Miracle
Movie, 2004, The 2000s, Set in The 1980 U.S. hockey team
Miracle is #18 of 35 in release order and #18 of 35 in chronological order in the Sports Movies.
The story
When college coach Herb Brooks is hired to helm the 1980 U.S. men's Olympic hockey team, he brings a unique and brash style to the ice. After assembling a team of hot-headed college all-stars, who are humiliated in an early match, Brooks unites his squad against a common foe: the heavily-favored Soviet team.
Miracle recap
Miracle (2004) tells how coach Herb Brooks built a team of American college hockey players to face the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics. Gavin O'Connor directs the ice hockey drama, written by Eric Guggenheim. Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell), the University of Minnesota coach and the last player cut from the 1960 gold-medal team, wins the Olympic job by promising to change how Americans train and play. With his assistant Craig Patrick (Noah Emmerich), he picks a roster over the objections of hockey officials, and his wife Patty Brooks (Patricia Clarkson) watches the work take over his life. The players bring old college feuds, and a fight between Rob McClanahan and Jack O'Callahan starts camp. After a lazy tie with Norway, Brooks makes them skate sprints until captain Mike Eruzione (Patrick O'Brien Demsey) says he plays for the United States. The Soviets crush them 10 to 3 in an exhibition at Madison Square Garden. Miracle comes after Ali and before Friday Night Lights in this list.
Miracle ending explained
Miracle ends with the United States beating the Soviet Union 4 to 3 in Lake Placid. At the Games, the team ties Sweden late, beats Czechoslovakia and reaches the medal round. Against the Soviets, O'Callahan returns from his knee injury, Mark Johnson ties the game twice, and Eruzione scores the winning goal with ten minutes left as goalie Jim Craig holds on. The broadcast call "Do you believe in miracles?" plays over the final seconds. The team beats Finland two days later for gold, and the film is dedicated to Brooks, who died in 2003 before its release.
Post-credits scenes
No. Miracle has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch Miracle
Miracle is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes 80%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Ali, before Friday Night Lights.
- Chronological order: after Ali, before Friday Night Lights.
Cast
- Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks
- Patricia Clarkson as Patty Brooks
- Noah Emmerich as Craig Patrick
- Sean McCann as Walter Bush
- Kenneth Welsh as Doc Nagobads
- Eddie Cahill as Jim Craig
- Patrick O'Brien Demsey as Mike Eruzione
- Michael Mantenuto as Jack O'Callahan
- Nathan West as Rob McClanahan
- Kenneth Mitchell as Ralph Cox
- Eric Peter-Kaiser as Mark Johnson
- Don S. Davis as Bob Fleming
Directed by Gavin O'Connor.