Pro Membership
Reviews & Ratings
-
MSK
09-08-2025Yes its about a hockey team in a small market. But its not really a hockey movie. This is a scathing take down of American society at the same time its a fun hockey movie. It's about corporate shut downs and plant closures and how the lives of people and businesses (like the hockey team in this movie) are just at the whim of callous, thoughtless millionaires. It's a little sad and depressing at the same time that the hockey scenes are a fun free for all. Great casting and Newman was amazing as always. Directed by the great George Roy Hill of Butch Cassidy and The Sting fame. In other words, there's a lot going on beneath the surface of this film and it is elevated beyond simply a "hockey movie." Artists like this wouldn't just make a "hockey movie."
-
GrinderCB
09-08-2025Hard to believe that "Slap Shot" stars Paul Newman ("The Hustler," "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid," "Cool Hand Luke," et al.) and was directed by George Roy Hill ("Butch Cassidy...," "The Sting," etc) but this movie has gone down as one of the most classic sports films of all time. Good movie to watch at the start of the hockey season. It follows the antics of a last place minor league hockey team in an industrial city experiencing factory closures and economic problems. The team, the Charlestown Chiefs of the Federal League, lead by aging player-coach Reggie Dunlop (Newman) discovers that "gooning it up" by fighting and playing dirty leads to winning and sellouts. Amidst all this Dunlop plants rumors of the sale of the team, untrue but for the fact that the players start winning in an effort to help the sale. Side stories include the Chiefs' young star player who refuses to fight and his wife who finds hockey life beneath her, Dunlop's efforts to rekindle with his estranged hair-stylist wife, and Reggie's efforts to keep the Hanson brothers out of jail, and figuring out how to keep his failing hockey career going a bit longer. This is not a har-har funny film and the language alone makes it unsuitable for kids but overall if you like hockey and/or sports movies then Slap Shot is a must, especially if you never saw it before.
Technical Specifications
This irreverent and hilarious look into the world of professional sports has Paul Newman as the coach of the Chiefs, a struggling minor-league hockey team. To build up attendance at their games, management signs up the Hanson Brothers, three hard-charging players whose job is to demolish the opposition. Slap Shot's outrageous comedy, hard-hitting action, memorable lines and unforgettable characters have made this classic one of the all-time best sports movies ever!Bonus Content: Feature Commentary with The Hanson Brothers The Hanson Brothers' Classic Scenes Puck Talk with The Hansons Trailer Production Notes Cast and Filmmakers Recommendations
