The Basketball Diaries
Seen it?1995 | 102 min | Drama, Crime
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Audiences rate it highly (7.4 out of 10) and it made about 17 times its budget, though it had middling reviews (47% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans. If you loved Trainspotting or Half Nelson, start here. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 42 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect drug use.
- Critics were cooler on it than audiences.
A high school basketball player’s life turns upside down after free-falling into the harrowing world of drug addiction.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
47% on Rotten Tomatoes, 46 on Metacritic
- AudiencesStrong
7.4 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$33 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 414K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
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Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed drug-world crime drama.
Above the Rim
Weeknight WatchAnother sports crime drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
White Boy Rick Weeknight WatchAnother drug-world crime drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Half Nelson
Saturday SpecialAnother sports drama.
Kids Sunday Safe BetAnother crime drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Scott Kalvert
- Leonardo DiCaprioJim Carroll
- Bruno KirbySwifty
- Lorraine BraccoJim's Mother
- Ernie HudsonReggie
- Patrick McGawNeutron
- James MadioPedro
- Mark WahlbergMickey
- Barton HeymanConfessional Priest
- Roy CooperFather McNulty
- Michael ImperioliBobby