Every basketball movie that matters, ranked
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Ranking the basketball flicks that matter
Sports and film have always been synonymous with drama, so it makes sense that Hollywood continues to churn out basketball movies.
From the eye-roll-worthy films to the classics, we used Metacritic, along with other review sites, to rank the most memorable basketball films.
Credit: Warner Bros. -
22. Teen Wolf
Teen Wolf stars Michael J. Fox as Scott Howard, a struggling high school basketball player who discovers he's a human-wolf hybrid.
With Howard's newfound ancestry, he turns his basketball team -- and, more importantly, his life -- around. He's also arguably the hairiest basketball star in any movie to date.
Metacritic score: 25.
Credit: Wolfkill -
21. The Basketball Diaries
The Basketball Diaries isn't your typical basketball flick. It's a coming-of-age story that deals with issues like sexual abuse, disease and drug addiction. It's also one of the first films to feature future Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg.
Metacritic score: 46.
Credit: New Line Cinema -
20. Semi-Pro
Now, this isn't Will Ferrell's funniest movie, but it is one of his most underrated films. Semi-Pro stars Ferrell as Jackie Moon, the owner-player-coach of the Flint Tropics, a struggling ABA team.
Moon goes to extreme lengths to keep the Tropics relevant, while trying to earn their way into the NBA as part of a merger.
After watching Semi-Pro, you won't be calling anyone a "jive turkey" anytime soon.
Metacritic score: 47.
Credit: New Line Cinema -
19. Like Mike
Anybody who has picked up a basketball wants to be like Michael Jordan. That dream came true in the film Like Mike starring Shad Moss, a.k.a. Lil Bow Wow.
After trying on a pair of shoes with the initials "M.J." inscribed on them, Calvin (Moss) becomes an NBA superstar at 14.
The film features a ton of former NBA superstars like Gary Payton, David Robinson and Jason Kidd.
Metacritic score: 47.
Credit: NBA Entertainment -
18. Just Wright
Just Wright is a 2010 romantic comedy about a physical therapist (Queen Latifah) who falls in love with her patient, a star basketball player (Common) suffering from a career-threatening injury.
Latifah elevates her game in this rom-com.
Metacritic score: 51.
Credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures -
17. Celtic Pride
On the eve of Game 7 of the NBA Finals, two die-hard Celtics fans kidnap the Jazz's best player, Lewis Scott, after a drunken night out. The Boston fans hope that by them holding Scott until after Game 7, the Celtics can win the NBA Finals.
This broad comedy was written by funnymen Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) and Colin Quinn (Saturday Night Live).
IMDB score: 51.
Credit: Caravan Pictures -
16. Air Bud
Following the death of his father, Josh Framm befriends a stray dog with an uncanny talent for scoring buckets. As Framm joins the high school basketball team, his new golden retriever, Buddy, becomes the star of the team's halftime shows.
Air Bud was the heartwarming start of a movie franchise that produced a handful of sequels.
IMDB score: 51.
Credit: Disney -
15. Thunderstruck
In his first starring role, Kevin Durant plays himself as he trades talent with an uncoordinated 16-year-old.
Thunderstruck is the basketball version of a body-swap movie, like Freaky Friday and Big.
IMDB score: 52.
Credit: Karz Entertainment -
14. O
O is a modern version of the Shakespeare play "Othello." Mekhi Phifer stars as Odin James, while Josh Hartnett plays his teammate and rival Hugo Goulding.
The film does a stellar job of exploring jealousy (on and off the court), race and the unfair expectations placed on young athletes.
Metacritic score: 53.
Credit: Lionsgate -
13. The Air Up There
Kevin Bacon stars in this 1994 basketball flick as Jimmy Dolan, an assistant coach on the search for the next great recruit who could get him the big promotion he's looking for.
Dolan's search leads him to Africa where he finds Saleh, a basketball player from a small village.
The highlight of the film comes when Bacon busted out his Dolan Shake-N-Bake move on a cocky recruit.
IMDB score: 54.
Credit: Buena Vista Pictures -
12. The Sixth Man
The Sixth Man is a sports comedy about two brothers who play on the University of Washington basketball squad until one of the brothers, Antoine Tyler, tragically dies from a heart attack.
Despite his death, Antoine helps his brother (Marlon Wayans) and the Huskies basketball team from the afterlife.
IMDB score: 56.
Credit: Buena Vista Pictures -
11. Coach Carter
Samuel L. Jackson stars in the titular role of Coach Carter. Ken Carter is the strict new coach of his former high school basketball team. Carter implements a rigid regime that includes written contracts for good grades, respectful behavior and a dress code.
The film focuses on how a coach's responsibility should be in developing players as men, first and foremost.
Metacritic score: 57.
Credit: Paramount -
10. Sunset Park
Sunset Park is another high school basketball flick in the same vein as Coach Carter. Rhea Perlman stars as a white schoolteacher who is the new varsity basketball coach of an all-black team. Perlman eventually turns the undisciplined squad into winners.
The most memorable part of the film is the chant, "It's time to get live! It's time to represent!"
IMDB score: 58.
Credit: TriStar Pictures -
9. Glory Road
Starring Josh Lucas as coach Don Haskins, Glory Road is the true story about the first starting lineup of all black players in college basketball.
Haskins leads the 1965-66 Texas Western College to a national championship against perennial powerhouse Kentucky. It's a powerful and significant story that is historically impactful, yet entertaining.
Metacritic score: 58.
Credit: Buena Vista Pictures -
8. Blue Chips
Blue Chips is one of the more realistic basketball movies because of its casting of actual basketball players. Go figure!
Like He Got Game, Blue Chips exemplifies the shady tactics taken in amateur sports.
Fun fact: Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway got along so well while filming that O'Neal asked the Magic front office to draft Hardaway. And they did.
IMDB score: 60.
Credit: Paramount Pictures -
7. Finding Forrester
This film focuses on the relationship between a reclusive writer and a star basketball player whose first love is writing.
While basketball plays a role in Finding Forrester, the heart of the movie is the relationship between these two unlikely friends.
Metacritic score: 62.
Credit: Columbia Pictures -
6. Space Jam
Michael Jordan and your favorite Looney Tunes characters combine for one of the most entertaining basketball films ever made.
In the 1996 flick, some of the best NBA players' talents have been taken by aliens, and Jordan is the Looney Tunes' only hope from being enslaved as entertainment at the intergalactic amusement park Moron Mountain.
MJ and Bugs Bunny were such a big draw that Space Jam became the highest-grossing basketball movie ever.
IMDB score: 63.
Credit: Warner Bros. -
5. He Got Game
He Got Game tells the story of a No. 1 high school prospect, Jesus Shuttlesworth, and his overbearing father.
The Spike Lee-directed joint puts a magnifying glass on recruitment, the importance of youth athletics and the relationship between a father and son.
Denzel Washington shines as Shuttlesworth's father, Jake.
Metacritic score: 63.
Credit: Buena Vista Pictures -
4. Above the Rim
Like Boyz n the Hood, Above the Rim follows a young and talented athlete who must survive the hardships of an inner city.
The stellar casts features Tupac Shakur, Bernie Mac, Duane Martin and Marlon Wayans in arguably their best roles to date.
On top of that, the soundtrack might even be better than the film.
IMDB score: 66.
Credit: New Line Cinema -
3. White Men Can't Jump
Starring Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson, White Men Can't Jump is about two street hustlers who try to make a living by playing pick-up basketball games.
It's a classic film that is still entertaining over 20 years later.
IMDB score: 67.
Credit: 20th Century Fox -
2. Love & Basketball
Love & Basketballfollows the lives of basketball-lovers Monica and Quincy. With Quincy, we see the pressure that comes with being the son of an NBA star. Juxtaposed against that, we see Monica's struggle to make it on her own as a female ball player in the pre-WNBA days.
On top of all this, we witness the two protagonists' rollercoaster love affair. Love & Basketballis a film about passion, on and off the court.
Metacritic score: 70.
Credit: New Line Cinema -
1. Hoosiers
Hoosiers isn't just a great basketball movie. It's also one of the best sports films ever made. Based on a true story, Hoosiers tells the tale of an Indiana high school basketball team that wins the state championship.
Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper steal the show in this basketball flick.
Metacritic score: 76.
Credit: MGM
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