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Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Ri'chard, Rob Brown (VI), Ashanti, Debbi Morgan ... see more see more... , Rick Gonzalez , Antwon Tanner , Nana Gbewonyo , Channing Tatum , Texas Battle , Denise Dowse , Adrienne Bailon , Dana Davis

The true-life story of a coach who tries to teach his players that there's more to life than basketball is brought to the screen in this sports drama. Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) was once a star pl... read more read more...ayer on the Richmond High School basketball team in Richmond, CA, and years later, after establishing himself in publishing and marketing, he returns to the school and to the team as the new basketball coach. Carter quickly sees that his work is cut out for him -- the team is having an awful season, and their fights off the court are more decisive than their play on the court. While Carter wants to make the Richmond cagers into a winning team, he also wants a lot more -- to teach the boys to respect themselves and one another, and that they must excel in the classroom as well as in the gymnasium. Under Carter's guidance, the team turns their losing season around, with the state title a genuine possibility. However, when Carter learns that a number of his players have let their grade point averages slip below 2.3, as mandated in a contract he entered into with the students, he decides to lock the team out of the gym and send them into study hall until their marks improve. Carter's plan quickly becomes a subject of controversy among parents and team boosters, and their objections are soon picked up by the local news media, many of whom are not sympathetic to Carter's belief that his players must have goals beyond college ball or the NBA. Coach Carter also features Rob Brown and Rick Gonzalez as members of the team, and R&B diva Ashanti in her film debut as the girlfriend of one of Carter's players. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

85% liked it

384,723 ratings

Critics

65% liked it

144 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 16 min.

Directed by: Thomas Carter (II)

Release Date: January 14, 2005

Keywords: inspirational, sports

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DVD Release Date: June 21, 2005

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Stats: 17,049 reviews

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Robert Ri'chard Rob Brown Channing Coach Carter channing tatum! Coach Carter Coach Carter Channing Tatum Channing Tatum Coach Carter CHANNING TATUM Coach Carter coach carter Samuel L. Jackson Coach Carter Coach Carter Robert Ri'chard its a pioc of 1 of ma fav movies coach carter
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Flixster Reviews (17,049)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    January 11, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Average sports drama that is predictable, Coach Carter doesn't do anything new or original. I felt that Coach Carter though good, was nothing great, and it was nothing new to the sports genre. The film is the same old, predictable formula. Everything you'd expect happens, despite... read more this; the film manages to be good entertainment. However, the fact that the sports drama genre seems to be comprised of the same old ideas, is a tad annoying. There are good performances here, nothing ever great, but for what it is, it's pretty entertaining. Coach Carter is no different than every other sports drama, and relies on the usual plot elements that you'd expect. The film is average, and if you've seen plenty of sports dramas, its pretty predictable. Nonetheless I liked the film The cast did a good job here, and it had a good plot despite the fact that it's nothing really new. This film will appeal to sports film fans. Coach Carter is entertaining, but like I said, it's the same old tired formula, luckily the cast keeps this film entertaining and watchable. The film relies on cliches but overall it remains constantly dramatic and entertaining like every other sports drama. A good cast, and good plot keeps this film rolling and fun.
  • fb729949618
    October 2, 2011
    fb729949618
    A very engaging film, this is Samuel L. Jackson at his finest.
  • murphmann93
    June 23, 2011
    murphmann93
    Amazing film. One of my all time favourites. All of the cast were exceptional and this true story is full of positivity and leaves you smiling uncontrolably. A must see!
  • DreamExtractor
    April 10, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    Another great basketball movie. Samuel L. Jackson and the teenagers are great, really believable. The plot was okay, predictable and cliche at times, but it had very good moments. In the end, Coach Carter is a great movie, but a lot of cliche moments and the Hoosiers feel keep... read more it from being perfect.
  • TomBowler
    April 10, 2011
    TomBowler
    Some fine set-pieces and an adequate storyline, the only reason this film holds up is Samuel L. Jackson refusing to phone it in. Full review later.
  • MovieGeek13
    March 3, 2011
    MovieGeek13
    Coach Carter packs the usual cliches of the sports film into its 136 minute run time. That means that we will get lots of locker room speeches, renegade kids who will mature into proper, intelligent young adults within a few weeks, and a community who opposes all the radical noti... read moreons the protagonist instigates in his teaching methods.
    Where the film shines is in the presence of Samuel L. Jackson as that protagonist. Jackson commands the screen. He yells a lot, which is customary for him to do, but he creates a believability in his character that doesn't happen often in films of this ilk. His character is a role model that I actually felt could connect with the youths on the basketball team, and his methods of tough love were strong enough coming from him to make the kids want to change their lives. Consistently engaging.
  • itsjustme2004
    January 18, 2011
    itsjustme2004
    These movies will always get me. Coach Carter is yet another true inspiring story where one person changes many lives. Very moving, and powerful, and has a strong message about public education in urban areas, Well done. As usual, Samuel L. Jackson is at his finest.
  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    July 29, 2010
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    B
  • fb733768972
    January 29, 2010
    fb733768972
    Inspiring! Samuel L. Jackson, who is in every single movie, put's on a very good performance!
  • 76Majikat
    December 31, 2009
    76Majikat
    Coach Carter certainly has it's corny moments despite being based on a true story. The relationship between coach and team is a great evolving tale of mutual respect and has a similar feel to it as Freedom Writers.

    A very enjoyable role for SLJ and a great character to play. ... read more

    Special Features are worth a watch to meet the real life characters of the story.

View All Coach Carter Reviews

Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones
March 25, 2008
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

This is supposed to be about setting high standards, yet it's full of fudged ultimatums; in the end I couldn't be sure whether its morality was complex or just confused. Full Review

Ken Tucker
July 5, 2005
Ken Tucker, New York Magazine

Saved by bursts of energy and inventiveness. Full Review

Peter Travers
January 27, 2005
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Carter gives every sports-drama cliche a chance to play. No bad idea is benched.

David Blaylock
January 25, 2005
David Blaylock, Village Voice

Too vicious to speak to bleeding-heart liberals, too pro-academia to speak to No Child Left Behind advocates, and too preachy to speak to youths. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
January 14, 2005
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

One of those highly effective conventional pictures that remind us that conventionality isn't always a bad thing. Full Review

Rick Groen
January 14, 2005
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

The appeal lies in the genre's mixed marriage of liberal sensibilities to conservative values, a happy American union that simultaneously acknowledges the fact of social injustice while insisting on t... Full Review

Sean Daly
January 14, 2005
Sean Daly, Washington Post

The basketball footage is often thrilling, the camera whooshing through the action like a darting point guard. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
January 14, 2005
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

No one will be surprised to learn that Jackson's Coach Carter is a shining slab of steel-rod charisma. Full Review

Carla Meyer
January 14, 2005
Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle

Features bursts of humor and electrifying energy offset by speechifying and a dud of a subplot. Full Review

Roger Moore
January 14, 2005
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Jackson plays the coach with wit and authority. His imposing presence ensures that he won't have to take much guff, even from the toughest punk on the team. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Timo Cruz: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
    • Ken Carter: Basketball is a privilege ma'am. If you wanna play basketball on this team, these are the simple rules you have to follow if you want to want to enjoy these privileges. If you decide to follow these simple rules, I need you and the boys to sign these contracts.
    • Timo Cruz: Teachers ain't supposed to touch students.
    • Ken Carter: I'm not a teacher. I'm the new basketball coach.
    • Timo Cruz: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
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Coach Carter Trivia

  • In what movie did Samuel L. Jackson star as a basketball coach?   Answer »
  • Samuel L Jackson plays a basketball coach and changes the lives of his team forever.  Answer »
  • in which movie did Samuel L. Jackson was a basketball coach?  Answer »
  • In which film featured the phase "I'm not a teacher, I'm your new basketball coach!"  Answer »
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