Coach Carter (2005)

PG-13
136 min
Drama
January 14, 2005

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Movie Details

Latest 'Coach Carter' News

Coach Carter Takes the Top Spot from Hitch

The Samuel L. Jackson DVD ends the Will Smith DVD's reign.

Brian B.Jun 30, 2005

Coach Carter scores big at the box office

...with a $23.6 million debut

Brian B.Jan 17, 2005

Watch the Coach Carter featurette! [Exclusive]

Download the MovieWeb exclusive featurette from the new Samuel L. Jackson flick!

Brian B.Jan 12, 2005

Samuel L. Jackson talks Coach Carter

...playing the real life coach, Jackson speaks!

Brian B.Jan 11, 2005

Ashanti talks Coach Carter

I look at the movie and it puts me in the mind of Lean on Me...

Brian B.Jan 11, 2005

Win prizes from Coach Carter!

...starring Samuel L. Jackson

Brian B.Jan 10, 2005

Critics Score

65%

Release Date

January 14, 2005

Director

Thomas Carter

Writers

Mark Schwahn
John Gatins

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson
Rob Brown
Robert Ri'chard
Rick Gonzalez
Nana Gbewonyo
Antwon Tanner

Official Website

coachcartermovie.com

Coach Carter Synopsis

Tension mounted as the Richmond High Oilers faced the upcoming basketball championship. The town was wild with excitement over their undefeated team and the bleachers were filled with cheering fans for every game. No one could imagine that on January 4, 1999 the community would erupt in dissention and so many lives would change forever when Coach Ken Carter padlocked the gym, refusing the players access for failing to keep up their grades.

Inspired by a true story, “Coach Carter” is an inspirational account of controversial high school basketball coach Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson), who received both high praise and staunch criticism when he made national news for benching his entire undefeated team for poor academic performance. Set in Richmond, California, this rousing, heartfelt portrayal of human courage and conviction is about overcoming the obstacles of your environment and showing young men a future that stretches beyond gangs, drugs, prison, and yes...even basketball.

Playing high school basketball takes more than skill, perseverance, discipline and teamwork – especially when you play for Coach Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson). Just to step on Carter’s court takes a signed contract that assures him you’ll be performing at your best on the court and in the classroom. On Coach Carter’s watch, it’s not just about winning a basketball game...it’s about his team’s future.

That’s why, when some of Carter’s players let their grades slip, he chooses to padlock the gym, keeping the undefeated team from practicing and from playing. Standing up to school officials who oppose him, not to mention a town full of angry parents, many of whom see basketball as the only way for their sons to get out of Richmond, Carter refuses to back down. Having attended Richmond High himself, he has literally been in those boys’ shoes. Like them, he loved playing the game. And even though he was a very accomplished player, and still held many of the school’s records, it is education -- not basketball -- that Carter feels led him to be the man he is today.

Encouraging others to put education before recreation, Carter wants to leave a legacy. He wants players to see beyond their hoop dreams and see a future with endless options and possibilities.