You’ve probably seen plenty of Leonardo DiCaprio over the past two decades, but before he became the global superstar he is today, he was a part of the beloved 1995 adaptation of The Basketball Diaries.
Based on American author, poet, and musician Jim Carroll’s autobiography of the same name, the film launched to critical and fan praise. It tackles the issue of addiction as high school basketball prospect Carroll struggles with his life and quickly loses his chance at stardom for a life on the streets.
If you’re a big Leo fan and haven’t yet seen this film, then you’ll probably want to check it out, as it was a telling sign that the young actor had a bright future ahead of him. Thanks to streaming, home viewings are often the way to go these days. Unfortunately, with this film in particular, you’ll stumble upon a few hurdles if you try to watch it online.
Can I watch The Basketball Diaries anywhere?
Right now, there is no streaming service in the U.S. where you can catch The Basketball Diaries. It is likewise not available via digital outlets to purchase or rent.
With this being the case, you’ll likely need to find a physical copy of the movie in order to watch it, as it doesn’t seem to be available digitally in other regions, either. One place few people consider, but which might prove fruitful, is your local library. Even if the film is not available there now, another library might be able to loan it to you. You can also purchase a hard copy of the flick via Amazon, where it’s currently listed for right around $11.
Why is The Basketball Diaries hard to find?
There are a couple of reasons why current audiences are having trouble finding this film through any streaming sites. Let’s just say during the recent pandemic, when just about everyone watched whatever they could to pass the time stuck indoors, this movie was virtually nowhere to be found at that time.
Controversy is a considerable reason why this film has been hard to locate over the years. A 1999 multi-million dollar lawsuit seemed to be the worst response that came after the film’s release. The portrayed adolescent drug use and related scenes were claimed to be one of the factors that led to the tragic 1999 Columbine High School shooting. The graphic subject matter indeed might be tough for some audiences to watch, even decades later. The case was eventually dropped in 2001.
Another reason is due to one of the oldest hurdles when it comes to Hollywood movies: film rights. As of 2020, the movie was said to have been owned by MGM, but that’s not confirmed. This leaves the answer to who really owns the rights to distributing the movie for public consumption up in the air. With no clear custodian of the film rights, no one will be able to stream it anywhere until further notice.
While the film’s lack of presence online is sad news for now, there’s always a chance that The Basketball Diaries will turn up in the future. This article will continue to be updated to reflect where you can watch it if and when that becomes the case.