Set in rural New Mexico, the Chuska Warriors basketball team strives for a state championship while navigating significant challenges. After losing their star player, these young Native American athletes must confront personal obstacles and come together to pursue their dream. Their journey highlights the importance of resilience, community, and the passion for basketball.
Does Rez Ball have end credit scenes?
No!
Rez Ball does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.
Explore the complete cast of Rez Ball, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.
Amber Midthunder
Dezbah Weaver
Julia Jones
Gloria Holiday
Ryan Begay
Ronald Jackson
Jessica Matten
Heather Hobbs
Sarah H. Natani
Velma
Kauchani Bratt
Jimmy Holiday
Devin Sampson Craig
Bryson Badonie
River Rayne Thomas
Tyson Yazzie
Jojo Jackson
Warlance Yazzie
Avery Hale
Miles Martinez
Hunter Redhorse Arthur
Kobe Nez
Henry Wilson Jr.
Leland Tom
Jaren K. Robledo
Levi Silversmith
Damian Henry Castellane
Ruckus Largo
Dallas Goldtooth
Henry Tso
Cody Lightning
Micah Tso
Zoey Reyes
Krista
Ernest Tsosie III
Benny Begay
Joey A. Chavarillo
Duane
Sam Griesel
Mason Troy
Discover where to watch Rez Ball online, including streaming platforms, rental options, and official sources. Compare reviews, ratings, and in-depth movie information across sites like IMDb, TMDb, Wikipedia or Rotten Tomatoes.
See how Rez Ball is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Rez Ball stands among top-rated movies in its genre.
Rez Ball delivers a moderately engaging underdog narrative anchored by culturally grounded themes. While critics and viewers praised its authentic performances and emotional resonance, many noted the plot’s predictability and occasional dramatic flatness. The film’s brisk pacing and spirited basketball sequences sustain interest, but heavy-handed moments and uneven focus limit its depth. Overall, the blend of inspiration and cliché yields a film that entertains but falls short of lasting distinction.
The Movie Echo Score Breakdown for Rez Ball
Art & Craft
In terms of visual craftsmanship, Rez Ball delivers serviceable but inconsistent artistry. The brisk direction and vigorous basketball sequences provide dynamic framing, yet sporadic dark lighting and reliance on slow-motion shots undermine visual clarity. Production design evokes the reservation setting authentically, but uneven editing occasionally disrupts cohesion. The overall craft feels functional but not fully realized.
Character & Emotion
Character and emotional aspects are a highlight for Rez Ball. The cast delivers nuanced performances, particularly in conveying self-determination and community bonds. Authentic acting draws out heartfelt moments, even amid occasional narrative distractions. Chemistry among leads enhances emotional resonance, providing an engaging core that sustains empathy throughout the film’s progression.
Story & Flow
In terms of narrative flow, Rez Ball presents an energetic underdog storyline tempered by familiar beats. The pacing remains brisk, and moments of cultural exploration enrich the plot’s setting. However, predictable clichés and uneven focus on subplots occasionally dilute engagement. Ultimately, the story entertains but falls short of offering significant originality.
Sensory Experience
In terms of sensory experience, Rez Ball offers spirited sound design and an energetic soundtrack that complement the action. Visual style captures the reservation’s atmosphere but is occasionally undercut by dim lighting choices. The editing rhythm supports the basketball sequences’ momentum, though inconsistent clarity in darker scenes hampers cohesive immersion. The sensory palette is engaging yet uneven.
Rewatch Factor
In terms of rewatch value, Rez Ball delivers modest appeal for subsequent viewings. The inspirational underdog theme and emotional highs retain interest initially, but predictability and heavy-handed moments reduce repeat engagement. While authentic performances and cultural details invite a second viewing, the familiar structure limits lasting appeal. The film rewards fans of sports dramas more than broader audiences.
69
Metascore
5.4
User Score
94%
TOMATOMETER
80%
User Score
6.3 /10
IMDb Rating
65
%
User Score
3.3
From 31 fan ratings
0.00/5
Challenge your knowledge of Rez Ball with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.
Who returns as the captain of the Chuska Warriors after taking a year off?
Read the complete plot summary of Rez Ball, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.
For the first time in several years, the Chuska Warriors, a high school basketball team comprised of Native Americans from the Navajo reservation in Chuska, New Mexico, begins their season with an opportunity to compete for the state championship title. This resurgence is notably marked by the return of their former captain, Nataanii Jackson, who had taken a year off after the tragic loss of his mother and sister. In his absence, Jimmy Holiday had taken on the role of captain. Meanwhile, Coach Heather Hobbs faces intense pressure to perform this year, as her position is at stake should the team fail to secure victories.
The Warriors kick off their season with a winning game, but things take a turn when a reporter brings up Nataanii’s family tragedy, triggering overwhelming dark thoughts for him. When Nataanii fails to appear for a crucial match against the competitive Santa Fe Coyotes, the team suffers a heavy defeat. In a shocking blow, they later learn that he has taken his own life, leaving the Warriors to grapple with the devastating loss of their star player.
Jimmy, who shared a lifelong bond with Nataanii and had sensed his friend’s struggles, is particularly shattered by this news. His mother, Gloria, is unable to provide solace, dismissing the tragedy as merely part of the Native experience.
In a bid to regroup, Coach Hobbs brings in her high school basketball coach Benny Begay to help guide the team. On the personal front, Gloria reaches out to Nataanii’s father, Ronald, to secure a job cleaning his garage due to her own struggles with multiple DUIs, and he encourages her to attend AA meetings.
As Coach Hobbs introduces Benny to the team, he emphasizes a return to traditional practices, starting the first practice with a smudging ceremony. However, the team continues to face challenges, losing nine consecutive games, and talk begins to swirl about Coach Hobbs’s potential dismissal. Gloria’s constant negativity weighs heavily on Jimmy, who becomes frustrated by her lack of support, leading her to abstain from attending games out of fear of witnessing further losses.
To promote team unity, they participate in a bus trip for an exercise that involves herding sheep. The initial attempt fails due to individual efforts, but inspired by the need for teamwork, Jimmy devises a collaborative strategy that successfully corrals the sheep.
Spurred on by this experience, Jimmy suggests integrating Navajo language into their plays. To grasp this unfamiliar concept, he recruits Krista, his work manager, and soon the team is creating new plays labeled in their native tongue. They study these plays during their bus rides to future games, which soon propels them into a winning streak.
Despite a short-lived defeat that leads them to lose the district title after 14 days of victories, the team advances to the state championship. After winning their first three matches, they find themselves in a tense final against an undefeated Santa Fe team, who have also learned Navajo and can counter their linguistic advantage. The match reaches a nail-biting climax where, with mere minutes to go, Santa Fe’s captain fouls Jimmy, awarding him three free throws. He sinks two of them, clinching the championship title for the Warriors.
In the aftermath, Jimmy is celebrated not just for the victory but also receives multiple college offers, while Coach Hobbs is given opportunities of her own yet chooses to remain with the team another year. Ultimately, Gloria confronts her past and offers Jimmy the encouragement he desperately needs, marking a significant step toward healing for all involved.
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