List_of_basketball_films

List of basketball films

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This is a list of films about basketball, featuring notable films where basketball plays a central role in the development of the plot.

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Title	Year	Genre	Notes
The Fair Co-Ed	1927	Comedy	Silent film about a college girl (Marion Davies) who plays basketball to hook the coach.
Campus Confessions	1938	Comedy	A college president's son inspires a bad team and attracts a reporter (Betty Grable).
The Big Fix	1947	Drama	Army vet Ken Williams, a basketball hero, is threatened to fix his school's games.
Big Town Scandal	1948	Drama	A newspaper editor agrees to coach a team made up of juvenile delinquents.
The Basketball Fix	1951	Drama	A college player in need of money agrees to shave points for a gambler.
The Harlem Globetrotters	1951	Drama	A new kind of basketball team dazzles audiences with its skills.
Go Man Go	1954	Biographical	Origin of the Harlem Globetrotters, featuring Sidney Poitier as a player.
Tall Story	1960	Comedy	A co-ed (Jane Fonda) tries to win the heart of the team's star (Anthony Perkins).
The Absent-Minded Professor	1961	Comedy	Miracle substance called "Flubber" invented by a college professor (Fred MacMurray) enables school's basketball players to bounce sky-high.
Drive, He Said	1971	Drama	Directed by Jack Nicholson, story of a college player who becomes a campus activist.
Maurie	1973	Biographical	Life-changing injury's impact on NBA teammates Maurice Stokes and Jack Twyman.
Mixed Company	1974	Comedy	A Phoenix Suns coach and his wife adopt children of various ethnic backgrounds.
Cornbread, Earl and Me	1975	Drama	Teen about to get basketball scholarship (Jamaal Wilkes) is mistaken for a rapist and shot by police.
One on One	1977	Drama	A highly recruited college freshman (Robby Benson) runs afoul of a demanding coach.
Coach	1978	Drama	A basketball coach (Cathy Lee Crosby) hired by mistake is harassed by her superior.
Fast Break	1979	Comedy	Gabe Kaplan as a New Yorker who dreams of being a coach and finally gets a shot.
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh	1979	Comedy	A laughing-stock basketball squad transforms itself as the Pittsburgh Pisces.
The Great Santini	1979	Drama	A high school star's life is complicated by his father (Robert Duvall), a mean Marine.
Inside Moves	1980	Drama	When a bartender's injury heals, he becomes a player for the Golden State Warriors.
That Championship Season	1982	Drama	A reunion of a Pennsylvania state championship team turns into an angry confrontation, starring Robert Mitchum and Bruce Dern.
Teen Wolf	1985	Comedy	Sci-fi slapstick starring Michael J. Fox.
Hoosiers	1986	Drama	Gene Hackman in story based loosely on the 1953–54 Milan High School basketball team.
Amazing Grace and Chuck	1987	Drama	An NBA superstar (real-life NBA star Alex English) joins the anti-nuclear protest of a Montana Little League pitcher (see also "Baseball" section above).
The Pistol: The Birth of a Legend	1991	Drama	Biographical film based on the early life of Pete Maravich.
Heaven Is a Playground	1991	Drama	A coach and lawyer team up to help an urban high school team stay out of trouble.
White Men Can't Jump	1992	Comedy	Outdoor court hustlers (Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson) con opponents as well as each other.
Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story	1992	Drama	TV film, biographical film about doomed Loyola Marymount star.
Hardwood Dreams	1993	Documentary	Wesley Snipes narrates a look at a Los Angeles-area high school team.
Blue Chips	1994	Drama	Nick Nolte as a successful college coach who violates the rules to recruit new stars.
Hoop Dreams	1994	Documentary	A pair of Chicago high school athletes try to succeed on the court and make it to college.
Above the Rim	1994	Drama	Story about a New York high school player who falls in with a bad crowd.
The Air Up There	1994	Comedy	Kevin Bacon as a college coach who goes to Africa searching for new talent.
The St. Tammany Miracle	1994	Family	Story of an Episcopalian all-girl team.
The Basketball Diaries	1995	Drama	Harrowing true story of drug addiction starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Forget Paris	1995	Rom-com	A temperamental NBA referee (Billy Crystal) tries to make his new marriage work.
Slam Dunk Ernest	1995	Comedy	Featuring the character played in many films by Jim Varney.
Space Jam	1996	Animation/Comedy	Combines live action and animation, featuring Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny.
Eddie	1996	Comedy	Whoopi Goldberg as a New York Knicks fan who becomes their head coach.
Celtic Pride	1996	Comedy	Boston fans (Daniel Stern and Dan Aykroyd) kidnap opposition's top player (Damon Wayans).
Sunset Park	1996	Drama	A woman (Rhea Perlman) becomes coach of an all-male team.
Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault	1996	Biographical	TV film starring Don Cheadle as the New York playground legend.
Air Bud	1997	Comedy	Family adventure about a basketball-playing dog.
The 6th Man	1997	Comedy	Ghost of a teammate returns to inspire a University of Washington player.
My Giant	1998	Comedy	A man nearly 8 feet tall (Gheorghe Mureșan) is found by a guy (Billy Crystal) with big ideas.
Gunnin' for That #1 Spot	1998	Documentary	The film by Adam Yauch follows 8 of the top high school basketball players.
Bad As I Wanna Be: The Dennis Rodman Story	1998	Drama	TV film, biographical film of NBA star.
He Got Game	1998	Drama	An imprisoned man (Denzel Washington) tries to convince his son, a top-ranked high school basketball player, to attend the governor's college alma mater in return for a reduced sentence.
City Dump: The Story of the 1951 CCNY Basketball Scandal	1998	Documentary	HBO's look at a New York college team's point-shaving disgrace.
Game Day	1999	Drama	Little-known dark drama. Haunted by the loss of five championship titles, alcoholic coach Richard Lewis gets a chance at redemption in a small college second-rate program with an obsessed fan.
Michael Jordan: An American Hero	1999	Drama	Biographical film of former NBA great.
Passing Glory	1999	Drama	A 1960s priest (Andre Braugher) organizes a game between racially segregated teams.
That Championship Season	1999	Drama	Remake of 1982 film, based on Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Jason Miller.
Love and Basketball	2000	Romance	Male and female basketball players attend college together and fall in love.
Michael Jordan to the Max	2000	Documentary	IMAX documentary narrated by Laurence Fishburne.
Finding Forrester	2000	Drama	A reclusive author (Sean Connery) mentors a prep-school student-athlete.
The Luck of the Irish	2001	Comedy	TV family film about a junior high school student.
O	2001	Drama	An adaptation of Othello, updated to a modern American high school and its team.
Juwanna Mann	2002	Rom-com	A basketball player becomes a female impersonator.
The Red Sneakers	2002	Fantasy	TV film about a player with a lucky pair of shoes, directed by Gregory Hines.
Like Mike	2002	Comedy	Magical shoes turn a 14-year-old (Lil' Bow Wow) into a basketball sensation.
A Season on the Brink	2002	Drama	TV film based on the book, documenting 1985–86 season of Bob Knight and Indiana University.
Double Teamed	2002	Biographical	Disney Channel biopic of Heather and Heidi Burge, twins from Palos Verdes who end up in the WNBA.
Crossing the Line	2002	Drama	A coach of a girls' team clashes with angry parents.
Something to Cheer About	2002	Documentary	About the Crispus Attucks Tigers, first all-black high school team to win a state championship against white teams, behind future NBA star Oscar Robertson.
Full-Court Miracle	2003	Family	Story of a team from a Hebrew academy in a big tournament.
Sky Walker – The David Thompson Story	2004	Documentary	A look at North Carolina State and NBA star David Thompson.
The Year of the Yao	2004	Documentary	Chronicles Yao Ming's first season in the NBA.
The Cookout	2004	Comedy	A neighbor tries to get even with a New Jersey Nets player by selling memorabilia.
Rebound	2005	Comedy	A coach banned from college ball (Martin Lawrence) ends up teaching middle-school kids.
Coach Carter	2005	Drama	Based on a true story, starring Samuel L. Jackson as a high school coach.
The Heart of the Game	2005	Documentary	Behind-the-scenes look at a Seattle high school girls team.
Hardwood	2005	Documentary	Hubert Davis reflects on his Harlem Globetrotters player father.
Crossover	2006	Action	A college student tries to concentrate on both basketball and medical school.
Like Mike 2	2006	Comedy	Direct-to-DVD sequel to Like Mike.
Glory Road	2006	Drama	Based on true story of the 1965–66 Texas Western College team.
Believe in Me	2006	Drama	Assigned to an Oklahoma girls' team against his will, coach takes it to state title game.
Home of the Giants	2007	Crime drama	A robbery creates complications for an Indiana high school team.
Quantum Hoops	2007	Documentary	Caltech's team tries to end 21-year losing streak in conference play during 2005–06 season.
Dribbles	2007	Drama
The First Basket	2008	Documentary	Explores the influence of professional basketball on Jewish culture.
Game of Change	2008	Documentary	A segregated Mississippi State team, defying a court order, plays integrated Loyola in 1963 NCAA tournament. Produced and directed by Jerald Harkness, son of 1963 Loyola star Jerry Harkness.
Road to Redemption	2008	Documentary	Nike-produced film.
Semi-Pro	2008	Comedy	The owner/coach/player (Will Ferrell) of a hapless American Basketball Association team makes various attempts to increase wins, and attendance.
Hurricane Season	2009	Drama	Based on true story of a Louisiana coach (Forest Whitaker) rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina.
Kobe Doin' Work	2009	Documentary	TV movie directed by Spike Lee that focuses on one day in the life of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant.
The Mighty Macs	2009	Drama	Based on 1972 Immaculata College women's team, coached by Cathy Rush, that won first official women's national championship.
More Than a Game	2009	Documentary	Chronicles the high school careers of LeBron James and four of his hometown friends.
Sonicsgate	2009	Documentary	Explores the controversial relocation of the Seattle SuperSonics to Oklahoma City.
No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson	2009	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. A look at a fight and subsequent trial when Allen Iverson was in high school.
The Winning Season	2009	Comedy	A has-been coach (Sam Rockwell) with a drinking problem takes over a girls' varsity team.
Just Wright	2010	Romance	A physical therapist (Queen Latifah) falls for a player from NBA's New Jersey Nets.
Without Bias	2010	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Explores career of Len Bias and his death from a cocaine overdose shortly after he was selected in the 1986 NBA draft.
Guru of Go	2010	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. On 1985–1990 coaching tenure of Paul Westhead at Loyola Marymount, team's frenzied offensive pace and star players Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble.
Once Brothers	2010	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Story of Croat Dražen Petrović and Serb Vlade Divac, teammates on Yugoslavia national team, and how the Yugoslav Wars broke their friendship.
Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks	2010	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. A look at Reggie Miller's rivalry with New York Knicks in 1990s, especially 1994 and 1995 playoffs and interaction with Knicks fan Spike Lee.
The Fab Five	2011	Documentary	Made for TV follow-up to ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Documents the University of Michigan's early-1990s Fab Five ups and downs.
Off the Rez	2011	Documentary	Made for TV. Focuses on high school career of future WNBA player Shoni Schimmel, a Native American who grew up on an Oregon reservation.
Unguarded	2011	Documentary	Made for TV follow-up to ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Chronicles life and career of former NBA player Chris Herren, battle with drug addiction and ongoing recovery.
The Announcement	2012	Documentary	Made for TV follow-up to ESPN's 30 for 30 series. About the impact of Magic Johnson's 1991 announcement that he had tested positive for HIV.
Benji	2012	Documentary	Examines 1984 killing of Ben Wilson, a high school superstar from Chicago's South Side.
The Other Dream Team	2012	Documentary	On the resurrection of the Lithuania national team after restoration of the country's independence in 1990, and its journey to the 1992 Olympics.
There's No Place Like Home	2012	Documentary	Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series looking at the attempt to bring James Naismith's Original Rules of Basketball back to the University of Kansas, where Naismith worked for over 40 years.
Thunderstruck	2012	Family	A teenager who idolizes Kevin Durant (who stars as himself) switches talents with the NBA star, becoming a phenom while Durant is mired in a slump.
Winning Favor	2012	Drama	Two childhood friends meet each other in the state championship.
Dream Team 1935	2012	Drama	Little-known true story of origins of basketball in Europe, culminating with first European Basketball Championship tournament, held in Geneva, Switzerland in 1935.
Bernie and Ernie	2013	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. About friendship between NBA players Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld, which began when both played for the Tennessee Volunteers in the 1970s.
Free Spirits	2013	Documentary	Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series taking a look at The Spirits of St. Louis ABA basketball team, and how the team's owners kept them involved with the NBA for decades after the Spirits folded.
The Hot Flashes	2013	Comedy	Middle-aged women challenge the state high school champs.
Linsanity	2013	Documentary	On the sudden fame of NBA guard Jeremy Lin.
Medora	2013	Documentary	Struggles of an Indiana high school with just 70 students.
Survive and Advance	2013	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. A 30-year retrospective on North Carolina State's improbable run to win the 1983 ACC and NCAA tournaments.
Swoopes	2013	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's Nine for IX series. A look at Sheryl Swoopes, sometimes called the female Michael Jordan.
Pat XO	2013	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's Nine for IX. Examines the Tennessee coach Pat Summitt and her battle with early-onset Alzheimer's.
The Doctor	2013	Documentary	NBA TV documentary about the ABA and NBA career of Julius Erving.
Coach	2013	Documentary	Made for TV short film - part of ESPN's Nine for IX. Examines renowned basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer.
1000 to 1: The Cory Weissman Story	2014	Drama	Direct-to-DVD film based on the real story of Cory Weissman, a high school star who suffered a stroke while at Gettysburg College, and his battle to return to the court despite initial paralysis.
Bad Boys	2014	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. A look back at the Detroit Pistons of late 1980s and early 1990s.
Nowitzki: The Perfect Shot	2014	Documentary	German film on development of Dirk Nowitzki into an NBA superstar, featuring shooting coach Holger Geschwindner.
Playing for the Mob	2014	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Explores how Mafia associate Henry Hill orchestrated a massive point-shaving scheme at Boston College.
Requiem for the Big East	2014	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. A history of the Big East Conference, founded in the same year as ESPN itself, examining what led to its 2013 split into two leagues.
When the Garden Was Eden	2014	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. A look back at early-1970s teams of the New York Knicks.
Villinam	2014	Drama	A college student in India fights the cricket establishment to start a basketball program.
Down in the Valley	2015	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. A look back at the fight of Sacramento and its mayor, former NBA star Kevin Johnson, to keep the Kings from moving to Seattle.
I Hate Christian Laettner	2015	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Examines the life and career of Christian Laettner, and intense dislike some fans still harbor toward the former Duke star, more than 20 years after his last game for the Blue Devils.
Sole Man	2015	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Explores the rise of Sonny Vaccaro from Pennsylvania steel-town roots to his prominent position in the basketball and athletic shoe industry.
Son of the Congo	2015	Documentary	Explores the journey of Serge Ibaka from childhood in war-torn Republic of the Congo to NBA stardom.
We Will Be the World Champions	2015	Drama	Serbian film about the development of basketball in the former Yugoslavia, culminating in the national team's victory in the 1970 FIBA World Championship.
Giants of Africa	2016	Documentary	Profiles Masai Ujiri's philanthropic efforts to promote the development and expansion of basketball in Africa.
One & Done	2016	Documentary	Made for TV. Explores the life of Australian prospect and eventual NBA player Ben Simmons, focusing on his only season at LSU.
Phi Slama Jama	2016	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. A look back at the University of Houston's iconic Phi Slama Jama team of the 1980s.
This Magic Moment	2016	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. A look back at the 1990s Orlando Magic and cultural phenomenon inspired by Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway.
Wolves	2016	Drama	Gambling of a college professor (Michael Shannon) complicates life for his son, a high school basketball star.
The Carter Effect	2017	Documentary	Explores the impact of Vince Carter's stint playing for the Toronto Raptors.
Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies	2017	Documentary	Three-part documentary made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Examines the Celtics–Lakers rivalry, including its impact on the NBA as a whole.
Disgraced	2017	Documentary	A made-for-TV examination of the 2003 murder of Baylor player Patrick Dennehy by a teammate and the massive violations of NCAA rules uncovered in its wake.
Going Vertical	2017	Drama	Film about the controversial victory of the Soviet national team over the US Olympic team, ending the USA's 63-game winning streak, at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
My Other Home	2017	Biography	Chinese film about Stephon Marbury and his career resurrection in China.
On the Map	2017	Documentary	A 40-year retrospective of the 1976–77 season of Maccabi Tel Aviv, who in the words of their New Jersey-born star Tal Brody put Israel "on the map" with victory in that season's European Champions Cup.
One and Not Done	2017	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Explores the life and career of John Calipari against the backdrop of his 2015–16 Kentucky team.
Slamma Jamma	2017	Drama	A once promising college basketball player (Chris Staples) is released from prison after serving six years in prison for armed robbery.
Finding Big Country	2018	Documentary	Filmmaker Kathleen Jayme attempts to track down the whereabouts of former Vancouver Grizzlies player Bryant "Big Country" Reeves following his retirement from basketball.
The Last Days of Knight	2018	Documentary	Made as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series and initially released on the company's new ESPN+ streaming service. A retrospective of the events leading to Indiana University's 2000 firing of Bob Knight, directed by the reporter whose investigation led to Knight's dismissal.
Uncle Drew	2018	Comedy	A streetball coach loses the team he planned to enter in a big tournament, and turns to an elderly group of players in a desperate bid to win the tournament. Spin-off of a series of Pepsi Max commercials featuring NBA star Kyrie Irving as the title character; also features Hall of Fame players Lisa Leslie, Reggie Miller, and Shaquille O'Neal as well as many other prominent basketball figures.
The Dominican Dream	2019	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. A look at the life and career of Felipe López, the son of Dominican immigrants who enjoyed great success in high school and college, and the contentment he finds after a middling professional career.
Rodman: For Better or Worse	2019	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. An unrestrained look at the life and career of Dennis Rodman.
High Flying Bird	2019	Drama	During a pro basketball lockout, a sports agent pitches a rookie basketball client on an intriguing and controversial business proposition.
Events Transpiring Before, During and After a High School Basketball Game	2020	Comedy	The travails of an unsuccessful high school basketball team and the school they play for.
One of Ours	2020	Documentary	Profiles Josiah Wilson, a young Black Canadian man who was adopted and raised by a First Nations family but was rejected for participation in a 2016 indigenous basketball tournament on the grounds that he is not indigenous by birth.
The Way Back	2020	Drama	An alcoholic construction worker (Ben Affleck) is recruited to become head coach of the basketball team at the high school he used to attend.
Boogie	2021	Drama	A basketball phenom (Taylor Takahashi) struggles to balance the pressure from his traditional East Asian parents to earn a scholarship to an elite college over chasing his NBA dreams.
Breakaway	2021	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. At the height of her career, WNBA superstar Maya Moore walked away from her sport to work toward freeing a man whom many believed to have been wrongfully convicted—a quest that would change her life in unexpected ways.
Handle With Care: The Legend of the Notic Streetball Crew	2021	Documentary	Documentary about a streetball crew in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
NBA Films for Fans	2021	Documentary	Anthology of five short documentary films about basketball, created to mark the 75th anniversary of the first-ever National Basketball Association game.
Space Jam: A New Legacy	2021	Animation/Comedy	Combines live action and animation, featuring LeBron James and Bugs Bunny.
Golden Delicious	2022	Coming-of-age drama	A Chinese-Canadian teenager comes to terms with social expectations when he falls in love with his basketball teammate.
The Grizzlie Truth	2022	Documentary	Filmmaker Kathleen Jayme investigates the decline and collapse of the Vancouver Grizzlies.
Hustle	2022	Comedy/Drama	An NBA scout (Adam Sandler) discovers an unknown player in Spain (Juancho Hernangómez) and brings him back to United States to prepare for the upcoming NBA draft.
Rise	2022	Docudrama	Disney+ release about the rise of the Antetokounmpo brothers from struggles as the sons of Nigerian immigrants to Greece to basketball prominence—and in the case of Giannis, NBA mega-stardom.
The First Slam Dunk	2022	Anime/Drama	Japanese animated film based on the sports manga series Slam Dunk.
Champions	2023	Comedy	A temperamental minor-league basketball coach who after an arrest must coach a team of players with intellectual disabilities as community service.
Air	2023	Drama	The origin of the Air Jordan shoe brand.
White Men Can't Jump	2023	Comedy	American remake of the 1992 film.
Shooting Stars	2023	Drama	A Peacock original biopic about LeBron James' high school years.
Warrior Strong	2023	Drama	An aspiring professional basketball player is asked by his former high school principal to return to the school as assistant to the head basketball coach.
The Hidden Court	2023	Documentary	The story of a group of 11 men from Northern Westchester, NY who, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when gyms were closed and rims taken off outdoor courts, found a sense of community and camaraderie by playing 'prohibition basketball' on a hidden outdoor court.
Lady Ballers	2023	Comedy	Jeremy Boreing plays a down-on-his-luck-coach who will do anything to win, even bring his old male basketball team together to compete in women's sports.
All-Star Weekend	N/A	Comedy	Two friends find themselves fans of opposing NBA stars LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
48 Hours in Vegas	N/A	Biography	Inspired by the story of how NBA star Dennis Rodman went on a madcap adventure in the middle of the 1998 NBA Finals.
King of the South	N/A	Biography	TBA

List_of_basketball_films

List of basketball films

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