I'm not sure at what age this movie would be engaging for a kid. Perhaps earlier for a sports enthusiast kid. But this is an awesome movie that really captures a feeling and a sense of place and time. Having lived in southern Indiana, I can confirm the passion for basketball - it's a core of small town life. The game scenes are also beautifully shot and very exciting. And the redemption message is powerful.
Hoosiers
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Is it age appropriate?
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Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
A tale of heroic sportsmanship.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 9 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Hoosiers was written by Randy White
Parents need to know that the emotional intensity here is of the "who will win?" variety. The movie also deals with alcoholism, but features the redemption of two adult leads.
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More on Hoosiers
What’s the Story?
HOOSIERS is a stirring movie about teamwork, discipline, and second chances that features exciting basketball action and a meticulous re-creation of 1950s Indiana. Hired to coach a small-town high school team, Norm Dale (Gene Hackman) searches for personal redemption in his quest to lead the underdogs of Hickory High School to victory at the state championships. In a memorable scene, Dale gets a lecture from a group of locals on how things are done in Hickory: You need to be a God-fearing man, you must always set a fine example for the boys, and, more importantly, you mustn't mess with the traditional zone defense. With help from assistant coach Shooter (Dennis Hopper), a recovering alcoholic, Dale and his team surprise everyone in Indiana by making it all the way to the state finals.
Is It Any Good?
Much more than a sports flick, Hoosiers is a great movie for families to watch and enjoy together. This slice of Americana conforms to the rules of sports movies, but manages to transcend the genre. The barest of plots is fleshed out by an electric Gene Hackman. And the renewal of Dennis Hopper's character -- whose emotional wounds are more openly visible than Hackman's -- smartly doubles the redemption factor.
The writing is strong and wonderfully sly. To its credit, the movie gets the details right, starting with the passion that high school basketball elicits. Even the compulsory practice scenes are played with a fervor and realism that is compelling, and the David vs. Goliath aspect gives the movie an extra punch. The movie occasionally succumbs to sports-movie clichés such as "aren't you the kind who'd rather look for a fight than run away from one?" and there's an obligatory love subplot. Another quibble is that it's sometimes hard to tell the healthy, corn-bred players apart.
Movie Details
Studio: Metro-goldwyn-mayer Pictures, Director: David Anspaugh
Run time: 114 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/14/1986, DVD release: 05/01/2002
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic intensity
Run time: 114 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/14/1986, DVD release: 05/01/2002
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic intensity
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Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
Breathtaking
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
A Classic Tale of the Underdog
The story of a coach with a troubled past and an unmotivated team who like to do things their way.
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