Parents' Guide to

Next Goal Wins

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Captivating, moving sports docu; some swearing.

Movie NR 2014 97 minutes
Next Goal Wins Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 7+

Based on 1 parent review

age 7+

Perfect documentary for family

Great story about sticking to goals, overcoming odds, and showcases a culture that is naturally supportive of one another. The attitude of the team toward the transgender player is a great model for kids to witness.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This movie's thoroughly enjoyable and and loaded with inspiring messages. Brett and Jamison must consider themselves among the luckiest filmmakers in the world. What they found in American Samoa was moviemaking gold: fascinating characters, including a goalie who'd suffered an unbearable defeat, two photogenic American athletes with ties to American Samoa, soccer's first transgender athlete, and the incredibly charismatic and likable coach sent to save them, which set the story in motion and kept it there. Then, unlikely and suspenseful events took Next Goal Wins to unusual places and to a not-entirely-predictable resolution. The filmmakers’ respectful and tender treatment of the American Samoan people, its culture, and Jaiyah Saelua, a mesmerizing transgender athlete, bring additional depth to an already thoughtful and heartfelt film. Notwithstanding the colorful Coach Rongen’s occasional swearing, it’s great fun.

Movie Details

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