Tim Grierson and Will Leitch

The Waterboy (1998) If you adjusted for inflation, this remains <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&amp;id=adamsandler.htm" id="95a77b6e-f0be-32a0-a33e-3e9156be1fab"> Adam Sandlers highest-grossing hit </a> , and its easy to see why. The super-charged idiocy of his early hits is merged with the crowd-pleasing conventions of the sports movie. Youll hate yourself for laughing, but not enough to stop laughing and laughing. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Waterboy-Adam-Sandler/dp/B00MILGZZS" id="032ea478-3a4f-354f-a164-f80c0f1710a0"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Buena Vista Pictures/Everett Collection

The Replacements (2000) The premise of this comedy may be somewhat problematic its tough to root for picket-line cutters in 2019 but Keanu Reeves is surprisingly winning as the underdog quarterback. And having Gene Hackman as your coach never hurts. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Replacements-Keanu-Reeves/dp/B001EPUMLW" id="3d25c0df-cbc9-3415-a127-7017ab8b5fe0"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Warner Bros/Everett Collection

Concussion (2015) One of Will Smiths finest latter-day performances is in this sincere drama about the real-life doctor who helped uncover the dangers of CTE. Twenty years from now, Concussion may be taught in classes to show students what it was like when the world first became aware of how football destroyed so many lives. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AB7GQHC?ref=sr_1_1_acs_kn_imdb_pa_dp&amp;qid=1550610100&amp;sr=1-1-acs&amp;autoplay=0" id="814c9824-6137-3b29-a1b6-e33122b92204"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Melinda Sue Gordon

The Blind Side (2009) Sandra Bullock won the Oscar for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy, a concerned mother who takes in an African-American teen, Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), with a difficult home life but a talent for football. The Blind Side is well-meaning awards fodder shot through with a lot of heart. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blind-Side-Sandra-Bullock/dp/B003DNH6DK/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1550610123&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=The+Blind+Side" id="dee78188-398d-3e27-a17e-7208851fdd92"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Warner Bros/Everett Collection

Paper Lion (1968) This adaptation of George Plimptons bestseller about a journalist attempting to become a quarterback for the Detroit Lions features Alan Alda as a would-be quarterback. Its almost as funny seeing Alan Alda in shoulder pads as it is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6A6CVO5WHM" id="0b7cf9d1-23fb-382b-a40b-9c5645ee7f65"> watching him </a> try to dance. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00950XIUU?ref=sr_1_1_acs_kn_imdb_pa_dp&amp;qid=1550610188&amp;sr=1-1-acs&amp;autoplay=0" id="d0c06ec2-3217-3fc7-a998-5c07398dd427"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Everett Collection

Invincible (2006) Sort of a tough guys version of Paper Lion, this is the real-life story of a bartender (Mark Wahlberg) who goes to an open tryout for the Eagles and ends up making the team and having a successful career. Its also worth noting this inspired a particularly amusing episode of Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003Y7NPLM?ref=sr_1_1_acs_kn_imdb_pa_dp&amp;qid=1550610219&amp;sr=1-1-acs&amp;autoplay=0" id="f6081b1a-c7e7-3c54-a860-596ef1d29547"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Walt Disney Co./Everett Collection

Big Fan (2009) Patton Oswalt does a focused, disturbing riff on Taxi Drivers Travis Bickle while playing a die-hard Giants fan whose love for the team papers over all the inadequacies in his life. Big Fan was written and directed by Robert Siegel, who also wrote another well-respected indie sports drama, the Oscar-nominated The Wrestler. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XHXZ7C8?ref=sr_1_1_acs_kn_imdb_pa_dp&amp;qid=1550610412&amp;sr=1-1-acs&amp;autoplay=0" id="093edf44-0030-3ee8-a281-aaf1e6c2c481"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> First Independent Pictures/Everett Collection - Everett

Brians Song (1971) The original manly football fans two-hankie weeper, this story of the friendship between Bears running back Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) and his teammate Brian Piccolo (James Caan), who is diagnosed with a fatal disease, is a heartbreaker still today. We guarantee you that your dad has cried watching this movie at least once. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Brians-Song-James-Caan/dp/B000MPSX2K/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1550611680&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=brian%27s+song" id="e0438f58-6b05-3060-a9c8-c568be979346"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Everett Collection - Everett

Semi-Tough (1977) Dan Jenkins immortal football novel is better the movie is way too obsessed with making fun of the self-help movement, which isnt in the book at all but its a great bro football movie anyway, with Burt Reynolds and Kris Kristofferson at their manliest, hairiest best. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Semi-Tough-Burt-Reynolds/dp/B07MJNNQQK/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1550612152&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=Semi-Tough" id="7b5e63d7-bae9-3c74-a721-acbb1db5b51a"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Michael Ochs Archives - Getty Images

We Are Marshall (2006) Matthew McConaughey wasnt yet in the midst of <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-mcconaissance" id="7922bc34-04d6-3264-a06e-13f894fdb259"> the McConaissance </a> when he shot this inspirational true-life drama about a coach forced to rebuild after a devastating plane crash kills dozens of players, coaches and boosters. But you can feel the depth and sensitivity that would soon find him accepting the Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Marshall-Matthew-Mcconaughey/dp/B000W43FM4/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1550612185&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=We+Are+Marshall" id="1c6abef5-e240-3b73-ad94-7100db39aa89"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Warner Bros.

All the Right Moves (1983) Sort of an early Varsity Blues, but grittier, and with a far more convincing lead actor. Its a high school football is too important movie that has the distinct advantage of an impossibly young Tom Cruise in the lead role. Cruise was a little bit more vulnerable back in 1983, and it totally works here. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/All-Right-Moves-Tom-Cruise/dp/B071XKG69N/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1550612242&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=All+the+Right+Moves" id="6d9b30a8-1c50-3294-a3c9-34d591d0bb70"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> 20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection - Everett

Any Given Sunday (1999) Al Pacino chews the scenery while delivering volcanic locker-room speeches. Director Oliver Stone goes gonzo while detailing the corruption within professional football. Any Given Sunday may not be the most accurate NFL film dear lord, somebody loses an eyeball on the field but it does capture the oversized egos, athleticism and drama of the game. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Any-Given-Sunday-Al-Pacino/dp/B000NNFLPS/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1550612279&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=Any+Given+Sunday" id="507f6691-fbc2-399a-ab05-f634dde7e7cd"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Everett

Remember the Titans (2000) If youre going to have a big Inspirational Coach football movie, it helps to have Denzel Washington as the coach. He has an authority and presence that elevates every scene of this drama: Youd run through a wall for Denzel and, honestly, who wouldnt? <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003QSNFCS?ref=sr_1_1_acs_kn_imdb_pa_dp&amp;qid=1550612310&amp;sr=1-1-acs&amp;autoplay=0" id="3fe29847-9199-31e7-a546-3234cd75dd32"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Hulton Archive - Getty Images

Silver Linings Playbook (2012) Sports may not be central to this crowd-pleasing hit, but dont tell that to Pat (Bradley Cooper), the extreme Eagles fan dealing with personal problems while falling in love with the widowed Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence). Few films get the frantic, unabashed agony/ecstasy of football fandom as right as this one. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BYKIKJS?ref=sr_1_1_acs_kn_imdb_pa_dp&amp;qid=1550612397&amp;sr=1-1-acs&amp;autoplay=0" id="d0635ebc-a9bc-36a1-a534-9ce7bf2b178a"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Weinstein Company/Courtesy Everett Collection

North Dallas Forty (1979) This might not be what professional football is like now, but its definitely what it was like in the 1970s. The combination of violence and sex is irresistible, and, all told, the NFL has been trying to artificially re-create the sensation of this movie ever since. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/North-Dallas-Forty-Nick-Nolte/dp/B001KQ4L44/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1550612441&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=North+Dallas+40" id="adf4e414-121d-34b8-ad33-79423eb6b179"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Michael Ochs Archives - Getty Images

The Freshman (1925) No, not <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Freshman_(1990_film)" id="8f48db65-6415-33ad-a642-a2009e5a5c46"> the Marlon Brando movie </a> : This Freshman stars silent-comedy icon Harold Lloyd as a college kid who tries out for the football team. Lloyd isnt held in the same esteem as contemporaries Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, but this very funny, expertly slapstick film will make you reassess this nimble stars legacy and genius. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Freshman-Harold-Lloyd/dp/B00J8CGTL0/ref=sr_1_3?s=instant-video&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1550612655&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=The+Freshman" id="904801c8-3b35-3480-a07e-596285fe1497"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Hulton Archive - Getty Images

The Longest Yard (1974) Please ignore the Adam Sandler remake; seriously, forget it ever happened. Instead, enjoy this grimy, ugly, very funny (and even sort of inspiring) prison thriller featuring Burt Reynolds at the absolute peak of his powers. It was never more fun to cheer for the inmates. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Longest-Yard-Burt-Reynolds/dp/B001F8TG92/ref=sr_1_3?s=instant-video&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1550613163&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=The+Longest+Yard" id="d4d7000c-752e-32c9-a1b1-fc85c29856aa"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Everett Collection - Everett

Heaven Can Wait (1978) In between zeitgeist-y political comedies (Shampoo) and ambitious period biopics (Reds), Warren Beatty crafted this very fun (but very smart) adaptation of a Harry Segall play about a not-very-bright quarterback who gets called up to Heaven prematurely, resulting in him getting sent back down to Earth under complicated circumstances. And unlike Super Bowl LIII, the Los Angeles Rams actually get a happy ending here. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001D05WK4?ref=sr_1_1_acs_kn_imdb_pa_dp&amp;qid=1550613232&amp;sr=1-1-acs&amp;autoplay=0" id="1c70c7cd-62c0-37ea-a9ef-f0abdceceb7a"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Mary Evans/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection

Rudy (1993) Sure, at the end of the day, youre cheering a guy for simply getting in the game. But of course, most of us arent superstars or overwhelmingly athletically gifted. We just work hard and put in the effort and try to hang on to our dreams and hope someday it pays off. The inspiration of Rudy isnt that he gets in the game. Its that by doing so, we all do. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00171R00O?ref=sr_1_1_acs_kn_imdb_pa_dp&amp;qid=1550613450&amp;sr=1-1-acs&amp;autoplay=0" id="e6aceff1-9f8d-3683-a382-5b821ef1f499"> RENT OR BUY IT HERE </a> Grierson &amp; Leitch write about the movies regularly and host <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grierson-leitch/id1076170640?mt=2" id="91bd3c91-c753-33b3-a5b2-2d46a2b0c6fb"> a podcast on film </a> . Follow them on <a href="https://twitter.com/griersonleitch" id="2dc98514-1f83-3df6-ad98-376c872466dd"> Twitter </a> or visit <a href="http://griersonleitch.com" id="1fee3618-1ce9-3fce-af6b-7f0651d86a49"> their site </a> . TriStar Pictures

These Are the 20 Best Football Movies Ever Made

The 20 Best Football Movies Ever

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Tim Grierson and Will Leitch

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These Are the 20 Best Football Movies Ever Made

The 20 Best Football Movies Ever