Slap Shot

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Slap Shot

R

Released Feb 25, 1977

2h 3m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

38 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

In the small New England town of Charlestown, the local mill is about to lay off 10,000 workers. The town's minor league hockey team, the Charlestown Chiefs, is doing no better. After years of failure, this will be the team's last season. Exasperated player and coach Reggie Dunlop (Paul Newman) lets the club's recent acquisitions, the Hanson Brothers, play. The brothers' actively violent and thuggish style of play excites the fans. Dunlop retools the team, using violence to draw big crowds.

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Critics Consensus

Raunchy, violent, and very funny, Slap Shot is ultimately set apart by a wonderful comic performance by Paul Newman.

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Stephanie Zacharek

TIME Magazine

Newman often cited the role of Dunlop as one of his favorites; the performance, in all its wicked, foul-mouthed glory, is freeing to watch. No wonder Newman loved the experience.

Aug 1, 2024

Full Review

Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

What holds the picture together is the warmth supplied by Paul Newman. As Reggie, the player-coach of the Chiefs, a minor-league ice-hockey team, he gives the performance of his life -- to date.

Sep 13, 2023

Full Review

Dan Epstein

Rolling Stone

Slap Shot remains the greatest sports flick of the 1970s.

Sep 21, 2017

Full Review

Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

Newman’s breeziest, most waggishly charming role.

Jul 23, 2023

Full Review

Steve Warren

The Barb (Atlanta)

Believe it or not, this leads to a moral ending, and provides a lot of laughs along the way, mostly involving foul play or foul language.

May 9, 2023

Full Review

Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

Its the best movie ever made about its sport; you can have your Miracle. (45th anniversary)

Rated: B+

Mar 4, 2022

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RICHARD S

Way to raunchy to hold our attention. Language uncharactistically foul for a Paul Newman movie, we were extremely disappointed and shut it off midway.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/06/25

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stephen b

Ahead of its time. Had to the inspiration for Major League.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/23/24

Full Review

isa e

outrageous , audacious, irreverent, off colour and awesome. Dated in the clothes but the movie was hilarious from beginning to end, Well acted and paced.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/05/24

Full Review

Michael L

It takes this comedy a while to build up to the actual laugh-out-loud comedy, but when it does, it's some of the funniest 3-5 minutes of comedy I've ever seen. Sadly after that, the film is back into first gear for the remainder of the film. If you like a juicy center and are patient enough to wait for it, the film is probably worth your time. Otherwise, skip this one and watch the Youtube videos of Hansen's first hockey game.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/25/24

Full Review

Audience Member

The only way to win is to take a slap shot The late Paul Newman stars as field hockey coach Reggie Dunlop In his New England town of Charlestown 10,000 workers are being laid off from the mill His team, the Chiefs has had a miserable season They're down to their last hopes of playing so he lets the latest players, the Hansons play A new strategy comes into focus... The brothers' actively violent and thuggish style of play excites the fans Dunlop retools the team, using violence to draw big crowds This definitely brought me back to 'Goon' starring Sean William-Scott whose hockey team also used brute force to win their games and gain support from their fans That's what made the sport so much more fun to watch With this movie yeah I'm not the biggest sports fan but they make it exciting Some pretty sweet camera angles capturing the action and some intense hand to hand fist fights Is violence killing sports, are the players just a sideshow attraction, nothing but jokes or something to brush off? Newman is awesome in this sports-comedy with its raunchy violence and hilarious take on the genre I can see why it remains one of the most popular sports films of the 1970s and it has nice touches of absurdist satirical wit hanging out along the sidelines The final showdown is intense but also outrageous in its own right of enjoyment The film matches the rough, gritty nature of the era it came out of and is thoroughly enjoyable for sports movie lovers

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/26/24

Full Review

S R

Right up there with Caddyshack as the greatest sports movies ever made.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/29/23

Full Review

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George Roy Hill

Director

Paul Newman

Reggie Dunlop

Michael Ontkean

Ned Braden

Lindsay Crouse

Lily

Strother Martin

McGrath

Jennifer Warren

Francine

Slap Shot: Official Clip - Fashion Show

2:18

Slap Shot: Official Clip - Braden's Striptease

2:58

Slap Shot: Official Clip - Old-Time Hockey

2:17

Slap Shot: Official Clip - Reg Taunts the Goalie

2:53

Slap Shot: Official Clip - Reggie vs. The Owner

2:08

Slap Shot: Official Clip - The Hansons Play Dirty

2:59

Slap Shot: Official Clip - The Hanson Brothers

2:23

Slap Shot: Official Clip - Pre-Game Brawl

1:48

Slap Shot: Official Clip - The Hansons Are Pumped

0:57

Slap Shot: Official Clip - The Finer Points of Hockey

1:58

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Synopsis

In the small New England town of Charlestown, the local mill is about to lay off 10,000 workers. The town's minor league hockey team, the Charlestown Chiefs, is doing no better. After years of failure, this will be the team's last season. Exasperated player and coach Reggie Dunlop (Paul Newman) lets the club's recent acquisitions, the Hanson Brothers, play. The brothers' actively violent and thuggish style of play excites the fans. Dunlop retools the team, using violence to draw big crowds.

Director: George Roy Hill
Producer: Stephen Friedman, Robert J. Wunsch
Screenwriter: Nancy Dowd
Distributor: MCA, MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Pan Arts Productions, Kings Road Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 25, 1977, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 19, 2015
Runtime: 2h 3m
Sound Mix: Mono

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