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Hoosiers

Play trailer Poster for Hoosiers PG 1986 1h 54m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 49 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
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 tiny Indiana town. After a teacher persuades star player Jimmy Chitwood to quit and focus on his long-neglected studies, Dale struggles to develop a winning team in the face of community criticism for his temper and his unconventional choice of assistant coach: Shooter, a notorious alcoholic.
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Hoosiers

Hoosiers

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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.

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Critics Reviews

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Chris Stuckmann ChrisStuckmann.com 02/17/2021
A
This film has so much heart. Every time I watch it, I am on the verge of tears for almost the entire runtime. Go to Full Review
Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films 10/29/2008
A-
The filmmakers are at the top of their game. Go to Full Review
Richard Schickel TIME Magazine 08/01/2008
Hackman is wonderful as an inarticulate man tense with the struggle to curb a flaring, mysterious anger. Go to Full Review
Richard Freedman Newark Star-Ledger Dec 30
There's an awful lot of basketball, not but much human interest in this "Rocky"-like treatment of the sport. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 22
3.5/4
Much of its appeal comes courtesy of Gene Hackman, whose work here -- a canny mix of aw-shucks bluster and below-the-surface slyness -- was a warm-up for the career-best performance he would deliver in 1988's Mississippi Burning. Go to Full Review
Justin Brown Medium Popcorn Mar 26
4/5
I love a good sports movie. There's a formula to them, which this film actually went a bit against. I really enjoyed the historical accuracy of how they used to play basketball in the '50s. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Charles P. @reptaddict 5d The best sports movie ever, and nothing else is close. See more Michael F @Moviemaven58 Dec 9 Hoosiers is definitely in the top five sports movies of all time. Right there with The Natural and Field of Dreams. I’ve seen it half a dozen times at least and never get tired of it. Perfectly edited, filmed and staged. A definite must see even if you’re not a basketball fan. Just to see Gene Hackman again is priceless. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 8 1 hour and 54 minutes based on a true story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG for Brief Language Throughout and Sequences of Sports Violence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $25,800,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Rob A Mar 27 Here's an oldie but goodie for you! A David vs. Goliath story about a tiny Indiana high school basketball team, led by a former college coach with a checkered past (Gene Hackman RIP) and their unlikely run at the state championship back in the 1950's. Barbara Hershey and Dennis Hopper co-star as a skeptical Principal and alcoholic father/assistant coach repectively. The film is a classic; well written and directed. Every few years I watch it again. Hoosiers having been released in 1986 (I was in high school myself) I've probably seen it 5 times by now. See more Gregory D Mar 24 This movie came out a few years after I was born. My older brother and father were already a fan by the time I saw it. I grew up playing basketball and the story of a small town team making it to the state finals appealed to me as I grew up in a small town. The players conviction and unbelievable performance by Hackman, captivate me every time I watch it. The music is incredible. The basketball scenes are awesome. I cry at various points during this flick as it gets me emotional. Ollie making those 2 free throws to win the game remind me of 2 free throws I made, coming right off the bench. Team, team, team. No one more important than the other. I love that. Living in Massachusetts, Boston Celtics is all about team. You must watch this movie. The greatest basketball movie ever made. See more Los G Mar 11 UTTERLY run-of-the-mill fare here, despite the great cast. Coach with a dodgy past takes over a down and out team, gets kickback from players and families, slowly wins them over etc etc Maybe it's an American thing to be so obsessed with basketball, but if someone told me this had been devised by AI I wouldn't have been surprised See more Read all reviews
Hoosiers

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Hoosiers

Hoosiers: Official Clip - Coach Meets His Team Hoosiers: Official Clip - Coach Meets His Team 1:58 Hoosiers: Official Clip - Measuring the Massive Gym Hoosiers: Official Clip - Measuring the Massive Gym 1:54 Hoosiers: Official Clip - God Wants You on the Floor Hoosiers: Official Clip - God Wants You on the Floor 1:01 Hoosiers: Official Clip - Benching Rade on Principle Hoosiers: Official Clip - Benching Rade on Principle 2:09 Hoosiers: Official Clip - Jimmy's Final Shot Hoosiers: Official Clip - Jimmy's Final Shot 2:13 Hoosiers: Official Clip - Shooter Runs the Picket Fence Hoosiers: Official Clip - Shooter Runs the Picket Fence 2:09 Hoosiers: Official Clip - David and Goliath Hoosiers: Official Clip - David and Goliath 2:08 Hoosiers: Official Clip - Coach Offers Shooter a Job Hoosiers: Official Clip - Coach Offers Shooter a Job 2:07 Hoosiers: Official Clip - Ollie Sinks His Free Throws Hoosiers: Official Clip - Ollie Sinks His Free Throws 2:14 Hoosiers: Official Clip - Your Coaching Days Are Over Hoosiers: Official Clip - Your Coaching Days Are Over 1:50 View more videos
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Movie Info

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 tiny Indiana town. After a teacher persuades star player Jimmy Chitwood to quit and focus on his long-neglected studies, Dale struggles to develop a winning team in the face of community criticism for his temper and his unconventional choice of assistant coach: Shooter, a notorious alcoholic.
Director
David Anspaugh
Producer
Angelo Pizzo, Carter DeHaven
Screenwriter
Angelo Pizzo
Distributor
Orion Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co
Hemdale Film Corporation [us]
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 14, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 20, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$25.8M
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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