The Winning Season

Play trailer

The Winning Season

PG-13

Released Sep 3, 2010

1h 46m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

52%

Tomatometer

23 Reviews

54%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Increasingly estranged from his own daughter, a boozy busboy (Sam Rockwell) gets a shot at redemption when an old friend (Rob Corddry) hires him to coach a varsity girls basketball team.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Stephen Holden

New York Times

In its final lap The Winning Season collapses into a sentimental farce that even Mr. Rockwell, now playing the clown, cannot redeem from cringe-inducing hokum.

Rated: 2.5/5

Sep 3, 2010

Full Review

Lou Lumenick

New York Post

Rockwell does a typically fine job -- he's funny, touching and appalling -- as an alcoholic mess of a former high school basketball coach who's been reduced to washing dishes in a restaurant.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 3, 2010

Full Review

Sheri Linden

Los Angeles Times

The story deepens through the clownish, heartbreaking exertions of Rockwell's gruff misfit, still working things out at the final buzzer.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 2, 2010

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Here’s a movie that employs all your standard, overused sports movie formulas—everything from the obligatory training montage to rousing Big Game suspense—and makes it work with strong writing and fine performances.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 9, 2023

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Mediocre, predictable underdog sports film.

Rated: C

Jan 30, 2018

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: C

Feb 4, 2013

Full Review

Read all reviews

Anthony J

Very predicable story of loveable looser makes good. Without Sam Rockwell's quirkiness it would be an average made for TV movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/20/23

Full Review

Avalon T

I enjoyed this movie. Sam Rockwell, as usual, is a great actor, in this heartwarming movie. Had a few good laughs in it. Yes, it is a bit cheesy,I guess, but I thought it was great, If you want a light movie that will bring a smile to your face, this feel good movie is it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/23/23

Full Review

Sean S

A solid cast with a good concept, but just doesn't deliver its full potential. Mr. Rockwell does his best to carry this movie but with a simple character arc and simple plot it falls short.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Better than you'd think. Recommend. Foul language though.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

steve d

Funny, odd, different and Rockwell is great. I also love women's basketball which makes it even better.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A formulaic sports drama, but it's a formula that works. I liked it, but thought the ending could have been stronger. (First and only viewing - 8/5/2019)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

James C. Strouse

Director

Sam Rockwell

Bill

Emma Roberts

Abbie

Rob Corddry

Terry

Shareeka Epps

Lisa

Emily Rios

Kathy

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

View more videos

It's Kind of a Funny Story

59%

66%

It's Kind of a Funny Story

Watchlist

Mama's Boy

9%

26%

Mama's Boy

Watchlist

The Marc Pease Experience

18%

14%

The Marc Pease Experience

Watchlist

The Open Road

29%

25%

The Open Road

Watchlist

The Art of Getting By

20%

46%

The Art of Getting By

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Critics Consensus: Machete Is Trashy Fun

View more photos

Synopsis

Increasingly estranged from his own daughter, a boozy busboy (Sam Rockwell) gets a shot at redemption when an old friend (Rob Corddry) hires him to coach a varsity girls basketball team.

Director: James C. Strouse
Producer: Gia Walsh, Kara Baker, Celine Rattray, Galt Niederhoffer, Daniela Taplin Lundberg
Screenwriter: James C. Strouse
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Gigi Films, Gigi Productions, Plum Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Smoking|Language|Alcohol Abuse|Some Sexual References|Some Thematic Elements)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 3, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2015
Runtime: 1h 46m

Most Popular at Home Now