The Mighty Ducks
Movie, 1992, The Early 90s, Set in Minnesota
The Mighty Ducks is #10 of 27 in release order and #11 of 27 in chronological order in the VHS Kids Classics.
The story
After reckless young lawyer Gordon Bombay gets arrested for drunk driving, he must coach a kids hockey team for his community service. Gordon has experience on the ice, but isn't eager to return to hockey, a point hit home by his tense dealings with his own former coach, Jack Reilly. The reluctant Gordon eventually grows to appreciate his team, which includes promising young Charlie Conway, and leads them to take on Reilly's tough players.
The Mighty Ducks recap
Gordon Bombay, an arrogant Minneapolis lawyer, is arrested for drunk driving and sentenced to community service coaching District 5, the worst team in a pee-wee hockey league. Bombay has his own bad memories of hockey: as a boy he missed a penalty shot that lost a championship for the Hawks and their harsh coach, Jack Reilly. District 5 has no gear and no skill, and loses its first game to Reilly's Hawks 17 to 0. Bombay teaches them to cheat, and the player Charlie Conway stands up to him. After visiting his old mentor Hans, Bombay rediscovers his love of the game, gets his law firm to sponsor the team, and renames it the Ducks. New players join, including figure skaters Tommy and Tammy and the hard-shooting Fulton. Bombay discovers that the Hawks' star Adam Banks lives in their district and forces his transfer, which costs Bombay his job.
The Mighty Ducks ending explained
The Ducks reach the final against the Hawks, whose players knock Banks out of the game. The Ducks tie it late, and in the last seconds Charlie is tripped and gets a penalty shot, just as Bombay did years ago. Bombay tells him only to do his best, and Charlie scores with the move Bombay taught him to win the title. Bombay leaves for a minor-league tryout, promising to return next season.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Mighty Ducks
The Mighty Ducks is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.6/10, Rotten Tomatoes 27%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Beethoven, before The Sandlot.
- Chronological order: after Beethoven, before Rookie of the Year.
Cast
- Emilio Estevez as Gordon Bombay
- Joss Ackland as Hans
- Lane Smith as Jack Reilly
- Heidi Kling as Casey Conway
- Josef Sommer as Mr. Ducksworth
- Joshua Jackson as Charlie Conway
- Shaun Weiss as Greg Goldberg
- Vincent Larusso as Adam Banks
- Elden Henson as Fulton Reed
- Danny Tamberelli as Tommy Duncan
- Marguerite Moreau as Connie Moreau
- Brandon Quintin Adams as Jesse Hall
Directed by Stephen Herek.