The American Game
“Before "Hoop Dreams" was...”
Synopsis
Documentary film contrasting the experiences of two high-school seniors, basketball players from remarkably different backgrounds. Brian Walker is taken from his close-knit Indiana family, living in a small town. In contrast, Stretch Graham has practically no family support, and looks to his Brooklyn team and his warm-hearted coach for support. Both are actively being recruited by colleges.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jay Freund, David Wolf
- Original Score
- Jeffrey Kaufman
- Original Title
- The American Game
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 29m
- Production Studios
- World Northal Corporation
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jay Freund, David Wolf
Jeffrey Kaufman
Anthony Jones
Department Leadership Roster
Jay Freund
Director
David Wolf
Director
Anthony Jones
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The American Game.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The American Game.
list16
Basketball Movies
Movies that have been on Netflix
**Automated** TMDB list of movies that have been on Netflix.<br>See github.com/paolobasso99/netflix-movies-to-tmdb <br>Last update: 9 May 2026
Similar Titles to The American Game
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
6.0
8.0
7.5
7.3
7.5
10.0
More Like The American Game
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The American Game
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The American Game about?
Documentary film contrasting the experiences of two high-school seniors, basketball players from remarkably different backgrounds. Brian Walker is taken from his close-knit Indiana family, living in a small town. In contrast, Stretch Graham has practically no family support, and looks to his Brooklyn team and his warm-hearted coach for support. Both are actively being recruited by colleges.
Who directed The American Game?
The American Game was directed by Jay Freund, David Wolf.
Who stars in The American Game?
The principal cast of The American Game includes Nathaniel Bellamy Jr., Julius Erving, Gil Ferschtman, Stretch Graham, Jules Irving.
When was The American Game released and how long is it?
The American Game was released in 1979 with a total runtime of 1h 29m.
Who composed the musical score for The American Game?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The American Game was composed by Jeffrey Kaufman.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The American Game?
The American Game holds official age classifications: US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).