

The Basketball Diaries
“The true story of the death of innocence and the birth of an artist.”
A high school basketball player’s life turns upside down after free-falling into the harrowing world of drug addiction.
Where to watch The Basketball Diaries in United States
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About The Basketball Diaries
The Basketball Diaries is a 1995 English-language drama and crime film directed by Scott Kalvert. The cast is led by Leonardo DiCaprio, Bruno Kirby, Lorraine Bracco. It has a runtime of 1h 42m. Viewers rate it 7.4/10 across 2200 ratings.
The Basketball Diaries was produced by Island Pictures and made in United States of America. It was released on April 21, 1995, and carries a R certification. Made on a budget of about $2 million, it went on to gross $2 million worldwide.
- Director
- Scott Kalvert
- Writers
- Bryan Goluboff
- Release date
- April 21, 1995
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- R
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Budget
- $2 million
- Box office
- $2 million
- Production
- Island Pictures
The Basketball Diaries cast & crew
The Basketball Diaries was directed by Scott Kalvert and written by Bryan Goluboff.
The cast features Leonardo DiCaprio as Jim Carroll, Bruno Kirby as Swifty, Lorraine Bracco as Jim's Mother, Ernie Hudson as Reggie, Patrick McGaw as Neutron, and James Madio as Pedro.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Graeme Revell, cinematography is by David Phillips, and it was produced by Liz Heller and John Bard Manulis.
Is The Basketball Diaries worth watching?
The Basketball Diaries holds an audience score of 7.4/10 from 2,223 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.
At 1h 42m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama and crime, The Basketball Diaries is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Basketball Diaries
The Basketball Diaries isn't currently available on major streaming services in United States. We track availability continuously — add it to your watchlist and we'll keep an eye out.
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Cast of The Basketball Diaries

Leonardo DiCaprio
Jim Carroll

Bruno Kirby
Swifty

Lorraine Bracco
Jim's Mother

Ernie Hudson
Reggie

Patrick McGaw
Neutron

James Madio
Pedro

Mark Wahlberg
Mickey

Barton Heyman
Confessional Priest

Roy Cooper
Father McNulty

Michael Imperioli
Bobby

Juliette Lewis
Diane Moody

Manny Alfaro
Manny
The Basketball Diaries — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Basketball Diaries in United States?
The Basketball Diaries is not currently available on major streaming services in United States. Availability changes often — check back soon.
▸What language is The Basketball Diaries in?
The Basketball Diaries is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Basketball Diaries?
The Basketball Diaries runs 1 hours 42 minutes (102 minutes).
▸What is The Basketball Diaries rated?
The Basketball Diaries is rated R. It holds a 7.4/10 audience score from 2,223 ratings.











