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Murderball

Play trailer Poster for Murderball R 2005 1h 25m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
98% Tomatometer 138 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
This documentary introduces the U.S. quad rugby team -- a team composed entirely of young paraplegic men. Using special wheelchairs and very little protection, the players play full-contact competitive rugby, using rules only slightly altered to accommodate their limitations. The film follows the team as they discuss the sport, their lives, and how they ended up in their chairs to begin with, while they play their way to the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.
Murderball

What to Know

Critics Consensus

An entertaining and gripping documentary that shows being confined to a wheelchair doesn't mean the fun has to end.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Corliss TIME Magazine 08/04/2008
Murderball is no Rocky-esque hymn to the human spirit. It's more like a prison movie... Go to Full Review J. R. Jones Chicago Reader 03/26/2007
An honest, down-to-earth account of how life goes on for people with disabilities. Go to Full Review Dave Calhoun Time Out 06/24/2006
What emerges is more interesting, thankfully, than a linear offering of sporting triumph in the face of adversity. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 12/28/2020
3/4
Murderball is a movie that's easier to admire than adore, and its makers wouldn't have it any other way. Go to Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/17/2020
3.5/4.0
A celebration of the human spirit and a testimony of the power of the human body to adapt and heal. Go to Full Review Felicia Feaster Creative Loafing 02/03/2020
Murderball tends to buck the feel-good vibe and good guy-bad guy arc of that genre... Instead, the film depicts a more profound and lifelong battle waged between these men and the circumstance they find themselves in. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mickey B. @Mickerdoo Jun 12 Really cool to see these athletes finding an outlet. Definitely seems like the right place to get some aggression out. See more Les N @Vegas628 Sep 6 It must be an American thing...the anger. See more Stephen C @bob25009 07/07/2025 Real footage in 1 hour and 25 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Sexual Content and Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $1,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Drew F @RT15777998 02/09/2023 This is the 2nd best documentary about sports of all time, bested only by Hoop Dreams. See more 12/10/2021 I remember seeing this movie when it came out, such a great documentary. inspiring too See more 03/03/2021 While there is some discomfort by unnerving chills from watching wheelchair-confined soldiers, in their own right, with mental sympathetic empathy over their disabled functions, this raw documentary reassures in entertaining form that they live their lives with strength in overcoming their limitations while making the best out of the situation through fitting, encouraging outlets. (B+) See more Read all reviews
Murderball

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Henry Alex Rubin

Director

Dana Adam Shapiro

Director

Dana Adam Shapiro

Writer

Jeffrey V. Mandel

Producer

Dana Adam Shapiro

Producer

Randy Manis

Executive Producer

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Murderball

A scene from the film MURDERBALL directed by Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro. A scene from the film MURDERBALL directed by Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro. A scene from the film MURDERBALL directed by Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro. A scene from the film MURDERBALL directed by Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro. A scene from the film MURDERBALL directed by Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro. A scene from the film MURDERBALL directed by Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro. A scene from the film MURDERBALL directed by Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This documentary introduces the U.S. quad rugby team -- a team composed entirely of young paraplegic men. Using special wheelchairs and very little protection, the players play full-contact competitive rugby, using rules only slightly altered to accommodate their limitations. The film follows the team as they discuss the sport, their lives, and how they ended up in their chairs to begin with, while they play their way to the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.
Director
Henry Alex Rubin, Dana Adam Shapiro
Producer
Jeffrey V. Mandel, Dana Adam Shapiro
Screenwriter
Dana Adam Shapiro
Distributor
ThinkFilm
Production Co
Participant, Paramount Pictures, A&E IndieFilms, MTV Films, EAT Films
Rating
R (Sexual Content|Language)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 8, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 3, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.5M
Runtime
1h 25m