This new Netflix movie has a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – and it deserves every percent
When I browse the new movies on Netflix each month, I always look for flicks with a high rating on the review website Rotten Tomatoes. It’s not a flawless yardstick for determining a film’s quality—quality is subjective, after all—but when Netflix adds a film to its library that achieves a rare perfect rating, I take note.
When I heard that The First Slam Dunk was being added to Netflix this weekend (Sunday, August 25), I was especially excited because not only has this animated sports film received critical acclaim, but it’s also one of my favorite entries in the genre. And that’s high praise considering it’s a basketball movie and I know very little about the actual sport.
I suspect that due to its seemingly niche nature, “The First Slam Dunk” may not get the attention it deserves even after landing on one of the best streaming services, but here’s why you should consider adding this fantastic sports drama to your watchlist…
What is “The First Slam Dunk” about?
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Based on a popular Japanese manga, The First Slam Dunk is a sports anime by Takehiko Inoue. It centers on Ryouta Miyagi, a member of the Shokoku High School basketball team, who struggles with the loss of his older brother, who also shared a passion for the sport.
Ryouta plays as the team’s point guard and is known not only for his speed on the court but also for his game intelligence, making him an important part of the team. Although the Shokoku High School team is bold, they are still the clear underdogs and as they prepare to compete in the Inter-High School National Championship, it will be an uphill battle to beat the reigning champions, the all-conquering Sannoh Kogyo High School.
While The First Slam Dunk has a lot to offer basketball fans, it’s about more than just layups and three-pointers. This fantastic film has an emotional core, as Ryota struggles with the weight of his brother’s expectations and ponders the question of self-worth and finding a true meaning in life that goes beyond just throwing a ball into a net.
Reviews of “The First Slam Dunk” – the critics loved this film
This new Netflix film has accomplished something even more impressive than a flashy slam dunk: It holds a perfect score on Rotten tomatoes. The First Slam Dunk is a rare film with a 100% rating, and that comes from more than 40 reviews, so the sample size is not exactly small, which is often the case with 100% ratings on RT.
Esther Rosenfield from Little white lies called the film “a total smash hit” (well, someone had to use that one-liner!). Calum Marsh of the New York Times praised the anime as “a great basketball movie because it understands what’s great about basketball.”
IndieWireDavid Ehrlich of the BBC was also enthusiastic about this sports drama. “No film has so literally reduced basketball to ‘just a game’, and no film since Hoop Dreams has so ecstatically conveyed why it is so much more than that,” said Ehrlich in his review.
Ross McIndoe from Slant Magazine He also joined the chorus of critics who praised the film: “‘The First Slam Dunk’ manages to bring to the screen a relentless series of new moves, twists and reversals that will keep even diehard sports film fans on the edge of their seats.”
I should also point out that The First Slam Dunk is not only considered special by professional critics. The film has an audience rating of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is almost as impressive as the critics’ rating.
Stream “The First Slam Dunk” now on Netflix
The sports genre can be quite repetitive, with many films in this category following a similar narrative structure and featuring run-of-the-mill characters. I’m not saying The First Slam Dunk doesn’t fall into some of these cliches, but the fact that it’s still so engaging despite its unoriginal aspects is a testament to its quality.
Even if you’re not particularly into basketball, you’ll still be captivated by the team’s journey. You’ll especially grow to love Ryota and want to see him achieve his goals and find his place in the world. Between the inherent drama of the sport and the strong character work, there’s a lot to like about The First Slam Dunk.
I expect some Netflix subscribers will immediately dismiss this film because it’s an anime, but I urge you to give it a chance even if you don’t normally watch anime. This drama breaks the traditional mold and has a different appeal than many of the films and TV shows in this category.
The First Slam Dunk is a Netflix movie that we hope many subscribers will watch, but if you’re not convinced it’s for you, you can also check out this soon-to-be-released star-studded crime drama that’s one of the best detective series of the year.
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