an excellent supporting cast including Ashanti and a young Channing Tatum.
4 Space Jam Showcases More Than Just Jordan’s Love Of The Game
Michael Jordan may well take it personally not to be number one on this list; if there ever were a player worthy of finishing in first place, it’s the former Chicago Bull. Jordan’s venture into movies was a roaring success as his on-screen charisma and comedic timing impressed many, and with the help of Bugs Bunny and The Looney Tunes, Space Jam became a pop-culture phenomenon.
The film’s sequel is on the way, with Space Jam: A New Legacy set to release in theaters on July 16th.
3 Hoop Dreams Is A Harsh Reminder Regarding The Road To Stardom
The quintessential basketball documentary film, Hoop Dreams offers a world-shattering view of the realities of becoming a professional basketball player. The film shows the struggles young athletes face through an unfiltered lens, allowing viewers an intimate courtside seat to the journey of the documentary’s subjects.
The film navigates the American education system, poverty, systemic racism, and the game itself with great care and integrity, and the result is a fascinating look into the world of high school, college, and professional basketball.
2 Wesley And Woody Bring Their A-Game In White Men Can’t Jump
The relentless trash talk and the clink of chain nets have been music to the ears of many a basketball fan since 1992’s White Men Can’t Jump released. Woody Harrelson teamed up with Wesley Snipes to deliver a hilarious and touching adventure in the world of street basketball.
The delightful duo fool other players into believing they have no skills, setting up hustles with often hilarious results. For many fans, Snipes and Harrelson are cinema’s answer to Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
1 When It Comes To Sports Movie Magic, Hoosiers Is Hard To Beat
The fundamental basketball movie, Hoosiers, also known as Best Shot, is an inspirational and uplifting film revolving around a small-town team as they chase the unlikeliest of goals: a state championship. Regarded by many as the greatest sports movie ever made, regardless of the sport in question, Hoosiers is a simple yet captivating story loosely based on the real-life Milan High School team and their pursuit of victory back in 1954.
Gene Hackman stars as the team’s coach, and Dennis Hopper contributes an Oscar-nominated performance as the town’s alcoholic basketball fan. Hoosiers is a must-watch for fans of basketball and sports movies in general.
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