‘The Miracle Season’ inspires volleyball players everywhere to #LiveLikeLine

The true story of 'The Miracle Season' – the tragic death of Caroline Found and how the Iowa City West volleyball team honored her legacy en route to a second-straight state championship – is beyond moving.

And while critics have found the movie to be corny and 'formulaic,' this is a story that many moviegoers are discovering the first time. The emotions of that come across on social media, as does the #LiveLikeLine message.

Volleyball teams bond

Inspirational sports movies are easy to find.

What's tougher to find is an inspirational volleyball movie.

That's why volleyball teams around the country have been driven to theaters to view 'The Miracle Season.'

'We saw Miracle Season last night....tears were shed.' - 16N Storm coach Lindsay Alger. Safe to say you should go support this movie and the sport of volleyball! April 17, 2018

'We saw Miracle Season last night....tears were shed.' - 16N Storm coach Lindsay Alger. Safe to say you should go support this movie and the sport of volleyball! #MiracleSeason #VisionFamily #Storm pic.twitter.com/6GzkKQkgP0

— Vision Volleyball (@Vision_VB)

We chat with Cassandra Bagnell from the April 17, 2018

We chat with Cassandra Bagnell from the @DalTigers about her role in the movie 'The Miracle Season' @tweetLD. https://t.co/2MdhBYbvCV pic.twitter.com/3dF6XRh4wo

— Global Halifax (@globalhalifax)

Cancelled practice and went to see "The Miracle Season" instead. these girls! Definitely recommend the movie! Tear jerkerApril 17, 2018

Cancelled practice and went to see "The Miracle Season" instead. these girls! Definitely recommend the movie! Tear jerkerpic.twitter.com/PlENPghpX4

— Ali Hagen (@alihagen36)

April 17, 2018

#FCVC 13U Girls Green and Blue teams were spotted at the movies this weekend. Getting prepped for @ova_updates #OVAchamps and being inspired by The Miracle Season. #ldnont #teambuilding pic.twitter.com/gNdu3eBfqV

— FCVC (@Go_FCVC)

Our 182 team enjoying some team bonding seeing The Miracle Season! April 17, 2018

Our 182 team enjoying some team bonding seeing The Miracle Season! pic.twitter.com/pvkh4tBto0

— RCVC (@RocketCityVBall)

April 15, 2018

#TAV11Black enjoying some team bonding and watching 'The Miracle Season'. #LiveLikeLine #GoTAV pic.twitter.com/BQ0JaWA1bk

— TX Advantage VB (@TAVVolleyball)

Pelham volleyball players watching The Miracle Season. April 15, 2018

Pelham volleyball players watching The Miracle Season. @PELHAM_AD @PelhamAthletics pic.twitter.com/QLVd5Bypv4

— Pelham Volleyball (@PelhamVB)

Miracle season was so great with my teammates April 15, 2018

Miracle season was so great with my teammates #wecried pic.twitter.com/04lrQB1WEW

— BURKK (@BurkRae)

PSA: everyone go see Miracle Season!!! April 15, 2018

PSA: everyone go see Miracle Season!!! pic.twitter.com/Q9rpvMGyzv

— Mackenzie Mooers (@macmooers)

Kiva 11Red enjoying a little bonding time off the court and watching Miracle Season. April 15, 2018

Kiva 11Red enjoying a little bonding time off the court and watching Miracle Season. #kivaproud pic.twitter.com/PKUgDu8fl4

— Maureen (@kilroy_simon)

Just watched 'The Miracle Season' with a theater filled with volleyball players, singing along robustly to the final song 'Sweet Caroline.' LOVE: players, coaching, community, volleyball.April 15, 2018

Just watched 'The Miracle Season' with a theater filled with volleyball players, singing along robustly to the final song 'Sweet Caroline.' LOVE: players, coaching, community, volleyball.

— Owls Volleyball (@OWestVB)

Last night; 14U team bonding watched an inspirational movie Miracle Season April 14, 2018

Last night; 14U team bonding watched an inspirational movie Miracle Season pic.twitter.com/kqAVg25KdQ

— Dinamite Volleyball (@DinamiteV)

Great day with future, present, & Alumni of GCVB!! The Miracle Season is such a beautiful movie that reminds us that life is short. We need to live & love Big daily! April 14, 2018

Great day with future, present, & Alumni of GCVB!! The Miracle Season is such a beautiful movie that reminds us that life is short. We need to live & love Big daily! #livelikeline pic.twitter.com/L6Cio68vNt

— Lori Willis (@lawillis1978)

We loved 'The Miracle Season,' but bring the tissues.April 14, 2018

We loved 'The Miracle Season,' but bring the tissues.@AVCAVolleyball #livelikeline pic.twitter.com/5r3HRG230L

— DubuqueVolleyball (@DbqVolleyball)

For over 3 yrs we've been trying to change a culture & focus on stepping out of our comfort zones. Today, the players went to see The Miracle Season & I received 3 pics: 2 w/ just our HHS players & 1 w/ our players & other random players attending the show. April 14, 2018

For over 3 yrs we've been trying to change a culture & focus on stepping out of our comfort zones. Today, the players went to see The Miracle Season & I received 3 pics: 2 w/ just our HHS players & 1 w/ our players & other random players attending the show. #livelikeline #ONETeam pic.twitter.com/HjzSfO9uoX

— HHS Volleyball (@HHSTWolvesVB)

Miracle Season with teammates! What a good reminder of what playing sports is all about! April 14, 2018

Miracle Season with teammates! What a good reminder of what playing sports is all about! #livelikeline #westisbest pic.twitter.com/0Z8oSx114f

— Sarah Steers (@Sarah_Steers)

We are a FAMILY- a little bit of crazy, a little bit of loud and a whole lot of love! April 13, 2018

We are a FAMILY- a little bit of crazy, a little bit of loud and a whole lot of love! @GuyerVolleyball program went to see The Miracle Season today on their day off! pic.twitter.com/sW1danebN6

— Guyer Volleyball (@GuyerVolleyball)

Movie time together watching The Miracle Season! We are grateful! April 13, 2018

Movie time together watching The Miracle Season! We are grateful! #CSUSMVB pic.twitter.com/xsfKghMXug

— CSUSM Volleyball (@CSUSMVolleyball)

Just saw The Miracle Season and it made us truly April 13, 2018

Just saw The Miracle Season and it made us truly pic.twitter.com/wvVcR5JlGp

— St. John's VBall (@StJohnsVB)

Thx for making Miracle Season, April 12, 2018

Thx for making Miracle Season, @tweetLD ! These girls really appreciated it! Through volleyball they are learning to practice hard, win, lose, succeed, fail, be coachable, humble, & confident! They are strong, fierce competitors. pic.twitter.com/PDYRCKYLd6

— candi (@itsCandi)

Just saw The Miracle Season with our own 'Women of West' team. There were certainly some cheesy moments and some entertaining skills displays, but the storyline was a great depiction of working through loss and honoring a teammate. April 11, 2018

Just saw The Miracle Season with our own 'Women of West' team. There were certainly some cheesy moments and some entertaining skills displays, but the storyline was a great depiction of working through loss and honoring a teammate. #LiveLikeLine #westisbest @BWHS_Wolverines pic.twitter.com/0yxuaTIvQD

— West Volleyball (@BWHSvolleyball)

Metro Heat Volleyball Club in KC Missouri singing a little Sweet Caroline after watching April 16, 2018

Metro Heat Volleyball Club in KC Missouri singing a little Sweet Caroline after watching @MiracleSeason! #LiveLikeLine @brez6258 pic.twitter.com/EMLk9PVFFP

— Haley Jo Eckerman (@HaleyEckerman)

Miss VRA & her April 15, 2018

Miss VRA & her @SGEliteVB #TheMiracleSeason #LiveLikeLine pic.twitter.com/mSaem5bGrk

— Tiffany Smith-Anoa'i (@TSmithAnoai)

13 ROSHAMBO teammates after the film

The true story was a tear jerker but also very inspiring, especially for these young ladies who have a tournament tomorrow!

Tragedy hits home

For volleyball players and other high school athletes, the story of Caroline Found resonates. They can relate to the deep sadness the Iowa City community experienced in 2011, having gone through something similar in their own schools.

For others, it's a reminder to cherish every moment with each other.

You guys... The Miracle Season hit so close to home. The girl the movie is based on wore #9 on her jersey just like Bry and everything. Grief is such an awful thing... you'd think it would get easier, but even after all this time the hurt is still the same. — lexy bo (@lexyellsworth)

The Miracle Season did so many things right. It seemed to be just like the real story #livelikeline — Mom (@realmaddicyn)

Went to see The Miracle Season tonight. Bawled the entire time. My nose is plugged and I have a headache. Really good movie though. Thought of Humboldt the entire time, team colours were even green and yellow. — Tracey MacAllister (@TraceyMacA)

Just finished watching Miracle Season and it hit way to close to home. AHS volleyball girls, I love you so much #weplayforamber — jules(@TheeJuliaRamos)

The Miracle Season is a fantastic movie about grieving and finding the light in the dark. So cool to see a story that was close to home, and the coach Kathy Bresnahan, a Cuba City graduate! Definitely a must see, but be prepared to cry! — Jocelyn Gile (@jocelyngile25)

The Miracle Season is a must see! Helen Hunt does a phenomenal job playing a coach. It is such an emotional story and very parallel to what we went through at Hills. If you go be prepared to cry A LOT! — Kristi Buffenmyer (@vballcoach5)

Just saw 'The Miracle Season' and cried the entire movie.... I'm not really into volleyball, but I am part of a team. I highly recommend this movie!!! — em (@emilykimily8)

So, I obviously had to see Miracle Season. And, I obviously cried through half of it. And, also obviously, Fenway doesn't hold a candle. | #sweetcaroline #livelikeline #9 — Marissa Winans (@MarissaElinda)

Miracle Season is an emotional roller coaster of a movie. Highly recommended to watch with your kids — Nathan Mailach (@N8Mylock)

The Miracle Season. All The Feels. #livelikeline #livelikealex — Fayetteville Volleyball (@FHSVolleydogs)

Just watched The Miracle Season, and now I have a HUGE inspiration when playing volleyball! Sharing a number with a legacy is something I will continue to do until I die #LiveLikeLine pic.twitter.com/wVLspMKrh3 — kinley jo (@kinleyblock)

We saw this today & we both cried almost the whole movie. LOVED it. Inspired to #livelikeline. Gigi was volleyball team captain & MVP at West High in an earlier year (a less miraculous season), so it was cool at the end to see school clips where she recognized everything. https://t.co/MKUm6dUW8f — Dr. Phil Metzger (@DrPhiltill)

No regrets, stop playing small, and live up to your greatness. #LIVELIKELINE pic.twitter.com/VBhsWfIb8M — IowaRockets (@IowaRockets)

Attention all volleyball playersIf you are considering even the slightest bit going to see the movie #MiracleSeason, DO IT. Best representation of real volleyball I've seen in a movie and a great story. Also make sure you bring a box of tissues. #livelikeline — Laura Beth Buchanan (@LauraBethBuch)

Saw The Miracle Season & wow. Remember being a Iowa HS vball player at that time & learning much about Line & her story. An incredible vball story that truly transcends beyond sports. A girl who impacted every life around hers. A beautiful way to live. Go see it! #LiveLikeLine — Reeann McCarty (@reeannmccarty)

The tears flow

One thing is made clear by social media reviewers: almost no one leaves a showing of 'The Miracle Season' with dry eyes.

i just saw the miracle season and i don't think i've ever cried so much during a movie — mags (@I00letters)

The Miracle season was so good, literally had me bawling from start to finish. 10/10 would recommend — lexi (@lexinivens)

I highly recommend seeing The Miracle Season, but I highly recommend you seeing it with an entire box of tissues in hand. — Kae Bae (@kae120894)

miracle season was so good, but do NOT wear any mascara to this movie. i was SOBBING the whole time. (yes, literally sobbing) — love, aubree (@aubreelotko)

Just saw The Miracle Season---really liked it. Great family movie---daughters who love volleyball, Loved the movie. May have lost my battle to fight back tears — Jim Mattson (@hoijim)

my grandma and I literally just bawled through the ENTIRE movie The Miracle Season and ive never missed volleyball so much — Claire Ketelsen (@ketelsen_claire)

if anyone wants to cry for a solid hour I highly recommend going to see Miracle Season — Britt Knee (@BFHogland)

Cried thru the whole entail miracle season movie.... then i found out it was a true story and started crying even more — brooklyn (@atkinsbrooklyn1)

What the critics are saying

The discord between critics and fans is easy to see on sites like Rotton Tomatoes. 'The Miracle Season' gets a 44 percent approval rating from critics there, but 88 percent from the general audience.

'Even if you're moved by it, there's no denying,' Variety's review reads, 'it's such a formula film.'

On IMDb, it gets 6.2 stars out of 10.

The New York Times says 'Moviemakers Spike a Real-Life Volleyball Story.'

The movie is described as 'godawful, even by the standards of sports dramas' in the Hollywood Reporter. 'With apologies to the actual people involved, who are no doubt lovely humans and deserve much better …'

You can see which parts of the movie are true and which are stretched in The Gazette's review. Jeff Linder recommends reading former West head coach Kathy Bresnahan's book by the same title.

Linder writes, 'the original storyline was so Hollywood-caliber, and in this case, Hollywood fell a little short,' but there are plenty of powerful moments and the movie 'is worth your time.'