Blue Chips

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Blue Chips

PG-13

Released Feb 18, 1994

1h 48m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

40%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

51%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Pete Bell (Nick Nolte) is a college basketball coach who has to improve his team's standing -- by any means necessary. His hopes are pinned on a trio of talented players: Neon Boudeaux (Shaquille O'Neal), Butch McRae (Penny Hardaway) and Ricky Roe (Matt Nover). But in order to get them to sign to his school, Bell will have to illegally pay the players off. If he's caught, it could destroy Bell's coaching career and cast a cloud of shame over his team. Will he risk it all to win?

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Critics Consensus

Director William Friedkin is working with a strong cast, but an excess of sentimentality renders this basketball drama more than a little flat.

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C+

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Todd McCarthy

Variety

A deafness-inducing but otherwise ho-hum would-be expose of shady recruiting practices by college basketball programs.

Mar 25, 2008

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Not even an unsentimental basketball fan like director William Friedkin can wash away all the corn syrup.

Mar 25, 2008

Full Review

Dan Buffa

Ramble On With Buffa (Substack)

Friedkin and Shelton know how to mix action, words and music effectively, and Nolte absolutely gives until it's gone as Pete Bell, who will make basketball seem exciting and sexy even to a casual fan.

Aug 20, 2024

Full Review

Tim Stevens

The Spool

While shot dynamically, the camera movements and editing diminish the on-court action.

Sep 27, 2023

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Peter Martin

EverythingButHorror.com

Features an absolutely terrific performance by Nick Nolte, and provides evidence that William Friedkin's abilities as a director could make movies that were compelling, lively, exciting, and thoroughly entertaining, no matter their subject matter.

Aug 14, 2023

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Jarrod R

I have mixed feelings about Blue Chips, since in the summer of 1993, I auditioned to be part of the fictional pep band for the Western University basketball team and got the part along with friends from the Indiana University pep band. The audition process was a ton of fun, albeit stressful, and while it was all done in Indianapolis, it did provide a little glimpse into the "process" of getting a movie made. And then, a week before shooting, they got rid of all of us and went with a high school group up where they would be shooting some of those scenes. That's show biz, baby. Blue Chips was certainly of the moment as it had a collection of some of the biggest names from the college and pro basketball world, as well as cameos from legendary college coaches like Bobby Knight and Rick Pitino. On top of that, this one had a DEEP bench (pun intended?) with Nick Nolte, Mary McDonnell, J.T. Walsh, Ed O'Neill, and Alfre Woodard with solid roles. All told, an interesting concept - what would you be willing to do to win? - should have been a slam dunk, but it felt like it pulled some punches and just skidded across the surface without the true emotional impact.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/25

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Carlos I

A fairly average sports drama. It plays with melodramatic themes of righteousness, but doesn't allow itself to totally dip into sentimentality. If you dig sports flicks, you should enjoy.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/16/24

Full Review

Garret G

A man named Amin referred me to this movie but I think this a phobe. Bob Cousy better be happy he acted against Electricians and Plumbers or he may be the most ass on acting I've ever seen.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/12/24

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Steve D

Far more notable for its cameos than anything else, but watchable.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

Some fun stuff for sure as a college basketball fan, Nolte was really really good in this. The basketball scenes were shot well and it was fun to see Knight, Boeheim, and Dickie V.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Garrett B

A better than average sports movie that gets a little too heavy handed with the moral lessons.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/22

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William Friedkin

Director

Nick Nolte

Pete Bell

Mary McDonnell

Jenny Bell

Shaquille O'Neal

Neon

J.T. Walsh

Happy

Ed O'Neill

Ed

Blue Chips: Official Clip - Ejected

2:13

Blue Chips: Official Clip - Please Don't Step on the Kids

2:06

Blue Chips: Official Clip - Neon Jams, Winning!

1:53

Blue Chips: Official Clip - The S.A.T. Bet

1:43

Blue Chips: Official Clip - Coach Bell's Pep Talk

1:36

Blue Chips: Official Clip - Meet Neon

2:07

Blue Chips: Official Clip - How Bad Can it Get?

1:51

Blue Chips: Official Clip - Western Vs. Indiana

2:12

Blue Chips: Official Clip - Neon Goes to College

2:03

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Synopsis

Pete Bell (Nick Nolte) is a college basketball coach who has to improve his team's standing -- by any means necessary. His hopes are pinned on a trio of talented players: Neon Boudeaux (Shaquille O'Neal), Butch McRae (Penny Hardaway) and Ricky Roe (Matt Nover). But in order to get them to sign to his school, Bell will have to illegally pay the players off. If he's caught, it could destroy Bell's coaching career and cast a cloud of shame over his team. Will he risk it all to win?

Director: William Friedkin
Producer: Michele Rappaport
Screenwriter: Ron Shelton
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 18, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $21.8M
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Surround

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