Above the Rim (1994)

Above the Rim is a gritty, character-driven drama about choices, ambition and survival in an inner-city neighborhood. You follow Kyle-Lee Watson, a talented high school basketball star on the verge of a college scholarship, as he becomes entangled with two very different brothers: Birdie, a charismatic but ruthless local drug dealer, and Thomas “Shep” Sheppard, a former high-school hoop hero now working as a security guard whose own fall from grace warns Kyle of a darker path. Watching the film, you’ll experience tense, fast-paced basketball sequences and the electric atmosphere of streetball, set against a raw urban backdrop where loyalties and opportunity collide. The story builds toward a high-stakes basketball showdown that forces Kyle to choose between the easy money and protection Birdie offers and the more uncertain route to a better future that Shep silently pushes him toward. The film blends action and social drama with an evocative hip‑hop–driven soundtrack and powerful performances, creating an emotionally charged tale about mentorship, temptation, and the cost of ambition.

Actors: Duane Martin, Tupac Shakur, Leon

Director: Jeff Pollack

Runtime: 96 min

Genres: Crime, Drama, Sport

5.9 /10 6.6 /10 6.2 /10