5 must-watch basketball movies on Netflix for every NBA fan

There is no shortage of sports content on Netflix but if you are looking for basketball movies. The streaming giant has several movies with high-octane drama straight out of the court, we have handpicked the five best movies on the streamer for you to watch. Whether you are a true NBA fan or not, these awe-inspiring movies on the list are mostly action-packed with emotionally driven narratives to keep you hooked throughout. Here are five must-watch basketball movies on Netflix.
5. Amateur (2018)
Amateur is undoubtedly one of the underrated sports dramas centered on basketball. The movie follows a talented basketball player Terron Forte who faces challenges in adjusting to his new team at a prestigious prep school. Written and directed by Ryan Koo, the movie features Michael Rainey Jr. in the lead, alongside Tekola Cornetet as Stevion, Walter Anaruk as Coach Nguyen, Sharon Leal as Nia, Terron's mother, Brian J. White played Terron's father Vince. Amateur was received well among fans claiming a 67% score on The Popcornmeter.
4. Tony Parker: The Final Shot (2021)
French-American former basketball point guard Tony Parker has made his career in the NBA with a series of astonishing accolades adding to his resume. The former Charlotte Hornets star’s life was examined in the Florent Bodin-directed Netflix documentary which revealed stunning details of his background and career in the league.
Several NBA legends appeared in the documentary including David Robinson, Gregg Popovich, and the late Kobe Bryant. They have shared their take on Parker’s journey leading to his greatness in the league.
3. High Flying Bird (2019)
High Flying Bird has a Tomatometer score of 91%, the movie is one of the highly acclaimed basketball movies on Netflix. Helmed by celebrated director Steven Soderbergh who has several hit credits to his name including Ocean's Eleven, Erin Brockovich, and Magic Mike, the 2019 sports drama features an engaging narrative written by Tarell Alvin McCraney.
High Flying Bird follows a sports agent who presents a risky business deal to a rookie basketball player amid a lockout. The movie stars Moonlight star, André Holland as Ray Burke working for a New York sports agency; Joker actress Zazie Beetz plays Sam. The movie also features Melvin Gregg, Sonja Sohn, Zachary Quinto, Kyle MacLachlan, and Bill Duke. High Flying Bird is an intense drama revealing astounding behind-the-scenes basketball insights. If you are an NBA fan, you would love the movie.
2. The Redeem Team (2022)
Fans and critics share almost equal consensus for The Redeem Team. The movie claimed an astonishing 93% on Rotten Tomatoes with a 94% audience score on the platform.
The Redeem Team uses rare Olympic footage and behind-the-scenes clips, the movie follows the US Men's Basketball Team’s journey to gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This came after their surprising loss in Athens four years earlier. The documentary offers a close look at team building. Also, the movie includes interviews with athletes like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, along with coach Mike "Coach K" Krzyzewski as they reflect on how they raised the bar for American basketball.
Directed by Jon Weinbach, The Redeem Team definitely deserves a spot on your watchlist.
1. Hustle (2022)
Hustle starring Adam Sandler is one of the most impactful basketball movies on Netflix. The sports comedy is closely related to the NBA as the movie follows Stanley Sugerman played by Hollywood veteran Adam Sandler. Sugerman is a struggling basketball scout who finds an incredible streetball player in Spanish big man Bo Cruz (based on real-life basketball player Juancho Hernangómez) and sees him as his chance to return to the NBA.
Alongside Sandler who played the coach for the Philadelphia 76ers, the movie also stars Queen Latifah, Juancho Hernangómez, Ben Foster, Kenny Smith, Anthony Edwards, and Robert Duvall.
Hustle is a must-watch, not just for NBA fans but anyone craving an urge to watch a dramedy based on the sport would enjoy the movie. Additionally, Hustle is the highest-rated Sandler movie on Rotten Tomatoes.