Hoosiers

A small-town high school basketball team faces the ultimate challenge in their quest for glory.

Critics broadly praised the film's loving craftsmanship, Gene Hackman's complex central performance, and its persuasive small-town sports detail despite its familiar underdog formula.

• Norman Dale faces school-board scrutiny, parental demands, gossip, and the expectations of basketball-centered Hickory.
• Norman Dale's spotty past and scandal shape his guarded approach to coaching and his effort to rebuild trust.
• Dale emphasizes teamwork, passing, conditioning, and adherence to a system over local pressure for star-centered play.
• The film treats high school basketball as a defining institution in 1950s Indiana small-town life.

• The Miracle Workersmall-town sports drama centered on an unlikely high school team and a demanding coach
• Remember the Titanswarm, inspirational sports underdog story with strong community dynamics
• Coach Cartercharacter-driven basketball drama combining mentorship, team conflict, and redemption
• Breaking Awayearnest high school sports drama shaped by local pressure and personal perseverance

Director

David Anspaugh

Release Date

1986-11-14

Runtime

114 min

Rating

7.0 / 10 (621)

What is Hoosiers about?

A disgraced coach and a troubled former player rally a skeptical Indiana town around an undersized high school basketball team.

What is Hoosiers like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Hoosiers as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Hoosiers violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Hoosiers.

What did critics think of Hoosiers?

Critics broadly praised the film's loving craftsmanship, Gene Hackman's complex central performance, and its persuasive small-town sports detail despite its familiar underdog formula.

Which films are like Hoosiers?

Films with a similar feel include The Miracle Worker, Remember the Titans, Coach Carter, and Breaking Away.

How long is Hoosiers?

Hoosiers runs 114 minutes.

Where can I watch Hoosiers?

In United States, Hoosiers streams on Amazon Prime Video, The Roku Channel, YouTube Free, TNT, TBS, tru TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.