He Got Game

80%

Tomatometer

66 Reviews

83%

Audience Score

25,000+ Ratings

Jake Shuttleworth (Denzel Washington) has spent the last six years in prison after accidentally killing his wife during a violent domestic dispute, leaving his son, star basketball prospect Jesus Shuttleworth (Ray Allen), to fend for himself. One day, the prison warden (Ned Beatty) approaches Jake with an unusual offer: He'll be given a week of parole to convince Jesus to attend the governor's alma mater, with the promise of a shortened sentence if he succeeds.

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Where to Watch

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent He Got Game on Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

He Got Game

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Though not without its flaws, He Got Game finds Spike Lee near the top of his game, combining trenchant commentary with his signature visuals and a strong performance from Denzel Washington.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (66) Critics Reviews

Michael Rechtshaffen

Hollywood Reporter

As a director, Lee continues to hone his considerable craft and is unafraid to take creative risks along the way.

May 3, 2019

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: B+

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

Variety

Lacking the moral indignation and militant politics of Lee's former work, this vibrantly colorful father-son melodrama is soft at the center, but it's one of the most accessible films Lee has made and Denzel Washington is terrific.

Rated: B

Mar 25, 2008

Full Review

Lawrence Ware

The Root

“He Got Game” shows that being young, gifted and Black in America is not easy. In fact, if you’re not careful, it can destroy you.

Rated: A

Oct 13, 2023

Full Review

Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

Transcends the usual limits of the sports drama to become an operatic tale of temptation and forgiveness.

Sep 23, 2023

Full Review

Barbara Shulgasser

Common Sense Media

Spike Lee sports drama has strong language, violence, sex.

Rated: 3/5

May 15, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews

Adam v meh. like I've seen worst...but. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/20/24 Full Review Audience Member Not one of Spike Lee's better films in my opinion Washington makes a great presence though Rated 1/5 Stars • Rated 1 out of 5 stars 05/01/23 Full Review William M Spike Lee, and Denzel Washington, at their absolute finest. A truly excellent film. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/20/22 Full Review Audience Member Denzel holds down the part as a dad in prison trying to strike a deal with son. What doesn't hold is Ray Allen as an actor, super long sequences that we *think* are supposed to have underlying meaning, and sideways roles of women. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review kevin c Denzel Washington plays a convict released from prison specifically to convince his estranged son, who is a standout basketball player to go to college in order to take time off his sentence. Ray Allen plays his basketball prodigy son Jesus. Directed by Spike Lee, this also features a great performance from Milla Jovovich as a prostitute that befriends Washington. Rosario Dawson costars. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review dave s Spike Lee's He Got Game has all of the trademark Spike Lee excesses that makes you either love or hate his films. The movie is filled with jarring flashbacks, odd editing choices, countless characters talking directly to the camera, lengthy soliloquys, etc. that, within the first few minutes, identify it clearly as a Spike Lee exercise. Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington) is a convicted murderer who is given a temporary release from prison in order to convince his estranged son (Ray Allen) to accept a basketball scholarship at the governor's alma mater. What starts as a selfish journey ultimately turns into a father's quest to right the wrongs of the past and reestablish the bonds of family with his son and daughter. As could be expected, the movie jumps all over the place and, as could also be expected, it's a film that is very much, as mentioned earlier, a love it or hate it exercise. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews

He Got Game

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Spike Lee Director Denzel Washington Jake Shuttlesworth Ray Allen Jesus Shuttlesworth Milla Jovovich Dakota Burns Rosario Dawson Lala Bonilla Hill Harper Coleman 'Booger' Sykes

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home

Summer of Sam 50% 59% Summer of Sam Mo' Better Blues 71% 75% Mo' Better Blues 25th Hour 79% 85% 25th Hour Jungle Fever 80% 67% Jungle Fever Girl 6 39% 36% Girl 6 Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All Related Movie News

Celebrating RT25 with our Favorite Movies of 1998 New on Prime Video and Freevee in September 2022 Creed, Paddington, and More Available to Stream on Netflix and Amazon Prime

Photos

View All He Got Game photos

He Got Game

He Got Game (1998)

View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Jake Shuttleworth (Denzel Washington) has spent the last six years in prison after accidentally killing his wife during a violent domestic dispute, leaving his son, star basketball prospect Jesus Shuttleworth (Ray Allen), to fend for himself. One day, the prison warden (Ned Beatty) approaches Jake with an unusual offer: He'll be given a week of parole to convince Jesus to attend the governor's alma mater, with the promise of a shortened sentence if he succeeds.

Director: Spike Lee
Producer: Jon Kilik, Spike Lee
Screenwriter: Spike Lee
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 25, 1998, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 4, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $21.6M
Runtime: 2h 14m
Sound Mix: Surround