Semi-Pro poster

Semi-Pro

Closer Strong film that finishes even stronger
2008 · Comedy · Kent Alterman

51% across 57 head-to-head matchups is a strong record on its own. What makes Semi-Pro unusual is that the number actually understates how it performs when it matters most. Will Ferrell playing an ABA owner-coach-player in bell-bottoms is a love letter to the weirdest era in professional basketball, and the period details are more committed than any comedy this broad has a right to be. Voters pick in 1.2s on average — well under the 3.5s platform norm.

Synopsis

Jackie Moon is the owner, promoter, coach, and star player of the Flint Michigan Tropics of the American Basketball Association (ABA), the worst team in the league. In 1976 before the ABA collapses, the NBA plans to merge with the best teams of the ABA at the end of the season. Only the top four teams will make the move and the worst teams will fold. If the Tropics want to make it to the NBA, Jackie Moon must rally his team and start winning.

Round 1
41.2%
Semifinals
64.3%
9/14
Finals
66.7%
Where it thrives

The 26-point climb from opening round to final tells the story. Semi-Pro doesn't just hold up as the bracket deepens — it accelerates, peaking when the opposition is at its strongest.

Against Above the Rim, the margin is razor-thin: 50%. The most contested matchup in Semi-Pro's record. Against Inside Moves, Semi-Pro wins 86%. Not much of a contest.

Closest Rival
Dominates

In Basketball Movie Madness Part II - The Snubs, Semi-Pro trails Blue Chips 59–41% in round one, trails The Basketball Diaries 57–43% in the semifinals, edges Above the Rim 50–50% in the final. The final is too close to call.

BingeBracket Record
51%
Win Rate
#18 of 48 in Comedy #19 of 41 from the 2000s
Scores based on real fan votes in head-to-head brackets. 50% = wins as often as it loses — perfectly average.
Featured Tournament

#5 of 8 in Basketball Movie Madness Part II - The Snubs.

Where should it rank? Cast your vote.

Above the Rim #1
The Basketball Diaries #2
Air Bud #3
Blue Chips #4
Semi-Pro #5
Inside Moves #6
The 6th Man #7
Love & Basketball #8
Vote Now
About These Rankings

BingeBracket ranks films through head-to-head matchups in 8-film brackets — no star ratings, no reviews, just direct comparison. Browse tournaments, try Discovery mode, or explore the leaderboards. You can also .