Cal Tech basketball team's story is subject of Rick Greenwald's captivatingly quirky Quantum Hoops, a film that's as smart as its subjects--the team of smart players who continue to push their game although they consistently lose.

Rate this Movie ![]()
- Showtimes & Tickets
- Write a Review
- Read Reviews
- Add to List
- Get this Movie
- Buy Poster

- Visit Official Site

Quantum Hoops (2007)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:21
Fresh:17
Rotten:4
Average Rating:7/10
Consensus: Dry and upbeat, this story of overachieving academics struggling as underdog athletes is a winner (even if their basketball team isn't).
Theatrical Release:Nov 2, 2007 Limited
Synopsis:
While most sports films celebrate the quest for a championship, "Quantum Hoops" follows a team that is searching for a single win. The documentary chronicles the final week of the 2006 Caltech...
While most sports films celebrate the quest for a championship, "Quantum Hoops" follows a team that is searching for a single win. The documentary chronicles the final week of the 2006 Caltech basketball season. The team is currently in the midst of a 21 year losing streak - over 240 consecutive conference losses. Caltech is annually considered one of the top 5 academic institutions in the world yet its athletic department always takes a back seat to the achievements of its world renowned faculty, Nobel prize winners, and advancements in the world of science and technology. The film "Real Genius" was a not-so-subtle take on Caltech life.
To the casual fan, the team might sound like a bad joke. There are more valedictorians on the team than players with high school basketball experience. In fact, the 5 seniors did not play high school basketball, yet all five are major contributors to the team. They are roundly mocked by opposing fans as "nerds playing basketball" (the few fans that decide its even worth it to show up). However, this season would mark an amazing turnaround from just two years ago when the team would lose by an average margin of over 60 points per game. Against remarkable odds and adversity, the players and coaches dedication, discipline, heart, and yes, SKILL would make for one of the most exciting seasons in school history. The final home game of the year would give the 5 seniors one last shot at that elusive win and an entry into the history books of college athletics.
[More]
Director: Rick Greenwald
Director: Rick Greenwald
Get This Movie
Reviews for Quantum Hoops
One of Quantum Hoops' favorite distractions from actual games is to look at the charmingly nerdy lives of Caltech students.
Revenge of the Nerds minus laughs plus inspirational music equals Quantum Hoops.
The combination of David Duchovny's wry narration and the genuine charm of Greenwald's subjects is pretty tough to resist.
David Duchovny narrates this inspirational account of Caltech’s 2006 basketball season (yes, the school has a team, and at the time of filming, the squad had not won in 21 years).
Scratching your head because you don't know why David Duchovny provides narration for Rick Greenwald's Quantum Hoops? Hint: the truth is out there.
I’m not a basketball fan in the slightest, but I will admit to being wrapped up in the tension of this incredibly rousing finale. After watching this inspiring documentary, I’m sure you’ll feel the same way.
While it may not be the most absorbing subject for a feature documentary, the hoop dreams of a brainiac team that wants to win just once does make for an amusing diversion, especially with another season of college-bracket fever upon us.
Couldn't the film have told the story of a single season or explored what it means for a team of genius scientists and math whizzes not to crack the code of their failure? We get glimpses and glosses but never a story.
A pleasurable feature film that can't help but fall in love with these perennial losers...narrated with wonderful highball sincerity by David Duchovny.
America loves its athletes, but the scholars are just as driven, determined, and successful
An unpretentious but goodhearted tale of exceptional intellectuals surviving a state of perpetual frustration.
These teams may be genuinely awful, or simply overmatched, but [director]Greenwald honors them, their brainy players and their Job-like coaches alike.
Quantum Hoops -- the debut documentary from Rick Greenwald -- is an absolute slam-dunk.
Although Greenwald has made a fairly lighthearted film, replete with playful graphics and humorous digressions, it does prompt some serious reflection on what college sports are really all about.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie | Date |
|---|---|---|
| | The Twilight Saga: New… | 11/20 |
| | Planet 51 | 11/20 |
| | The Blind Side | 11/20 |
| 92% 92% | Bad Lieutenant: Port o… | 11/20 |
| 90% 90% | Red Cliff | 11/20 |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- Quantum Hoops at Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh Links
Featured

Moviefone brings us 9 failed attempts at biographical films.

TIME reminisces on the 10 most iconic moments from the films of Cameron Crowe.

BuzzSugar wants to know which movies coming out this month you're most looking forward to.

The AV Club takes a look back at Hedwig and the Angry Inch.


Top Critic



