White Men Can't Jump
Movie, 1992, The '90s, Set in Venice Beach courts
White Men Can't Jump is #8 of 35 in release order and #8 of 35 in chronological order in the Sports Movies.
The story
Two street basketball hustlers try to con each other, then team up for a bigger score.
White Men Can't Jump recap
White Men Can't Jump (1992) pairs two Los Angeles streetball hustlers, one white and one Black, who team up to con players on Venice Beach courts. Ron Shelton writes and directs the basketball comedy. Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson), a former college player, wins money from players who assume he cannot play, and one of his marks is the cocky Sidney Deane (Wesley Snipes). Billy and his girlfriend Gloria Clemente (Rosie Perez) are hiding from mobsters he owes money, while Gloria studies trivia in hopes of getting on Jeopardy! Sidney proposes a partnership: other players will pick Billy as the weak teammate, and the two will clean up. It works until Sidney throws a game to get even, taking Billy's money. The wives broker a deal, and the pair win a two-on-two tournament. Billy then bets his share that he can dunk, misses, and Gloria walks out. The film follows Major League in this list and comes just before A League of Their Own.
White Men Can't Jump ending explained
White Men Can't Jump ends with Billy and Sidney back on the court where they met, arguing and starting a friendly one-on-one game. Sidney gets Gloria onto Jeopardy! after Billy sinks a half-court hook shot, and she wins over $14,000. When thieves rob Sidney, Billy gambles Gloria's money on a game against two streetball legends, The King and The Duck, and wins it with a dunk off Sidney's alley-oop. Gloria leaves him anyway. Billy pays off the mobsters and takes a job with Sidney. A remake was released in 2023.
Post-credits scenes
No. White Men Can't Jump has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch White Men Can't Jump
White Men Can't Jump is streaming on Philo in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.8/10, Rotten Tomatoes 75%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Major League, before A League of Their Own.
- Chronological order: after Major League, before A League of Their Own.
Cast
- Woody Harrelson as Billy Hoyle
- Wesley Snipes as Sidney Deane
- Rosie Perez as Gloria Clement
- Tyra Ferrell as Rhonda Deane
- Cylk Cozart as Robert
- Marques Johnson as Raymond
- Kadeem Hardison as Junior
- Ernest Harden Jr. as George
- John Marshall Jones as Walter
- David Roberson as T.J.
- Kevin Benton as Zeke
- Nigel Miguel as Dwight 'The Flight' McGhee
Directed by Ron Shelton.