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Hoop Dreams

  • 1994
  • PG-13
  • 2h 50m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
27K
YOUR RATING
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.

  • Director
    • Steve James
  • Writers
    • Steve James
    • Frederick Marx
  • Stars
    • William Gates
    • Arthur Agee
    • Emma Gates
  • See production, box office & company info
    • IMDb RATING
    8.3/10
    27K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Steve James
    • Writers
      • Steve James
      • Frederick Marx
    • Stars
      • William Gates
      • Arthur Agee
      • Emma Gates
    • 100User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
    • 98Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 23 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos2

    Hoop Dreams
    Trailer 1:28
    Watch Hoop Dreams
    Hoop Dreams
    Trailer 1:41
    Watch 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 Siskel & Ebert: 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 reviews100

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    My favorite film of all time!
    This gets my vote for the best movie of all time!! I know, it sounds crazy to say that about a documentary, but to me, this film has more drama, truth, realism & emotion than a thousand Hollywood movies put together. I've seen it over 30 times, and it never ceases to gladden my heart to see Arthur & William's story. The scene where Arthur's mom receives her diploma from nursing school has to be one of my all time favorites. For me, this is one of the rare three-hour movies that I never wanted to end. 10/10.
    helpful•30
    12
    • Cobbler
    • Dec 15, 1999

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    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
      • Kartemquin Films
      • KTCA Minneapolis
    • 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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