Football flicks: 10 best gridiron movies and TV series to binge on screens large and small
There’s nothing like a gripping football-themed movie or TV show to provoke a big adrenaline rush.
After all, where else can you find uplifting beat-the-odds stories and blood, sweat and tear-soaked life lessons about teamwork, dedication and discipline?
And where else can you see a fiery Denzel Washington spit out silly lines like, “You look like a bunch of sissies after a cat fight!”
Thankfully, film and television have blessed us with a dizzying array of narratives that not only appeal to gridiron geeks, but to non-fans who might not know a nickel defense from a penny loafer.
Here are a few standouts that deserve to be in your lineup:
Silver screen touchdowns
Brian’s Song (1971)
Some films can turn even the manliest men into blubbering babies. (See: “Saving Private Ryan,” “Old Yeller,” etc.) But this made-for-ABC production holds a special place in the cinematic waterworks hall of fame.
Adapted from Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers’ autobiography, it recalls how he and his white teammate, Brian Piccolo (James Caan), formed an unlikely bromance after starting off as rivals. The story turns tragic when Piccolo is stricken with cancer. Break out the industrial-strength tissues.
Winner of five Emmys, “Brian’s Song” figures to earn some newfound attention in the wake of Caan’s death in July.
Where to watch: Amazon, iTunes, Vudu.
The Longest Yard (1974)
Journey back in time to when Burt Reynolds was nearing the pinnacle of his hunky-man, king-of-the-box-office powers. Here he plays Paul “Wrecking” Crewe, a disgraced NFL quarterback turned prison convict assigned to organize a team of inmates to scrimmage against the prison guards.
Dubbed the “Mean Machine,” his posse features more freaks, psychos and miscreants than those fabled Oakland Raiders squads of old. And laughs are plentiful as they struggle to mesh while prepping for the big showdown.
If the 1974 classic feels too old-school, check out the 2005 remake starring Adam Sandler and Chris Rock.
Where to watch: Amazon, iTunes, Paramount+, Vudu.
Rudy (1993)
Behold the ultimate underdog saga — a film Roger Ebert described as “a small but powerful illustration of the human spirit.”
Sean Astin portrays Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger Jr., whose steadfast dream is to play football for Notre Dame. Just one problem: Rudy, as someone observes, stands “5-foot-nothing,” weighs “100 and nothing” and has “hardly a speck of athletic ability.”
No matter. Astin tears into the role like a man possessed, and the film hits all the right feel-good notes without wallowing in mush. If you can’t stand up and cheer for Rudy, you probably have a hole in your soul.
Where to watch: Starz, Amazon, iTunes, Google Play.
Any Given Sunday (1999)
Director Oliver Stone, of all people, delivers a raw, turbo-charged, smash-mouth glimpse into the behind-the-scenes turmoil of a struggling pro football team.
And check out this roster of all-stars: Al Pacino, with his usual intensity, plays an aging head coach. Jamie Foxx is a cocky quarterback. LL Cool J is a fame-seeking running back. Cameron Diaz plays the team’s zero-tolerance owner. Also appearing: Dennis Quaid, James Woods, Matthew Modine, Lauren Holly, Ann-Margret and several real-life NFL greats.
The accuracy of “Any Given Sunday” might be up for debate, but there’s no denying it makes for a crazy good time.
Where to watch: Hulu, Peacock, Amazon, iTunes.
Remember the Titans (2000)
Who better to deliver rousing, fire-up-the-team speeches than Denzel Washington? In this moving parable about race relations — based on the true story of Herman Boone — he plays a coach determined to integrate a formerly all-white Virginia high school team in the early 1970s. For his players to succeed on the field, he must coax them to change their mindsets and bond off it.
Denzel clearly has game, and he gets stellar support from a cast that includes Will Patton, along with a young Ryan Gosling, Donald Faison and Ryan Hurst. The film’s soundtrack — with songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and more — is equally impressive.
Where to watch: Disney+, Amazon, iTunes, Vudu.
Draft Day (2014)
Kevin Costner, who shined in baseball films (“Bull Durham,” “Field of Dreams”), embraces another sport in this savvy flick about the pressure-cooker that is the NFL Draft. He plays beleaguered Cleveland Browns general manager Sonny Weaver, who could lose his job if he doesn’t nail his player assessments. Elevating his stress level is a host of personal issues. Meanwhile, a talented prospect (Chadwick Boseman) waits to see if his NFL dreams will come true.
“Draft Day” mainly focuses on backroom wheeling and dealing, so it features minimal on-field action. But the film succeeds in capturing the high-stakes anxiety pegged to decisions that can make or break a team.
Where to watch: Peacock, Amazon, iTunes, Google Play.
Honorable mention: Bay Area prep sports lovers may also want to catch “When the Game Stands Tall” (2014), a true-life film about coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) and De La Salle High School’s record 151-game winning streak.
Television on the 50-yard line
Friday Night Lights (2006–2011)
H.G. Bissinger’s captivating book about high school football in Texas was first adapted into a 2004 movie starring Billy Bob Thornton. But it really found its pop cultural groove as a beloved NBC series.
The deeply affecting drama examines the trials and triumphs of the Dillon Panthers through the eyes of coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler), his wife Tami (Connie Britton) and his players, all of whom inhabit a hardscrabble town where football is the object of near-religious fervor.
Appealing to both sports fans and teen-soap devotees, “Friday Night Lights” is blessed with superb writing, exceptional acting and nuanced stories that routinely deliver lump-in-the-throat moments. Watch it with clear eyes and a full heart, and you just can’t lose.
Where to watch: Netflix, Peacock, Hulu, Amazon, iTunes.
All American (2018–present)
Loosely based on the life of former pro football player Spencer Paysinger, this compelling drama series focuses on Spencer James (Daniel Ezra), a gridiron standout from the turbulent Crenshaw neighborhood of Los Angeles who is recruited by a coach (Taye Diggs) to come play in swanky Beverly Hills. Various culture clashes and teen-centric complications ensue.
With a strong cast and scripts that delve into hot-button social issues, “All American” distinguishes itself from TV’s typical fish-out-of-water fare. The series, which eventually follows Spencer into college, became popular enough to spawn a spin-off — “All American: Homecoming.”
Where to watch: The CW, Netflix, Google Play. New season begins Oct. 10 on The CW.
Last Chance U (2016–2020)
It’s all about redemption in this gritty, coming-of-age documentary series. The storylines focus on community college football programs where many players grapple with adverse circumstances (academic woes, family issues, run ins with the law, etc.) that have prevented them from playing major Division 1 football.
Watch them endure plenty of hard knocks — and brutal reality checks — as they strive to rejuvenate their careers under the watchful eyes of demanding mentors dishing out lots of sage advice and tough love.
The final season of “Last Chance U,” considered by some critics to be the show’s best, spotlights Oakland’s Laney College and its legendary coach John Beam.
Where to watch: Netflix.