If formulaic sports movies based-on-true-stories are your bag, you'll enjoy 12 Mighty Orphans just fine.

Full Review | Sep 25, 2023

12 Mighty Orphans is a welcomed addition to the sports film genre. It is a feel-good indie film that is sure to find its audience with its performances and overall message of hope.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 31, 2023

12 Mighty Orphans is a ragamuffin to Texas football glory tale that’s a welcome surprise. Ty Robert’s film earns its “incredible” true story tagline.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Oct 9, 2022

Football? Orphans? Why this movie could practically write itself! And if it did, it would probably do a better job than this one's trio of screenwriters.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Jun 15, 2022

On paper (and in history), it's an inspirational story, but the filmmakers never figure out how to make the movie sing on its own.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 15, 2022

12 Mighty Orphans is ultimately a competent sports drama that for fans of the genre will more than likely engage and impress.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Feb 12, 2022

The fact-based 'Orphans' benefits greatly from its rough-hewn edges, period-appropriate, sepia-drenched cinematography, and its celebration of a game not played for riches or fame. It's an underdog feel-good piece lacking artifice or forced uplift.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Oct 25, 2021

Despite some violent scenes, overall it is a heartwarming watch that tweens especially might enjoy.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 24, 2021

With a stellar familiar cast and a ripe pack of new talent, "12 Mighty Orphans" reminds me very much of the sleeper hit "Rudy" in 1993

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Sep 23, 2021

Proved too sentimental for me and something of a waste of a cast, led by Luke Wilson and Martin Sheen. Shame.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 19, 2021

The film never rises above the quality of one of those cornily saccharine made-for-TV Disney features that used to be confined to Sunday teatimes.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 17, 2021

With a classical approach ... it does not take enough advantage of the historical context in which it takes place. [Full Review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 7, 2021

12 Mighty Orphans fails to capitalize on its potential instead of languishing as a run-of-the-mill sports story with little to make it stand out.

Full Review | Aug 21, 2021

Ty Roberts's tribute to the boys and their captain, orphanage teacher Rusty Russell, warms the heart and sparks hope, dipping its toe into sentimentality.

Full Review | Aug 10, 2021

We don't want to reinvent the game so we're going to use some standard plays.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 6, 2021

Who could resist a Depression-era sports drama involving Texas orphans and a gentle, do-gooder head football coach named Rusty Russell?

Full Review | Aug 5, 2021

Twelve Mighty Orphans is a feel-good film light on surprises but heavy on inspiration. It's predictable and old-fashioned, but it undeniably has its heart in the right place: right on its sleeve.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 5, 2021

Well worth its time. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 4, 2021

The blanket boosterism in this simplistic inspirational sports story obscures some uncomfortable details.

Full Review | Aug 4, 2021

Presents a story we've seen before (and done better) but it's difficult to not be a little swept up in its honest intentions.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 3, 2021