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The Way Back

Play trailer 2:13 Poster for The Way Back R,  2020,  1h 48m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Watchlist 84% 217 Reviews Tomatometer 84% 2,500+ Verified Ratings Popcornmeter
84% Tomatometer 217 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Verified Ratings
Jack Cunningham was a high school basketball superstar who suddenly walked away from the game for unknown reasons. Years later, he's now stuck in a meaningless job and struggling with alcoholism -- the very thing that ruined his marriage and his hope for a better life. But Jack soon gets a shot at redemption when he becomes the basketball coach for his alma mater, a program that has fallen on hard times since his teenage glory days.
The Way Back

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The Way Back's occasionally frustrating treatment of a formulaic story is often outweighed by Ben Affleck's outstanding work in the central role.

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Critics Reviews

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Stephanie Zacharek TIME Magazine Feb 3, 2021
Affleck carries the movie both in his muscles and in his subtle shifts of expression. Go to Full Review
David Sims The Atlantic Feb 3, 2021
The Way Back features the rawest and most natural performance Affleck has given in his career. Go to Full Review
Adam Nayman The Ringer Feb 3, 2021
The bristly, embittered drunk is a borderline melodramatic cliché, but Affleck imbues it with a lived-in intelligence... Go to Full Review
James Profetto Reel James (YouTube) Jul 3, 2026
8/10
This movie is incredibly visceral. It's real, it tears away at your heart...I couldn't take my eyes away [from the screen]. Go to Full Review
Yasser Medina Cinefilia Jan 24, 2026
6/10
It's a well-intentioned sports drama about guilt and redemption, which benefits from a restrained performance by Ben Affleck, but whose narrative sometimes stumbles over generic formulas. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
David Griffiths Subculture Entertainment Oct 29, 2024
3/5
I really got the feeling throughout the film that with Affleck in this kind of form this film could have Oscar-winner written all over it if only a few minor re-writes had occurred in order to make me care more about some of the characters at hand. Go to Full Review
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The Way Back

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Cast & Crew

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Gavin O'Connor

Director

Ben Affleck

Jack Cunningham

Al Madrigal

Dan

Janina Gavankar

Angela

Jeremy Radin

Father Mark Whelan

Brandon Wilson

Brandon

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The Way Back

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The Way Back

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Movie Info

Synopsis Jack Cunningham was a high school basketball superstar who suddenly walked away from the game for unknown reasons. Years later, he's now stuck in a meaningless job and struggling with alcoholism -- the very thing that ruined his marriage and his hope for a better life. But Jack soon gets a shot at redemption when he becomes the basketball coach for his alma mater, a program that has fallen on hard times since his teenage glory days.
Director
Gavin O'Connor
Producer
Gordon Gray, Jennifer Todd, Gavin O'Connor, Ravi Mehta
Screenwriter
Brad Ingelsby
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Mayhem Pictures, Creative Wealth Media Finance, BRON Studios
Rating
R (Some Sexual References|Language Throughout)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 6, 2020, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 6, 2020
Runtime
1h 48m
Sound Mix
Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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