Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inspiring docu tells immigrant tale, has language, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
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Giannis: The Marvelous Journey
What's the Story?
GIANNIS: THE MARVELOUS JOURNEY tells the story of basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo's rise from impoverished Nigerian immigrant on the streets of Athens to NBA superstar. Using archive footage, reenactments, and firsthand interviews with Antetokounmpo family members, journalists, coaches, and others, the film pieces together Giannis' challenging upbringing and his rise to fame.
Is It Any Good?
This entertaining, nearly two-hour documentary paints a flattering portrayal of its subject, whose unique life story and perspective make him an inspiring role model. Giannis: The Marvelous Journey is neatly organized into two acts: his early childhood, characterized by poverty and his immigrant family's outsider status, and his NBA career starting from age 18. In between, the documentary skips over significant chunks of time, including more detail of how the Antetokounmpo brothers discovered and developed their basketball skills, or the other brothers' basketball careers. (For more on that, the Disney film Rise offers a fictionalized account.)
Interviews reveal that when the young Giannis arrived in Milwaukee, his team doctors were surprised to find out he still had more to grow, and also that he was undernourished and anemic. His family was granted documents to live and work in the United States thanks to team connections with the politician John Kerry. Despite the trappings of fame, success, and wealth, Giannis comes across as humble, hardworking, and loyal, as close with his mother and brothers as a "butt and underwear," in the Greek expression. These themes are well-expressed and conveyed in the documentary.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the trials and tribulations the Antetokounmpo family has faced, as described in Giannis: The Marvelous Journey. Do you think all immigrants face the same kinds of difficulties? Why, or why not?
In what ways do Giannis and his brothers demonstrate gratitude? How does this enrich their lives as well as their communities?
What did you know about the Antetokounmpo brothers? How about their foundation? Where can you go for more information?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 19, 2024
- Cast : Giannis Antetokounmpo , Alex Antetokounmpo , Kostas Antetokounmpo
- Director : Kristen Lappas
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Amazon
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Character Strengths : Gratitude
- Run time : 108 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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