Skip to content
MovieCove
Champions

Champions

Every dream team starts somewhere.

2023124 minPG-13Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
Director
Bobby Farrelly
Starring
Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, Cheech Marin, Matt Cook

A stubborn and hotheaded minor league basketball coach is forced to train a Special Olympics team when he is sentenced to community service.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Champions?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Champions streaming on Peacock and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Champions?

Champions earns 6 badges, led by Guilty pleasure and Crowd Pleaser.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Champions worth watching?

Champions' Midcredits score is the 70th percentile of all films, from 106K ratings across 6 sources. 68% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

70th percentile

Better received than 70% of films

78th percentile among Comedy71st percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)61st
Approval (how many liked it)76th

64 /100

61st percentile of all films

70th percentile among Comedy61st percentile among 2020s

Critics 50 · Audience 66

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.0 — solid but not unanimous.

68% liked it

76th percentile of all films

83rd percentile among Comedy77th percentile among 2020s
68% rated it 7–1032% rated it 1–6

Critics 59% · Audience 94%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 3 wins / 4 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

95th percentile

106K ratings across platforms

95th percentile among Comedy96th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 18% in 30 days

Box office

Opening weekend$5.1M
Domestic gross$16M
Worldwide gross$22M

83rd percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A feel-good, formulaic underdog sports story that leans on the charm of its ensemble despite its predictable arcs.

Fans praised

  • Authentic, warmly portrayed disabled cast with distinct personalities
  • Woody Harrelson brings charm to a flawed, predictably redemptive coach
  • Heartwarming humor balanced with genuine emotional payoff

Detractors panned

  • Following the sports-drama formula to the letter with no surprises
  • Patronizing, preachy treatment of disability, undercut by cartoonish antagonists
  • Flat pacing and a lack of visual style or memorable cinematic craft

What stands out

ActingDivisive72

Harrelson is charming and the disabled ensemble is charismatic, though some line readings feel rehearsed

Characters70

Memorable, three-dimensional teammates; the coach is predictable but likeable

EndingDivisive70

Warm, satisfying resolution focusing on personal growth rather than just winning

Emotional impact68

Feel-good and heartwarming, with a touching finale, though not always earned

Humor65

Laugh-out-loud moments balanced with heart, but occasionally leans on cheap gags

Dialogue60

Well-written and witty at times, but sometimes undercut by lowbrow gags

Plot and story40

Follows the underdog sports formula beat-for-beat, often called 'overly familiar'

Originality30

Derivative of countless sports-dramas, from 'The Ringer' to standard redemption arcs

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 11 points higher than men.

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 14 points higher than under-30s.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Critics vs users 1 point apart
  • US vs non-US 3 points apart

Watch experience

What is Champions like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something warm that leaves you smiling.

It is gentle, has a few laughs and leaves you feeling good. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Very little.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
HopefulJoyfulWarm
Heaviest: late
Warm humor
Register
WarmPlayful
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film holds its material with warmth and affection, playing its emotional beats straight without irony.
The rideThe film maintains a light, uplifting mood with a crescendo of hopefulness and joy toward the final game.
StructureStraightforward three-act structure: setup (Marcus's fall and community service assignment), middle (coaching the team and personal growth), climax (the final game and resolution).

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Feeling good.

The answer rests on this: Feel-goodHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe movie's message of community and personal growth leaves a warm, optimistic afterglow.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Rebirth
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13% (this title): Redemption 3% (this title) · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Redemption: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).

13% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeMarcus's arc is a redemption: a cynical, hot-tempered coach is rebuilt by coaching a team of intellectually disabled players, learning empathy and community.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% (this title) · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% (this title) · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9% (this title): Community 14% (this title) · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Society

Community · 14% of filmsSelf-worth · 7% of filmsFriendship · 9% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film is about an unlikely team forming a community that lifts each member, especially the coach, toward a sense of worth and belonging.
StanceThe film celebrates the power of community and belonging, affirming that inclusion and teamwork bring out the best in everyone.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernPopFolkSupportive music · original score · Michael Franti
Settinga small American town, centered around a community recreation center and basketball court
MusicMichael Franti's eclectic style blends upbeat folk-pop with orchestral touches, underscoring the film's hopeful tone.

Content guide

Is Champions okay for kids?

PG-13

Champions is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for strong language and crude/sexual reference” (MPAA). As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (8/100), sexual content at moderate (39/100), language at moderate (58/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (35/100) and frightening material at mild (15/100). Overall it is heavier than 35% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 12 other countries
  • UK12A
  • Canada18A
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • Ireland12A
  • New ZealandM
  • Brazil14
  • Denmark15
  • ItalyT
  • MexicoC
  • PRPG-13
  • RO12
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 24% of all filmsHeavier than 35% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 7%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 73%
Profanity
Moderate
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 85%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 64%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 15%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is language, heavier than 85% of PG-13-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Champions have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Champions?

Cast

2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen; 2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Woody Harrelson
as Marcus
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kaitlin Olson
as Alex
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Cheech Marin
as Julio
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Matt Cook
as Sonny
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Ernie Hudson
as Coach Phil Perretti
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Madison Tevlin
as Cosentino
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Matthew Von Der Ahe
as Craig
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Alicia Johnston
as Coach Maya
Mike Smith
as Attorney McGurk
Barbara Pollard
as Dot

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Champions?

Movies like Champions include Champions (2018), The Winning Season (2009) and Angels in the Outfield (1994). Of the 12 closest matches, half are redemption stories, and most are found-family stories.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

10 of these 12 share its story type: sports underdog. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Champions?

1.3K other films share the rarest tag below, follows: teacher. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.