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The Phenom

Play trailer 2:27 Poster for The Phenom 2016 1h 30m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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78% Tomatometer 46 Reviews 38% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A sports therapist (Paul Giamatti) tries to help a troubled rookie pitcher (Johnny Simmons) who grew up with an abusive father (Ethan Hawke).

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The Phenom

The Phenom

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Critics Consensus

Powerfully acted and emotionally affecting, The Phenom proves a baseball movie can step away from the mound and still deliver a heater down the middle.

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Critics Reviews

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Steve Greene IndieWire 01/01/2017
B-
When Buschel narrows his focus and has a handle on these characters' essences, there are flashes of greatness. All he needs is a tighter grip. Go to Full Review Scott Marks San Diego Reader 07/01/2016
2/5
This "love me daddy" baseball pic that earns points for spending less than 5 percent of its time on the diamond and refusing to end in open competition...so far as the playing field is concerned. Go to Full Review Frank Scheck The Hollywood Reporter 06/24/2016
It's Hawke who gives the film its dramatic urgency. Go to Full Review Jason Best Movie Talk 09/17/2017
3/5
Ethan Hawke is making a habit of playing flawed fathers, but his feckless dads in Boyhood and Ten Thousand Saints appear positively benign in comparison with the toxic parent he plays in [this] psychological sporting drama. Go to Full Review Argun Ulgen PopMatters 01/01/2017
6/10
Buschel is clearly on the right track to fully embracing the limitations of conventional structures in storytelling. When he does, it could lead to a minor masterpiece, which at times The Phenom flirts with. Go to Full Review Dustin Putman TheFilmFile.com 08/25/2016
2/4
There is a stronger, deeper, fuller motion picture to be made from this material. Earnest though it is, this one is decidedly far from phenomenal. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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05/06/2021 Disappointing as it had potential, but just never seems to deliver, you keep hoping it will get better and it never does See more 11/22/2020 A disappointing movie. The actors were good, the filmography was entertaining but the scripting and the direction were a letdown. It was disjointed, plot directions seemed to disappear and the 'psychology' didn't make anything especially clear. The final scene didn't explain much and the ending - abrupt and incoherent - was very annoying. This movie was a wasted opportunity. See more 03/15/2020 Horrible ending. Not worth the time See more 12/06/2019 I love baseball but there is no point to this movie. A complete waste of time! See more 09/28/2019 To me, extremely powerful fantastic movie. I really enjoyed every aspect. The screenplay, direction and especially the acting makes this one of my all time favorites. I believe a movie is at its best when it makes you think, makes you feel. This movie does both. Bravo! See more 03/19/2019 this movie fucking sucks, I would rather sit and stare at a wall than and let my imagination wander than watch this film again, the cinematographer must have had adhd because the angles and camera work could've have been done better by a quadruple amputee. See more Read all reviews
The Phenom

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Cast & Crew

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Noah Buschel

Director

Johnny Simmons

Hopper

Ethan Hawke

Hopper Senior

Paul Giamatti

Dr. Mobley

Sophie Kennedy Clark

Dorothy

Alison Elliott

Susan Gibson

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The Phenom

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The Phenom

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Movie Info

Synopsis A sports therapist (Paul Giamatti) tries to help a troubled rookie pitcher (Johnny Simmons) who grew up with an abusive father (Ethan Hawke).
Director
Noah Buschel
Producer
Jeff Rice, Jeff Elliott, Antonia Bogdanovich, Kim Jose
Screenwriter
Noah Buschel
Distributor
RLJ Entertainment
Production Co
Best Pitcher, Crystal Wealth, Bron Capital Partners
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 24, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2017
Runtime
1h 30m
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