There is no doubt about the role that basketball movies have played in the shaping of popular culture. How else could we explain Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics claiming the Cleveland Cavaliers are, “not the Monstars”? We took the time to rank the top five basketball movies of all-time based on the impact they have had on popular culture over the years. Here is a look at the top five basketball movies of all-time.
1. Space Jam
While some of the other movies on this list were more dramatic or had deeper underlying tones, there is no debating the cultural impact of the movie Space Jam. The combination of star NBA players and Looney Tunes made this the perfect movie for children and the concept is hilarious enough that it can resonate all of these years later. Whether it’s somebody joking that they need, “Michael Jordan’s Secret Stuff” or that a highly skilled team draws comparisons to the “Monstars”, there is no doubt that Space Jam has had a lasting impact for all of the right reasons.
2. White Men Can’t Jump
Obviously this movie has a much different tone then the previous one but it’s had just as big of an impact on popular culture. In fact, a number of people will consider this the greatest basketball movie of all-time. Wesley Snipes yelling, “it hurts to be this good” is an all-time classic line and there are many social images that still resonate today. This movie isn’t for everybody. However, those that are old enough to understand certainly love it.
3. He Got Game
Denzel Washington had to be on this list at some point and we think No. 3 is a good spot for He Got Game. Jesus Shuttleworth and Neon Boudeaux are a bit of a stretch as basketball names but that makes them even more hilarious. This movie definitely deserves a spot on this list. A vintage performance from Denzel has it at No. 3 on this list.
4. Love and Basketball
“I’ll play you.”
“For what?”
“Your heart.”
Love and basketball is a completely different type of basketball movie but it can’t be completely overlooked on this list. It’s definitely more of a romance than a sports movie but it still deserves mention here. This movie has Gabrielle Union in her prime. How many times Dwyane Wade watched it before he fell in lover with her?
5. Semi-Pro
“Jackie’s teammates doing just an awful job of stabilizing his spine off the court” is one of many hilarious lines in the movie Semi-Pro. While Blue Chips and Above The Rim both deserve honorable mention in this spot, Semi-Pro gets the nod as another lasting comedy that gets better every time you watch it. The movie teases plenty of different clichés with Will Ferrell thriving in the role of an owner/star player. Semi-Pro is probably the funniest basketball movie so it earns the final spot on this list of the greatest basketball movies of all-time.
Honorable Mention
Blue Chips
Many people would have Blue Chips higher on this list; it definitely deserves honorable mention.
This movie proved to be quite important to the Orlando Magic franchise. Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway grew close in the filming of the movie. Their relationship developed so much so that Shaq went to the Magic’s front office and urged them to draft Penny.
Above The Rim
Above The Rim is an underrated basketball movie that featured a starstudded cast. There was Tupac, Marlon Wayans, Bernie Mac and Wood Harris. It was a story of a star basketball player who battles life in the hood and the streets of New York.
Hoosiers
For a generation of people, Hoosiers would be their No. 1 movie on the list. For another generation, they might not even know Hoosiers. This 1986 epic is viewed by many as one of the greatest sports movies of all-time. It’s a story of a small town in Indiana where an underdog high school team overcomes the odds to win state. Gene Hackman put forth a legendary performance in this role. If you haven’t seen it, it’s well worth a watch.
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