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76% Critic Match
Hoop Dreams
“An Extraordinary True Story.”
7.6 / 10• 1994• 2h 54m•PG-13• English
Documentary
Storyline
Every school day, African-American teenagers William Gates and Arthur Agee travel 90 minutes each way from inner-city Chicago to St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois, a predominately white suburban school well-known for the excellence of its basketball program. Gates and Agee dream of NBA stardom, and with the support of their close-knit families, they battle the social and physical obstacles that stand in their way. This acclaimed documentary was shot over the course of five years.
Cast & Crew
William Gates
Self
Lead
Arthur Agee
Self
GP
Gene Pingatore
Self
Steve James
Narrator (voice)
Dick Vitale
Self
Bobby Knight
Self
Spike Lee
Self
Isiah Thomas
Self
What People Are Saying
4.0
“A staggering achievement of craft and ambition. Steve James's vision lands with breathtaking precision.”
4.0
“Every frame feels alive. Hoop Dreams is the rare release that takes its audience seriously.”
