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The Basketball Diaries

  • 19951995
  • RR
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
115K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,786
64
Leonardo DiCaprio in The Basketball Diaries (1995)
Trailer for The Basketball Diaries
Play trailer0:31
2 Videos
84 Photos
BiographyCrimeDrama
A teenager finds his dreams of becoming a basketball star threatened after he free falls into the harrowing world of drug addiction.A teenager finds his dreams of becoming a basketball star threatened after he free falls into the harrowing world of drug addiction.A teenager finds his dreams of becoming a basketball star threatened after he free falls into the harrowing world of drug addiction.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
115K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,786
64
  • Director
    • Scott Kalvert
  • Writers
    • Jim Carroll(novel)
    • Bryan Goluboff(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Leonardo DiCaprio
    • Lorraine Bracco
    • Marilyn Sokol
  • Director
    • Scott Kalvert
  • Writers
    • Jim Carroll(novel)
    • Bryan Goluboff(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Leonardo DiCaprio
    • Lorraine Bracco
    • Marilyn Sokol
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 208User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
    • 46Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos2

    The Basketball Diaries
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch The Basketball Diaries
    What Roles Did Leonardo DiCaprio Almost Play?
    Video 4:07
    Watch What Roles Did Leonardo DiCaprio Almost Play?

    Photos84

    Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, James Madio, and Patrick McGaw in The Basketball Diaries (1995)
    Leonardo DiCaprio and Lorraine Bracco in The Basketball Diaries (1995)
    Leonardo DiCaprio in The Basketball Diaries (1995)
    Leonardo DiCaprio in The Basketball Diaries (1995)
    Leonardo DiCaprio and Patrick McGaw in The Basketball Diaries (1995)
    James Madio in The Basketball Diaries (1995)
    Patrick McGaw in The Basketball Diaries (1995)
    Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, James Madio, and Patrick McGaw in The Basketball Diaries (1995)
    Mark Wahlberg in The Basketball Diaries (1995)
    Mark Wahlberg in The Basketball Diaries (1995)
    Leonardo DiCaprio and Lorraine Bracco in The Basketball Diaries (1995)
    Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, and James Madio in The Basketball Diaries (1995)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Leonardo DiCaprio
    Leonardo DiCaprio
    • Jim Carroll
    Lorraine Bracco
    Lorraine Bracco
    • Jim's Mother
    Marilyn Sokol
    Marilyn Sokol
    • Chanting Woman
    James Madio
    James Madio
    • Pedro
    Patrick McGaw
    Patrick McGaw
    • Neutron
    Mark Wahlberg
    Mark Wahlberg
    • Mickey
    Roy Cooper
    Roy Cooper
    • Father McNulty
    Vincent Pastore
    Vincent Pastore
    • Construction Worker
    • (as Vinnie Pastore)
    Bruno Kirby
    Bruno Kirby
    • Swifty
    Jimmy Papiris
    • Iggy
    Nick Gaetani
    • Referee #1
    Alexander Chaplin
    Alexander Chaplin
    • Bobo
    • (as Alexander Gaberman)
    Ben Jorgensen
    Ben Jorgensen
    • Tommy
    Josh Mostel
    Josh Mostel
    • Counterman
    Juliette Lewis
    Juliette Lewis
    • Diane Moody
    Michael Imperioli
    Michael Imperioli
    • Bobby
    Akiko Ashley
    Akiko Ashley
    • Stripper
    Ernie Hudson
    Ernie Hudson
    • Reggie
    • Director
      • Scott Kalvert
    • Writers
      • Jim Carroll(novel)
      • Bryan Goluboff(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jim Carroll: Writer and subject of the movie, the guy Jim talks to in the underground drug den.
    • Goofs
      When Jim, Pedro, and Mickey steal the car to sell to Mickey's brother, Jim is smoking a cigarette which he takes a drag of then throws out the window. When Pedro nearly crashes the car, he is smoking it again.
    • Quotes

      Jim Carroll: You're growing up. And rain sort of remains on the branches of a tree that will someday rule the Earth. And it's good that there is rain. It clears the month of your sorry rainbow expressions, and it clears the streets of the silent armies... so we can dance.

    • Alternate versions
      This film was passed uncut with an 18 rating in the UK in 2000. It was previously cut by 47 seconds by the distributor. The cuts were to the dream sequence where kids are shot in school, which was removed by the distributor in response to the Dunblane massacre.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Kiss of Death/Jury Duty/Stuart Saves His Family/The Basketball Diaries/The Pebble and the Penguin (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Catholic Boy
      Written by Jim Carroll
      Performed by Jim Carroll with Pearl Jam
      Pearl Jam appears courtesy of Epic Records

    User reviews208

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    A Sorry True Story
    Leonardo Di Caprio puts in the best performance of his career in this sickening true story of boys growing up in a man's world. Him and his friends(including boogie night's Mark Wahlberg) start a life threatening race of drugs and murder.

    Ernie Hudson puts in a small appearance as Reggie, the do gooder who tries to put Leo on the right tracks. Juliette Lewis is smartly placed as the local prostitute, and Bruno Kirby plays the gay basketball coach to perfection.

    The most disturbing scene for me was when Reggie tries to get Jimmy(leo) off of drugs by locking him in a room for a long time. Both actors do well with Leo in a polished performance. The Basketball Diaries is disturbing, but at the same time, it tells the truth in a way that keeps the images in your mind. If it had one fault, it was under using Lorraine Bracco and Michael Imporliano(both appeared in Goodfellas and The Sopranos). Rating=3/5
    helpful•10
    1
    • roland-27
    • Sep 26, 1999

    FAQ1

    • What has been cut out of the British BBFC 18 release?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 21, 1995 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Streets of New York
    • Filming locations
      • Forest Hills High School, Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • New Line Cinema
      • Island Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,381,087
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $765,335
      • Apr 23, 1995
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,402,438
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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