The best basketball movies of all time
The top 3 according to 752 votes from people: Hoop Dreams (1994) · Hoosiers (1986) · White Men Can't Jump (1992). (Updated Feb 23, 2026.)
From Hoosiers to Hoop Dreams: the basketball films critics rank highest (The A.V. Club, Gold Derby, Rotten Tomatoes).
Top 11
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1
Hoop Dreams (1994)
Two Chicago teenagers chasing the NBA, filmed over years.
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2
Hoosiers (1986)
A small-town Indiana team reaches the state final.
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3
White Men Can't Jump (1992)
Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson hustling on the street courts.
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4
He Got Game (1998)
Spike Lee, Denzel Washington and Ray Allen.
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5
Love & Basketball (2000)
A love story that runs alongside two careers.
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6
Blue Chips (1994)
Nick Nolte and the dirty side of college recruiting.
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7
Coach Carter (2005)
Samuel L. Jackson puts school before basketball.
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8
Air (2023)
How Nike signed Michael Jordan.
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9
Space Jam (1996)
Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes.
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10
Glory Road (2006)
The 1966 Texas Western team with an all-Black starting five.
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11
Hustle (2022)
Adam Sandler as a scout who finds a talent in Spain.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (12)
Hustle surprised me, Sandler is great when he plays it straight.
Space Jam on a 'best' list? Nostalgia is powerful 😂
Space Jam is a perfect movie and I will not be taking questions.
Love & Basketball is the best romance sports movie ever.
White Men Can't Jump is the most fun basketball movie, Snipes and Harrelson are perfect.
Hoop Dreams at #1, it's one of the greatest documentaries ever made, period.
He Got Game, Ray Allen could actually act!
Where is Uncut Gems? Kevin Garnett is in it! 😅
It's a movie about gambling, not basketball.
Hoosiers still gives me chills, that final shot.
Coach Carter was required viewing for every high school team I played on.
Glory Road is so underrated, the true story is incredible.