30 for 30

30 for 30 is the title for a series of documentary films airing on ESPN, its sister networks, and online highlighting interesting people and events in sports history. This currently includes four "volumes" of 30 episodes each, a 13-episode series under the ESPN Films Presents title in 2011–2012, and a series of 30 for 30 Shorts shown through the ESPN.com website. The series has also expanded to include Soccer Stories, which aired in advance of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and audio podcasts. This entry refers to the main Volumes of the series presented by ESPN

30 for 30 (2009-present) is an American sports documentary anthology created by Bill Simmons, Connor Schell and John Dahl for ESPN. Rather than following recurring characters, each film turns a camera on a particular person, team or event in sports history, and the title is an ongoing series that has grown across four volumes of thirty entries each. Interviews with athletes, coaches, executives and bystanders are set against archival footage, so the viewer hears how a famous moment felt from the inside. The engine of each installment is a question about what the event meant and what it cost the people involved, whether a championship run, a scandal or a rivalry that outlived its sport. Shape and scale are those of a long-running anthology, with every film self-contained and watchable in any order. The tone is reflective and nostalgic, with flashes of humor and an occasional sharp edge when the stories turn to fame, money and failure. Sports fans will find resonance here alongside fans of The Last Dance and O.J.: Made in America, which likewise trade on archival access and retrospective storytelling about famous figures and turning points.

Viewers broadly regard the series as acclaimed for its compelling storytelling on sports figures and events, with the early volumes rated highest and the later volume rated markedly lower.

• O.J.: Made in Americasports documentary anthology, real events and figures, cultural storytelling
• The Last Dancesports documentary, real athletes and high-stakes events, nostalgic retrospective tone
• Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynastydocumentary anthology of real-life stories with archival footage and interviews

Created by

Bill Simmons, Connor Schell, John Dahl

Release Date

2009-10-06

Episode runtime

51 min

Rating

8.8 / 10 (51)

What is 30 for 30 about?

An ESPN documentary anthology that revisits interesting people and events in sports history, one self-contained film at a time.

What is 30 for 30 like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of 30 for 30 as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is 30 for 30 violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in 30 for 30.

What did critics think of 30 for 30?

Viewers broadly regard the series as acclaimed for its compelling storytelling on sports figures and events, with the early volumes rated highest and the later volume rated markedly lower.

Which shows are like 30 for 30?

Shows with a similar feel include O.J.: Made in America, The Last Dance, and Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.

How long is 30 for 30?

30 for 30: 4 seasons, 141 episodes.

Is 30 for 30 still running?

Yes, 30 for 30 is still running.

Where can I watch 30 for 30?

In United States, 30 for 30 streams on fuboTV, YouTube TV.