Looking to get into the game of great basketball movies? Well, we’re here with an assist.

There’s nothing like an exhilarating sports drama. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll cheer — sometimes all at the same time — and (depending on how invested you are) you might even break a sweat, just like the players on-screen. It doesn’t matter if you’re watching a classic underdog story or the rise of an athlete always destined for greatness; these films pack universal appeal.

Whether you’re basking in basketball season, keeping tabs on your bracket during March Madness, breathlessly watching the NBA finals, or it’s the agonizing (but let’s be real, pretty brief) wait between seasons, it’s worth taking your shot on a movie about the fast-paced game. So why not add these films to your lineup? LeBron levels of inspiration to come.

The Redeem Team

First, there was the Dream Team, featuring basketball legends Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, who reestablished the United States as the sport’s preeminent force around the globe. But as the rest of the world upped their game, that momentum came to a screeching halt within a decade, leaving the US with embarrassing bronze-medal finishes at the 2004 Olympics and 2006 World Championships. On the heels of these unacceptable results, the Redeem Team was born. “In 2008, I played with heroes of mine, all stars, friends, and future teammates,” says Redeem Team member and one of the movie’s executive producers Dwyane Wade. “Outside of winning and showing the world that we were still the most dominant, our other big challenge was changing the perception of what everyone thought about the NBA and USA Basketball.” The film documents the assembling of the 2008 men’s basketball team and their mission to find redemption at that year’s Olympics in Beijing. Experience never-before-seen footage and interviews with the star-studded Redeem Team roster, including Dwyane Wade, fellow executive producer LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and the late Kobe Bryant.

The Redeem Team

2022

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Hustle

There’s no better place to start than with the king of sports movies, Adam Sandler. Even when the actor’s movies aren’t about sports, Sandler makes sure to incorporate his love of basketball, specifically, into them. In director Jeremiah Zagar’s crowd-pleasing dramedy Hustle, the Sandman’s passion for movies and hoops blend perfectly together. The flick stars Sandler as longtime Philadelphia 76ers international scout Stanley Sugerman, who stumbles across a game-changing prospect in the form of unknown Spanish big man Bo Cruz (real-life NBA baller Juancho Hernangómez). Set in Philadelphia — the home of the overzealous sports fan — the movie often gives Rocky vibes. And both Sandler and acting rookie Hernangómez turn in knockout performances alongside a strong supporting cast that includes Queen Latifah, Ben Foster, and Robert Duvall. But what all basketball superfans will really appreciate is Hustle’s NBA legend appearances, including Trae Young, Julius Erving, Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Doncic, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal. Then there’s Anthony Edwards, who nearly steals the show as Bo Cruz’s trash-talking rival, Kermit.

Hustle

2022

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Untold: Malice at the Palace

The documentary film series Untold chronicles some of the wildest and most unbelievable stories in sports, and more than a dozen entries into its run, it still might be hard to beat the debut. Like never before, Malice at the Palace goes inside the infamous 2004 brawl at Detroit’s The Palace of Auburn Hills. The fight broke out in the final seconds of a contentious 2004 game between Eastern Conference rivals the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers. Following a hard foul from Pacers star Ron Artest (now known as Metta Sandiford-Artest) and an ensuing tussle, a drink was launched from the crowd, hitting Artest and prompting him to charge into the stands and attack the suspected perpetrator. Teammates backed up Artest, while fans made their way onto the court. Pacers star Jermaine O’Neal punched an oncoming fan. The events led to lengthy suspensions, criminal charges, and an unofficial end to the Pacers’ championship hopes. Malice at the Palace features emotional and in-depth interviews with everyone involved, including Artest, O’Neal, and the real cup-throwing culprit.

Untold: Malice at the Palace

2021

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Amateur

Before he stepped up as the face of Power Book II: Ghost, Michael Rainey Jr. first showed his power as a leading man in writer-director Ryan Koo’s Amateur. The sports drama follows Terron Forte (Rainey Jr.), a highly sought after 14-year-old basketball prospect who comes to understand the corruption and greed in amateur sports when he’s recruited to an elite prep school. Sharon Leal (Dreamgirls) and Brian J. White (The Family Stone) play Terron’s supportive parents and Corey Parker Robinson (The Wire) and Josh Charles (The Good Wife) his demanding coaches.

Amateur

2018

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Tony Parker: The Final Shot

Tony Parker was far from a household name when he was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs at the end of the first round in the 2001 NBA Draft. A skinny, short (for NBA standards), 19-year-old French American, Parker wasn’t your typical NBA prospect, but he managed to leave a towering mark on the league and his two countries. This 2021 documentary examines how Parker managed to become a four-time NBA champion and one of the best international players of all time. While the French giant tells his story in his native language, former teammates and rivals like David Robinson, Gregg Popovich, and the late Kobe Bryant stop by to share what they believe made Parker great.

Tony Parker: The Final Shot

2020

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High Flying Bird

If there’s one filmmaker who keeps changing the game, it’s Steven Soderbergh. After previously exploring the worlds of strippers, thieves, and Liberace, the Oscar winner jumped into professional basketball. But High Flying Bird is no traditional sports drama. Shot entirely on an iPhone 8, this project from Soderbergh and Moonlight scribe Tarell Alvin McCraney stars fellow Moonlight alum André Holland as an agent who attempts to use his new, prized rookie client (American Vandal’s Melvin Gregg) to pull of an ambitious plan that — if successful — will pressure the NBA’s owners to end the current lockout. Unsurprisingly, Soderbergh is more interested in the action being conducted in the boardrooms and offices than on the court, and his distinct style — paired with McCraney’s sharp script — make for an engrossing, fast-moving 90-minute watch. In addition to serving as an incredible showcase for the underrated Holland, High Flying Bird also scores winning screen time from Zazie Beetz, Sonja Sohn, Zachary Quinto, Kyle MacLachlan, and Bill Duke.

High Flying Bird

2019

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