5. Varsity Blues
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Varsity Blues is a less serious version of a high school football film. Taking place in a fictional small Texas town, this football program is led by legendary coach Bud Kilmer (portrayed by Jon Voight) with a bit of an ego. When star QB Lance Harbour (the late Paul Walker) gets hurt, it’s up to the soft-spoken Jon Moxon (James Van Der Beek) to save the season. We see all the layers of a teen comedy, though the football elements of the film are both realistic and well done.
4. Any Given Sunday
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Oliver Stone took on this project. Featuring Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, and several other high-profile actors, Any Given Sunday had a ton of hype when hitting theaters. The brutality of the sport was on full display here. The cinematography within this film was great, as audience members saw the bone-crunching action up close and personal. The movie drags at times, but it’s very entertaining as well as realistic.
3. Friday Night Lights
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If Varsity Blues was flippant and a bit silly, Friday Night Lights is the more serious version. Also taking place in a smaller Texas town, this community rallies around its football team as it aims to become State Champions. We gain insight into a host of characters from the movie, learning about their backgrounds and ultimately their plans post-high school. Billy Bob Thornton did a terrific job as head coach Gary Gaines. The film was so beloved, that it was rebooted into a highly successful television series two years later.
2. The Longest Yard
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While the Adam Sandler version of this film is fun, the original is even better. Real-life football player-turned-actor Burt Reynolds stole the show here. Stuck in jail, he creates a football team with his fellow inmates. They get to play against the guards who keep them imprisoned like animals. This film features some great action in addition to a plethora of NFL players. It also is very funny, and the comedic angles coupled with the sports play helped indirectly create a new genre of film.
1. Remember The Titans
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This is a near-perfect sports movie. Coming from Disney, some would immediately peg it as a ‘kids movie’ — though that would be doing a major disservice to those involved with this project. Based on a true story, we see Denzel Washington lead an integrated football team at a high school in Virginia. The African-American players and the Caucasian players from different schools come together to become one of the best teams in the state. In the process, these teammates become brothers — learning from one another despite a plethora of difficult factors surrounding the period/environment. When factoring in the incredible soundtrack, it’s hard to beat this film.
