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Above the Rim

  • 1994
  • R
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
18K
YOUR RATING
Above the Rim (1994)
Theatrical Trailer from New Line Cinema
Play trailer0:59
1 Video
20 Photos
BasketballCrimeDramaSportThriller

Story of a promising high school basketball star and his relationships with two brothers, one a drug dealer and the other a former basketball star fallen on hard times and now employed as a ... Read allStory of a promising high school basketball star and his relationships with two brothers, one a drug dealer and the other a former basketball star fallen on hard times and now employed as a security guard.Story of a promising high school basketball star and his relationships with two brothers, one a drug dealer and the other a former basketball star fallen on hard times and now employed as a security guard.

  • Director
    • Jeff Pollack
  • Writers
    • Jeff Pollack
    • Benny Medina
    • Barry Michael Cooper
  • Stars
    • Duane Martin
    • Tupac Shakur
    • Leon
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    18K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jeff Pollack
    • Writers
      • Jeff Pollack
      • Benny Medina
      • Barry Michael Cooper
    • Stars
      • Duane Martin
      • Tupac Shakur
      • Leon
    • 44User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Above The Rim
    Trailer 0:59
    Above The Rim

    Photos20

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    Top cast57

    Edit
    Duane Martin
    Duane Martin
    • Kyle Lee Watson
    Tupac Shakur
    Tupac Shakur
    • Birdie
    Leon
    Leon
    • Shep
    David Bailey
    David Bailey
    • Rollins
    Tonya Pinkins
    Tonya Pinkins
    • Mailika
    Marlon Wayans
    Marlon Wayans
    • Bugaloo
    Bernie Mac
    Bernie Mac
    • Flip
    Byron Minns
    • Monroe
    Wood Harris
    Wood Harris
    • Motaw
    • (as Sherwin David Harris)
    Shawn Michael Howard
    Shawn Michael Howard
    • Bobby
    Henry Simmons
    Henry Simmons
    • Starnes
    • (as Henry Simmons II)
    Iris Little Thomas
    Iris Little Thomas
    • Waitress
    Michael Rispoli
    Michael Rispoli
    • Richie
    Eric Nies
    Eric Nies
    • Montrose
    Bill Rafferty
    Bill Rafferty
    • Self
    • (as Bill Raftery)
    James Williams
    • Speedy
    Richard Ray Kirkland
    • Phil Redd
    Tyrone Batista
    • Tyrone
    • Director
      • Jeff Pollack
    • Writers
      • Jeff Pollack
      • Benny Medina
      • Barry Michael Cooper
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews44

    6.617.8K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    7roddick-1

    Good hood/sport movie

    This movie is definitely a memorable hood movie, don't know why it's not up their with the others.

    The thing that stood out the most in this movie was that it is not a basketball movie. It's a hood movie. I was expecting it to be a basketball movie set that just happens to be in the hood, but no. Still, it's got a lot of action packed exciting basketball scenes in it. While it's not a basketball movie, any fan of basketball should enjoy it.

    Overall it's a good movie. Should be a good watch for fans of hood movies, fans of basketball, or both.
    djlatino69

    brilliant!

    this was one of tupac's best movie ever.The story line was great and so was his peformence.I enjoy basketball and for those of you who are a huge fan of the sport or watching ghetto movies.Go to the video store and rent,you will like this movie so much that you would want to see it over and over again.
    IrockGswift

    The most underrated basketball movie ever

    This movie deserves more credit then critics should give. This movie had an all star cast as the up and coming Marlon Wayans,Tupac Shakur,Leon,Duane Martin,Henry Simmons,Bernie Mac,and the lovely Tonya Pinkins. Each actor played their part magnificiently and it was hip,touching,and realistic. The beginning was a little off when Leon dreamed of his best friend's death and then focused mainly on Duane Martin's basketball skills,and him trying to get into Georgetown University. Marlon Wayans was the comic relief in the film who's been released from prison. Bernie Mac was the homeless man who was interested in basketball but never made it. Tupac was the ruthless street hustler and the coach of a dirty playing basketball team. There were other former R&B stars who starred in the movie but only had small parts. To wrap it up in a nutshell Above the rim to me is one of the most memorable urban basketball movies I've ever saw.
    7kosmasp

    Keep yo head up

    What a cast - and even the ones you may not expect to like as much do a really good job. So maybe the Wayans in here is nothing more than ... what he is in reality, but he also proved with Darren Arronofsky that he can actually act - I sometimes wonder why he never took that route. But another actor in this never had the chance to go any route ... and Tupac Shakur shows that he is or could have been quite the good actor.

    Overall the story is quite predictable and it is the actors that make this something that may seem more than worthwhile. Not sure about all the basketball scenes in this, but they are more than decent enough to keep you interested and on the edge of your seat.
    6SnoopyStyle

    silly looking opening scene

    Kyle Lee Watson is a cocky high school basketball star. Bugaloo (Marlon Wayans) is his loudmouth friend. Flip Johnson (Bernie Mac) is a local homeless guy. Tommy Shepard (Leon) is a high school security guard who secretly used to be a star player. His brother Birdie (Tupac Shakur) is a local drug lord. Shep starts going out with Kyle's mother. Kyle falls under Birdie's influence.

    This movie starts with a ridiculous scene. Shep and his friend are playing basketball on the roof of a building. There's no fence. The friend tries to dunk and smash through the backboard falling to his death. The setup is stupid to begin with but it also looks stupid. It takes awhile for the movie to regain its credibility. It helps that there are some good acting going on here. I especially like Leon and Tupac. They are compelling brothers. I really like their story and their chemistry. The rest are solid. I just wish they redo that opening scene.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At the start when Shep awakes from the nightmare, you hear the intro to Tupac Shakur's "Pain" - "I Couldn't help but notice your pain" - "My pain?" - "It runs deep, share it with me!". This voice-over is from Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989).
    • Goofs
      In the movie's first scene Shepard and Nutso are playing ball on a rooftop with a huge wall and glass window behind the basketball hoop. When Nutso falls off of the roof the wall completely disappears.
    • Quotes

      Shep: You think I came back here to work for you?

      Birdie: Come on, man, we brothers; wouldn't have you working for me. We'd be partners.

      Shep: What, selling that shit? Are you that dumb?

      Birdie: Who the fuck you think you're talking to, man? This ain't Nutso. This ain't that dopehead on the roof taking orders from you. This ain't your same little brother following behind you trying to go outside. You ain't the motherfuckin' man no more. I'm the one! Shit has changed! It's a new day, bro. If you can't clean up your act, I suggest you raise the fuck up and get the hell out of Dodge... or get caught up.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult/Monkey Trouble/The Paper/Bitter Moon/Savage Nights (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Pain
      Performed by Tupac Shakur (as 2Pac)

      Written by Tupac Shakur (as T. Shakur) & Stretch (as R. Walker)

      Additional vocals & arrangements by 'Charmaine Amee Patterson'

      Courtesy of Interscope Records

      Contains a sample from "Living Inside Your Love"

      by Dave Grusin / Earl Klugh

      As Recorded by Earl Klugh

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    FAQ

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 23, 1994 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Play off
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • New Line Cinema
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $16,192,320
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,738,800
      • Mar 27, 1994
    • Gross worldwide
      • $16,192,320
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1 hour, 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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