The days are getting shorter and training camp has come to a close, which means NFL football is almost here. Before the regular season officially kicks off, there is plenty of time to revisit some of the elite football-focused movies and television shows that are out there. Whether you're a comedy buff or are looking for something more heartfelt or dramatic, there is a football movie or show that fits the bill.
Much of the best football content has come within the last 20 years as the American obsession with football has grown. That doesn't mean there aren't plenty of classics to look back upon, but from a sheer content volume standpoint football has dominated the American media landscape more recently, providing NFL fans will hours of entertainment.
15 the Titans (2000)
One of the most beloved sports movies of all time, the Titans is rewatchable for a number of reasons. Led by the legendary Denzel Washington, the cast performs irably throughout the telling of the story of a high school football team that broke down long-standing racial barriers on their way to a perfect season. Based on the real-world integration of T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia in 1971, the Titans is equal parts inspirational, heartbreaking and funny--and it delivers plenty of top-notch football action as well. While it deals with heavy topics, it's a recommended watch for football lovers of any age.
14 Coach (1989-1997)
Coach was one of the most popular American sitcoms of the 1990s. Starring Craig T. Nelson as college football coach Hayden Fox, Coach follows the eponymous leader of the Minnesota State University Screaming Eagles, and in later seasons the fictional NFL team the Orlando Breakers. The show ran for nine seasons from 1989 to 1997, and featured a plethora of real NFL athletes and personalities, including Mike Ditka, Dick Butkus, Eddie George, Johnny Unitas, and Jerry Jones among many others. While the show is light on the actual football side of things, it still provides plenty of laughs as Coach Fox negotiates his personal life along with his coaching life.
13 Any Given Sunday (1999)
Oliver Stone's 1999 football drama Any Given Sunday is far from the highest quality, but the sheer star power of the cast and frenetic football action still make this a must-rewatch for any football fan. Al Pacino stars as inspirational coach Tony D'Amato, who is in charge of the fictional Miami Sharks pro football team. Jamie Foxx, Dennis Quaid and LL Cool J all shine as Sharks players, while Cameron Diaz plays the team's business-savvy owner and general manager. NFL legends Lawrence Taylor and Jim Brown both play important of the Sharks, and the movie is littered with fun NFL Hall of Fame cameos.
12 We Are Marshall (2006)
The biographical sports drama, We Are Marshall, took on the tall task of memorializing the rebuilding of the Marshall University football program after 37 players and a number of coaches and team personnel were killed in a plane crash during the 1970 football season. While viewer mileage may vary depending on how they respond to the direction of McG, Matthew McConaughey carries the film with his portrayal of real Marshall coach Jack Lengyel. The feel-good, inspirational elements are a bit on the nose, but this is still a necessary addition to any football movie watch list.
11 Friday Night Lights (Movie) (2004)
Based in reality, Friday Night Lights is considered a definitive look at the football-focused mindset that pervades much of Middle America. It follows the 1988 Permian High School Panthers football team as it played towards a Texas state championship, ultimately coming up just short. Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Britton, and Tim McGraw headline a talented cast that highlights the joys and dangers of making football such an important part of life. Friday Night Lights' outstanding character work makes it just as much a powerful drama as a fun sports movie.
10 Friday Night Lights (TV Show) (2006-2010)
Based upon the same source material as the 2004 movie, Friday Night Lights is among the most critically-acclaimed sports-related television shows of all time. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton carry the show as Coach Eric Taylor and his wife Tami, although the ensemble cast is also packed with stars, including Minka Kelly, Jesse Plemons, Taylor Kitsch, Michael B. Jordan and Adrianne Palicki. The series' strength was its ability to create deep, fully-realized characters that audiences grew attached to, and it has achieved near-cult status since it went off the air.
9 The Longest Yard (1974)
While modern audiences might be more familiar with the 2005 Adam Sandler remake, the 1974 version of The Longest Yard starring Burt Reynolds is a far superior movie. Reynolds plays a former NFL quarterback, dismissed for point shaving, who finds himself in prison after leading police on a car chase. At the request of the prison's warden, he assembles a football team of inmates to play in an exhibition game against the semi-pro team of guards from the prison. Reynolds is terrific, the comedy is great and there are plenty of fun football cameos to keep an eye out for throughout.
8 Invincible (2006)
Based on actual events, Invincible stars Mark Wahlberg as Vince Papale, a substitute teacher who tried out for and made the Philadelphia Eagles in the late 1970s. Both fun and inspirational, Invincible takes some liberties with the real story of Vince Papale, but most of the major notes are accurate to reality--although the ending does get Disney-fied a bit. The entire family can enjoy this movie, although it's not particularly heavy on the football action considering much of the movie covers Papale's tryout and the lead-up to his brief NFL career.
7 Little Giants (1994)
The ultimate family-friendly football film, Little Giants mixes football silliness with inspiration and creates mid-'90s movie magic. Starring Rick Moranis and Ed O'Neill as small-town brothers with vastly different football credentials, Little Giants provides inspiration to all those who weren't picked for the team at some point in their life. It's heavy on slapstick comedy and full of heart like a '90s Disney sports movie should be, and features an extremely fun cameo sequence with John Madden himself and a group of NFL Hall of Famers. It's the perfect comfort comedy for any football fan.
6 The Waterboy (1998)
Adam Sandler's iconic character Bobby Boucher drives The Waterboy, one of the most brilliantly stupid comedies of the 1990s. Filled with absolutely iconic one-liners, The Waterboy follows a socially-inept waterboy as he transitions from the butt of the joke to the toast of the town as the star linebacker for the South Central Louisiana State University Mud Dogs. Kathy Bates nearly takes the movie over as Bobby's overly protective mother Helen, and Henry Winkler shines as the cowardly Coach Klein. It's one of the most eminently quotable sports movies ever, and a top-tier football comedy.
