Football movies have always been one of the most popular film genres. They showcase passion, determination, and grit, while also offering thoughtful reflections on failure and setbacks in life. If you’re going through a tough time, watching a football movie might just be what you need. Up next, we’ll introduce 15 of the greatest football movies of all time.
15 Best Football Movies
Here’s a list of the best football movies of all time.
Little Giants
- Release year: 1994
- Run time: 1h 47m
- Scores: IMDb: 6.5/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 50%
- Available on: Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.
Little Giants is one of the best football movies for kids. The film follows two distinct-tempered brothers, one is excellent at football while the other is inexperienced. They compete in football and finally learn about something more important than winning.
Flash Gordon
- Release year: 1980
- Run time: 1h 51m
- Scores: IMDb: 6.5/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 83%; Metacritic: 58
- Available on: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV, and Fandango at Home.
Flash Gordon is a classic fantasy football movie from the 80s. It was adapted from the comic, continuing the plot of a bunch of normal individuals who were involved in a universe-level trick, and the main character, Flash Gordon, uses his football skills to lead his companions to beat the enemies.
North Dallas Forty
- Release year: 1979
- Run time: 1h 59m
- Scores: IMDb: 6.9/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 86%; Metacritic: 80
- Available on: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV, Fandango at Home.
Many football films showcase dazzling protagonists who seem to succeed effortlessly, but North Dallas Forty reveals some painful truths. The main character is a talented football player who has tasted success but has also witnessed the dark side of the team from within. Under such pressure, he chooses a path that is far more courageous. The movie is now one of the best football movies on Amazon Prime Video.
Varsity Blues
- Initial release: 1999
- Run time: 1h 46m
- Scores: IMDb: 6.5/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 88%; Metacritic: 50
- Available on: Pluto TV, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV, and Fandango at Home.
Varsity Blues and North Dallas Forty share a similar spirit. This is a high school football movie that tells the story of young football players standing up against oppressive authority and ultimately achieving victory. Once again, it serves as a critique of certain negative aspects of football culture.
Remember the Titans
- Release year: 2000
- Run time: 1h 53m
- Scores: IMDb: 7.8/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 71%; Metacritic: 48
- Available on: Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV, and Fandango at Home.
Remember the Titans is one of the best football movies based on true stories. It tells the story of the merger of two high school football teams, one composed of white players and the other of black players, leading to conflicts, adjustments, and ultimately, victory. One line from the movie that deeply moved me is: “Strong Side, Left Side!”
The Waterboy
- Initial release: 1998
- Run time: 1h 30m
- Scores: IMDb: 6.2/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 34%; Metacritic: 41
- Available on: Hulu, Disney+, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV, and Fandango at Home.
The Waterboy is one of the best football movies on Hulu. It tells the story of the protagonist, Bobby, who starts as a shy water boy and gradually overcomes challenges, finding his true self, and eventually becoming a football star. In the end, he achieves success in love, family, and career.
Necessary Roughness
- Release year: 1991
- Run time: 1h 48m
- Scores: IMDb: 6.2/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 35%; Metacritic: 62
- Available on: MGM+, Sling TV, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Philo, Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV, and Fandango at Home.
Necessary Roughness is one of the best comedy football movies. The plot unfolds at a university where the football team, due to certain circumstances, needs to recruit new members. However, the new recruits are not the typical young, strong men expected. In the end, this unusual team overcomes adversity and achieves victory.
The Program
- Release year: 1993
- Run time: 1h 52m
- Scores: IMDb: 6.5/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 43%; Metacritic: 51
- Available on: Fandango at Home and Apple TV.
This film revolves around a college football team striving for victory, telling the story of how they pull themselves out of the mud, such as drug abuse, and come to realize their true dreams and goals. It made me realize that everyone walks a different path, but only by staying true to the right direction can we live with a clear conscience.
Friday Night Lights
- Release year: 2004
- Run time: 1h 58m
- Scores: IMDb: 7.2/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 82%; Metacritic: 70
- Available on: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.
Friday Night Lights is one of the greatest football movies of all time. It tells the story of a high school football team from the small town of Odessa, Texas, who, after facing setbacks such as the injury and retirement of their star player, external doubts, and internal conflicts, ultimately achieve something greater than a championship: personal growth and self-fulfillment. These young men become more mature, resilient, and clear about their goals.
The Rookie
- Release year: 2002
- Run time: 2h 8m
- Scores: IMDb: 6.9/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 84%; Metacritic: 72
- Available on: Hulu, FuboTV, Sling TV, Philo, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.
The Rookie is also one of the best football movies based on true stories. It tells the story of a high school baseball coach who is rediscovered as a pitcher and, at the age of 35, makes his debut in Major League Baseball. The film received positive reviews from critics for its heartfelt storytelling and Dennis Quaid’s outstanding performance.
The Longest Yard
- Initial release: 2005
- Run time: 1h 53m
- Scores: IMDb: 6.4/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 32%; Metacritic: 48
- Available on: Paramount+, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Google Play Movies & TV.
The Longest Yard is a highly entertaining and adrenaline-pumping football movie. The story takes place in a prison, where a tyrannical and arrogant warden, looking for some amusement while humiliating the inmates, proposes a football game between the prisoners and the guards.
In a dramatic turn of events, a group of inmates, each with a criminal past and distinct personality, come together to form a team. Through struggle and bonding, they push themselves to the limit and play a raw, passionate, and truly unforgettable game.
Rudy
- Release year: 1993
- Run time: 1h 56m
- Scores: IMDb: 7.5/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 78%; Metacritic: 71
- Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV, and Fandango at Home.
Rudy can be considered one of the best ’90s football movies on Netflix. It is based on a true story about an ordinary boy from a working-class family who had a big dream—to play for the most famous college football team. However, his size and academic performance didn’t meet the standards. But he kept working hard, facing many obstacles, and eventually made it onto the team.
In the end, Rudy finally got to play and made a tackle. The movie moved many viewers to tears.
The Last Boy Scout
- Release year: 1991
- Run time: 1h 45m
- Scores: IMDb: 7/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 46%; Metacritic: 52
- Available on: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Google Play Movies & TV.
The Last Boy Scout is a classic film that exposes the corruption and darkness within the sports world. It tells the story of a professional football player, Cortez, who teams up with a retired detective to investigate the murder of his teammate during a game. As the two delve deeper into the case, a larger conspiracy begins to unfold.
The Replacements
- Release year: 2000
- Run time: 1h 58m
- Scores: IMDb: 6.6/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 41%; Metacritic: 30
- Available on: Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.
The Replacements is a comedy football movie that tells the story of a team called the “Washington Sentinels,” which, due to various difficulties, recruits a group of underdog players. Despite the challenges, they ultimately overcome obstacles and win the game.
Any Given Sunday
- Release year: 1999
- Run time: 2h 42m
- Scores: IMDb: 6.9/10; Rotten Tomatoes: 52%; Metacritic: 52
- Available on: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV, and Fandango at Home.
Any Given Sunday tells the story of a football team from multiple perspectives, including the pressure faced by the coach, the rise of a low-ranked player, the public’s perception of the team, and the importance of teamwork. In the end, the team overcomes various obstacles and achieves victory.
Can’t Access Specific Football Movies in Your Region?
Sometimes you can’t find the movie in your Netflix region because of the geo-restriction. Don’t worry, you can use a VPN to change your IP address to the country where the movie is available. You can choose a VPN (e.g., LightningX VPN) with robust unblocking ability. Then, follow the steps below to unblock the streaming website.
- Download and install the VPN on your device.
- Sign up for an account.
- Choose the server where the movie is available.
- Open the streaming site to see if you can watch the movie again.
Why is LightningX VPN suitable for you?
- It follows a strict no-logs policy.
- It uses reliable VPN protocols and algorithms.
- It has a strong unblocking ability, server fleet, user-friendly interface, and customizable service.
