He Got Game
Seen it?1998 | 136 min | Drama
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (81% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest, despite a box office loss. 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 anyone who loves a strong drama. If you loved The Color Purple or American History X, start here.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 16 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
A basketball player's father must try to convince him to go to a college so he can get a shorter prison sentence.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
81% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.8 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$22 million worldwide on a $25 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 196K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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American History X Friday Night FlickAnother much-loved prison drama.
Out of the Furnace
Weeknight WatchAnother prison drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Starred Up Sunday Safe BetAnother prison drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Spike Lee
- Denzel WashingtonJake Shuttlesworth
- Ray AllenJesus Shuttlesworth
- Rosario DawsonLala Bonilla
- Milla JovovichDakota Burns
- Hill HarperColeman "Booger" Sykes
- Ned BeattyWarden Wyatt
- Jim BrownSpivey
- Joseph Lyle TaylorCrudup
- Bill NunnUncle Bubba
- Michele ShayAunt Sally