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Radio

Radio is a 2003 American biographical sports drama film directed by Michael Tollin.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Radio is a 2003 American biographical sports drama film directed by Michael Tollin. It is loosely based on a 1996 Sports Illustrated article about the friendship between high school football coach Harold Jones and James “Radio” Kennedy, a young man with an intellectual disability. The film was released in the United States by Sony Pictures Releasing on October 24, 2003.

Premise

The story follows a high school football coach who befriends a young man with an intellectual disability and brings him into the team’s daily life. The relationship changes both the boy’s life and the broader community around the school.

Production

Radio was directed by Michael Tollin and written by Mike Rich. It was filmed mainly in Walterboro, South Carolina, and produced for release by Sony Pictures Releasing.

Source material

The film is loosely based on Gary Smith’s 1996 Sports Illustrated article “Someone to Lean On.” That article, like the film, draws from the real-life story of Harold Jones and James “Radio” Kennedy.

Reception

The film is commonly described as an inspirational sports drama and was distributed as a PG-rated mainstream release. Available sources note its dramatic and social-issue themes, though detailed critical consensus is not included in the provided results.

Key facts

  • The film is inspired by a true story and a 1996 Sports Illustrated article by Gary Smith.
  • It centers on the relationship between Coach Harold Jones and James “Radio” Kennedy.
  • Cuba Gooding Jr. plays Radio, and Ed Harris plays Harold Jones.
  • The film was released in the United States by Sony Pictures Releasing on October 24, 2003.
  • It was filmed primarily in Walterboro, South Carolina.
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Canadian context

The film is part of North American sports-drama cinema and is familiar to Canadian audiences through home video and streaming availability, but it has no specific Canadian setting or production connection in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

What is Radio about?
It is about a high school football coach who befriends and mentors a young man with an intellectual disability, changing both the team and the town.
Is Radio based on a true story?
Yes. It is loosely based on the real-life story described in Gary Smith’s 1996 Sports Illustrated article “Someone to Lean On.”
Who directed Radio?
Michael Tollin directed the film.
Who plays James “Radio” Kennedy?
Cuba Gooding Jr. plays James “Radio” Kennedy.
When was Radio released?
It was released in the United States on October 24, 2003.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_(2003_film)
    Supports: Director, release date, source material, cast, filming location, and basic plot details.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/radio
    Supports: Genre, MPAA rating, runtime, director, distributor, production company, release date, and synopsis.
  3. Roger Ebert — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/radio-2003
    Supports: Film premise, connection to Gary Smith’s Sports Illustrated article, and central characters.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0316465/
    Supports: Release date and plot synopsis.
  5. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/radio
    Supports: Runtime, MPAA rating, cast, director, and release timing.