For basketball fans, Netflix has a lot to offer about documentary series and specials. Some Netflix original movies like Last Chance U: Basketball also focus on promising talent in basketball. When it comes to basketball movies on Netflix, it's all quality. So if someone needs inspiration from NBA players, Netflix has plenty of variety to choose from.
1 Amateur (2018)
Amateur. Image source: Pinterest
Trailer Amateur
Amateur is one of the first original basketball movies on Netflix, following the journey of Terron Forte, a talented and only 14-year-old basketball player who gets admission to a prestigious high school. Although Terron thought that attending this school could enhance his chances of pursuing a successful athletic career later on, it also gave him a more realistic view of corruption and greed in the selection of athletes. The ensuing psychological struggle offers a new perspective on the familiar formula of weak people. However, the heartfelt performance of Michael Rainey Jr. (Power) adds more depth to this psychological drama about basketball.
Genre: Drama, Sport
Release year: 2018
Director: Ryan Koo
Cast: Michael Rainey Jr, Tekola Cornetet, Hanna Longo
Duration: 1 hour 36 minutes
IMDb score: 5.9/10
2 Kuroko (2017)
Kuroko's Basketball: Last Game. Image source: Pinterest
Trailer Kuroko’s Basketball: Last Game
Although there are many animated movies about sports on Netflix, the broadcasting platform only offers one option for cartoons about basketball. Kuroko's Basketball, an animated sports and shounen film, spawned a film in 2017 in which an American basketball team confidently confronts the Japanese protagonists. Set in the context after Japan's defeat. While no prior knowledge of the series is required to enjoy Kuroko's Basketball: Last Game, having prior knowledge of the series will certainly enhance the viewing experience.
Genre: Animation, Sport
Release year: 2017
Director: Shunsuke Tada
Cast: Jon Allen, Tommy Arciniega, Brian Beacock
Duration: 1 hour 31 minutes
IMDb score: 7.7/10
3 Tony Parker: The Final Shot (2021)
Tony Parker: The Final Shot. Image source: Pinterest
Trailer Tony Parker: The Final Shot
Parker's impressive career with the San Antonio Spurs helped him establish himself as one of the promising offensive linemen of the era. Tony Parker: The Final Shot follows Tony Parker's journey with interviews featuring Parker himself and rivals and teammates such as Spurs' David Robinson and deceased LA Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant. This documentary eventually takes the familiar but very effective path of presenting Parker's career to fans.
Genre: Biography, Sport
Release year: 2021
Director: Florent Bodin
Starring: Tony Parker
Duration: 1 hour 38 minutes
IMDb score: 6.8/10
4 Untold: The Rise and Fall of AND1 (2022)
Untold: The Rise and Fall of AND1. Image source: pinterest
Trailer Untold: The Rise and Fall of AND1
While the true story behind the Prime Video movie Air explores the origins of Air Jordans, it's understandable that some brands could be as influential as top basketball players. While Nike remained at the top of the basketball market, the 1990s saw the spectacular growth of the American sports brand AND1, which specialized in its focus on basketball shoes and streetball culture. AND1 used to be a new pinnacle in the game, but then met with a catastrophic collapse. The operational issues of the franchise and the issues related to the players involved are covered in the documentary Untold: The Rise and Fall of AND1, an important film for understanding the basketball business.
Categories: History, Sport
Release year: 2022
Director: Kevin Wilson Jr
Cast: Rafer Alston, Tom Austin, Seth Berger,...
Duration: 1 hour 8 minutes
IMDb score: 6.8/10
5 A Kid From Coney Island (2019)
A Kid From Coney Island. Image source: pinterest
Trailer A Kid From Coney Island
Movies about basketball on Netflix not only focus on greats like Tony Parker but also mention forgotten stars like Stephon Marbury. Directed by Coodie and Chike (the same two who worked previously on a documentary series revolving around Kanye West called Jeen-Yuhs), A Kid From Coney Island depicts his early boom as a pivotal point of New York City. However, this success did not last long as he soon left the NBA after many obstacles in his career. Instead of creating an optimistic image of his sad decline, A Kid From Coney Island views Marbury's film career more empathetically and humanely. The documentary ultimately offers a different perspective on youth fame in the game of basketball.
Genre: Biography, Sport
Release year: 2019
Directors: Coodie, Chike Ozah
Cast: Stephon Marbury, Ronald Stewart
Duration: 1 hour 35 minutes
IMDb score: 7.0/10
6 Untold: Malice At The Palace (2021)
Untold: Malice At The Palace. Image source: pinterest
Trailer Untold: Malice At The Palace
As a prelude to the Netflix sports documentary series Untold, Malice at the Palace explores a shocking yet exciting chapter in sports history. By mentioning some of the unacceptable behavior in the sport, the documentary attempts to understand what led to the famous brawl at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit in 2004. Both spectators and players confronted each other after a foul allegedly occurred during a game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons. By recreating the collision through archival photos and testimonies of those who were actually present at that night's game, the Netflix documentary offers an interesting look at a particular chapter of NBA history.
Genre: Crime, Sport
Release year: 2021
Director: Floyd Russ
Cast: Jermaine O'Neal, Stephen Jackson, Metta World Peace,...
Duration: 1 hour 8 minutes
IMDb score: 7.5/10
7 One In A Billion (2016)
One In A Billion. Image source: Pinterest
Trailer One In A Billion
Former Dallas Mavericks center player Satnam Singh Bhamara wrote NBA history by becoming the league's first Indian-origin basketball player. Although Bhamara has retired, his low-to-rich story carries enough cinematic potential to make one of the best basketball movies on Netflix. With a journey from a remote village in Punjab, India to compete in the major tournaments, One In A Billion is an inspirational documentary about a utopian character, but his dream has come true.
Categories: Documentary, Sport
Release year: 2016
Director: Roman Gackowski
Cast: Dan Barto, Balbir Singh Bhamara, Satnam Singh Bhamara
Duration: 1 hour 9 minutes
IMDb score: 6.7/10
8 The Redeem Team (2022)
The Redeem Team . Nguồn ảnh: Pinterest
Trailer The Redeem Team
While the Americans dominate the NBA, the U.S. national basketball team has also been unparalleled champions at the Olympics. But then at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the U.S. won only the bronze medal. Although this was a remarkable achievement, the national team was not entirely happy with that result, leading to their revenge at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. With never-before-released Olympic images and interviews with some legendary basketball players like Michael Jordan and LeBron James, The Redeem Team tells a fascinating story of comeback, accompanied by intense workouts and intense mid-match meetings. In the end, The Redeem Team proves that even the game's heroes can experience failure at times.
Categories: History, Documentary , Sport
Release year: 2022
Director: Jon Weinbach
Cast: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony,...
Duration: 1 hour 37 minutes
IMDb score: 7.4/10
9 High Flying Bird (2019)
High Flying Bird . Image source: Pinterest
Trailer High Flying Bird
One of the best films shot with a smartphone, High Flying Bird was shot entirely on the iPhone 8 by experienced director Steven Soderbergh. However, instead of focusing on quick rounds and dramatic halftime breaks, High Flying Bird looks at the life of a sports consultant at risk within 72 hours. Despite not having many games, High Flying Bird succeeded in building stressful situations from the pressure that new coaches and players may face during the selection season. André Holland's performance in the lead role is another highlight of this critically acclaimed sports drama. The arrival of players like Reggie Jackson and Donovan Mitchell is also an interesting highlight.
Genre: Drama, Sport
Release year: 2019
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: André Holland, Melvin Gregg, Eddie Tavares,..
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
IMDb score: 6.2/10
10 Hustle (2022)
Hustle. Image source: Pinterest
Trailer Hustle
The movie Hustle starring Adam Sandler tops the list of the best basketball movies on Netflix simply because the movie carries so much emotion. The story follows a path of the weak, inspired by the boxing movie Rocky (it even has an early morning scene like in the boxing drama). Focusing mainly on the key character Adam Sandler's talent scout and on his quest to find Bo Cruz, a talented basketball player from Spain, Hustle has it all from motivational talks. pre-game to mid-break brawls. Sandler delivers one of the best performances of his career and even the Bo Cruz character in Hustle is a real NBA player, with former midfield player Juancho Hernangómez from the Toronto Raptors playing the part. The humorous yet endearing pair Sandler and Hernangómez are Hustle's greatest strength.
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sport
Release year: 2022
Directed by: Jeremiah Zagar, Queen Latifah, Ben Foster,...
Actor: Adam Sandler,
Duration: 1 Hour 57 Minutes
IMDb Score: 7.3/10
