Champions
Directed by Bobby Farrelly
A former minor-league basketball coach is ordered by the court to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. He soon realizes that despite his doubts, together, this team can go further than they ever imagined.
Where to Watch Champions
- Nishant AroraJune 22, 2025"Champions" offers a heartwarming, if predictable, journey of redemption and discovery. This feel-good sports dramedy, led by a charming Woody Harrelson, explores the transformative power of connection and the true meaning of winning. Read on to see if it's a slam dunk for your watchlist! The Good: * The standout element is undoubtedly the authentic and endearing performances from the cast portraying the "Friends" basketball team. Their charisma and natural comedic timing are infectious. * The film handles its sensitive subject matter with respect, largely avoiding tokenism and allowing the characters with intellectual disabilities to be their own people, not just plot devices for the protagonist's growth. * Woody Harrelson delivers a reliably strong performance, bringing a grounded weariness and eventual warmth to his character's arc. The Bad: * The plot follows a well-worn sports movie formula, making many of its narrative beats highly predictable from the outset. * Some of the character developments, particularly for the love interest, feel a bit underdeveloped and cliched. * The soundtrack often relies on overly on-the-nose needle drops that detract from the emotional subtlety the film sometimes achieves. While "Champions" doesn't reinvent the wheel, its genuine heart and the delightful performances from its ensemble cast make it a genuinely uplifting and enjoyable watch.
Champions Trivia
Champions was released on March 9, 2023.
Champions was directed by Bobby Farrelly.
Champions has a runtime of 2h 4m.
Champions was produced by Paul Brooks, Scott Niemeyer, Jeremy Plager.
A former minor-league basketball coach is ordered by the court to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. He soon realizes that despite his doubts, together, this team can go further than they ever imagined.
The key characters in Champions are Marcus (Woody Harrelson), Alex (Kaitlin Olson), Julio (Cheech Marin).
Champions is rated PG-13.
Champions is a Comedy, Drama, Sport film.
Champions has an audience rating of 9.4 out of 10.
Champions has made $9.3M at the box office.