Miracle (Exclusive Series) (Disney Plus)

Initial release date: February 20, 2004

Studio: Walt Disney Pictures

Tagline: Do you believe in miracles?

The story of the greatest moment in sports history.

Plot: When college coach Herb Brooks is hired to helm the 1980 US men’s Olympic hockey team, he brings a unique and brash style to the ice. After assembling a team of hot-headed college all-stars, who are humiliated in an early match, Brooks unites his squad against a common foe, the heavily-favored Soviet team. As the US squad tries to overcome insurmountable odds and win the gold medal, the team becomes a microcosm for American patriotism during the Cold War.

Cast

Kurt Russell - Herb Brooks

Patricia Clarkson - Patti Brooks

Noah Emmerich - Criag Patrick

Sean McCann - Walter Bush

Kenneth Walsh - Doc Nagobads

Eddie Cahill - Jim Craig

Patrick O’Brien Demsey - Mike Eruzione

Michael Mantenuto - Jack O’Callahan

Nathan West - Rob McClanahan

Kenneth Mitchell - Ralph Cox

Eric Peter Kaiser - Mark Johnson

Joseph Cure - Mike Ramsey

Billy Schneider - Buzz Schneider

Writer: Eric Guggenheim

Director: Gavin O’Connor (The Way Back; The Accountant)

Rated PG for language and some rough sports action (135 min)

The 2004 Disney sports movie ‘Miracle’ is one of the best sports movies out there! There are quite a few inspiring moments scattered throughout and seeing how hard the hockey players are working shows just how much they want to get on the team

A lot of the hockey sequences are really compelling and riveting. Quite a few of the actors who portrayed the hockey players have a lot of hockey experience, which definitely helped with the hockey scenes. ‘Miracle’ is also hailed as being one of the most realistic and accurate depictions of a true event ever.

Even though anyone who is familiar with this true story knows how it ends, the climactic hockey game is still very nail-biting and full of excitement. And, when you see the US hockey team win the game and see everyone cheer, you just want to cheer along with them!

‘Miracle’ is currently available to stream on Disney Plus.

Here are some interesting tidbits about this inspiring hockey movie:

• Kurt Russell took a pay cut, so the 800 to 1,000 extras used as the fans at the hockey game, could enjoy a full hot meal, instead of a brown bag lunch.

• While Al Michaels joined the film to recreate commentary for the games, Gavin O’Connor decided to use the last ten seconds of Michaels’ original “Do you believe in miracles/” call in the film because he felt he couldn’t ask him to recreate the emotion he experienced at that moment. Thus, they cleaned up the recording to make the transition to the authentic call as seamless as possible.

• This film is considered to be one of the most accurate depictions of true events, including dialogue.

• Over 280 miles of film were shot, more than any other Disney movie.

• Buzz Schneider is portrayed by his son, Billy Schneider.

• Herb Brooks died in a car accident during principal photography of the film. A dedication is made for him before the end credits.

• The shots of the NHL-Soviet game on Herb’s TV, where Mikhailov is seen scoring, is real footage.

• The young men chosen to portray the members of Team USA were chosen primarily for their hockey skills, due to the intense nature of the filming; acting ability was secondary. In fact, for most of them, this was their first major film.

• The scene where Brooks makes the team skate back and forth on the ice all night, after their 3-3 tie with Norway, was actually done by the real actors over a span of three days - 12 hours a day. Director Gavin O’Connor wanted the moment to be as realistic as possible.

• The filmmakers didn’t know that Billy Schneider was Buzz Schenider’s son until after they cast him as his father.

• Herb Brooks was a former US Olympic player in 1964 and 1968.

• ‘Miracle’ grossed $19,377,577 on its opening weekend on 2,605 screens. It closed with a worldwide gross of $64,445,708.

• ‘Miracle’ won the Best Sports Movie ESPY Award for 2004.

• In 2006, the AFI nominated this film for AFIs 100 Years … 100 Cheers. And in 2008, AFI nominated this film for its Top 10 Sports Films list.

https://youtu.be/Bd0_Dm2xlEM