Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos
  • Studio: ESPN
  • Release Date: Jul 7, 2006
Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos Image
See the trailer
Metascore
67 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Starring: Giorgio Chinaglia, Matt Dillon, Pelé
  • Summary: It was 1977 and one of New York’s most tumultuous and decadent summers. Then, in the midst of blackouts, riots, the Son of Sam serial killer scare and the dawn of Studio 54, came an entirely unexpected moment of inspiration: the rise of the New York Cosmos, America’s first great soccer team, and its larger-than-life superstar, Pelé. Suddenly embraced by a city obsessed with celebrity and flamboyance, the Cosmos kicked off America’s first passionate love affair with the world’s most popular sport & found themselves swept up in a careening path of glory, glamour, debauchery and controversy. (Miramax Films)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    91
    It's a stylish scramble of evocative footage, groovy music, and crazy-candid reminiscences from key players still proud to score.
  2. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Shawn Levy
    83
    Funky, scrappy, dishy, screwy story of that star-studded, gilded squad.
  3. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Bill Gallo
    60
    This intermittently fascinating documentary chronicles the rise and fall of the Cosmos --which is also the rise and fall of U.S. soccer.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. James
    9
    Tells the story with humour and verve, and it’s hard not to be a little bit nostalgic for the days when 70,000 people would crowd into Giants stadium to watch “the other football.”… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. RobertF.
    8
    Both entertaining and informative. You'll learn a lot about the birth of mainstream interest in soccer in America.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

Trailers