Movie

Once Upon A Time - Reach for the Stars

2019 · 94 min

A gentle, hopeful underdog sports story with a nostalgic colonial-era setting, celebrating scrappy kids and community spirit over polished privilege.

Directed by: Prakash Murugiah
Genres: Drama, History
Starring: Nam Ron, Pekin Ibrahim, Danial Akmal Fariz

Overview: His medical condition doesn't stop a 12-year-old village boy from working hard with a school gardener to form a ragtag team of soccer players, in order to compete in the JG Davidson Cup tournament. They will have to go up against the reigning champion, St. James, a highly privileged British school.

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer

In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.

Directed by: Prakash Murugiah
Genres: Drama, History
Starring: Nam Ron, Pekin Ibrahim, Danial Akmal Fariz

In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone: earneststrength 3 of 3
warmstrength 2 of 3
upliftingstrength 2 of 3
melancholicstrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: easy-watch, 2 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: friendship
coming-of-age
class
survival
ambition
Places: small town
school
countryside
Era: period
Audience: family
Form: ensemble
true story
Content intensity: Gore none
Language mild
Violence none
Sex none

All scales, 0 to 10

Scales, 0 to 10
Scale	Value	0 to 10
Action	3.5
Horror	0
Humour	4
Realism	7
Romance	0.5
Tension	4
Darkness	2.5
Complexity	3
Emotional weight	6

Titles like Once Upon A Time - Reach for the Stars

TV series

Ahiru no Sora

2019–2020

A steady, earnest underdog sports story about a scrappy team slowly learning to care, with plenty of practice montages and small victories.

About friendship and coming-of-age · ensemble

Via: friendship
coming-of-age
ensemble
Pacing: measured
Attention: easy-watch
Seasons: 1

Details

Ahiru no SoraHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Italia 90

2014

A scrappy, warm underdog story that mixes laughs with grit as a ragtag squad chases an impossible dream.

Earnest, warm · about friendship and class · ensemble

Via: earnest
warm
friendship
class
ensemble
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 105 min

Details

Italia 90Hidden from your suggestions.

TV series

Captain Tsubasa

1983–1986

Bright, energetic sports storytelling that makes every match feel like a big, hopeful adventure.

Earnest, warm · about friendship and coming-of-age

Via: earnest
warm
friendship
coming-of-age
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Seasons: 5

Details

Captain TsubasaHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

Ace of the Diamond

2013

An earnest, high-energy sports drama that makes every practice and pitch feel like a life-or-death struggle, with a likable underdog at its heart.

Earnest, uplifting · about friendship and coming-of-age · ensemble

Via: earnest
uplifting
friendship
coming-of-age
ensemble
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Seasons: 4

Details

Ace of the DiamondHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

Aoashi

2022

A propulsive, heartfelt sports drama that makes tactical football feel thrilling, mixing underdog grit with team camaraderie and steady emotional payoff.

Earnest, uplifting · about friendship and coming-of-age · ensemble

Via: earnest
uplifting
friendship
coming-of-age
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: engaged
Seasons: 2

Details

AoashiHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

Kuroko's Basketball

2012–2015

A propulsive, earnest sports drama where underdog teamwork and flashy rivalries make every match feel like a thrilling event.

Earnest, uplifting · about friendship and coming-of-age · ensemble

Via: earnest
uplifting
friendship
coming-of-age
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Seasons: 3

Details

Kuroko's BasketballHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

Rookies

2008

A scrappy underdog sports drama that wins you over with earnest teamwork, goofy humour and steady, feel-good momentum.

Earnest, warm · about friendship and coming-of-age · ensemble

Via: earnest
warm
friendship
coming-of-age
ensemble
Pacing: measured
Attention: easy-watch
Seasons: 1

Details

RookiesHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

Captain Tsubasa

2018–2024

A bright, earnest sports drama that makes every match feel like a big event, with clear heroes and satisfying teamwork.

Earnest, uplifting · about friendship and coming-of-age

Via: earnest
uplifting
friendship
coming-of-age
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Seasons: 2

Details

Captain TsubasaHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

All American

2018–2026

An emotional, character-driven drama where teenage dreams collide with adult pressures, mixing sports highs with raw family struggles.

Earnest, warm · about coming-of-age and class · ensemble

Via: earnest
warm
coming-of-age
class
ensemble
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Seasons: 8

Details

All AmericanHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

McFarland, USA

2015

A heartwarming underdog sports drama that celebrates community and perseverance, with earnest performances and a feel-good true story.

Earnest, warm · about coming-of-age and survival · true story

Via: earnest
warm
coming-of-age
survival
true story
Pacing: measured
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 128 min

Details

McFarland, USAHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Forza

2026

A warm, earnest underdog story that moves at a steady pace, balancing hardship with hope and the quiet thrill of a dream within reach.

Earnest, warm · about friendship and coming-of-age

Via: earnest
warm
friendship
coming-of-age
Pacing: measured
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 90 min

Details

ForzaHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

Stars Align

2019

A tender, quietly intense coming-of-age story that balances sports competition with raw emotional honesty and gentle warmth.

Earnest, warm · about friendship and coming-of-age

Via: earnest
warm
friendship
coming-of-age
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Seasons: 1

Details

Stars AlignHidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the UK

No UK streaming, rental or purchase options are known.

Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

Details

Genres: drama, history
Directed by: Prakash Murugiah
Written by: Prakash Murugiah
Starring: Nam Ron, Pekin Ibrahim, Danial Akmal Fariz, Dheva Naish, Danial Iman, Kuhan Divagaran, Farez Iqmal, Armand
Music: Daniel Veerapen
Cinematography: Nurhanisham Muhammad
Runtime: 94 min
Country: Malaysia
Languages: Malay

TMDB IMDb Letterboxd Wikipedia Wikidata

Something wrong on this page? Tell us.

Once Upon A Time - Reach for the Stars

How it feels

More like this

Titles like Once Upon A Time - Reach for the Stars

Where to watch in the UK

Details