Football Hits and Misses—Hollywood Style

by James L. Menzies | Published January 29, 2009

Ah, January. That special time of year that can mean only one thing to all of you inveterate sports fans out there in movieland… Super Bowl. So whether you’re rooting for the Steelers or the Cardinals, there’s no better pre-game ritual than a football movie marathon. To help you in your decision-making, we’re revisiting some of the football movie genre’s hits, misses and fumbles.

HITS
Brian’s Song (1971)
Brian’s Song is comparable to David Anspaugh’s Rudy (see below) in that they are both unmitigated tearjerkers. It is also comparable to Rudy in that they are both true stories. And that they both deal with not just football, but disappointment, friendship, overcoming obstacles and courage. But Brian’s Song is different in that it does not have a happy ending. It’s the story of the bond that formed between Chicago Bears teammates Brian Piccolo and the legendary Gale Sayers. When Piccolo is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Sayers helps him through it until the end. If one does not cry watching this movie, or listening to it (one of the saddest movie scores ever by composer Michel Legrand) then one does not have a pulse.

The Longest Yard (1974)
The Longest Yard was shot during the golden age of the football movie—the 1970s, an era which still produced an original idea every now and then. The story of an ex-pro quarterback (Burt Reynolds) who leads a group of prison inmates in a game against the prison guards, it features one-dimensional characters, but characters you care about and root for nonetheless. This is not to be confused with the Adam Sandler remake of the same name, as there are several differences between the two movies: First, on his best day, Sandler couldn’t carry Reynolds’ jock as an on-screen personality—or athlete. Second, the opening scene of Robert Aldrich’s original movie features a domestic violence sequence that would make Ike Turner grimace—one you couldn’t get away with today. Also, throughout the movie, besides his trademark charm and dry sense of humor, Reynolds displays most of his real hair.

Heaven Can Wait (1978)
Based on Harry Segall’s play of the same name—which has been remade on numerous occasions—this New Hollywood classics, co-directed by Buck Henry and star Warren Beatty, is virtually nothing like the Ernst Lubitsch version that preceded it in 1943. Because this is a football movie. A perfectly written, acted and directed football movie. When quarterback Joe Pendleton is taken to heaven prematurely prior to his team going to the Super Bowl, he must do everything in his power—and heaven’s—to procure a new body, convince his old coach of who he really is, buy his old football team and insert himself as its star quarterback. Yikes! It’s not nearly as convoluted as it sounds—and is hands down the best football movie of all time.

North Dallas Forty (1979)
Another quality football movie from the golden age, North Dallas Forty s the semi-fictional account of a pro football team (based on the Dallas Cowboys teams of the early 1970s). It is brash, loud and irreverent and gives a completely unrelenting look at the mostly unglamorous life of a professional football player.

The Best of Times (1986)
This is an often-overlooked gem of a football movie. You will watch it and then ask yourself, “Why did I like that so much?” The answer is, because it was written by Ron Shelton (Bull Durham, Tin Cup), and Ron Shelton can turn out a whale of a sports movie. Doesn’t mater what sport it is. This one happens to be about football and is perfectly cast with Kurt Russell as the strapping yet aging ex-high school quarterback with an attitude problem and Robin Williams (at his understated and mellowed-out best) as the nerdly ex-high school receiver with a chance to redeem himself for the pass he didn’t catch.

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Comment by free bet on 8/20/08 at 12:48 pm: some great films. Some rubbish ones, too.
Comment by manchester united website on 2/14/09 at 3:36 am: I really liked longest yard and the best of times. I havent seen a couple on that list though
Comment by Cool soccer drills on 3/17/09 at 1:19 am: Yeah, some of these movies are really great, especially The Longest Yard which is my absolute favorite.
Comment by Football Trophies on 12/17/09 at 6:38 am: The Adam Sandler ‘Longest Yard’ was terrible. There was a remake of the original in the UK with ‘soccer’ instead of US football. had Vinnie Jones in the lead role, with some other decent actors. Bit of a cult film but really really good.
Comment by dizifilm on 6/23/10 at 12:53 pm: there are great films ;)
Comment by watch videos on 6/25/10 at 8:12 am: yes there are great films:)
Comment by imwilliam on 3/01/11 at 8:27 am: It seems you are a football fan. As a hockey fan, all I can say that there are a few movies based on hockey as well, which are must-see experiences for any dedicated sports person. For those who loves hockey and follows fantasy hockey frequently, movies like “Sudden Death”, “Youngblood” are must watch.
Comment by Football Kits on 10/28/11 at 4:03 am: Some super movies here , loved the longest yard
Comment by banik on 11/04/11 at 6:44 am: Many great Hollywood movies have been made which were inspired by some kind of sport or the other. Sports lover like me simply love this kind of movies. I am interested in all kinds of outdoor sports activities including shooting. I am planning to buy some high quality guns; so I am looking for reputed stores which have guns for sale.