The Way Back

Play trailer

2:13

The Way Back

R

2020

1h 48m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

216 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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Stephanie Zacharek

TIME Magazine

02/03/2021

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

Go to Full Review

David Sims

The Atlantic

02/03/2021

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

Go to Full Review

Adam Nayman

The Ringer

02/03/2021

The bristly, embittered drunk is a borderline melodramatic cliché, but Affleck imbues it with a lived-in intelligence...

Go to Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Jan 24

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

10/29/2024

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

Manuel São Bento

MSB Reviews

07/24/2023

B

The Way Back is an inspirational sports drama that follows the genre’s stereotypes and formulaic storytelling, but it’s still very successful in its execution. Ben Affleck is reason enough to give Gavin O’Connor’s flick a go.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Kimberly J

04/25/2021

Excellent Redemptive

See more

Nancy P

10/11/2020

The whole movie was great and Ben was outstanding!

See more

Chris P

08/23/2020

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

See more

06/11/2020

#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

See more

R L

05/28/2020

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.

See more

PCain

05/25/2020

Old theme and predictable storyline. Stream it.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Gavin O'Connor

Director

Ben Affleck

Jack Cunningham

Al Madrigal

Dan

Janina Gavankar

Angela

Jeremy Radin

Father Mark Whelan

Brandon Wilson

Brandon

Pieces of a Woman

76%

84%

Pieces of a Woman

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Pieces of a Woman

Palmer

72%

87%

Palmer

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Palmer

Bottom of the 9th

75%

64%

Bottom of the 9th

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Bottom of the 9th

Cherry

37%

72%

Cherry

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Cherry

Blue Bayou

75%

93%

Blue Bayou

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Blue Bayou

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Hear Us Out: Ben Affleck Is One of the Most Under-Appreciated – And Fiercely Talented – Actors Of His Generation

Rotten Tomatoes’ Ridiculously Early Oscar Predictions: Best Actor

Birds of Prey, The Gentlemen, and Bloodshot Hit Digital Release This Week

The Way Back: Trailer 2

2:13

The Way Back: Trailer 1

2:13

View more videos

View more photos

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)

Most Popular at Home Now