Glory RoadMovie Reviews

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Avg. Critic Score: 58 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
10 OK for kids 10+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 80
    Washington Post | Ann Hornaday

    From its sepia-toned palette to the Motown hits that drive its terrific soundtrack, Glory Road is utterly authentic. But most astonishing is an unrecognizable Jon Voight as Adolph Rupp. Read full review

  • 80
    Variety | Brian Lowry

    Slick enterprise buoyed by a Motown-flavored '60s soundtrack and an appealing ensemble cast. Read full review

  • 75
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    Where it succeeds is as the story of a chapter in history, the story of how one coach at one school arrived at an obvious conclusion and acted on it, and helped open college sports in the South to generations of African Americans. Read full review

  • 70
    The Hollywood Reporter | Kirk Honeycutt

    Stirring tale of a team whose big win speeds the integration of intercollegiate sports. Read full review

  • 63
    USA Today | Mike Clark

    At least a more satisfying basketball saga than last year's "Coach Carter." Read full review

  • 60
    Los Angeles Times | Kevin Crust

    Ripped directly from Disney's playbook of inspirational sports movies, it's devoid of any original elements that might deter it from that successful formula, hewing closer to the sentimental cliches of "Remember the Titans" than the much better "Miracle" or "The Rookie." Read full review

  • 60
    The New York Times | Dana Stevens

    Glory Road is satisfying less for its virtuosity than for its sincerity, and also because it will acquaint audiences with a remarkable episode that had ramifications far beyond the basketball court. Read full review

  • 58
    Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum

    Still, it's only just a jump shot or two before Glory Road settles into its rudimentary, music-cued rhythms of classroom civics lessons punctuated by on-court action. Read full review

  • 50
    San Francisco Chronicle | Peter Hartlaub

    If you can get past a few swear words, the film's simplicity makes Glory Road a good starting point to get young kids to talk about racism. Read full review

  • 50
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    Josh Lucas plays Haskins with a no-bull vigor that comes in handy when the script saddles him with all-bull platitudes. Read full review

View more reviews for Glory Road on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 10+ Inspiring sports flick about an underdog team.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this film includes harsh language and imagery emerging from U.S. racism during the 1960s. Characters argue about terms used (spoken and written, in letters and graffiti) include the n-word, "Negro," "colored," and "honky." The Confederate flag appears in multiple shots during the final game. Characters' arguments over race and their on-court competitions lead to shoving and fighting. Some of the game footage shows minor rough play. Players sneak off to drink at a bar and appear at practice the next day hung over. Some white fans at games on the road throw trash at the integrated team as they enter and leave the court. One black player is beaten by a few white thugs, leaving him bloodied and bruised.
  • Families can talk about racism as it is presented here and how it works now. How do disparities in opportunities and hopes result in resentment on all sides? You might also talk about the responsibilities for taking up such struggles: How does the coach engage his players' fight as his own? How does his wife share his commitment? How can sports help to address social and political problems?
The good stuff
  • message true3 Positive messages: Players are dedicated; those racists who decry their interracial team are plainly demonized.
What to watch for
  • violence false3 Violence: Roughhousing among players; beating in a diner bathroom leaves one player badly bloodied.
  • sex false0 Sex: Bobby Joe sneaks off to see his grlfriend; some background girls wear skimpy clothing.
  • language false3 Language: Minor cursing, but salient use of n-word, to showcase the racism players were up against.
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Not an issue
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Drinking in a bar, where characters smoke in the background, some comments made ("What are you smoking?").
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Dave White

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