Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- warm
- irreverent
- lazy sunday
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film warm, crowd-pleasing, and elevated by its inclusive cast and charismatic performances, while acknowledging its conventional formula.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Marcus begins court-ordered coaching with hostility and doubt, then develops commitment to the players and their collective goals.
The basketball team is composed of players with intellectual disabilities, and the plot gives their development and agency central importance.
Marcus and the players must build trust, coordination, and confidence while pursuing basketball opportunities together.
The film combines lighthearted basketball comedy, Marcus's initial resistance, and emotionally affirming team development.
Films like Champions, and why
The Shiny Shrimps
feel good sports comedy centered on an unlikely coach and an inclusive team
The Peanut Butter Falcon
uplifting underdog sports drama with disability representation and team transformation
The Replacements
formulaic but warm sports comedy about mentorship, teamwork, and personal redemption
McFarland, USA
heartwarming ensemble sports story in which coaching becomes a path to emotional growth
Movie Details
- Director
- Bobby Farrelly
- Release Date
- 2023-03-09
- Runtime
- 124 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (523)
Cast
- Woody Harrelson
- Kaitlin Olson
- Cheech Marin
- Matt Cook
- Ernie Hudson
- Madison Tevlin
- Joshua Felder
- Kevin Iannucci
- Ashton Gunning
- Matthew Von Der Ahe
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus
- 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 Champions about?
- A disgraced coach finds purpose and unexpected community while guiding an underestimated basketball team toward the Special Olympics.
- What is Champions like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Champions as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Champions violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Champions as mild.
- What did critics think of Champions?
- Critics broadly found the film warm, crowd-pleasing, and elevated by its inclusive cast and charismatic performances, while acknowledging its conventional formula.
- Which films are like Champions?
- Films with a similar feel include The Shiny Shrimps, The Peanut Butter Falcon, The Replacements, and McFarland, USA.
- How long is Champions?
- Champions runs 124 minutes.
- Where can I watch Champions?
- In United States, Champions streams on fuboTV, Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus.
