The Basketball Diaries
Directed by Scott Kalvert · 1995 ·
The Basketball Diaries (1995) earns a 60% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Audiences (74%) responded more warmly than critics (47%).
Calculated from 4 available inputs: Celluloid editorial rating, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb. Audience sentiment is shown separately and never changes the composite. See how we calculate scores.
4-input transparent breakdown
Theatrical release Where to watch
Not confirmed on any major streaming platform yet — check local listings.
Why this score?
- Celluloid's editorial rating is reserved (47/100).
- General viewers mostly liked it (74%).
- Celluloid Score 60% combines 4 verified rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately.
Best for
- Short runtime — easy weeknight watch
- Crowd-pleaser seekers — audiences liked it more than critics
Not ideal for
- Viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films
Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy
Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
Is The Basketball Diaries worth watching?
Yes — The Basketball Diaries earns a 60% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.
Celluloid Verdict
DiCaprio as Jim Carroll — a raw addiction drama that cemented his ’90s serious-actor credentials.
Celluloid editorial verdict
Audiences (74%) responded more warmly than critics (47%).
What is The Basketball Diaries about?
A high school basketball player’s life turns upside down after free-falling into the harrowing world of drug addiction.
Watch the Trailer
The Basketball Diaries stills
Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.
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