The 12 Greatest Football Films We’ve Ever Watched

      With a few nights left when you can't catch live football, here's a look at the greatest football movies ever made.

      Football films go beyond just sports — they delve into emotions that aren't always easy to discuss and encompass various genres, from comedy to serious dramas.

      Now, here’s our list.

      **Brian’s Song (1971)**

      Columbia Pictures

      Brian’s Song is similar to David Anspaugh’s Rudy in that both are genuine tearjerkers. They also share the fact that they are based on true events. Both films touch on themes of football, as well as friendship, disappointment, perseverance, and bravery.

      However, Brian’s Song diverges in that it does not have a joyful conclusion. It narrates the bond formed between Chicago Bears players Brian Piccolo and the legendary Gale Sayers. As Piccolo faces a terminal cancer diagnosis, Sayers supports him until the end.

      It’s perfectly acceptable to shed tears while watching this film — or even while listening to it. The score by composer Michel Legrand is one of the most sorrowful in cinema history.

      **Jerry Maguire (1996)**

      TriStar Pictures

      A standout football movie and nearly a flawless film overall, Cameron Crowe’s 1996 Jerry Maguire follows sports agent Jerry Maguire as he experiences an awakening: prioritize clients over money.

      This revelation is not received well by his large agency, resulting in his firing and leaving him with only one client, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr., who won an Oscar for his endearing performance).

      The film is filled with drama, sharp comedic exchanges, and elements for romantics, too: including Jerry’s awkward relationship with charming single mother Dorothy (Renee Zellweger) and Tidwell’s committed marriage to Marcee (Regina King).

      **Remember the Titans (2000)**

      Disney

      Remember the Titans tells the largely true story of football coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) as he confronts racism and resentment while striving to lead the newly integrated T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, to an undefeated season in 1971.

      Boone takes over from white former coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton), which creates initial friction, but they eventually set aside their differences for the benefit of their team and community.

      Like many of the greatest football films, it transcends the sport itself.

      **Heaven Can Wait (1978)**

      Paramount Pictures

      Loosely based on Harry Segall’s play of the same name — which has seen multiple adaptations — this New Hollywood classic, co-directed by Buck Henry and headlined by Warren Beatty, is quite different from the earlier 1943 version by Ernst Lubitsch. This is a football film.

      It’s a well-crafted, acted, and directed story. After quarterback Joe Pendleton is taken to heaven prematurely before his team heads to the Super Bowl, he must navigate heavenly interventions to secure a new body, convince his former coach of his identity, buy his old team, and reclaim his position as star quarterback.

      We know it sounds convoluted, but it’s far simpler than it appears.

      **North Dallas Forty (1979)**

      Paramount Pictures

      Another quality football film from the golden era, North Dallas Forty presents a semi-fictional portrayal of a professional football team (inspired by the early 1970s Dallas Cowboys).

      It is bold, loud, and irreverent, offering an unfiltered glimpse into the often unglamorous life of a professional football player.

      **The Best of Times (1986)**

      Universal Pictures

      This lesser-known gem of a football movie leaves viewers wondering, “What did I enjoy about that so much?”

      The answer lies in its writing by Ron Shelton (famous for Bull Durham and Tin Cup), who knows how to craft engaging sports films, regardless of the sport.

      This one centers on football and features perfectly cast performances from Kurt Russell as the aging ex-high school quarterback with an attitude and Robin Williams (at his most subdued) as the nerdy ex-high school receiver seeking redemption for a missed catch.

      **Rudy (1993)**

      TriStar Pictures

      Based on the real story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, a small-statured kid determined to join the Notre Dame football team, this film may not be the most intellectually stimulating in the lineup, but it certainly makes up for it with heart and passion.

      Written by Angelo Pizzo and directed by David Anspaugh, both experienced in making uplifting sports movies (like Hoosiers and The Game of Their Lives), the film leaves viewers with goosebumps and an urge to cry, especially during the concluding moments.

      **The Program (1993)**

      MGM

      The Program is a film that college students often cling to for years, only to abandon it once they graduate. It explores themes of camaraderie (and misconduct) on and off the football field, addressing issues such as