Coach Carter

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2:23

Coach Carter

PG-13

2005

2h 16m

Drama

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

63%

Tomatometer

146 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

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 rules and academic discipline, he succeeds in setting the players on a winning streak. But when their grades start to suffer, Carter locks them out of the gym and shuts down their championship season. When he is criticized by the players and their parents, he sticks to his guns, determined that they excel in class as well as on the court.

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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.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 22, 2010

4/5

Engaging film with a terrific message.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Mar 25, 2008

This is supposed to be about setting high standards, yet it's full of fudged ultimatums; in the end I couldn't be sure whether its morality was complex or just confused.

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Nathan Rabin

AV Club

Oct 6, 2006

Samuel L. Jackson shouts, yells, bellows, and screams his way through the fact-inspired film

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Feb 18, 2023

2.5/4

...a decent-enough inspirational sports drama...

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Eddie Harrison

The List

Apr 23, 2019

2/5

Despite the attraction of fluently filmed basketball sequences, director Thomas Carter's simplistic approach to the social and educational issues involved makes this vacuous MTV-produced movie fall well short of the basket.

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Sep 27, 2018

3/5

A quality sports drama.

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Dave D

@RT78510413 Sep 8, 2026

I can'y say enough about this movie. Super inspirational and I am always a sucker for movies based on true stories. Samuel L. Jackson is terrific and completely believable as a high school basketball coach. I love the life lessons being taught and the entire movie is compelling, well acted and enjoyable to watch. I have seen Coach Carter over 10 times and love it every time.

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bruce F

@bruce999 Aug 11, 2026

well acted basketball movie, of a new coach, with discipline mainly for black people to watch, it seems. a school system, where normally very few succeed

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Cedrik N

@Cedrik.N Jul 26, 2026

One of my favorite movies of all time. I love the story line, I love the characters, I love the actors and their acting. I like sport/ school with struggles movies. And this should be the structure and "how to" for all films of this kind. Definitely worthy of a watch. You will have a great time and feel whole afterwards. And who doesn't love SLJ?

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Faith O

@faithopar Jun 15, 2026

Coach Carter is a strong motivational movie to watch. I loved how coach prioritizes education, accountability and personal responsibilities. It shows that talent alone is not enough without structure and commitment.

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MAZINA P

@RT51827547 May 12, 2026

Not only teens who want to make it in life but everyone should watch this movie because it shows how children must be educated. Coach Carter is a little bit harsh but when you watch him closely, you’ll find that he wanted to be like a parent to the kids, not just a coach. He wanted the kids to learn how to be great players but also be prepared and have a way out in case they don’t make it to the NBA.

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wejdene L

@wejdenelavraichanteuse Apr 21, 2026

I watch Coach Carter and i think it is a very inspiring and realistic film. The story is moving. The players are natural and belivable. The coach is very strict The film is thought-provoking and show strong values. the story is intersting. The basketball scenes are impressive and exciting. Overall, I think this film is touching and outstanding. I recomand it because it makes you think and is very motivâted

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Thomas Carter

Director

Samuel L. Jackson

Coach Ken Carter

Robert Ri'chard

Damien Carter

Rob Brown

Kenyon Stone

Ashanti

Kyra

Debbi Morgan

Tonya

Coach Carter: Official Clip - The Final Shot

1:55

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Coach Carter: Official Clip - Push-Ups and Suicides

2:07

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Coach Carter: Official Clip - Richmond vs. Bay Hill

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Coach Carter: Official Clip - Not Your Storybook Ending

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Coach Carter: Official Clip - Timeout Pep Talk

1:56

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Coach Carter: Official Clip - Come-from-Behind Win

2:11

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Coach Carter: Official Clip - Our Deepest Fear

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Coach Carter: Official Clip - First Practice

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Coach Carter: Official Clip - A Better Life

2:09

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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 rules and academic discipline, he succeeds in setting the players on a winning streak. But when their grades start to suffer, Carter locks them out of the gym and shuts down their championship season. When he is criticized by the players and their parents, he sticks to his guns, determined that they excel in class as well as on the court.

Director: Thomas Carter
Producer: Brian Robbins, Michael Tollin
Screenwriter: Mark Schwahn
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: MTV Films, Tollin/Robbins Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Language|Some Drug Material|Teen Partying|Violence)
Genre: Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 14, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $67.3M
Runtime: 2h 16m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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