Spring is upon us and that means another year we all go head to head trying to pick the perfect NCAA Tournament bracket for all the marbles. It's an almost impossible feat but has been done and can be done again, perhaps by you. We thought that while you're in the middle of trying to decide on your 2015 bracket picks, pulling the trigger on that first round upset, mulling over which college team to pick as the overall March Madness winner, that some hoops movies were just the right thing to get you in the picking mood.
Be adventurous and go for it with a 15th seed beating a # 2 or a 10th seed advancing to the sweet sixteen! Also, remember that you do have until Thursday, March 19th to make your final selections before the Final Four 2015 Tourney gets under way and Selection Sunday happens to fall on National Everything You Think Is Wrong Day, so take your time and flip on these Elite Eight best basketball movies available for you to stream on Netflix right now!
1. Hoop Dreams (1994)
The go to inspirational film to start your NCAA Tournament basketball experience is Hoop Dreams. Don't be fooled in thinking that because it's a documentary that it might be slow, it's ALL fast break. Enjoy this movie that follows two high school basketball prospects on and off the court as they follow their basketball playing dreams. It is considered by many to be the best basketball movie ever.
2. The Winning Season (2009)
Sam Rockwell stars as a down on his luck, loser of a dad who gets a second chance with coaching a not so good girls' basketball team. Things can turn around just like your luck in Round 2 of the Final Four as it might for Sam's character Bill in The Winning Season.
3. 30 for 30: Benji (2012)
You can never go wrong with a 30 for 30 film and Benji might just make you tear up. This basketball documentary tells the story of Ben Wilson, a teenage phenom from Chicago's South Side whose life was sadly cut short by violence. 30 for 30: Guro of Go is also worth checking out as a coach brings a "system" of success to Loyola Marymount University's basketball program.
4. Coach Carter (2005)
Samuel L. Jackson is Coach Ken Karter, in this based on a true story film, about a man who put school before basketball. He benches his entire undefeated team due to their poor grades and if you aren't careful, you might be benched out of the tourney early, so think again before choosing that #13 over #4 upset!
5. The Pistol - The Birth of a Legend (2014)
"Pistol" Pete Maravich pushes himself to the limit in this biopic recounting the NBA all-star's adolescence and first year on his high school's varsity squad. The Pistol will get you going and finally help you settle on your Final Four selections.
6. Doin' It it in the Park (2012)
New York City has some of the best pick-up games and history ever in the sport. Filmmakers Kevin Couliau and Bobbito Garcia take us to 180 basketball courts throughout Doin It in the Park. This explosive doc has interviews with NBA Stars, playground legends, and everyday athletes. Unfortunately, you can't ask them whether you should select Oregon or St. John's.
7. Along Came Polly (2004)
You need a mini bball break and something to make you lol which is what Ben Stiller and Philip Seymour Hoffman will do whether they're playing basketball a little too closely to each other or talking about dating situations. It's one of the late actor's funniest supporting roles and be sure to keep your eye out for Hoffman's scene stealing song in the middle of this Ben Stiller rom-com.
8. Schooled: The Price of College Sports (2013)
Schooled - The Price of College Sports is a great way to wrap things up as this documentary looks at how college sports is big business and collegiate athletes don't receive a cent of it, which might be the same deal with you if you don't choose wisely. Happy March Madness 2015! Go Team Go!
If you're looking for more basketball to add to your Netflix queue, try Something to Cheer About and Linsanity!
Hoosiers, He Got Game, Space Jam, BASEketball, and White Men Can't Jump are all classic basketball movies available to rent on Amazon Instant Video.
Related: Other Netflix Best Space Docs | Pi Day Flicks | Horror | Stand-Up | Anime
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