The First Slam Dunk
An intense, emotionally charged animated sports drama where the echoes of past trauma meet the thunderous rhythm of a high-stakes basketball court, blending nostalgic grit with a visceral, cinematic exploration of brotherhood.
The First Slam Dunk
The First Slam Dunk

THE FIRST SLAM DUNK

"17 years and... 40 minutes."

03 December 2022 Japan 125 min ⭐ 7.8 (497)
Director: Takehiko Inoue
Cast: Shugo Nakamura, Jun Kasama, Kenta Miyake, Shinichiro Kamio, Subaru Kimura
Drama Animation Comedy
Grief and Reconciliation Legacy vs. Individual Identity Perseverance (The Spirit of 'Never Give Up') The Psychology of Elite Sports
Box Office: $258,000,000

The First Slam Dunk - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details

Easter Eggs

Kainan High School Players

Shohoku's rivals from earlier in the manga (like Maki and Nobunaga) can be spotted in the audience, though they are often out of focus to keep the attention on the Sannoh match.

Uozumi's Cameo

Jun Uozumi, the captain of Ryonan, appears in the crowd. In the manga, he has a significant scene involving a 'daikon' (radish) that was cut for the film's streamlined pacing, but his presence is a nod to that history.

Pierce Manga Reference

The cave scenes in Okinawa reference Inoue's one-shot manga 'Pierce,' which originally hinted at Ryota's and Ayako's backstories.