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Top Ten Football Movies
By admin2 | April 29, 2008
1. Friday Night Lights
A very, very realistic look at the Permian Panthers football program back in the late 80s, and a complicated look into the pressure facing teenaged athletes. Spawned its own TV show.
2. Brian’s Song
The definition of a tearjerker, based on true events. James Caan and Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) star as teammates who overcome obstacles to become best friends. When Piccolo’s diagnosed with cancer, the two find strength and courage in each other. WaaaaahhhhH!!!!!
3. Rudy
A true story of ‘the little guy who could.’ Desperate to play for Notre Dame, Rudy triumphs over his own tiny-ness, bad grades, and poor athletic skills to make his dream come true. The inspiration for what I call the “Rudy Slow Clap” - a mocking way to make your friends feel like they’ve accomplished something.
4. Jerry Maguire
Tom Cruise and Renee Zellweger star in this movie that spawned two catch phrases still uttered today: “You had me at hello,” and “Show me the money!”
5.The Longest Yard
The original, not the Sandler re-make version. Burt plays a former pro who ends up in a prison ruled by a prick warden. This movie was actually nominated for four Golden Globes and an Oscar.
6. Remember The Titans
Based on a true story (cue the tear-jerking) of Herman Boone, Denzel is awesome as the coach who forced integration on his football team only to have the team discover that friendship and loyalty know no colors. Football AND a message!
7. The Replacements
Keanu Reeves plays a quarterback who leads a bunch of replacements to victory in this kinda cheesy flick, “The Replacements.” Loosely (and I mean loosely) based on the 1987 NFL strike.
8. Invincible
The true story of Vince Papale,a part time bartender who loved football yet never dreamed of playing in the NFL. But when Dick Vermeil took over as head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, he opened up tryouts to anybody and everybody. Papale was talked into giving it a try and a the story unfolded into well, a perfect premise for a movie.
9. All the Right Moves
Tom Cruise plays a high school football player desperate to earn a college scholarship as a way out of his dying Pennsylvania steel-belt town. (Rudy meets…well, every college football story)
10. We Are Marshall
The true and sad story of how Marshall University was able to overcome a horrible plane crash took the lives of their football team and supporters on November 14, 1970.
Topics: Football Movies, Lists |
August 5th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
My top ten football movies of all time are as follows:
Friday Night Lights: As you stated. Very realistic look at highschool football in the 80’s. More importantly “Football States” I cant image being able to play year round becasue the weather is nice.
Remember the Titians: Great story line and great character development. Very crisp and clean montages, and sports action. Plus its a true story.
Rudy: I think it speaks for it self. Just an overall great movie regardless of subject matter. it just happens to be about football.
Plus true story.
The Program:
This movie although cliched and corny at somepoints. It had enough impact and Rah Rah factor for the movie to have to be edited upon release due to the death of idiot real-life athletes mimmicking the scene in the movie where they lay in the street to prove they have balls.
In my opinion this is the first time when Hollywood tried to add some better on the field camera angles to football and made the hits slightly more punishing and realistic.
Everybodys All American:
I like this movie because of its timeline aspect. Shows how people change along with the game.
Great nostalgic theme and good character development.
Brian’s Song:
Not much needs to be said here.
Great movie. Not the remake either.
Varsity Blues:
Basically they stole Buzz Bissinger’s book and made it funny. A copied version of FNL that was released 4 years prievious. Movie has great football sequences and attitude. Although overall more of a highschool movie; still think its a good time and funny.
All the Right Moves:
Vision Quest for Football. Just great. Stef was awesome all the way around. Another good movie with Chris Penn, RIP. and Beautiful Lea Thompson.
Hard Nosed Football. Also shows the American public that Pennsylvania is just as large a football state as Texas, Alabama, Florida, Etc.
Any Given Sunday:
I like this movie mostly because ( as stated above ) Oliver Stone’s attempt at showing realistic on the field action kept it interesting. Didnt like the made up teams with lame uniforms, or the overtop egos and the 3 hour running time didnt help. But great effort, great cast, great football montages.
We Are Marshall:
Not much needed to be said here. Great movie, great story and character development. I felt for this town.
Invincible: I just liked the story and it made me feel good. Great on screen football action. Good characters and casting. More importantly, althought they didnt go into it in detail, they tried to show the league that Vince and his buddies played in before he got signed. Sand lot ball.Great family movie.
I know its more than 10 but I love Football. They are also in no particular order.
Great Website. I will be coming back.