The Winning Season

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The Winning Season

PG-13

2010

1h 46m

Comedy

Drama

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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.

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Stephen Holden

New York Times

09/03/2010

2.5/5

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.

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Lou Lumenick

New York Post

09/03/2010

3/4

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.

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Sheri Linden

Los Angeles Times

09/02/2010

3/5

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

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

08/09/2023

3/4

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.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

01/30/2018

C

Mediocre, predictable underdog sports film.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

02/04/2013

C

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Pat H

@RT38139330 05/28/2025

Gloomy movie. Should have been funny and inspiring. Teen years are hard enough. Nobody needs a depressing movie as well. Sam Rockwell sapped all the energy out of this story, even while the girls on the team were trying and trying to make it light, funny, triumphant.

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JW S

@RT71122869 02/03/2025

I was really pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie given its somewhat formulaic plot. Sam Rockwell is always a winner and his individual chemistry with each castmember is fun to watch.

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Anthony J

@jenkinsdraws 09/20/2023

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

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Avalon T

@Avalon604 05/23/2023

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.

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Sean S

@RT99571076 05/15/2023

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.

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08/15/2020

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

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James C. Strouse

Director

Sam Rockwell

Bill

Emma Roberts

Abbie

Rob Corddry

Terry

Shareeka Epps

Lisa

Emily Rios

Kathy

The Winning Season: Official Clip - The Wrong Side of the Line

2:00

The Winning Season: Official Clip - Molly's Gone

2:30

The Winning Season: Official Clip - You've Come a Long Way

2:11

The Winning Season: Official Clip - Bill's Past

2:12

The Winning Season: Official Clip - Defending Kathy's Honor

1:44

The Winning Season: Official Clip - The Big Picture

1:08

The Winning Season: Official Clip - Coaching Incognito

2:08

The Winning Season: Official Clip - Waitress Rejection

1:35

The Winning Season: Official Clip - What's Your Type?

1:28

The Winning Season: Official Clip - Is This a Joke?

1:42

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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: Plum Pictures, Gigi Films, Gigi Productions
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