The Way Back

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2:13

The Way Back

R

2020

1h 48m

Drama

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Tomatometer

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.

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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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Stephanie Zacharek

TIME Magazine

Feb 3, 2021

Affleck carries the movie both in his muscles and in his subtle shifts of expression.

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David Sims

The Atlantic

Feb 3, 2021

The Way Back features the rawest and most natural performance Affleck has given in his career.

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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...

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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].

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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]

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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.

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Kimberly J

Apr 25, 2021

Excellent Redemptive

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Nancy P

Oct 11, 2020

The whole movie was great and Ben was outstanding!

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Chris P

Aug 23, 2020

It was a great movie. About how a person was down and out and an opportunity Changed his life.

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Jun 11, 2020

#TheWayBack #MovieReview: 8.5/10 Pros: Ben. Affleck. Surprisingly comedic Emotionally moving Beautiful direction and cinematography Doesn't overstay it's welcome Treats characters with respect Cons: Small pacing issues VERY familiar story Ending could've expanded more

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R L

May 28, 2020

Great unbelievable mission for a rookie soldier in the middle of a terrible war. Unexpected developments along the way. Great acting and a great story.

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PCain

May 25, 2020

Old theme and predictable storyline. Stream it.

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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

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The Way Back: Trailer 2

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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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