The Replacements
During a professional football strike, a disgraced quarterback and a band of unlikely replacements find purpose under a demanding coach.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- warm
- uplifting
- game day
- lazy sunday
What critics said
Critics generally found the film entertaining in broad strokes but overly dependent on clichéd characters and an obvious outcome.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Shane Falco and the replacement players are recruited as outsiders after the professional football strike leaves the team without its established stars.
Jimmy McGinty assembles and coaches a roster of replacement players, misfits, and has-beens during the strike-shortened season.
The film combines professional football games with zany replacement players, comic rivalries, and slapstick-oriented character humor.
The central premise directly fictionalizes the 1987 professional football players' strike and its effect on owners, coaches, and replacement athletes.
Films like The Replacements, and why
Major League
shared sports comedy structure, colorful misfit ensemble, and underdog team-building arc
Necessary Roughness
shared inspirational sports comedy tone, coach-centered leadership story, and outsider redemption
The Longest Yard
shared professional sports setting, comedic ensemble, and feel-good underdog narrative
Cool Runnings
shared team sports camaraderie, broad humor, and triumph over institutional obstacles
Movie Details
- Director
- Howard Deutch
- Release Date
- 2000-08-11
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (1118)
Cast
- Keanu Reeves
- Gene Hackman
- Brooke Langton
- Orlando Jones
- Faizon Love
- Jon Favreau
- Rhys Ifans
- Keith David
- Ace Yonamine
- Troy Winbush
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 The Replacements about?
- During a professional football strike, a disgraced quarterback and a band of unlikely replacements find purpose under a demanding coach.
- What is The Replacements like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Replacements as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Replacements violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Replacements as mild.
- What did critics think of The Replacements?
- Critics generally found the film entertaining in broad strokes but overly dependent on clichéd characters and an obvious outcome.
- Which films are like The Replacements?
- Films with a similar feel include Major League, Necessary Roughness, The Longest Yard, and Cool Runnings.
- How long is The Replacements?
- The Replacements runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Replacements?
- In United States, The Replacements is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
