Best Football Movies
- 50 Best Movies of 2008
Everett Collection
- 50 Best Movies of 2008
Warner Bros.
- 50 Best Movies of 2008
Everett Collection
- 50 Best Movies of 2008
Universal
- 50 Best Movies of 2008
Universal
- 50 Best Movies of 2008
Everett Collection
- 50 Best Movies of 2008
Disney
The Super Bowl may be the most exciting event in sports -- but sometimes we like our football a little more, you know, fictional (and without car and beer commercials), though "based on a true story" ain't a bad option, either. Hollywood goes at it on the gridiron almost as often as there are NFL championships, and has produced its fair share of touchdowns. But what football flick takes the title for best of all time? Click through for our 16 faves, then vote on your winner, and come back to Moviefone Jan. 29 for the results.
'All the Right Moves' (1983)
Thirteen years before becoming the world's most beloved sports agent -- and two months before making a sport out of dancing around in tightie whities -- a young Tom cruise appeared in his first athletic outing, playing a high school DB with college football dreams in Steel Town, Penn. Also appearing as Cruise's adversary and coach is Craig T. Nelson, who parlayed the role into a nice nine-year tenure on TV as, well, 'Coach.'
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'Any Given Sunday' (1999)
Once you get over the phony pro uniforms and logos (the Miami Sharks look like they'd fit right in ... in the Arena Football League), Oliver Stone's divisive football drama is one of the most realistic portrayals of the modern NFL ever made. It focuses on a constant clash of egos, from the billionaire owner to the multimillionaire stars to the lowly millionaire head coach. Of course, most coaches only dream they could deliver a pep talk like Al Pacino's famous "game of inches" speech.
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'Brian's Song' (1971)
Who says football movies have to be all touchdowns and monster tackles? Football players have feelings, you know. The true story of Chicago Bears rookies Brian Piccolo (James Caan) and Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) is moving enough as they go from rivals to roommates and best friends. But when Sayers has to nurse his friend through cancer, even the toughest guy in the room has to reach for the tissues. Guys, it's OK. Women have chick flicks ... men have 'Brian's Song.'
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'Everybody's All American' (1988)
Football movie pro bowler Dennis Quaid (see also 'Any Given Sunday' and 'The Express') gives a dynamic performance as Gavin "The Ghost" Grey in this underrated drama that spans 25 years of the quarterback's life, from college stud to broke ex-pro. While most football flicks focus on one season at least, one career at most, 'All American' portrays the rarely seen whole picture.
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'The Express' (2008)
The latest inspirational drama to tackle race relations in the historical context of sports (see also 'Remember the Titans,' 'Glory Road,' etc), this heartbreaking true-life tale tells the incredible story of Ernie Davis (Rob Brown), the first African-American Heisman winner, and his coach (Dennis Quaid), who finally warmed up to him, despite his skin color. A suitable slogan? College Football: Making racists accept black people since 1958.
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'Friday Night Lights' (2004)
Based on a best-selling semi-fictional book, this look at the heightened role of high school football in a small town is as depressing as the local economy of its setting, Odessa, Tex. It's no wonder Coach Gaines' (Billy Bob Thornton) boys feel the weight of the world on their shoulder pads, but it's pure wonder when they make it to the state semifinals. Tim McGraw) surprises with a nuanced portrayal of an abusive dad living out his own gridiron dreams through his son.
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'Heaven Can Wait' (1978)
Warren Beatty stars as an L.A. Rams quarterback set to lead his team to the Super Bowl when he's almost killed in an accident. An overzealous angel prematurely snatches him from his body then has to put him in the body of a recently murdered mogul when his original bod is cremated. He's still got the soul of a handsome QB, though, so his love of the game is intact; he buys the Rams and romances Julie Christie, but his abiding affection is for the pigskin.
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'Invincible' (2006)
Sure, the true story of a 30-year-old bartender who tries out for -- and makes! -- the Philadelphia Eagles sounds a whole lot like 'Rudy' ... and it is. But so what? 'Rudy' is awesome, Mark Wahlberg turns in some of his best work as booze purveyor turned footballer Vince Papale AND the romantic subplot in which he falls for Giants fan Elizabeth Banks actually enhances the movie's charm.
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'Jerry Maguire' (1996)
Some might argue that this is less a sports movie than a movie about a sports agent. But when Jerry (Tom Cruise) loses all his clients except for head-case wide receiver Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.), then 'Maguire' becomes about the way football really works: the egos, the deals, the desperation, and yes, the game-saving plays. Used to be, the only element that reeked of fiction was the prospect that the Cardinals could be Super Bowl contenders ... well, until now, of course.
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Reader Comments (182)
Superdave at 1:07PM on Jan 23rd 2009
Rudy, Rudy, Rudy, Rudy and Brians's Song, the only one to have a re-make!
bluedevilboy2005 at 6:28PM on Jan 23rd 2009
Theres no comparison. Friday Night Lights is as close to real as you can get. It captures real football....HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. Those kids arent playing for money or anything else other than the chance to win and shine under those friday night lights. Everyone else, college, pro...what have you, are just out there for the money.
Dee Gray at 4:02PM on Jan 23rd 2009
Remember the Titans for sure. My mother, grandmother, great aunt (grandmother's sister) and my daughter saw it more than once at the movies. It was a feel-good, interactive experience.
My grandmother's gone now, but this would definitely be her favorite as well.
:-)
-Dee
Lee Neugent at 6:00PM on Jan 23rd 2009
"Spirit of west Point" is my favorite
tazman57 at 11:51PM on Jan 23rd 2009
There all great, but have to go with Brian's Song. This true story was not only about football and the love for the game (which lets face it, really doesn't exist anymore)but most importantly about true friendship between two players on and off the field. Not to mention one of the biggest if not the biggest tear jerker of all time.
Tan at 3:21PM on Jan 24th 2009
Remember the Titans was a very good movie, but had less to do about football than the struggles of race and tragedy similar to Radio. A hallmark of a good football movie: realistic football plays and story line. Sunshine pitching to Rev, somehow ending up in front of him to lead block, and taking out three guys blocking is absolutely absurd. Not to mention him taking out that All-Conference DE with his Tai Chi or whatever. The ONLY GOOD & REALISTIC Football movie: Friday Night Lights. Although it also dealt with very real struggles of High School Players it also maintained a realism in the actual football aspect of the movie. If you have ever played football you would definitely pick this as the best and most realistic. If you pick Varsity Blues or The Replacements you are absolutely as ridiculous as the "football" in the movies. Jerry McGuire is not a football movie period, that is a chick flick. Any Given Sunday gets an honorable mention for realism.
rugbymom at 8:39PM on Jan 27th 2009
You forgot the Rocky Blier Story. It was made into a movie starring Robert Urich. Rocky's story is a million times better than Invicinable.
Emily at 8:19PM on Jan 27th 2009
Remember The Titans fo' sho'.
buckb at 8:23PM on Jan 27th 2009
What about The Replacements with Keanu Reeves? And FYI - The Longest Yard was remade in 2005 with Adam Sandler (guest appearance by Burt Reynolds).
tsawyer33 at 8:26PM on Jan 27th 2009
All the Right Moves is clearly the greatest football movie of all time.
dean at 8:35PM on Jan 27th 2009
I played 6 years of semi-pro football and while I like Friday Night Lights and All the Right Moves for the way they capture the spirit of how important and real these games are for the high school kids... I would still have to pick Brian's Song as my all-time favorite.
Shamrock1133 at 8:36PM on Jan 27th 2009
As a 12 year player and 38 year football coach, Remember the Titans has to be it.
Of course, Brian's Song has to rate above The Longest Yard.
jim m at 8:43PM on Jan 27th 2009
brians song is an old movie a different generation,i think its one sport movie everyone should see. it is the best football movie ever made
rugbymom at 8:39PM on Jan 27th 2009
If you read "I am Third by Gale Sayers or the Brian Piccolo Story you would know that the movie Brian's Song really took dramatic license. Gale Sayers was no where near Pic when he died. Even though the movie is great it doesn't do the real Brian Piccolo justice.
Rocky Blier practically lost his leg in Vietnam and they told him he would never walk let alone play football again. Not only did he learn how to walk, he caught the first touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw to win the Steelers a super bowl victory.
Another great football movie is called "Something for Joey" It is the moving story of John Capellitti's youngest brother, who had luekemia. All he wanted was his brother to score touchdowns for Penn State. John not only scored a lot of touchdowns, he won the Heisman and gave it to his little brother. Joey succumbed to the luekemial.
These true stories beat All the Right Moves or Any Given Sunday or that pathetic Invinciable.
jerry at 8:56PM on Jan 27th 2009
Rudy, is my all time favorite football movie. Another great football movie is, We are Marshall.
maxlxii at 8:59PM on Jan 27th 2009
why would i want to disable my pop up blocker and receive all that trash as a result? I gues this is a low rent site...
frank herrmann at 9:52PM on Jan 27th 2009
North Dallas Forty which I believe was a very realistic portrait as afar as the roids, bennies and lunatics in the NFL. Nick Nolte at his best. Of course Ronald Reagan as the Gipper was another great one.
s at 9:04PM on Jan 27th 2009
LOngest Yeard Brians song Gridiron gang & Rember the titatens
S
Karen at 9:08PM on Jan 27th 2009
BRIAN"S SONG is the best movie. It had it all..My Favorite football movie of all time !!
Richard Winstead at 9:12PM on Jan 27th 2009
Sports movies usually suck, but I have to agree with SuperDave on "Rudy" and "Brian's Song". Heartwarming films and both true.
RW In Arkansas