Miracle: The Boys of ‘80
★★★
Hot on the heels of revisiting Miracle, I figured it was only right to go straight to the source. With the Winter Olympics buzz in the air (and the Today show nudging me along), I dove into Miracle: The Boys of ’80 on Netflix, and I’m glad I did.
First things first: this isn’t a retread of the Disney movie. And thankfully, it doesn’t try to be.
Where Miracle leans into swelling music and Kurt Russell intensity, this documentary settles into something more reflective, more tender, and honestly, more intimate. The filmmakers reunite the entire 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, now decades removed from their Lake Placid heroics, and let them tell the story in their own words. The result feels less like a highlight reel and more like a reunion of brothers.
One of the documentary’s greatest strengths is its access. The footage is crisp and beautifully restored, and the players are shown clips of themselves from 1980 that many of them had never even seen before. Watching these now older men react to their younger selves (sometimes spotting now-deceased parents in the stands) brings an emotional weight that no scripted sports film could quite capture. It’s not manipulative. It’s just real.
And then there’s Al Michaels. Hearing him reflect on that call — yes, the “Do you believe in miracles?” call — adds an extra layer of gravitas. His presence alone reminds you that this wasn’t just a hockey game. It was a cultural moment.
What I especially appreciated is that the documentary doesn’t stop with the victory over the Soviet Union. If you’ve only seen the Disney film, you might forget that the U.S. still had to win the gold medal game. This film lingers on that pressure — the sudden fame, the skyrocketing expectations and the emotional crash that could have followed if they hadn’t finished the job. It’s fascinating to see how quickly they went from scrappy underdogs to national symbols.
Of course, Herb Brooks himself isn’t here (he passed away in 2003) but his presence is deeply felt. His son and daughter contribute thoughtful reflections that help fill in the gaps and humanize the legendary coach beyond the fiery locker room speeches we’ve come to associate with him.
Is this documentary groundbreaking? Not exactly. If you know the story well, there aren’t massive revelations waiting around the corner. But what it lacks in innovation, it makes up for in sincerity. It’s succinct, well-paced and deeply respectful of the legacy it’s preserving.
In some ways, I’d even say this might be the better entry point than the Disney film. It does a stronger job contextualizing why the moment mattered and how the chant of “USA! USA!” had felt dormant and how this team, almost unexpectedly, reignited something in the country.
For longtime fans of the story, this is a warm, reflective victory lap. For newcomers, it’s an accessible and informative crash course in one of the greatest sports moments in history.
Familiar? Yes. Moving? Often. Worth your time, especially during Olympic season? Absolutely.
And honestly, if you’re into sports documentaries at all, this is a pretty easy one to throw on and relive a moment that still gives goosebumps more than four decades later.
