The First Slam Dunk (2022)

The First Slam Dunk is that rare sports movie that makes you feel the court’s squeak and heartbeat in your ribs, marrying breathtaking animation with basketball that moves like it’s being played, not posed. Director Takehiko Inoue shoots the game with a point guard’s intelligence—tight, kinetic, and startlingly precise—then threads it through Ryota Miyagi’s inner life so the stakes land as human, not just competitive. The vibe is exhilarating and warmly funny, but it also has a quietly bruised dramatic core that gives every sprint and pass emotional weight. If you’re only looking for nonstop highlights, the character-focused pauses may feel slower, but if you want a sports story with real craft and real feeling, this one earns its cheers.

The First Slam Dunk is clearly trying to be more than a greatest-hits sports movie: it reframes a legendary match through Ryota Miyagi’s grief, drive, and inner life, aiming for real emotional weight alongside the competition. When it’s on the court, it’s terrific—clean, realistic basketball choreography and striking animation that makes the game feel tense and physical. The catch is the pacing: the film frequently steps away from the match for backstory, which can blunt momentum if you came mainly for nonstop sports adrenaline. And if you don’t already know Slam Dunk, the supporting cast can feel underintroduced, so you may spend chunks of the movie playing catch-up instead of fully investing.