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Hoosiers (1986)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.5/10
Reviews Counted: 43
Fresh: 38 | Rotten: 5

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.

Average Rating: 7.4/10
Critic Reviews: 9
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 1

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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Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 48,021

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Movie Info

Hoosiers tells the true story of a group of underdogs who become champions. Set in the 1950s, Hoosiers is about a hard-luck, unemployed college basketball coach (Gene Hackman) who gets a chance to coach a small-town Indiana high-school basketball team. Facing resentment from the community and the team itself, Hackman manages to inspire his young athletes, leading them to the state championship with the help of the assistant coach (Dennis Hopper), who happens to be a recovering alcoholic. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

PG, 1 hr. 55 min.

Sports & Fitness, Drama

Directed By: David Anspaugh

Written By: Angelo Pizzo

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1989 Wide

On DVD: Dec 9, 1997

Hemdale Film Corporation

Hoosiers Trailer & Photos

Cast

Gene Hackman
Coach Norman Dale
Barbara Hershey
Myra Fleener
Dennis Hopper
Shooter
Sheb Wooley
Cletus
Fern Persons
Opal Fleener
Brad Boyle
Whit
Steve Hollar
Rade
Brad Long
Buddy
David Neidorf
Evertt
Kent Poole
Merle
Wade Schenck
Ollie
Scott Summers
Strap
Marius Valainis
Jimmy
Gloria Dorson
Millie
Rich Komenich
Reporter
Chelcie Ross
George
Robert Sutton
Reporter
Robert Swan
Rollin
Robert F. Boyle
Referee - Oolitic
Mike Dalzell
Carl
Wil Dewitt
Reverend Doty
Eric Gilliom
J. June
Michael O'Guinne
Rooster
Larua Robling
Loetta
Michael Sassone
Preacher Purl
Sam Smiley
Referee - Cedar Knob
Ken Strunk
Referee - Dugger
John Robert Thompson
Sheriff Finley
John E. Blazier
Spectator
Fern Parsons

Critic Reviews for Hoosiers

All Critics (43) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (6) | DVD (23)

Hackman is wonderful as an inarticulate man tense with the struggle to curb a flaring, mysterious anger.

August 1, 2008 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine

| Comment

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

Shameless, yes, but open your eyes, close your mind, sit back and enjoy.

March 21, 2007 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail

| Comment

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

Bobby Knight would not be amused, though Tark the Shark might've had a good laugh at the naive masquerade.

March 21, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment (1)

Pat Graham

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Basketball movies don't get any better.

March 21, 2007 Full Review Source: ReelViews

| Comment

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

Pic belongs to Hackman, but Dennis Hopper gets another opportunity to put in a showy turn as a local misfit.

March 21, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety

Top Critic

This film's very lack of surprise and sophistication accounts for a lot of its considerable charm.

May 20, 2003 Comment

Janet Maslin

New York Times

Top Critic

A tale of heroic sportsmanship.

January 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Randy White

Common Sense Media

The kind of corny and manipulative pic that makes me glad I'm not a basketball fan.

June 3, 2010 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment (1)

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The filmmakers are at the top of their game.

October 29, 2008 Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide

| Comment

Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films Guide

[A] compelling, enjoyable yarn.

August 5, 2008 Comment

Douglas Pratt

DVDLaser

The setting in early 1950s Indiana adds nice texture to the story, but the endless games with the usual ups and downs outstay their welcome.

March 24, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment (1)

Film4

It should come as little surprise that this solid, sentimental movie about basketball is set in Indiana, where babies are given roundballs before they get rattles.

March 21, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

Barely a single frame of this movie is less than compelling.

July 1, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Barely a single frame of this movie is less than compelling.

May 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Cloyingly nostalgic.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment (1)

Derek Adams

Time Out

...it's easy enough to see why Hoosiers has become one of the most endearing sports movies in cinematic history.

October 22, 2005 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

| Comment

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Any list of the best sports movies has to include Hoosiers.

July 5, 2005 Full Review Source: Bullz-Eye.com

| Comment

Bullz-Eye.com

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Hoosiers

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Hoosiers is an incredible sports film and my #2 favorite sports film of all time (behind Rudy).

March 29, 2011

Brad Wright

Super Reviewer

They needed a second chance to finish first. Good decent basketball film. Dennis Hopper was actually nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actor for this film in 1986. I don't particularly have a taste for Gene Hackman film's but I just had to watch this film, basketball is in my blood and I love sports movies.A

January 26, 2010