Miracle poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Noah Emmerich, Sean McCann, Kenneth Welsh ... see more see more... , Eddie Cahill , Patrick O'Brien Demsey , Michael Mantenuto , Nathan West , Kenneth Mitchell , Eric Peter-Kaiser , Bobby Hanson , Joe Cure , Bill Schneider , Pete Duffy , Michael Coristine , Stephen Kovalcik , Nate Miller , Samuel Skoryna , Billy Schneider , Joseph Cure

Gavin O'Connor directs the sports drama Miracle, based on the true story of the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid. Kurt Russell stars as hockey coach Herb Brooks, who assembles a U.S. team of underd... read more read more...ogs. No one thinks they can make it, as they are up against the previously undefeated Soviet hockey team. Despite the odds, Brooks leads the U.S. team to victory. As the 1980 Winter Olympics happen to coincide with the Cold War, the event is interpreted as patriotic. Also starring Eddie Cahill and Patricia Clarkson, Miracle was distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Flixster Users

87% liked it

54,420 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

157 critics

PG, 2 hr. 15 min.

Directed by: Gavin O'Connor

Release Date: February 6, 2004

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: May 25, 2004

Get It:

Stats: 3,841 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Nathan West and Rob McClanahan Miracle Miracle Eddie Cahill and Jim Craig Miracle MIRACLE Miracle Miracle
Upload a Photo | View All Miracle Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (3,841)

  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    March 20, 2012
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "Do you believe in miracles?"

    Miracle tells the true story of Herb Brooks (Russell), the player-turned-coach who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the seemingly invincible Russian squad.

    REVIEW
    ... read more
    With a professional and intense performance by Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks, Miracle, the story of the U.S. Olympic hockey team's miraculous win over the vaunted Soviets at the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, is by far one of the best true-life sports movies ever made. Russell definitively captures the intensity of Brooks, who in real life just missed the cut on the 1960 Olympic hockey team at Squaw Valley (where the Soviets last lost) and has now been given the task of fielding what the U.S. Olympic Committee wants--the best team of hockey players. But Russell is after something more--like the right team of hockey players, the right combination that will ensure not only competitiveness but also give a winning edge to the squad once the Olympics start. Though he resorts to cajoling, temper outbursts that would nearly rival anything Bobby Knight ever did, and extremely strenuous skating exercises, the team gradually grows to respect him and, in one of the great moments in sports history, Brooks' team defeats the vaunted Soviets 4-3 in the Olympic semifinals, setting themselves up for the subsequent gold medal win against Finland.

    Aside from Patricia Clarkson (as Brooks' wife) and Noah Emmerich (as Brooks' assistant coach), the main cast of Miracle consists of real-life hockey players, not actors. This adds a great measure of realism to the proceedings, as do the television news flashbacks to a turbulent post-Vietnam America and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan only two months before Lake Placid. The real-life Herb Brooks, sadly, didn't get to see this film; he passed away shortly after principal photography was completed, and Miracle is thus dedicated to him. He would no doubt have been as proud of what this film accomplished on the big screen as what he and his Olympic squad did on the ice all those years ago.
  • spielberg00
    August 12, 2011
    spielberg00
    OK+
  • fb100001048934982
    July 21, 2011
    fb100001048934982
    'Miracle' is no new foray into the genre of sports films, but it is genuinely entertaining, and Russell gives an acceptable performance. The movie borders on cliche material, but it happens to skate by, barely. If you're a sports fan, you'll respect the effort. The nostalgia is f... read moreierce, yet the tone feels current. If you don't expect much from your average sports flick, then you're in for a treat. A treat that consists of one of the biggest upsets in sports history
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    June 13, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Thought we know the outcome of the Miracle On Ice game, this is still a powerful sports film with fairly tense action packed hockey scenes. Miracle is a superb sports drama that is set during the 1980 Winter Olympic games when Team USA beat the invincible Russian team for the fir... read morest time in over a decade. Miracle is a superb film though predictable, it is very well done. Kurt Russell gives a powerful performance as Team USA coach Herb Brooks. Miracle is a good sports film that delivers. The film recreates the atmosphere of the 1980 Winter Games very well, and the need for a miracle to win against Russia. Though predictable this film is a solid sports film with a good cast. Miracle is a terrific recreation the famous game that won the US its Gold medal against the Russians. Miracle does follow the traditional sports film formula, and does make it cliche, but I thought the film was done so well and was entertaining enough to not hold it against the film. The cast do a great job here and the filmmakers craft an interesting and good film despite all the cliches. What really does separate this film is that it focuses on an extremely important event in sports history. Miracle is a well acted film with the right amount of drama and sports action. This film is a must for hockey fans and those who enjoy a good sports film. Miracle delivers on screen.
  • fb733768972
    August 28, 2010
    fb733768972
    Fantastic story of motivation and pride! Miracle shows the audience what it is like to try as hard and as long as you can until you succeed! Brilliant!
  • deano
    January 4, 2009
    deano
    This David-and-Goliath-on-ice story is an inspirational, rough and tumble, profanity-free testament to ingenuity that touches on the conflicts between work ethics and domestic responsibility.
  • ironclad1609
    October 2, 2007
    ironclad1609
    The story of the USAmerican success in the 1980 Olympic ice hockey tournament, told with nice details and accurately copied images of the time. The movie makes a point in explaining why the team's success had such importance to the nation at that time. It rarely takes the patriot... read moreism too far concentrates on the sports aspects. The last 20 minutes are covering the classic match against the undefeated Russians and is as exciting as a thriller, even though everyone knows what happened. One of the most likable and entertaining sports movies.
  • puffchunk
    October 1, 2007
    puffchunk
    okay. for a sports movie. which are all the same
  • superclerk25
    February 12, 2007
    superclerk25
    Sport movie.
  • sainttom93
    January 14, 2007
    sainttom93
    In Memory of Herbie Brooks who died in a car accident just before this movie was released

View All Miracle Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
February 14, 2004
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

If you can tolerate all this phony uplift you'll also get a pretty interesting story about a shrewd Minnesota college coach named Herb Brooks. Full Review

Richard Roeper
February 13, 2004
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

[T]humbs up for this uplifting and inspirational movie about one of the great upsets in sports history. Full Review

Ed Park
February 10, 2004
Ed Park, Village Voice

Russell is terrific as coach Herb Brooks. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
February 7, 2004
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Big on slogans, but low on personality. Full Review

Mark Jenkins
February 6, 2004
Mark Jenkins, Washington Post

The movie effectively simulates the game's whirl, and should grab all but the most finicky hockey fans. But for moviegoers who think if you've seen one sports flick, you've seen 'em all -- well, you'v...

Ann Hornaday
February 6, 2004
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

The movie brings the audience back to 1980 with bone-crunching verisimilitude. Full Review

Claudia Puig
February 6, 2004
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Hockey fans should enjoy the movie, as will fans of the underdog. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
February 6, 2004
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

[A] strenuously uplifting reactionary crowd pleaser. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
February 6, 2004
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

The movie's extended re-creation of the game is still thrilling and nerve-racking. Full Review

Joe Baltake
February 6, 2004
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Given that we know the outcome it's amazing how much suspense Miracle engenders. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Glory Road
    Glory Road (71%)
  • Rocky
    Rocky (56%)
  • The Express
    The Express (100%)
  • Soul Surfer
    Soul Surfer (100%)

More Movies like Miracle

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Herb Brooks: Again!
Submit a Fact | View All

Miracle : Watch Free on TV

Miracle Trivia

  • According to Miracle Max, what happens when you rush a miracle?  Answer »
  • What young actress starred in such films as Miracle on 34th Street, Matilda and A Simple Wish?  Answer »
  • The christmas movie starring Elizabeth Perkins and Richard Attenborough is called Miracle on ___ Street.  Answer »
  • What is the element that provides a common link between The Miracle Worker and The Lord of the Rings-The Fellowship of the Rings  Answer »
More Miracle Trivia

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Miracle Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Miracle to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?