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Hoop Dreams

  • 19941994
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 50m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
26K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
14,014
1,382
Hoop Dreams (1994)
Home Video Trailer from New Line Cinema
Play trailer1:28
2 Videos
99+ Photos
DocumentaryDramaSport
A film following the lives of two inner-city Chicago boys who struggle to become college basketball players on the road to going professional.A film following the lives of two inner-city Chicago boys who struggle to become college basketball players on the road to going professional.A film following the lives of two inner-city Chicago boys who struggle to become college basketball players on the road to going professional.
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
26K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
14,014
1,382
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Steve James
    • Writers
      • Steve James
      • Frederick Marx
    • Stars
      • William Gates
      • Arthur Agee
      • Emma Gates
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Steve James
    • Writers
      • Steve James
      • Frederick Marx
    • Stars
      • William Gates
      • Arthur Agee
      • Emma Gates
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 92User reviews
    • 63Critic reviews
    • 98Metascore
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 22 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos2

    Hoop Dreams
    Trailer 1:28
    Hoop Dreams
    Hoop Dreams
    Trailer 1:41
    Hoop Dreams

    Photos145

    William Gates in Hoop Dreams (1994)
    Hoop Dreams (1994)
    Hoop Dreams (1994)
    William Gates in Hoop Dreams (1994)
    Hoop Dreams (1994)
    Hoop Dreams (1994)
    Hoop Dreams (1994)
    William Gates in Hoop Dreams (1994)
    Hoop Dreams (1994)
    Arthur Agee in Hoop Dreams (1994)
    Hoop Dreams (1994)
    Hoop Dreams (1994)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Gates
    William Gates
    • Self
    Arthur Agee
    Arthur Agee
    • Self
    Emma Gates
    • Self - William's Mother
    Curtis Gates
    • Self - William's Brother
    Sheila Agee
    Sheila Agee
    • Self - Arthur's Mother
    Arthur 'Bo' Agee
    • Self - Arthur's Father
    Earl Smith
    • Self - Talent Scout
    Gene Pingatore
    • Self - High School Basketball Coach
    Isiah Thomas
    Isiah Thomas
    • Self - Professional Basketball Player
    Marlyn Hopewell
    • Self - High School Guidance Counselor
    • (as Sister Marlyn Hopewell)
    Bill Gleason
    Bill Gleason
    • Self - Television Reporter
    Patricia Weir
    • Self - President: Encyclopedia Brittanica
    Marjorie Heard
    • Self - High School Guidance Counselor
    Luther Bedford
    • Self - High School Basketball Coach
    Aretha Mitchell
    • Self - High School Guidance Counselor
    Shannon Johnson
    • Self - Arthur's Friend
    Tomika Agee
    • Self - Arthur's Sister
    Joe 'Sweetie' Agee
    • Self - Arthur's Brother
    • Director
      • Steve James
    • Writers
      • Steve James
      • Frederick Marx
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Roger Ebert, after the film failed to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary, he and Gene Siskel learned about the nominating process. He said that members of the Academy's documentary committee held flashlights when they watched documentaries, and anyone who had "given up" could wave it against the screen. The movie was turned off if a majority waved their flashlights. This film was turned off after 15 minutes.
    • Quotes

      William Gates: That's why when somebody say, "when you get to the NBA, don't forget about me", and that stuff. Well, I should've said to them, "if I don't make it, don't you forget about me."

    • Crazy credits
      Thanks to the St. Joseph High School community and Coach Gene Pingatore who agreed to participate in a not for profit Kartemquin Educational film telling William and Arthur's stories. Today, St. Joseph, with a 39% minority enrollment, remains committed to the dream of a better life for all. Awarding need based financial aid to 40% of its students, St. Joseph with limited resources continues to maintain its academic excellence. A Hoop Dreams Fund has been set up to provide academic scholarships.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Intersection/The Air Up There/Body Snatchers/Iron Will/Hoop Dreams (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      In This Very Room
      Words & Music by Ron & Carol Harris

      © 1979 Ron Harris Music (ASCAP)

      All Rights Reserved.

      All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. Used by Permission.

    User reviews92

    Review
    Top review
    More than just a 'basketball documentary'
    I'd heard a lot about this documentary, but had never seen it. I've even read comments by few people calling it their favourite film, "even though it's a documentary" (as if that was a bad thing!). It's understandable to see why this film speaks to the hearts of so many people.

    "Hoop Dreams" follows two teenaged Chicago residents, Arthur Agee and William Gates, and their dreams of becoming professional basketball players - more than that, basketball superstars a la Michael Jordan. From their first year of high school until they start college, we observe all of the expectations, efforts, joy, disappointments, and numerous obstacles that make their journey.

    Will Agee and Gates manage to overcome all the obstacles and become more than most of their peers even dream to achieve? The suspense is well-built through clever editing and a good sense of rhythm, pace and storytelling (documenting is also storytelling, after all), and the film doesn't feel 170 minutes long. By the end, you realize you've watched two real people growing up and doing what they can or cannot - failing and trying again - to achieve their goals and dreams, no matter what are the odds imposed by their economical and social backgrounds. Hoop Dreams come(s) true as both a slice of life and a fascinating socio-anthropological study. Not bad for a 'basketball documentary'.
    helpful•3
    0
    • Benedict_Cumberbatch
    • Oct 4, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 14, 1994 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 籃球夢
    • Filming locations
      • Cabrini Green Housing Complex, Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • KTCA Minneapolis
      • Kartemquin Films
      • Sprockets Music
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $700,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,830,611
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $18,396
      • Oct 16, 1994
    • Gross worldwide
      • $11,830,611
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Ultra Stereo

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