White Men Can't Jump

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White Men Can't Jump

R

1992

1h 54m

Comedy

Sports

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

107 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson) is a white basketball hustler who banks on black players underestimating his skills on the court. When he pulls one over on Sidney Deane (Wesley Snipes), his victim sees a lucrative opportunity, and they become partners in the con game, plying their trade across the courts of Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Billy has to keep one step ahead of mobsters, to whom he owes money, while staying on the good side of his Jeopardy!-obsessed, motormouth wife (Rosie Perez).

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Critics Consensus

White Men Can't Jump provides a fresh take on the sports comedy genre, with a clever script and a charismatic trio of leads.

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Jack Mathews

Newsday

08/31/2023

2.5/4

The street comedy has the rhythm of a basketball game itself. There are fast breaks, some solid teamwork, plenty of slam dunks and, alas, too many time outs.

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Henry Sheehan

Sight & Sound

08/31/2023

[The] cleverly simple idea guarantees that the film is never less than amusing, and the casting of Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, and particularly Rosie Perez, ensures that even the most exposition-laden lines crackle.

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Dolores Barclay

Associated Press

08/31/2023

Shelton takes us right to the street hoops and slam dunks a winner. The movie is funny, it's fast and it's funky.

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Ernece B. Kelly

The Crisis

11/27/2023

This is a side of working class life that movies rarely look at. And this fresh point-of-view keeps White Men from sliding into unrealistic and potentially harmful generalities.

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Michael Sragow

San Francisco Examiner

08/31/2023

4/4

In White Men Can't Jump, Shelton & Co. turn the slam dunk into the stuff of life and art.

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Jeff Simon

Buffalo News

08/31/2023

4/4

It's a wonderfully funny and delightful and provocatively titled movie about the trash-talking intimidations of playground basketball.

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Nancy B

Nov 16

Great movie; I still watch this movie about twice a year! It's great to see Wesley & Woody doing a comedy movie; great timing, chemistry, and they both mame their character seem so real!

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Blake S.

@weed42069666 Sep 29

Interesting and unique storyline. Good basketball movie and Woody and Wesley have great on screen chemistry. Not a deep movie by any means but an easy watch and a fun watch.

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Ed R

@JustcallmeER Jul 23

Brilliant portrayal by Woody and Wesley!

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GebtMirEuerGeld M

Jul 7

Really loved that movie. I have to admit that I just also love Basketball! The basketball scenes where amazing and quite authentic, with them not being connected to some supernatural powers and people jumping 4 meters high to dunk the ball. The movie also aged quite well when it comes to production. Definitely a recommend for every basketball fan!

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tArRa b

Mar 17

First of all I am really late to the party here. I love this movie. I love the original. I read a few reviews that said there was a lot going on but it was enough of each. I know unpopular opinion but highly recommend. 💜

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Dave C

01/02/2025

It hasn't stood the test of time well, and it is repetitive and hollow. There is no real connection between any of the characters, and the script is shoddy. There are points where WS and WH show some spark, but it is short-lived

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Ron Shelton

Director

Wesley Snipes

Sidney Deane

Woody Harrelson

Billy Hoyle

Rosie Perez

Gloria Clemente

Tyra Ferrell

Rhonda Deane

Cylk Cozart

Robert

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Synopsis

Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson) is a white basketball hustler who banks on black players underestimating his skills on the court. When he pulls one over on Sidney Deane (Wesley Snipes), his victim sees a lucrative opportunity, and they become partners in the con game, plying their trade across the courts of Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Billy has to keep one step ahead of mobsters, to whom he owes money, while staying on the good side of his Jeopardy!-obsessed, motormouth wife (Rosie Perez).

Director: Ron Shelton
Producer: Don Miller, David V. Lester
Screenwriter: Ron Shelton
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Sports
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 27, 1992, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $71.6M
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Surround

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