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When the Game Stands Tall

Play trailer Poster for When the Game Stands Tall PG Released Aug 22, 2014 1h 55m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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21% Tomatometer 68 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
In 2003, high-school football coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) and his De La Salle Spartans have just completed an incredible 151 consecutive victories and 12-straight state championships. While the team's seniors receive offers from colleges all over the country, the advancing juniors look forward to making their mark. However, beloved "Coach Lad" has a brush with calamity, while the Spartans face their most-challenging, most-unpredictable season yet.
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When the Game Stands Tall

When the Game Stands Tall

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Critics Consensus

An uneasy blend of solid game sequences and threadbare inspirational sports drama clichés, When the Game Stands Tall is overshadowed by better players in a crowded field.

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Critics Reviews

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Bilge Ebiri New York Magazine/Vulture The real-life story behind When the Game Stands Tall sounds amazing. But for all its exciting sports scenes, the movie version falls flat as drama. Aug 22, 2014 Full Review Susan Wloszczyna RogerEbert.com Most often in its early stages, the melodrama onscreen edges precipitously close to dissolving into a puddle of platitudinous pabulum served in the manner of a rote Sunday school lesson. Rated: 2/4 Aug 22, 2014 Full Review Steven D. Greydanus National Catholic Register A faith-friendly sports film that's more interested in extolling character than in developing characters. Rated: C+ Aug 22, 2014 Full Review Richard Crouse Richard Crouse For football fans the movie brings a famous story to life. For the rest of us it plays like an after school special with better production value. Rated: 2/5 Feb 1, 2021 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com One of the better inspirational sports stories to come along in recent years. Rated: 3.0/4.0 Sep 27, 2020 Full Review Allen Almachar The MacGuffin The finished product did not do enough to make me forget this is another typical sports film. It felt generic, recycled, and forgettable. Rated: C- Jul 20, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ed R One of the most inspirational movies you'll ever watch, whether it be sports related or not. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/26/25 Full Review Daniel D I have heard of the book by Pat Hayes, but have not read it, I saw this film in the theater with my brother and my parents, when it came out and it almost instantly became one of my favorite movies, even though I wasn't one to go to movie theaters, the scene where Terence was shot and killed by Darren, even though I didn't cry, still kind of got to me. The fact that it happened just before Terence was supposed to move out of state, and move away from Richmond, to Eugene. It kind of made me think of my hometown, by comparison (I grew up in Los Angeles, and the criticism that the city gets for being seen by people who live outside of the city) in my opinion, I like how they combined two CIF sections, the North Coast, & the Southern Sections into this movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/23/25 Full Review High F The movie is a winner and leaves you feeling refreshed. I hope all my friends get to experience this movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/06/25 Full Review Dennis H Great football flic. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/31/24 Full Review Ryan Don't get me wrong it's definitely not perfect and some acting isn't great but it has just enough for me to keep me interested Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/29/23 Full Review Carlos T Minha opinião: Um filme tocante de fé. Mas não é um filme #Cristão porém não deixa a fé de lado. Em vários momentos são comentados e sentimos sim um fundo bíblico na historia. E como vários filmes do gênero, a diferença aqui, que não se trata de uma historia triste e eles se superam. Aqui eles já são vencedores a muitos anos e até os adversários não querem competir com eles. E aqui ocorre que seu técnico Bob sofre um infarto e isso faz ele rever pontos da forma como ele sempre liderou sua equipe. Principalmente que são invencíveis, que não podem perder, mas eles estavam perdendo a sua identidade como ser humano e que há momentos na vida que existem derrota e que derrota não é o fim do mundo, mas sim aprendizado para a sua formação. Tanto que isso é testado na vida dos jogadores, pais e do próprio técnico em suas vidas. E que os jogadores são tocados a entenderem isso, pais são tocados a entender isso. E no final o técnico também é tocado entender e viver isso. Uma boa atuação dos atores e que tras esta mensagem diferente neste filme. Roteiro e enredo bom e tras uma visão diferente neste filme. Vale apena assistir? Sim, para toda família. Nota: 8 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
When the Game Stands Tall

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Cast & Crew

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Thomas Carter

Director

Jim Caviezel

Bob Ladouceur

Michael Chiklis

Terry Eidson

Alexander Ludwig

Chris Ryan

Clancy Brown

Mickey Ryan

Laura Dern

Bev Ladouceur

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When the Game Stands Tall

Michael Chiklis (left) as Terry Eidson in "When the Games Stands Tall." (L-R) Jim Caviezel as Bob Ladouceur and Alexander Ludwig as Chris Ryan in "When the Game Stands Tall." Alexander Ludwig as Chris Ryan in "When the Game Stands Tall." Jim Caviezel as Bob Ladouceur in "When the Game Stands Tall." A scene from "When the Game Stands Tall." (L-R) Matthew Daddario as Danny Ladouceur, Jim Caviezel as Bob Ladouceur and Alexander Ludwig as Chris Ryan in "When the Game Stands Tall." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 2003, high-school football coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) and his De La Salle Spartans have just completed an incredible 151 consecutive victories and 12-straight state championships. While the team's seniors receive offers from colleges all over the country, the advancing juniors look forward to making their mark. However, beloved "Coach Lad" has a brush with calamity, while the Spartans face their most-challenging, most-unpredictable season yet.
Director
Thomas Carter
Producer
David Zelon
Screenwriter
Scott Marshall Smith
Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Mandalay Sports Media
Rating
PG (Brief Smoking|A Scene of Violence|Thematic Material)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 22, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 25, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$30.1M
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS
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