Semi-Pro
A flamboyant owner, aging point guard, and selfish star must transform a last-place 1976 basketball team into an improbable contender.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- witty
- breezy
- sports movie night
- casual group viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an intermittently funny but half-hearted sports satire and one of Will Ferrell's weaker efforts.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jackie Moon's showmanship, the Tropics' poor attendance, and the threatened ABA-NBA merger make sports entertainment itself a recurring target.
Monix, Coffee Brown, and Jackie Moon have conflicting ambitions and personalities but must unite the Tropics after learning the team will be excluded from the merger.
The film is set in 1976 Flint and centers on the American Basketball Association before its proposed merger with the NBA.
Jackie Moon promotes himself and the Tropics through flamboyant schemes while earnestly pursuing the team's survival and NBA recognition.
Films like Semi-Pro, and why
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
shares broad sports satire, a charismatic self-promoting protagonist, and an underdog team pursuing an unlikely breakthrough
Blades of Glory
combines irreverent star-driven comedy with competitive sports, exaggerated personalities, and a sincere underdog arc
Major League
features a struggling sports organization, eccentric teammates, and a comic yet heartfelt push toward collective success
The Bad News Bears
uses period sports culture, outrageous humor, and team-building as the framework for an accessible ensemble comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- Kent Alterman
- Release Date
- 2008-02-28
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 5.6 / 10 (919)
Cast
- Will Ferrell
- Woody Harrelson
- André 3000
- Maura Tierney
- Andy Daly
- Will Arnett
- Andy Richter
- Rob Corddry
- Matt Walsh
- Tim Meadows
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Starz Apple TV channel
- 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 Semi-Pro about?
- A flamboyant owner, aging point guard, and selfish star must transform a last-place 1976 basketball team into an improbable contender.
- What is Semi-Pro like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Semi-Pro as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Semi-Pro violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Semi-Pro as mild.
- What did critics think of Semi-Pro?
- Critics broadly found the film an intermittently funny but half-hearted sports satire and one of Will Ferrell's weaker efforts.
- Which films are like Semi-Pro?
- Films with a similar feel include Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Blades of Glory, Major League, and The Bad News Bears.
- How long is Semi-Pro?
- Semi-Pro runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch Semi-Pro?
- In United States, Semi-Pro streams on Starz Apple TV channel.
