Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Ordona
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tragic loss rocks, then inspires team in true sports story.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Miracle Season
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 11 kid reviews
Kids say that this film effectively blends sports and drama, delivering an emotional story that revolves around a volleyball team's struggle after the loss of their star player. Many reviewers appreciate its inspirational themes and the realistic portrayal of volleyball, although several caution that its heavy subject matter may not be suitable for younger audiences.
- emotional storytelling
- inspirational themes
- suitable for sports fans
- heavy subject matter
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Caroline "Line" Found (Danika Yarosh) is the beloved captain of the Iowa state champion West High girls' volleyball squad. When she dies in an accident, it devastates the community -- especially her best friend, Kelly (Erin Moriarty); her father, Ernie (William Hurt); and her teammates. Coach Kathy Bresnahan (Helen Hunt) is left to pick up the pieces and try to refocus the girls, who understandably can't find their winning groove after the tragedy. Can Kelly and Coach Bresnahan put together a winning season in honor of their fallen loved one -- and for Line's mother, who died of cancer soon after her daughter's passing? THE MIRACLE SEASON is based on the true story of the 2011 West High volleyball team.
Is It Any Good?
This movie is a fairly effective, if over-polite, tearjerker, with good sports sequences. The Miracle Season feels a bit too sanitized; even when terrible tragedy strikes, the characters keep their language clean. No one drowns their sorrows, and no one even really gets into an argument. Portraying grief realistically is an extremely difficult line for any film to toe, and The Miracle Season definitely errs on the side of caution. (Interestingly, the filmmakers chose to make the circumstances of Line's death less clean than they actually were; in real life, she was on her way home from a church event, while here, it's a teen party, which unintentionally raises uncomfortable questions that were quickly dispelled in reality -- drugs and alcohol were not factors in her crash.) That ends up making the drama feel a bit limited, preventing viewers from experiencing the full depth of the characters' feelings. Which is a shame, because Hunt and Hurt are both Oscar winners. The former is fine as the emotionally shielded coach; she's believable, but we get little insight into who she is. Hurt, meanwhile, has a couple of affecting scenes as the grieving father and widower. In the lead role, Moriarty ably holds the screen with those two veterans and sympathetically portrays a girl coping with a dreadful loss while becoming what her team needs her to be. And in her brief appearance as Line, Yarosh infuses her scenes with quirky energy and warmth.
Without much in the way of suspense (the title rather gives away the game; we can be fairly sure they're going to compete for the title again, or else it might have been called They Were Unable to Overcome a Tragedy) -- or the emotional danger of exploring the depth of the grieving -- the film still manages to move due to moments like Hurt's scenes. And the volleyball sequences are well captured and exciting because, let's face it, volleyball is awesome. Miracle Season is suitable for most ages and delivers a message of perseverance and honoring lost loved ones.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the messages of The Miracle Season. How did the characters show good teamwork? Why is teamwork important? What's hard for you when you work with a team, and what's easy?
Why might filmmakers choose to alter the facts in movies that are based on real-life events? What changes do you suspect were made here? Is that OK with you? What's the value of telling this story as a drama (as opposed to, say, a documentary or news report)?
Which characters do you consider role models? Why?
What's the appeal of movies about sports teams? Can you think of others you've seen? What do they tend to have in common?
How do the characters handle their grief? Have you ever had to deal with a loss like that? How did it turn out?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 6, 2018
- On DVD or streaming : July 31, 2018
- Cast : Helen Hunt , William Hurt , Erin Moriarty
- Director : Sean McNamara
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Mirror
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 99 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some thematic elements
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate