The Last Dance

The Last Dance is a ten-part documentary series that reconstructs the Chicago Bulls' final championship season through a mix of archival material and fresh interviews. Instead of a straight chronology, it pieces together candid locker-room footage, behind-the-scenes moments from 1997-98, and retrospective conversations with players, coaches, and journalists to show how that team operated under pressure. Michael Jordan is at the center, but the series also highlights key figures and relationships that shaped the Bulls dynasty, revealing personalities, tensions, and decisions without spoiling the outcomes of the games themselves.

Released in 2020, the series was directed by Jason Hehir and created by Michael Tollin. It compiles never-before-seen film and audio from the 1997-98 season and features over a hundred interviews with players and other basketball voices across ten episodes.

The Last Dance received significant recognition in the months after its release, attracting attention from critics, viewers, and several awards bodies. It showed up on many year-end lists and was acknowledged across television and documentary circles for its editorial scope and access to archival material.

Culturally, the series reignited mainstream fascination with the Bulls era and Michael Jordan, sparking renewed debate about legacy, leadership, and sports celebrity. Clips, moments, and interviews from the show spread rapidly online, shaping conversations on social media and influencing later sports documentaries and series that aim for the same blend of archival revelation and contemporary reflection.

Critics and audiences largely praised the series, reflected in strong viewer ratings and widespread commentary. Main themes include the costs of elite success, team dynamics under a dominant personality, the intersection of sports and commerce, and how media narratives are constructed. While focused on basketball, the show often turns outward, looking at fame, race, and the structures that built modern sports stardom.