Do you want to see ‘Love and Basketball’?

Love and Basketball (2000)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.6/10
Reviews Counted: 87
Fresh: 71 | Rotten: 16

Confident directing and acting deliver an insightful look at young athletes.

Average Rating: 6.7/10
Critic Reviews: 29
Fresh: 24 | Rotten: 5

Confident directing and acting deliver an insightful look at young athletes.

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 170,297

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

A young African-American couple navigates the tricky paths of romance and athletics in this drama. Quincy McCall (Omar Epps) and Monica Wright (Sanaa Lathan) grew up in the same neighborhood and have known each other since childhood. As they grow into adulthood, they fall in love, but they also share another all-consuming passion: basketball. They've followed the game all their lives and have no small amount of talent on the court. As Quincy and Monica struggle to make their relationship work,

PG-13, 2 hr. 4 min.

Drama, Romance

Directed By: Gina Prince , Gina Prince-Bythewood

Written By: Gina Prince-Bythewood

In Theaters: Jan 26, 2000 Wide

On DVD: Oct 10, 2000

New Line Cinema

Told largely from the point of view of the woman, this career-versus-love story still develops the perspective of the man persuasively, as Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps reveal their characters' motives with nuances of expression that transcend the dialogue.

March 26, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

The pic is so well directed and lead performance by Sanaa Lathan so charismatic that audiences will overlook the script's flaws and root for the central duo.

March 26, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

Variety

Top Critic

Satisfying, enjoyable and smart.

July 21, 2005 Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle

| Comment

Louis B. Parks

Houston Chronicle

Top Critic

Mawkishly heartfelt, but actress Sanaa Lathan performs as if she were lit from within.

August 7, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Magazine

| Comment

Peter Rainer

New York Magazine

Top Critic

An unusual but engaging mix of the overwrought and the understated, a picture that, at two hours plus, keeps threatening to overstay its welcome and yet always pulls us back into its conversational orbit.

December 23, 2002 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail

| Comment

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

The humor is terrific, the cinematography has a burnished glow, and the score is lush.

February 9, 2001 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

Top Critic

Good romance, but strong sexuality for a PG-13.

January 1, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Common Sense Media Editors

Common Sense Media

This romantic drama from writer-director Gina Prince-Bythewood is well-acted.

August 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review

| Comment

Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

The surprise element here is that the film takes Monica's career, and her love of the game, as seriously, probably more seriously, than it does Quincy's.

March 24, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Mark Morris

Film4

With Prince's fresh script and engaging performances ... Love and Basketball has more than enough appeal to keep audiences interested until the clock runs out.

September 1, 2006 Comment

Betsy Bozdech

Reel.com

Stylishly shot and bursting with visual and sexual energy, this is confident black women's film-making and an eloquent tribute to the girl with the permanently grazed knees -- and about time too.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Thanks to Spike Lee's production company for giving a talented newcomer a good start.

April 9, 2005 Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews

| Comment

Robin Clifford

Reeling Reviews

It's a fine example of a conventionally made picture which follows all the rules yet still emerges as fresh and original.

December 3, 2002 Full Review Source: Sight and Sound

| Comment

Stephanie Zacharek

Sight and Sound

Prince-Bythewood, a first-time feature filmmaker out of UCLA's film school, tells a story that is at once warm and heartfelt -- and often funny as well.

October 21, 2002 Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan

| Comment

Jean Lowerison

San Diego Metropolitan

The chemistry between the two stars is exactly right. They are entirely believable as friends, as rivals and as lovers -- a tricky combination for any acting pair.

October 15, 2002 Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer

| Comment

Margaret A. McGurk

Cincinnati Enquirer

This film does at least feature superior acting and a solid script.

December 10, 2001 Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall

| Comment

Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Love and Basketball

View All

I loved this movie.

August 5, 2007

Rachel F

Super Reviewer

The soul of the game portrayed through the eyes of two life long ambitious contemporaries...This was an extraordinary romance. see this it is a keeper of a chic flick! LOL!

August 29, 2008

Fascade Fiveoneeight

Super Reviewer

Love and Basketball Quotes

View All

1. Monica Wright: I loved you since I was 11, and that shit just won't go away!
– Submitted by Desmond S (2 months ago)
1. Monica Wright: All's fair in love and basketball baby.
– Submitted by Kaylene W (5 months ago)

Character	Quote
	Enter quote here...	Delete

DVD

Top Rentals

54%	Safe House
29%	The Vow
94%	Mission: Impossible Ghost Protoc...
28%	Underworld Awakening
85%	Chronicle

More…

New On DVD This Week

54%	Safe House
42%	Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
52%	John Carter
25%	Act of Valor
29%	Machine Gun Preacher

More…

Movies Like Love and Basketball

Brown Sugar

Coach Carter

All About the Benjamins

View All

Latest News for Love and Basketball

February 2, 2006:

Critical Consensus: "Something" Ain't Nothing, "Call" Is Not Screened
This week at the movies brings something new ("Something New") and something remade...