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Backwards

Play trailer Poster for Backwards PG 2012 1h 29m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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28% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 52% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Failing to make the Olympic rowing team, a young woman (Sarah Megan Thomas) moves back in with her widowed mother and takes a job as a crew coach at her former high school.

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Backwards

Critics Reviews

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Joe Leydon Variety Oct 19, 2012
Passably pleasant but thoroughly predictable. Go to Full Review Mick LaSalle San Francisco Chronicle Sep 28, 2012
2.5/4
A movie whose main virtue was its honesty ultimately lands in a place that feels canned and unsatisfying. But on the way there, Backwards isn't so bad. Go to Full Review Stephanie Merry Washington Post Sep 28, 2012
1.5/4
The biggest problem ... is the characters who populate the film. For the most part, they're one-dimensional caricatures. Go to Full Review Stephen Schaefer Boston Herald Jan 22, 2013
C+
Molly Eichel Philadelphia Daily News Oct 11, 2012
Backwards" is obvious at times, but what makes it stand out are the details that Thomas imbues in her character. Go to Full Review Brian Miller Seattle Weekly Oct 10, 2012
Corny and predictable, sure, but Backwards will appeal to a few junior oarswomen around Seattle. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Horror fan 4 @Horrorfan4life Feb 23, 2026 This one from the start was good but by the third act it became soft as a cupcake. The coach (Abigail) coaches a few matches and they win the state title? Come on man they gotta make a better effort than that. The romance I wasn't buying for a second. The chemistry between James and Sarah was lacking. Overall it felt like another lifetime movie but with a mediocre story. Tim Treakle See more May 31, 2015 Bad acting and poor writing make this movie plain old boring. See more Feb 7, 2014 If you are a rower you'll really like this movie See more Jan 24, 2014 An enjoyable film for the whole family. See more Aug 30, 2013 Don't know how, but I got sucked in and loved it. See more Aug 30, 2013 Nice enough movie. Nothing too exciting... See more Read all reviews
Backwards

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Cast & Crew

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Ben Hickernell

Director

Sarah Megan Thomas

Abigail Brooks

James Van Der Beek

Geoff

Glenn Morshower

Coach Spriklin

Margaret Colin

Mrs. Brooks

David Alan Basche

Cox

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Backwards

A scene from "Backwards." Sarah Megan Thomas as Abi Brooks in "Backwards." Sarah Megan Thomas as Abi Brooks in "Backwards." James Van Der Beek as Geoff in "Backwards." Margaret Colin as Mrs. Brooks in "Backwards." A scene from "Backwards." Glenn Morshower as Coach Spriklin in "Backwards." Sarah Megan Thomas as Abi Brooks and James Van Der Beek as Geoff in "Backwards." Sarah Megan Thomas as Abi Brooks in "Backwards." James Van Der Beek as Geoff in "Backwards." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Failing to make the Olympic rowing team, a young woman (Sarah Megan Thomas) moves back in with her widowed mother and takes a job as a crew coach at her former high school.
Director
Ben Hickernell
Producer
Sarah Megan Thomas
Screenwriter
Sarah Megan Thomas
Distributor
Required Viewing, Dada Films
Production Co
13th Night Productions
Rating
PG (Some Mild Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 21, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$61.5K
Runtime
1h 29m
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