sports movies The Best Football Movies Ever  

Originally by Ranker Community

13.1k votes 1.3k voters 41k views 56 items Follow

List Rules Movies must feature American Football prominently

1

625 179

Remember the Titans Hayden Panettiere, Ryan Gosling, Denzel Washington Remember the Titans is a 2000 American sports drama film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Boaz Yakin. The screenplay, written by Gregory Allen Howard, is based on the true story of ...more

2

525 210

Rudy Vince Vaughn, Sean Astin, Jon Favreau filmography Rudy is a 1993 American sports film directed by David Anspaugh. It is an account of the life of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, who harbored dreams of playing football at the University of ...more

3

467 153

Friday Night Lights Amber Heard, Connie Britton, Tim McGraw Friday Night Lights is a 2004 sports drama film, directed by Peter Berg, which documents the coach and players of a high school football team and the Texas city of Odessa that supports and is ...more

4

413 170

We Are Marshall Matthew McConaughey, Kate Mara, January Jones We Are Marshall is a 2006 American historical drama biopic film directed by McG. It depicts the aftermath of the 1970 plane crash that killed 37 football players on the Marshall University ...more

5

472 197

The Blind Side Sandra Bullock, Lily Collins, Kathy Bates The Blind Side is a 2009 American semi-biographical sports drama film. It was written and directed by John Lee Hancock, and based on the 2006 book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael ...more

6

377 167

The Longest Yard Burt Reynolds, Bernadette Peters, Ray Nitschke The Longest Yard is a 1974 American sports comedy film directed by Robert Aldrich. Written by Tracy Keenan Wynn based on a story by producer Albert S. Ruddy, the film follows inmates at a prison ...more

7

306 151

Brian's Song Dick Butkus, James Caan, Billy Dee Williams Brian's Song is a 1971 ABC Movie of the Week that recounts the details of the life of Brian Piccolo, a Wake Forest University football player stricken with terminal cancer after turning pro, ...more

8

364 147

The Replacements Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, Jon Favreau filmography The Replacements is a 2000 American sports comedy film directed by Howard Deutch. It stars Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, and Brooke Langton.

9

316 120

Invincible Elizabeth Banks, Mark Wahlberg, Randy Couture Invincible is a 2006 sports film directed by Ericson Core set in 1976. It is based on the true story of Vince Papale, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1976 to 1978. Mark Wahlberg ...more

10

355 164

Any Given Sunday Cameron Diaz, Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx Any Given Sunday is a 1999 American drama film directed by Oliver Stone depicting a fictional professional American football team. The film features an ensemble cast, consisting of Al Pacino, ...more

11

322 155

Varsity Blues Ali Larter, Paul Walker, Amy Smart Varsity Blues is a 1999 American coming-of-age sports comedy-drama film directed by Brian Robbins that follows a small-town high school football team and their overbearing coach through a ...more

12

375 161

The Waterboy Adam Sandler, Kathy Bates, Rob Schneider The Waterboy is a 1998 American sports/comedy film directed by Frank Coraci, starring Adam Sandler, Kathy Bates, Fairuza Balk, Henry Winkler, Jerry Reed, Larry Gilliard, Jr., Blake Clark, Peter ...more

13

262 160

Jerry Maguire Tom Cruise, Lucy Liu, Renée Zellweger Jerry Maguire is a 1996 American romantic comedy-drama sports film written, produced and directed by Cameron Crowe, and stars Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Renée Zellweger. It was ...more

14

243 137

Radio Cuba Gooding Jr., Ed Harris, Debra Winger Radio is a 2003 film inspired by the 1996 Sports Illustrated article "Someone to Lean On" by Gary Smith. The article and the movie are based on the true story of T. L. Hanna High ...more

15

153 138

North Dallas Forty Nick Nolte, Charles Durning, Dabney Coleman North Dallas Forty is a 1979 film drama starring Nick Nolte, Mac Davis, and G. D. Spradlin set in the world of American professional football. It was directed by Ted Kotcheff and based on the ...more

16

184 114

The Express Dennis Quaid, Nicole Beharie, Clancy Brown The Express is a 2008 American sports film produced by John Davis and directed by Gary Fleder. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by Charles Leavitt from a book titled Ernie ...more

17

192 139

Necessary Roughness Jerry Rice, Dick Butkus, Kathy Ireland Necessary Roughness is a 1991 sports comedy film directed by Stan Dragoti in his final film. The film stars Scott Bakula, Héctor Elizondo, Robert Loggia, and Harley Jane Kozak. Co-stars ...more

18

211 138

Little Giants Alexa Vega, Rick Moranis, Ed O'Neill Little Giants is a 1994 family sports comedy film, starring Rick Moranis and Ed O'Neill as brothers in a small Ohio town, coaching rival Pee-Wee Football teams.

19

254 165

The Longest Yard Adam Sandler, Courteney Cox, Chris Rock The Longest Yard is a 2005 American sports comedy film, a remake of the 1974 film of the same name. Adam Sandler plays the protagonist, Paul Crewe, a disgraced former professional quarterback ...more

20

212 127

The Program Halle Berry, James Caan, Kristy Swanson The Program is a 1993 film starring James Caan, Halle Berry, Omar Epps, Craig Sheffer, Kristy Swanson, and Joey Lauren Adams. The film was directed by David S. Ward who has directed and written ...more

21

183 74

Draft Day Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner Draft Day is a 2014 American sports drama film directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Kevin Costner. It was released on April 11, 2014. The premise revolves around the general manager of the ...more

22

188 102

Gridiron Gang Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, Jurnee Smollett Gridiron Gang is a 2006 American sports drama film directed by Phil Joanou, and starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Xzibit, L. Scott Caldwell and Kevin Dunn. It is loosely based on the ...more

23

130 111

All the Right Moves Tom Cruise, Lea Thompson, Craig T. Nelson All the Right Moves is a 1983 drama film directed by Michael Chapman and starring Tom Cruise, Craig T. Nelson, Lea Thompson, Chris Penn, and Gary Graham. It was filmed on location during WPIAL ...more

24

115 137

Wildcats Goldie Hawn, LL Cool J, Woody Harrelson Wildcats is a 1986 American sports comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie and is also the film debut of Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson.

25

87 125

Heaven Can Wait Deacon Jones, Warren Beatty, Julie Christie Heaven Can Wait is a 1978 American comedy film co-directed by Warren Beatty and Buck Henry. It is the second film adaptation of Harry Segall's stageplay of the same name, preceded by Here Comes ...more

26

67 101

The Best of Times Robin Williams, Kurt Russell, Kirk Cameron The Best of Times is a 1986 American comedy film directed by Roger Spottiswoode and written by Ron Shelton. It stars Robin Williams and Kurt Russell as two friends attempting to relive a high ...more

27

93 128

Facing the Giants Mark Richt, Alex Kendrick, Erin Bethea Facing the Giants is a 2006 American Christian drama film directed by and starring Alex Kendrick. The supporting cast was composed of volunteers from Sherwood Baptist Church, and it is the ...more

28

62 95

Paper Lion Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Schmidt, Alan Alda Paper Lion is a 1968 sports comedy film starring Alan Alda as writer George Plimpton, based on Plimpton's 1966 nonfiction book of the same title depicting his tryout with the Detroit Lions of ...more

29

71 126

bojanthebest added Lucas Charlie Sheen, Winona Ryder, Corey Haim Lucas is a 1986 American teen tragicomedy film directed by David Seltzer and starring Corey Haim, Kerri Green, Charlie Sheen and Courtney Thorne-Smith. The film was Winona Ryder's screen debut.

30

127 108

The Game Plan Dwayne Johnson, Ashley Tisdale, Roselyn Sánchez The Game Plan is a 2007 American family sports comedy film directed by Andy Fickman and starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. This movie was the last film in which Johnson uses his ring ...more

31

50 114

Semi-Tough Burt Reynolds, Kris Kristofferson, Brian Dennehy Semi-Tough is a 1977 comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie and starring Burt Reynolds, Kris Kristofferson, Jill Clayburgh, Lotte Lenya, Bert Convy, and Brian Dennehy, set in the world of ...more

32

74 116

Leatherheads George Clooney, Renée Zellweger, John Krasinski Leatherheads is a 2008 American sports comedy film from Universal Pictures directed by and starring George Clooney. The film also stars Renée Zellweger, Jonathan Pryce, and John Krasinski ...more

33

68 72

Knute Rockne, All American Ronald Reagan, Brian Keith, George Reeves Knute Rockne, All American is a 1940 biographical film which tells the story of Knute Rockne, Notre Dame football coach. It stars Pat O'Brien portraying the role of Rockne and Ronald Reagan as ...more

34

65 93

Everybody's All-American Jessica Lange, John Goodman, Dennis Quaid Everybody's All-American is a 1988 motion picture directed by Taylor Hackford and based on the novel Everybody's All-American by longtime Sports Illustrated contributor Frank Deford. The film ...more

35

85 83

The Last Boy Scout Halle Berry, Bruce Willis, Dick Butkus The Last Boy Scout is a 1991 American action film directed by Tony Scott, starring Bruce Willis, Damon Wayans, Chelsea Field, Noble Willingham, Taylor Negron and Danielle Harris. The film was ...more

36

54 101

School Ties Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Brendan Fraser School Ties is a 1992 sports film directed by Robert Mandel starring Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Chris O'Donnell, Cole Hauser, Randall Batinkoff, Andrew Lowery and Anthony Rapp. ...more

37

72 87

The Junction Boys Tom Berenger, Ryan Kwanten, Nick Tate The Junction Boys is a 2002 sports and drama film written and directed by Mike Robe.

38

42 34

looksharp added Concussion Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw Concussion is a 2015 American biographical sports drama film directed by Peter Landesman, based on the exposé "Game Brain" by Jeanne Marie Laskas. In Pittsburgh, accomplished ...more

39

92 125

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Jim Carrey, Courteney Cox, Dan Marino Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is a 1994 American comedy detective film directed by Tom Shadyac, and co-written by and starring Jim Carrey. It was developed by the film's original writer, Jack ...more

40

45 93

The Comebacks Bradley Cooper, Stacy Keibler, Dennis Rodman The Comebacks is a 2007 American satirical comedy film directed by Tom Brady. This film is a parody of the clichés and plots of the sports film genre. In the UK, Greece, Finland, ...more

41

29 72

The Longshots Ice Cube, Debby Ryan, Chloe Bridges The Longshots is a 2008 biopic family comedy-drama film sports movie based on the real life events of Jasmine Plummer, the first female to participate in the Pop Warner football tournament. The ...more

42

17 37

Johnny Be Good Robert Downey Jr., Uma Thurman, Jennifer Tilly Johnny Be Good is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Bud Smith, starring Anthony Michael Hall as the main character, Johnny Walker. The film also features Robert Downey Jr., Steve James, ...more

43

28 36

Undefeated Undefeated is a 2011 documentary directed by Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin. The film documents the struggles of a high school football team, the Manassas Tigers of Memphis, as they attempt a ...more

44

26 50

Touchback Kurt Russell, Barry Sanders, Melanie Lynskey Touchback is a 2012 film written and directed by Don Handfield. It stars Brian Presley, Melanie Lynskey and Kurt Russell. Reviews were mixed and it currently has a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes ...more

45

24 70

StuartGantner added Horse Feathers Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Thelma Todd Horse Feathers is a Marx Brothers film comedy. It stars the four Marx Brothers and Thelma Todd. It was written by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, S. J. Perelman, and Will B. Johnstone. Kalmar and Ruby ...more

46

31 86

Air Bud: Golden Receiver Warren Moon, Kevin Zegers, Tim Conway Air Bud: Golden Receiver is the 1998 sequel to Air Bud. The film was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is also the last of the Air Bud films to be released theatrically. Outside ...more

47

16 28

StuartGantner added Black Sunday Terry Bradshaw, Bruce Dern, Robert Shaw Black Sunday is a 1977 American thriller film directed by John Frankenheimer, based on Thomas Harris' novel of the same name. The film was produced by Robert Evans and starred Robert Shaw, Bruce ...more

48

19 46

Big Fan Patton Oswalt, Michael Rapaport, Kevin Corrigan Big Fan is a 2009 independent drama film written and directed by Robert D. Siegel, and starring Patton Oswalt, Kevin Corrigan, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Michael Rapaport, and Scott Ferrall. The story ...more

49

10 39

Angels in the Endzone Christopher Lloyd, Matthew Lawrence, David Gallagher Angels in the Endzone is a 1997 American film directed by Gary Nadeau and starring Christopher Lloyd. The film is about a high school football team that lacks skill.

50

5 37

Possums Scott Davis, Clive Revill, Dennis Burkley Possums is a 1998 sports comedy film directed by Max Burnett.