FAVORITE CLASSIC FOOTBALL MOVIES
It’s football season again and to celebrate we’ve put together a new list. Here are our favorite classic films where football plays a prominent role.
Our favorites lists are never quantitative. These are not the biggest or highest grossing football movies of all time. These are the football movies that we have watched many times. In keeping with our classic theme, our selections were all released at least thirty years ago.
The longest yard (1974)
“The Longest Yard” is a classic comedy starring Burt Reynolds as a famous quarterback who goes to prison after getting drunk and driving off in his girlfriend’s car. The wardn strongarms him into playing in a prisoners vs. guards exhibition game where the guards will pummel the prisoners as a warm up for their regular season. The cons have other ideas. Also starring Eddie Albert. NFL legend Ray Nitschke plays a bit part as a guard who the prisoners creatively remove from the game.
North Dallas Forty (1979)
“North Dallas Forty” is a gritty and insightful sports drama that takes viewers inside the turbulent world of professional football. The film follows the lives of the North Dallas Bulls, a fictional professional football team, as they grapple with the physical and emotional toll of the sport. At the center of the story is the team’s aging wide receiver, played by Nick Nolte, who faces the harsh realities of the game and the cutthroat nature of professional sports. Also starring Charles Durning and singer Mac Davis.
Knute Rockne, All American (1940)
“Knute Rockne, All American is biographical drama starring Pat O’Brien as Knute Rockne, the legendary Notre Dame football coach, and Ronald Reagan as George Gipp. A tribute to Rockne’s coaching career, the film features the famous speech where Rockne implores his team to “Win one for the Gipper,” a sentiment that Reagan used to great effect in his later political career.
Horse Feathers (1932)
This classic comedy, starring the Marx Brothers, is centered around the world of college football, with the Marx Brothers causing chaos as they try to win a game for Huxley College.
Brian's Song (1971)
A heartwarming and emotional film based on a true story, “Brian’s Song” tells the story of the friendship between Chicago Bears running backs Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers. James Caan stars as Piccolo and Billy Dee Williams plays Sayers. Originally made for television, the film won five Primetime Emmys.