Hoop Dreams
Seen it?1994 | 174 min | Documentary
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Critics loved it (98% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it made about 17 times its budget. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious. If you loved O.J.: Made in America, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 54 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
- It's long: 2 hr 54 min.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Every school day, African-American teenagers William Gates and Arthur Agee travel 90 minutes each way from inner-city Chicago to St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois, a predominately white suburban school well-known for the excellence of its basketball program. Gates and Agee dream of NBA stardom, and with the support of their close-knit families, they battle the social and physical obstacles that stand in their way. This acclaimed documentary was shot over the course of five years.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 98 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
Nominated for 1 Oscar.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$12 million worldwide on a $700K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 123K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Steve James
- William GatesSelf
- Arthur AgeeSelf
- Emma GatesSelf - William's Mother
- Curtis GatesSelf - William's Brother
- Sheila AgeeSelf - Arthur's Mother
- Arthur 'Bo' AgeeSelf - Arthur's Father
- Earl SmithSelf - Talent Scout
- Gene PingatoreSelf - High School Basketball Coach
- Isiah ThomasSelf - Professional Basketball Player
- Sister Marlyn HopewellSelf - High School Guidance Counselor