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Hoosiers

Play trailer Poster for Hoosiers PG Released Nov 14, 1986 1h 54m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 46 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Failed college coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) 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 (Barbara Hershey) 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 (Dennis Hopper), 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 This film has so much heart. Every time I watch it, I am on the verge of tears for almost the entire runtime. Rated: A Feb 17, 2021 Full Review Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films The filmmakers are at the top of their game. Rated: A- Oct 29, 2008 Full Review Richard Schickel TIME Magazine Hackman is wonderful as an inarticulate man tense with the struggle to curb a flaring, mysterious anger. Aug 1, 2008 Full Review Mitchell Beaupre Paste Magazine Dennis Hopper was totally clean and sober at this point in his life, and with that clarity and his practice in sense memory he could tap into his own experiences to make Shooter a real, fleshed-out human being. Rated: 6/10 Sep 23, 2022 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins There are quite a number of practicing and shooting and gameplay montages, but it's actually the character interactions that remain most stirring. Rated: 7/10 Jan 2, 2022 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy [UPDATED 2025 REVIEW] 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. Rated: 3.5/4 Jun 7, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Gregory D 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. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/24/25 Full Review Los G 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 Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/11/25 Full Review SkyRo P Hossiers is a classic basketball film from the 1980s featuring Gene Hackman in a leading role. The story revolves around him coaching a struggling basketball team and guiding them to a championship victory. If you were to experience this film for the first time in the 80s, you would likely find it to be an extraordinary masterpiece. However, viewing it today might give the impression of a familiar narrative, one that has been revisited countless times. My approach to reviewing films is rooted in the context of the era in which they were released. In conclusion, I believe Hossiers is a remarkable film. It boasts a compelling storyline, skillfully directed, with a well-paced narrative that takes viewers through a rollercoaster of emotions, culminating in a thrilling championship showdown that keeps the audience engaged throughout. I genuinely think everyone should take the time to watch this film, as it has proven to be timeless and remains an excellent piece of cinema. It would be fantastic to see it revitalized for a new generation, perhaps even through a modern platform like Netflix. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/11/25 Full Review Michael V They needed a second chance to finish first. Hoosiers (released in some countries as Best Shot) is a 1986 American sports drama film written by Angelo Pizzo and directed by David Anspaugh in his feature directorial debut 🏀 Not bad, but not my favourite either 😐 Meh, it passed the time. Just. 😐 👍🏼👎🏼 Failed college coach Norman Dale gets a chance at redemption when he is hired to coach a high school basketball team 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. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/10/25 Full Review Tyler S Super boring I knew I'd watched part of it before and after watching it again I remembered why I didn't finish it the first time. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/10/25 Full Review Ricky A Film jadul banyak kesan menginspirasi anak muda. Tentang pertandingan dan kerja keras. Salut. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/09/25 Full Review 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 (Gene Hackman) 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 (Barbara Hershey) 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 (Dennis Hopper), 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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