Where to Watch Every NBA “Uncle Drew” Short Film and the Full Movie

The NBA’s Uncle Drew shorts unexpectedly became an online sensation, paving the way for a full-length feature film in 2018. Basketball, known for its dynamic nature, often blends seamlessly with humor, resulting in a plethora of comedic sports films. Classic titles like The Air Up There, White Men Can’t Jump, and Space Jam—along with its sequel, Space Jam: A New Legacy—illustrate this intriguing connection. Recognizing this, Pepsi launched a basketball-themed marketing campaign for its Pepsi Max drink back in 2012.

The Creation of Uncle Drew

In this groundbreaking campaign, Pepsi enlisted the talents of NBA point guard Kyrie Irving, who donned prosthetic makeup to portray Uncle Drew, an unexpectedly agile septuagenarian. His stunning basketball skills left young athletes in awe, serving as the perfect comedic centerpiece for the advertisements. The success of the Pepsi Max “Uncle Drew” campaign was undeniable, earning the title of the second most-watched commercial on YouTube in its release year.

Where to Watch the Uncle Drew Shorts

The Shorts Are Collected Together on YouTube

The immense popularity of the original “Uncle Drew” advert led to the production of three additional shorts. These feature not only Kyrie Irving but also several other renowned basketball players—including Kevin Love, Maya Moore, and Baron Davis. Each of them transformed into elderly characters to playfully fool unsuspecting youngsters about their dunking abilities. Basketball enthusiasts can now enjoy all four “Uncle Drew” shorts conveniently for free on YouTube.

Where to Watch Uncle Drew

Uncle Drew Streams on Netflix

The character of Uncle Drew resonated so well with audiences that it transitioned into a full-length feature film, which was released by Lionsgate in 2018 in collaboration with Pepsi Productions. Directed by Charles Stone III of Black-ish fame, the film captures Uncle Drew’s journey as he returns from retirement to battle it out in Harlem’s Rucker Classic streetball tournament. The film features a star-studded cast including the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Tiffany Haddish, and Nick Kroll.

Initially, the movie was restricted to streaming in select regions, including France, Israel, and Switzerland. However, as of February 2025, Uncle Drew has expanded its availability and is now accessible to Netflix subscribers in North America, with subscription plans starting at $7.99 per month for ad-supported streaming and $17.99 for an ad-free experience, with 4K content available at $24.99.

Where to Rent/Buy Uncle Drew

The Film Is Available for Those Who Don’t Have Netflix

Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Webber, Nate Robinson, Reggie Miller, and Kyrie Irving in Uncle Drew

For those who wish to own a copy of Uncle Drew or prefer the option to rent, the film is available across several platforms. Renting typically costs around $3.99 on services like Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Microsoft, and Spectrum—Amazon offers a slightly lower rental price of $3.79.

Retailer	Rent	Buy
Apple TV	$3.99	$12.99
Amazon	$3.79	$4.99
Fandango-At-Home	$3.99	$5.00
Microsoft	$3.99	$12.99
Spectrum	$3.99	N/A

In terms of purchasing a digital copy of the movie, it may be more economical to buy rather than rent. The digital version of Uncle Drew is offered at $4.99 on Amazon and $5 on Fandango At Home, whereas Apple TV and Microsoft price it at a higher $12.99. For collectors of physical media, prices are competitively set at $11.31 for DVD and $10.94 for Blu-ray on Amazon.

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