My Favorite Football Movies

Rudy (1993)

Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger wanted to play football at Notre Dame more than anything. Unfortunately, he didn't have the size, the skills, or the grades. All he had was desire and determination. Based on a true story. 

The Express (2008)

The true story of running back Ernie Davis from Syracuse University, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy in 1961.

Paper Lion (1968)

Alan Alda, Lauren Hutton and Alex Karras star in the movie version of the George Plimpton book. Lots of actual Detroit Lion players and coaches featured as themselves. The book, as always, was even better.

Jim Thorpe, All American (1951)

Burt Lancaster stars in the true story of the man whose statue graces the entrance of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Some great footage of the way the game was played in its early days.

We Are Marshall (2006)

Mathew McConaughey stars in the story of the Marshall University football team that was rebuilt following a plane crash in 1970 that took the lives of 75 players, coaches and others. 

Jerry McGuire (1996)

After reevaluating his priorities and writing a "mission statement", a sports agent (Tom Cruise) gets fired from his job with a large company. He forms his own agency and starts over with only one client. A brash wide receiver (Cuba Gooding Jr.) who will show him what is truly important in life.

Remember the Titans (2000)

When an all white high school with a winning football program is segregated in 1971 Virginia, the coach of 15 years is demoted and a black football coach (played by Denzel Washington) is hired. The town puts aside its racial differences as it rallies around the team as it heads for the state championship game. Based on a true story.

The Replacements (2000)

Loosely based on the strike shortened NFL season on 1982, Keanu Reeves plays a quarterback trying to lead a team of replacement players in a pro football league. John Madden and Pat Summerall appear as themselves.

The Waterboy (1998)

Adam Sandler plays the dim witted waterboy of a college football team. He eventually becomes a star player when the team's coach, played by Henry Winkler, shows him how to unleash his suppressed rage on opposing teams.

Code Breakers (2005)

A made-for-ESPN movie about the cheating scandal at West Point in the 1950's involving a number of the football players who subsequently resigned from the military academy. Based on a true story.

Quarterback Princess (1985)

(Made for TV Movie) A high school girl, played by Helen Hunt, becomes the quarterback of the high school football team. Based on a true story.

The Best of Times (1986)

Robin Williams and Kurt Russell star as a couple of former high school football players who still live in the small town where they grew up. They arrange to play a rematch with their old football rivals to avenge a humiliating defeat that still haunts them. 

Second String (2002)

This made for TNT movie stars Jon Voight as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills. When the entire first sting of players wind up in the hospital with food poisoning, the team must rely on a band of second string misfits as they head into the playoffs. Cameos by Doug Flutie and Mike Ditka.

Grambling's White Tiger (1981)

A made for TV movie starring Bruce Jenner, LeVar Burton and Harry Belafonte as Grambling coach Eddie Robinson. It tells the true story of quarterback Jim Gregory, who tries to become the first white player on the all-black football team. 

Movies for the kids

Little Giants (1994)

The Disney movie about a pee wee football team of misfits. Cameos by John Madden, Emmett Smith and Bruce Smith. Stars Ed O'Neil and Rick Moranis.

Gus (1976)

Disney movie about a field goal kicking mule who plays for the mythical NFL team, the Atoms. Stars Don Knotts, Tim Conway, Ed Asner, Bob Crane, Tom Bosley, Johnny Unitas, Dick Butkus and Dick Enberg.