Miracle

2004

Miracle

Critics Consensus

Kurt Russell's performance guides this cliche-ridden tale into the realm of inspirational, nostalgic goodness.

80%

TOMATOMETER

Reviews Counted: 160

90%
liked it

Audience Score

User Ratings: 56,948

TOMATOMETER

N/A
All Critics | Top Critics
Average Rating: N/A
Reviews Count: 0
Fresh: 0
Rotten: 0

AUDIENCE SCORE

90%
Average Rating: 3.8/5

You may have noticed some of the recent changes we have made. To read more about what we’ve been working on behind the scenes, please check out our new RT Product Blog here.


Want to See

Add Rating
My Rating    

Miracle Photos

View All Photos

Movie Info

The inspiring story of the team that transcended its sport and united a nation with a new feeling of hope. Based on the true story of one of the greatest moments in sports history, the tale captures a time and place where differences could be settled by games and a cold war could be put on ice. In 1980, the United States Ice Hockey team's coach, Herb Brooks, took a ragtag squad of college kids up against the legendary juggernaut from the Soviet Union at the Olympic Games. Despite the long odds, Team USA carried the pride of a nation yearning from a distraction from world events. With the world watching the team rose to the occasion, prompting broadcaster Al Michaels' now famous question, to the millions viewing at home: "Do you believe in a miracle? Yes!"

Watch it now

Cast

Kurt Russell
as Herb Brooks
Patricia Clarkson
as Patti Brooks
Noah Emmerich
as Craig Patrick
Sean McCann
as Walter Bush
Eddie Cahill
as Jim Craig
Patrick O'Brien Demsey
as Mike Eruzione
Michael Mantenuto
as Jack O'Callahan
Nathan West
as Rob McClanahan
Kenneth Mitchell
as Ralph Cox
Eric Peter-Kaiser
as Mark Johnson
Bobby Hanson
as Dave Silk
Joseph Cure
as Mike Ramsey
Joe Cure
as Mike Ramsey
Billy Schneider
as Buzz Schneider
Bill Schneider
as Buzz Schneider
Michael Coristine
as Young Herb
Nate Miller
as John `Bah' Harrington
Chris Koch
as Mark Pavlevich
Stephen Kovalcik
as Dave Christian
Kris Wilson
as Phil Verchota
Steve Kovalcik
as Dave Christian
Samuel Skoryna
as Steve Janaszyk
Sam Skoryna
as Steve Janaszak
Pete Duffy
as Bob Suter
Nick Postle
as Bill Baker
Casey Burnette
as Ken Morrow
Trevor Alto
as Neal Broten
Robbie MacGregor
as Eric Strobel
Joe Hemsworth
as Nark Wells
Harry Adam Knight
as Tim Harrer
Sarah Anne Hepher
as Kelly Brooks
Evan Smith
as Danny Brooks
Bill Mondy
as Lou Nanne
Tom Butler
as Bob Allen
Don S. Davis
as Bob Fleming
Michael Kopsa
as Bruce Norris
Lisa Marie Caruk
as Disco Girl
Malcolm Stewart
as Donald Craig
Ellie Harvie
as Margie
Mark McConchie
as Olympic Official
Mark Burgess
as Olympic Official
Fred Keating
as Party Husband
Beverley Breuer
as Party Wife
Andrew Johnston
as Peter Grace
Susan Astley
as Receptionist
Kurt Evans
as Reporter
Igor Morozov
as Reporter
Peter Kelamis
as Reporter
Daniel Bacon
as Reporter
Julius Chapple
as Reporter
Kwesi Ameyaw
as Reporter
Philip Maurice Hayes
as TV Reporter
Tatiana Loutchaninova
as Doc's Wife
Brent Chapman
as Equipment Manager
Peter Shinkoda
as Japanese Athlete
Mariko Kage
as Japanese Interpreter
L. Harvey Gold
as MSG Announcer
Mike Kleven
as Norway Rink Manager No.1
Michael Ronnekleiv
as Norway Rink Manager No.2
Bill Finck
as Try-Outs Organizer
Sarah Hayward
as Try-Outs Organizer
Wanda Sturtevant
as Try-Outs Organizer
Alvie Leeper
as Try-Outs Organizer
Richard Yee
as Team Photographer
Garry Monahan
as Colorado Coach
Ty Olsson
as State Trooper
John Ashbridge
as American Announcer
Alexander Kalugin
as Russian Announcer
Ted Fried
as Thief River Falls Sportscaster
Steve Pascal
as Cop
Terry Lemky
as Angry Driver
Rob Morton
as Lake Placid Head of Security
Ryan Walter
as Referee
David Short
as I.O.C. Presenter
Birchana Caldwell
as Girl on Ice
Al Michaels
as Himself
Kim Dryden
as Himself
Jim McKay
as Himself
View All

News & Interviews for Miracle

Rank Kurt Russell’s 10 Best Movies
View All

Critic Reviews for Miracle

All Critics (160) | Top Critics (39)

View All Critic Reviews (160)

Audience Reviews for Miracle

½

Kurt Russell delivers an astounding performance to shroud the patriotic, nostalgic and cliched feel of Miracle. The film consists of the typical sport-drama vices, but thanks to the leading role, provides inspiration and drama. 4.5/5

Eugene Bernabe
Eugene Bernabe

Super Reviewer

The movie that tells the story of the greatest moment in sports history. That moment would be the Miracle on Ice. The reason it's a miracle can't be fully explained unless you were alive in 1980 or you see this movie. (Or just look it up on Wikipedia.) Kurt Russell stars the interpretation of how everything with the 1980 US Olympics hockey team played out. Russell easily the performance of his career in Miracle. He plays Herb Brooks, the head coach of the hockey team and he fits the role perfectly. He could've easily been nominated for an Oscar for his performance but you know, a biased Academy since the beginning of the 21st century. I also have to give props for Gavin O'Connor for his style of directing. During the on ice hockey scenes the cameras are on the ice, right up in the actors faces and you get to feel the intensity of the game. O'Connor also does a great job of making you feel for the characters. When Herb Brooks is angry at the players, you can feel just how pissed he is. When the players feel dejected about a loss or injury, you feel dejected. When they want to jump Herb Brooks and rip his head off...well, you don't feel that because you're always on Brooks's side in this movie. I was also pleasantly surprised at the actors playing the hockey players. Not only were they really good actors, they looked just like the actual players. The director could've easily picked a bunch of bad acting, active NHL players but he chose the more appropriate route. Another thing I liked is they chose to have Al Michaels do the commentary for the games. He was the original commentator for the real games played in the 80's. Every US game he commentates except for the last twenty seconds of the final game. (If you've seen actual footage of the last twenty seconds of the game, you'll understand why. The emotion conveyed is a once in a lifetime kind of thing.) This film has everything a sports movie needs. It's inspiring, emotional, well acted, well directed and shows why people were inspired by the actual event.

Tyler Robertson
Tyler Robertson

Super Reviewer

"Do you believe in miracles?" Miracle tells the true story of Herb Brooks (Russell), the player-turned-coach who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the seemingly invincible Russian squad.

REVIEW
With a professional and intense performance by Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks, Miracle, the story of the U.S. Olympic hockey team's miraculous win over the vaunted Soviets at the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, is by far one of the best true-life sports movies ever made. Russell definitively captures the intensity of Brooks, who in real life just missed the cut on the 1960 Olympic hockey team at Squaw Valley (where the Soviets last lost) and has now been given the task of fielding what the U.S. Olympic Committee wants--the best team of hockey players. But Russell is after something more--like the right team of hockey players, the right combination that will ensure not only competitiveness but also give a winning edge to the squad once the Olympics start. Though he resorts to cajoling, temper outbursts that would nearly rival anything Bobby Knight ever did, and extremely strenuous skating exercises, the team gradually grows to respect him and, in one of the great moments in sports history, Brooks' team defeats the vaunted Soviets 4-3 in the Olympic semifinals, setting themselves up for the subsequent gold medal win against Finland. Aside from Patricia Clarkson (as Brooks' wife) and Noah Emmerich (as Brooks' assistant coach), the main cast of Miracle consists of real-life hockey players, not actors. This adds a great measure of realism to the proceedings, as do the television news flashbacks to a turbulent post-Vietnam America and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan only two months before Lake Placid. The real-life Herb Brooks, sadly, didn't get to see this film; he passed away shortly after principal photography was completed, and Miracle is thus dedicated to him. He would no doubt have been as proud of what this film accomplished on the big screen as what he and his Olympic squad did on the ice all those years ago.

Lorenzo von Matterhorn
Lorenzo von Matterhorn

Super Reviewer

½

'Miracle' is no new foray into the genre of sports films, but it is genuinely entertaining, and Russell gives an acceptable performance. The movie borders on cliche material, but it happens to skate by, barely. If you're a sports fan, you'll respect the effort. The nostalgia is fierce, yet the tone feels current. If you don't expect much from your average sports flick, then you're in for a treat. A treat that consists of one of the biggest upsets in sports history

Kase Vollebregt
Kase Vollebregt

Super Reviewer

View All

Miracle Quotes

View All Quotes

News & Features