A coach with a checkered past and a local drunk train a small-town high school basketball team to become a top contender for the state championship in 1950s Indiana.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Gene Hackman | ... |
Coach Norman Dale
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| Barbara Hershey | ... |
Myra Fleener
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| Dennis Hopper | ... |
Shooter
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| Sheb Wooley | ... |
Cletus Summers
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Fern Persons | ... |
Opal Fleener
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| Chelcie Ross | ... |
George
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| Robert Swan | ... |
Rollin Butcher
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Michael O'Guinne | ... |
Rooster
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Wil Dewitt | ... |
Reverend Doty
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John Robert Thompson | ... |
Sheriff Finley
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| Michael Sassone | ... |
Preacher Purl
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Gloria Dorson | ... |
Millie
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Mike Dalzell | ... |
Mayor Carl
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Skip Welker | ... |
Junior
(as Calvert L. Welker)
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Eric Gilliom | ... |
J. June
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Robert Boyle | ... |
Referee (Oolitic)
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Jerry D. Petro | ... |
Referee - Oolitic Game
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Sam Smiley | ... |
Referee - Cedar Knob Game
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Tom McConnell | ... |
Coach - Cedar Knob
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Dennis Farkas | ... |
Gorilla Player - Cedar Knob
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Tim Fogarty | ... |
Referee - Verdi Game
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Spyridon Stratigos | ... |
Referee - Loogootee Game
(as Don Stratigos)
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| Ken Strunk | ... |
Referee - Dugger Game
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Jerry D. Larrison | ... |
Referee - Terhune Game
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Thomas W. Marshall | ... |
Referee - Terhune Game
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Gary Long | ... |
Coach - Jasper
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C.W. Mundy | ... |
Coach - Jasper
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Jeff Moster | ... |
Player - Jasper
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Ralph H. Shively | ... |
Doc Buggins
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| Rich Komenich | ... |
Reporter
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Scott Miley | ... |
Reporter
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| Robert Sutton | ... |
Reporter
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Ray Crowe | ... |
Coach - State
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Ray Craft | ... |
Official - Finals
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Tom Carnegie | ... |
Finals P.A. Announcer
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Hilliard Gates | ... |
Radio Announcer - Finals
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Laura Robling | ... |
Hickory Cheerleader
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Nancy Harris | ... |
Hickory Cheerleader
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Libbey Schenck | ... |
Hickory Cheerleader
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Brad Boyle | ... |
Whit Butcher
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Steve Hollar | ... |
Rade
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Brad Long | ... |
Buddy
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| David Neidorf | ... |
Everett
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Kent Poole | ... |
Merle
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Wade Schenck | ... |
Ollie
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Scott Summers | ... |
Strap Purl
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Maris Valainis | ... |
Jimmy Chitwood
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The Travel-Aires | ... |
Star Spangled Banner Quartet
(as Travel-Aires)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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John E. Blazier | ... |
Spectator in Jasper Gym (uncredited)
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| Matt Boatright-Simon | ... |
Meredith (uncredited)
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| Anthony Bruce | ... |
Basketball Fan (uncredited)
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Dan Davis | ... |
Townsperson (uncredited)
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Erin Eller | ... |
Fan (uncredited)
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Steven Engle | ... |
Hickory Fan (uncredited)
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| Mark Falvo | ... |
Basketball Fan (uncredited)
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Todd Fishel | ... |
Spectator at State Finals (uncredited)
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Bill Gulde | ... |
Spotlight Blocker (uncredited)
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Stephen M Hauter | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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Hugh Richard Heinsohn | ... |
Angry Citizen (uncredited)
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Brian Hulse | ... |
Pep Band Trumpet Player (uncredited)
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Kenny Jobe | ... |
Star Spangled Banner Quartet (uncredited)
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Kent Kercheval | ... |
Star Spangled Banner Quartet (uncredited)
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Darrin Lafferty | ... |
Star Spangled Banner Quartet (uncredited)
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Dennis Lafferty | ... |
Star Spangled Banner Quartet (uncredited)
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Duke Thomas Low | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Jeff Malott | ... |
Player - Loogootee & Madison (uncredited)
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Steve Mirer | ... |
Townsperson at Church (uncredited)
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| Darrin Murrell | ... |
Basketball Fan (uncredited)
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Bobby Plump | ... |
Bobby Plump (uncredited)
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Jim Rayl | ... |
Terhune 5 Sectional Championship (uncredited)
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Kenny Redman | ... |
Hickory Fan (uncredited)
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| Ron Russell | ... |
Spectator (uncredited)
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Cotton Walker | ... |
Spectator at State Finals (uncredited)
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| Kathryn Kermon Wasson | ... |
Spectator (uncredited)
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Ryan Weatherford | ... |
Spectator at State Finals (uncredited)
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Aaron Weiler | ... |
Spectator at State Finals (uncredited)
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Directed by
| David Anspaugh | ||
Written by
| Angelo Pizzo | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| John Daly | ... | executive producer |
| Carter DeHaven | ... | producer (as Carter De Haven) |
| Derek Gibson | ... | executive producer |
| Graham Henderson | ... | associate producer |
| Angelo Pizzo | ... | producer |
Music by
| Jerry Goldsmith | ||
Cinematography by
| Fred Murphy | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Carroll Timothy O'Meara | ... | (as C. Timothy O'Meara) |
Editorial Department
| Mark Eggenweiler | ... | assistant film editor |
| Vivian Hengsteler | ... | negative cutter |
| Dan Muscarella | ... | color timer (as Daniel Muscarella) |
| Frank J. Urioste | ... | additional film editor |
| Robert Wheeler | ... | second assistant film editor |
Casting By
| Ken Carlson | ||
Production Design by
| David Nichols | ||
Art Direction by
| David Lubin | ||
Set Decoration by
| Janis Lubin | ||
| Brendan Smith | ||
Costume Design by
| Jane Anderson | ||
Makeup Department
| Daniel Marc | ... | hair stylist |
| Carole Scheidler | ... | assistant hair stylist |
| Ronnie Specter | ... | makeup artist |
| Michael Williams | ... | assistant hair stylist |
Production Management
| Graham Henderson | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Herb Adelman | ... | first assistant director |
| Larry M. Davis | ... | second second assistant director |
| Forrest L. Futrell | ... | first assistant director: second unit |
| Angelo Pizzo | ... | second unit director |
| Harvey Waldman | ... | key second assistant director |
Art Department
| Richard Baum | ... | assistant property master (as Rich Baum) |
| Clayton Hartley | ... | assistant art director: second unit |
| Brick Mason | ... | production illustrator |
| Raoul Moore | ... | head carpenter |
| James A. Rathbun | ... | property master |
| Mark Wieringa | ... | construction coordinator (as Mark W. Wieringa) |
| Gayle Wurthner | ... | scenic artist |
| Bill Gold | ... | poster designer (uncredited) |
| Todd Hatfield | ... | painter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| David Brownlow | ... | production sound mixer |
| Pieter Hubbard | ... | sound editor |
| David J. Hudson | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Peter F. Kurland | ... | boom operator |
| Mel Metcalfe | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Dan O'Connell | ... | foley artist |
| Bill Phillips | ... | supervising sound editor |
| John Phillips | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Terry Porter | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Hal Sanders | ... | sound editor |
| Mike Warner | ... | sound editor |
| Ed Golya | ... | adr mixer (uncredited) |
| Gary A. Hecker | ... | foley artist (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Geoff Brewer | ... | stunts |
| Dean Raphael Ferrandini | ... | stunts (as Dean Ferrandini) |
| Gary Jensen | ... | stunts |
| Ernie F. Orsatti | ... | stunt coordinator (as Ernie Orsatti) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Tom Countryman | ... | crane operator |
| Don Devine | ... | first assistant camera |
| David Dubois | ... | electrician |
| Gary Farr | ... | still photographer |
| John K. Farr | ... | grip (as John Farr) |
| Robert Gray | ... | key grip (as Bob Gray) |
| Khan Griffith | ... | dolly grip |
| Christopher Hackman | ... | second assistant camera: second unit |
| Scott Howell | ... | best boy grip (as Scott A. Howell) |
| Ian Kincaid | ... | gaffer |
| Kim Kono | ... | best boy electric (as Kim K. Kono) |
| Philip Lee | ... | second assistant camera |
| Mosh Levin | ... | assistant steadicam operator |
| Jeff Lint | ... | electrician |
| Danny McDermott | ... | electrician |
| Randy Nolen | ... | steadicam operator |
| Frank Perl | ... | first assistant camera: second unit |
| Patrick Reddish | ... | gaffer: second unit |
| Morgan Renard | ... | still photographer |
| Jon Tilton | ... | rigging gaffer |
| Oliver Wood | ... | director of photography: second unit |
| David Yosha | ... | grip |
| Thom Zimmerman | ... | second camera operator |
| Joseph Di Pasquale | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Karl Hall Koch | ... | head rigging electrician (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Barbara Harris | ... | voice casting |
| Stephen Meyers | ... | extras casting coordinator |
| Kristin Nelson | ... | casting associate |
| Debby Shively | ... | extras casting assistant |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Dorothy Amos | ... | wardrobe |
| Dino Giacomin | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Murshel Lewis | ... | wardrobe (as Murshel C. Lewis) |
| Jeanne Mascia | ... | wardrobe (as M. Jeanne Mascia) |
| Mary Law Weir | ... | key costumer (as Mary Weir) |
Location Management
| Rick Schmidlin | ... | location manager |
| Pat Webb | ... | assistant location manager |
Music Department
| Budd Carr | ... | music supervisor |
| Kenneth Hall | ... | music editor |
| Arthur Morton | ... | orchestrator |
| Mike Ross-Trevor | ... | music recordist (as Mike Ross) |
| Jerry Goldsmith | ... | conductor (uncredited) / musician (uncredited) |
| Joel Goldsmith | ... | music producer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Marilyn Bailey | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Steve Anton | ... | transportation captain (as Steven Anton) |
| Tom Countryman | ... | driver: insert car |
| George Dale | ... | driver: honeywagon |
| William 'Fleet' Eakland | ... | transportation coordinator (as William Eakland) |
| Bart Heimburger | ... | period vehicle coordinator |
| Michael Hendrickson | ... | transportation co-captain |
| Daniel Rothstein | ... | driver: production van |
Additional Crew
| Tom Abernathy | ... | technical advisor |
| Frans J. Afman | ... | motion picture banking: Credit Lyonnais Bank, Nederland |
| Christopher S. Capp | ... | production assistant |
| Jerome Harold Cler | ... | production assistant |
| John Collier Bennett | ... | production assistant |
| Maureen Duffy | ... | production secretary (as Maureen Ann Duffy) |
| Matt Gatson | ... | production assistant |
| Glenn Gaylord | ... | assistant production accountant |
| Ellen Gelzleichter | ... | first aid |
| Leon Griffith | ... | police officer: Indiana State |
| Alan Grodin | ... | legal services: Cooper, Epstein & Hurewitz |
| Tim Harte | ... | police coordinator: Indiana State (as Sgt. Tim Harte) |
| Robert Jellen | ... | insurance: Albert G. Ruben and Company Inc. |
| Jonathan Locke | ... | assistant craft service |
| Diana Mazza | ... | advisor: cheerleading |
| Tom McConnell | ... | technical advisor |
| Cathy Mickel Gibson | ... | production accountant |
| Karen Altman Morgenstern | ... | production coordinator |
| Jeff Morrell | ... | production assistant |
| Phill Norman | ... | title designer |
| Eric Parkinson | ... | Hemdale studio executive |
| Fiora Pizzo | ... | production assistant |
| Luis Reyes | ... | unit publicist |
| Trudy Salven | ... | travel arrangements: TST International |
| Daniel Schott | ... | craft service (as Daniel K. Schott) |
| Spyridon Stratigos | ... | basketball coordinator (as Spyridon 'Strats' Stratigos) |
| John Wheeler | ... | police officer: Indiana State |
| Laurie White | ... | assistant: Mr. De Haven |
| J. David Williams | ... | financier |
| Dianne E. Collins | ... | publicist: M/S Billings Publicity Ltd. (uncredited) |
| Jonathan Sheinberg | ... | Head of Production Orion Pictures (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Karen Galvin | ... | the producers wish to thank |
| John Mutz | ... | the producers wish to thank (as Lt. Governor John Mutz) |
| Robert D. Orr | ... | the producers wish to thank (as Governor Robert Orr) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Cannon Nova Film (1988) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Orion Pictures (1986) (United States) (theatrical)
- Rank Film Distributors (1987) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Films (1987) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1988) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2012) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Avid Home Entertainment (1996) (United States) (VHS)
- Disney Channel (1989) (United States) (tv) (as The Disney Channel)
- Family Home Entertainment (FHE) (1993) (United States) (VHS)
- Feature Films for Families (1994) (United States) (VHS)
- HBO Video (1988) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Home Box Office (HBO) (1987) (United States) (tv) (pay television)
- Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1988) (United States) (VHS)
- Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1988) (Greece) (VHS)
- Image Entertainment (1988) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- LK-TEL Vídeo (1987) (Brazil) (VHS)
- LK-TEL (1987) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Live Entertainment (1997) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Spain) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (France) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2005) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Networks (2007) (India) (tv)
- Pioneer Entertainment (1996) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- RCA / Columbia Pictures Video (1987) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1988) (West Germany) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1987) (Australia) (VHS)
- USA Network (1991) (United States) (tv)
- Vestron Video (1988) (United States) (VHS)
- Video Collection International (1991) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (2020) (United States) (Blu-ray) (reprint for MGM)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Albert G. Ruben and Company (insurance)
- Butler University (the producers wish to thank)
- Carlson - Dowd (casting)
- Cooper, Epstein & Hurewitz (legal services)
- Credit Lyonnais Bank (Nederland) N.V. (motion picture banking)
- Dolby Laboratories (sound)
- Dolby Stereo (in selected theatres)
- Film Finance (completion guarantee)
- Hungarian State Opera Orchestra (music performed by)
- Indiana Barber/Stylist College (additional assistant hairdresser from)
- Indiana Film Commission (the producers wish to thank)
- KO Creative (package design and layout)
- Keylite Production Services (production services and equipment)
- Mafilm (music recorded at)
- National Barber/Stylist College (additional assistant hairdresser from)
- Otto Nemenz International (camera and lenses)
- Pacific Title (titles and opticals)
- People of Knightstown (the producers wish to thank)
- People of New Richmond (the producers wish to thank)
- People of Nineveh (the producers wish to thank)
- Polydor (original soundtrack available on)
- Sports Studio (wardrobe)
- TST International (travel arrangements)
- Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Studios (sound re-recording)
- Unique Catering (catering)
- Yamaha (digital keyboard provided by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Failed college coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) gets a chance at redemption when he is hired to direct the basketball program at a high school in a tiny Indiana town. After a teacher (Barbara Hershey) persuades star player Jimmy Chitwood to quit and focus on his long-neglected studies, Dale struggles to develop a winning team in the face of community criticism for his temper and his unconventional choice of assistant coach: Shooter (Dennis Hopper), a notorious alcoholic. Written by maschzentertainment |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | It'll go straight to your heart. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $6,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $220,068, 16 Nov 1986 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The scene with Jimmy and Coach Dale talking while Jimmy shot baskets was filmed in one take. Maris Valainis said that he "wasn't even listening to him. I was just concentrating on making them, and I made one, and they kept going in." See more » |
| Goofs | Coach takes Rade out of the first game for not following his 4 passes rule. In the next shot, Rade is playing. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Something Wild/The Mission/Hoosiers/Sky Bandits (1986). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Big Band Highlight No. 2 See more » |
| Quotes |
Coach Norman Dale:
I would hope you would support who we are. Not, who we are not. These six individuals have made a choice to work, a choice to sacrifice, to put themselves on the line 23 nights for the next 4 months, to represent you, this high school. That kind of commitment and effort deserves and demands your respect. This is your team. See more » |