The NFL season is creeping closer to us, but still not close enough! Like many of you, we have been watching Football Movies throughout the summer to get us in the mood.
Here are a few movies to consider watching prior to the start of the season to get you in the mood.
Football Movies
Brian’s Song
Let’s kick it off with the only movie on the list that will have you in tears by the end of it (hopefully).
This 1971 ABC ‘Movie of the Week’ starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams hits with all the feels, as we follow Chicago Bears player Brian Piccolo on his journey through cancer with his buddy and teammate Gale Sayers.
Taken from Sayers biography ‘I am Third’ the movie hit men so hard in the 70s, it became known as the top ‘guy-cry’ movies in male cinema history.
The TV movie was so popular back then, ABC actually rented out some theatres to show the film in wider release. Critics have called ‘Brian’s Song’-‘the greatest TV movie ever made’, which is pretty high esteem given the TV movies of the 70s’.
Don’t take our word for it, make sure that you check out Brian’s Song for yourself. Even better, drag in a non-NFL fan and make them watch it with you. You’ll be converting like metric!
Any Given Sunday
Let’s get to the Oliver Stone of these Football Movies picks, with the 1999 classic ‘Any Given Sunday’.
Bolstered by a stellar cast including Pacino, Quaid, Diaz, Foxx, Woods, Modine, as well as some NFL greats like Jim Brown, Lawrence Taylor, Dick Butkus and even Johnny Unitas, this film was our Y2K moment of football films.
The Miami Sharks led by Tony D’Amato have loads of problems in their 2001 season, until third stringer Willie Beamen steps up to try to save the team and the season.
You really can’t go wrong with Oliver Stone in the 90s’, especially with Cameron Diaz sending us that ‘smokin’ resting bitch face.
A true NFL classic.
Remember the Titans
Another football film about race hit the big screens a year later, as the 2000 Jerry Bruckheimer production of ‘Remember the Titans’ hit us hard, and in the feels.
Based on the true story of Virginia coach Herman Boone to integrate race and football into 1970s’ America, the film is layered with an incredible cast, solid writing, and some good tunes.
Oh and did we mention Denzel? Yeah, it stars Denzel Washington and features major talent like Ryan Gosling, Will Patton, Hayden Panettiere, Kate Bosworth, and Donald Faison.
Put this on for a feel good afternoon of missing football.
North Dallas Forty
If you’re going to make a football movie about the 70s’, then you might as well head back to the 70s’ to catch the best ones.
‘North Dallas Forty’ is a ruckus of a flick based on the best-selling 1973 novel by Peter Gent. Starring the rogue Nick Nolte and featuring country singer Mac Davis, the film feels more like a football orgy, than a slick game play.
It feels more like a natural locker room setting, with booze, drugs and girls occupying most of the men’s minds.
Also featuring some great 70’s actors of the day, including: Charles During & Dabney Coleman.
Here’s the trailer for it.
Draft Day
Ok, it’s a bit outlandish, but this 2014 film from director Ivan Reitman gives a lampoonish insight into the Draft Day antics of GM Sonny Weaver of the Cleveland Browns.
Considered a box office flop, not only did it lose money, but it was also the last film for Ivan Reitman and Jim Brown before they died. Fortunately it didn’t happen on set.
Surprised that Jennifer Garner didn’t die on set when she was romantically paired with Kevin Costner in this one, but oh well, that’s Hollywood!
It’s worth watching at least for the inconsistencies.
Some other films you might want to look at also include:
Friday Night Lights
Billy Bob in a football classic
Varsity Blues
Girls watch it for Paul Walker, guys watch it for that Ali Larter whip cream bikini scene.
What are your favourite NFL movies? Let us know!