Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- warm
- goofy
- affectionate
- lazy sunday
- sports movie night
What critics said
Critics found the film broad, affectionate, and intermittently funny, but less strange and compelling than the documentary source, with uneven humor and questionable casting.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The American Samoa team’s shared identity and mutual support are central to rebuilding morale after repeated defeat.
Thomas Rongen arrives as a down-on-his-luck, temperamentally unreliable coach and must rebuild both his credibility and the players’ trust.
The team’s historic 31-0 loss supplies the humiliating starting point for an affectionate, hopeful comeback story.
Jaiyah’s transgender identity and the film’s treatment of transphobia add an inclusion-focused dimension to the team drama.
Films like Next Goal Wins, and why
The Bad News Bears
underdog sports comedy-drama built around a struggling team and an unconventional coach
Cool Runnings
warm, goofy ensemble sports comedy about outsiders pursuing unlikely success
Eddie the Eagle
true-story sports drama emphasizing communal resilience and an emotionally rewarding comeback
Kicking & Screaming
affectionate underdog football comedy with broad humor and team camaraderie
Movie Details
- Director
- Taika Waititi
- Release Date
- 2023-11-16
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (615)
Cast
- Michael Fassbender
- Oscar Kightley
- Kaimana
- David Fane
- Rachel House
- Beulah Koale
- Taika Waititi
- Will Arnett
- Elisabeth Moss
- Uli Latukefu
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Next Goal Wins about?
- A disgraced coach finds purpose while guiding American Samoa’s battered soccer team toward dignity, solidarity, and a chance at redemption.
- What is Next Goal Wins like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Next Goal Wins as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Next Goal Wins violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Next Goal Wins as mild.
- What did critics think of Next Goal Wins?
- Critics found the film broad, affectionate, and intermittently funny, but less strange and compelling than the documentary source, with uneven humor and questionable casting.
- Which films are like Next Goal Wins?
- Films with a similar feel include The Bad News Bears, Cool Runnings, Eddie the Eagle, and Kicking & Screaming.
- How long is Next Goal Wins?
- Next Goal Wins runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch Next Goal Wins?
- In United States, Next Goal Wins streams on Hulu.
