Want to know the best Football Movies? How about the worst Football Movies? Curious about Football Movies did at the box office or which Football Movies picked up the most Oscar® nominations and Oscar® wins? Need to know which Football Movies movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences? Well you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.
To be considered for the page the movie had to be released at movie theaters. 1971’s Brian’s Song made the list because after its very successful television debut, the movie was released to theaters after being shown on public television. Brian’s Song did not do well at the theater but it did get released for a very short time. I am sure there are many more football movies out there, but these selected movies seem to the ones that got major releases in theaters.
Football Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.
Year
Movie (Year)
Rating
S
Year Movie (Year) Rating S
1996
Jerry Maguire (1996)
AA Best Picture Nom
1978
Heaven Can Wait (1978)
AA Best Picture Nom
1974
The Longest Yard (1974)
2009
The Blind Side (2009)
AA Best Picture Nom
1977
Semi-Tough (1977)
2000
Remember the Titans (2000)
1940
Knute Rockne All American (1940)
1979
North Dallas Forty (1979)
1991
The Last Boy Scout (1991)
2004
Friday Night Lights (2004)
1999
Any Given Sunday (1999)
1953
Trouble Along the Way (1953)
2005
The Longest Yard (2005)
1951
Jim Thorpe -- All-American (1951)
1998
The Waterboy (1998)
1949
Father Was a Fullback (1949)
2006
Invincible (2006)
1976
Two-Minute Warning (1976)
1931
Touchdown! (1931)
1993
Rudy (1993)
2007
The Game Plan (2007)
1999
Varsity Blues (1999)
1976
Gus (1976)
1983
All the Right Moves (1983)
1971
Brian's Song (1971)
2006
We Are Marshall (2006)
1926
The Quarterback (1926)
2021
American Underdog (2021)
1986
Lucas (1986)
2003
Radio (2003)
2015
Woodlawn (2015)
2006
Gridiron Gang (2006)
2015
Concussion (2015)
2014
Draft Day (2014)
2009
Big Fan (2009)
2023
80 For Brady (2023)
2000
The Replacements (2000)
2008
Leatherheads (2008)
2021
12 Mighty Orphans (2021)
2008
The Express (2008)
2018
Run the Race (2018)
1993
The Program (1993)
2018
Brian Banks (2018)
2018
Paterno (2018)
HBO Movie
1994
Little Giants (1994)
1969
Number One (1969)
1929
The Forward Pass (1929)
1991
Necessary Roughness (1991)
2021
National Champions (2021)
2016
Gridiron Heroes (2016)
1968
Paper Lion (1968)
1984
The Bear (1984)
1986
Wildcats (1986)
2016
Greater (2016)
1939
The Cowboy Quarterback (1939)
2005
Two for the Money (2005)
2002
Hometown Legend (2002)
2014
When The Game Stands Tall (2014)
2010
The 5th Quarter (2010)
2011
Touchback (2011)
1988
Everybody's All-American (1988)
1934
Gridiron Flash (1934)
1986
The Best of Times (1986)
2015
My All-American (2015)
2008
The Longshots (2008)
2022
Home Team (2022)
Netflix
2011
All Things Fall Apart (2011)
1988
Johnny Be Good (1988)
2020
It's Time (2020)
Film Festival Circuit Only 
2006
Facing the Giants (2006)
2007
The Comebacks (2007)
1998
Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1998)
Football Movies Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.
- Sort Football Movies by stars of the movies
- Sort Football Movies by adjusted box office grosses using current movie ticket cost
- Sort Football Movies by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort by how Football Movies were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Football Movie received.
- Sort Football Movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | B.O. Rank by Year | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | S |
| 1 | Jerry Maguire (1996) AA Best Picture Nom |
Tom Cruise & Cuba Gooding Jr. |
154.00 | 409.3 | 727.20 | 4 | 82 | 05 / 01 | 99.0 | |
| 2 | Heaven Can Wait (1978) AA Best Picture Nom |
Warren Beatty | 81.60 | 409.9 | 409.90 | 5 | 71 | 09 / 01 | 98.2 | |
| 3 | The Longest Yard (1974) | Burt Reynolds | 43.00 | 270.2 | 270.20 | 12 | 76 | 01 / 00 | 96.4 | |
| 4 | The Blind Side (2009) AA Best Picture Nom |
Sandra Bullock | 256.00 | 401.0 | 484.40 | 8 | 67 | 02 / 01 | 96.1 | |
| 5 | Semi-Tough (1977) | Burt Reynolds | 61.60 | 324.8 | 324.80 | 7 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 94.4 | |
| 6 | Remember the Titans (2000) | Denzel Washington & Ryan Gosling |
115.70 | 252.1 | 298.00 | 18 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 94.0 | |
| 7 | Knute Rockne All American (1940) | Ronald Reagan | 4.30 | 181.8 | 197.10 | 26 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 94.0 | |
| 9 | North Dallas Forty (1979) | Nick Nolte | 26.10 | 122.1 | 122.10 | 38 | 77 | 00 / 00 | 88.8 | |
| 11 | The Last Boy Scout (1991) | Bruce Willis & Halle Berry |
59.50 | 166.1 | 364.90 | 20 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 88.7 | |
| 10 | Friday Night Lights (2004) | Billy Bob Thornton | 61.30 | 115.9 | 117.20 | 48 | 77 | 00 / 00 | 88.3 | |
| 13 | Any Given Sunday (1999) | Al Pacino & Cameron Diaz |
75.50 | 175.4 | 232.70 | 27 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 88.2 | |
| 14 | Trouble Along the Way (1953) | John Wayne & Donna Reed |
7.40 | 145.4 | 181.10 | 32 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 87.7 | |
| 13 | The Longest Yard (2005) | Adam Sandler & Burt Reynolds |
158.10 | 290.3 | 349.40 | 12 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 87.4 | |
| 15 | Jim Thorpe -- All-American (1951) | Burt Lancaster | 6.40 | 150.8 | 193.90 | 35 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 86.7 | |
| 15 | The Waterboy (1998) | Adam Sandler & Dan Patrick |
161.50 | 404.6 | 466.00 | 4 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 86.3 | |
| 16 | Father Was a Fullback (1949) | Fred MacMurray | 5.00 | 136.6 | 136.60 | 59 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 85.7 | |
| 17 | Invincible (2006) | Mark Wahlberg & Elizabeth Banks |
57.80 | 103.2 | 104.40 | 55 | 71 | 00 / 00 | 84.6 | |
| 18 | Two-Minute Warning (1976) | Charlton Heston | 27.60 | 152.3 | 152.30 | 23 | 55 | 01 / 00 | 84.5 | |
| 19 | Touchdown! (1931) | Jack Oakie | 2.30 | 130.1 | 130.10 | 42 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 83.6 | |
| 19 | Rudy (1993) | Sean Astin & Vince Vaughn |
22.80 | 64.6 | 64.60 | 68 | 77 | 00 / 00 | 81.3 | |
| 20 | The Game Plan (2007) | Dwayne Johnson | 90.60 | 154.8 | 252.60 | 32 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 80.4 | |
| 21 | Varsity Blues (1999) | Jon Voight | 52.90 | 122.8 | 126.10 | 44 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 77.4 | |
| 22 | Gus (1976) | Tim Conway | 21.90 | 120.7 | 120.70 | 32 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 77.3 | |
| 24 | All the Right Moves (1983) | Tom Cruise | 23.10 | 86.3 | 86.30 | 30 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 74.0 | |
| 23 | Brian's Song (1971) | James Caan | 1.00 | 7.0 | 7.00 | 158 | 84 | 00 / 00 | 73.3 | |
| 25 | We Are Marshall (2006) | Matthew McConaughey | 43.50 | 77.8 | 77.80 | 68 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 70.2 | |
| 26 | The Quarterback (1926) | Richard Dix | 1.20 | 47.4 | 47.40 | 32 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 69.0 | |
| 27 | American Underdog (2021) | Dennis Quaid | 23.10 | 26.7 | 26.70 | 45 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 67.6 | |
| 28 | Lucas (1986) | Charlie Sheen | 8.20 | 26.0 | 26.00 | 76 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 67.5 | |
| 31 | Radio (2003) | Cuba Gooding Jr. & Ed Harris |
52.30 | 102.0 | 103.80 | 56 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 67.3 | |
| 29 | Woodlawn (2015) | Sean Astin | 14.40 | 20.1 | 20.10 | 107 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 65.4 | |
| 34 | Gridiron Gang (2006) | Dwayne Johnson | 38.40 | 68.6 | 74.10 | 77 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 65.0 | |
| 33 | Concussion (2015) | Will Smith & Alec Baldwin |
34.50 | 48.1 | 67.80 | 72 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 64.9 | |
| 32 | Draft Day (2014) | Kevin Costner | 28.80 | 41.5 | 42.40 | 100 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 64.7 | |
| 34 | Big Fan (2009) | Patton Oswalt | 0.20 | 0.4 | 0.40 | 245 | 78 | 00 / 00 | 63.3 | |
| 35 | 80 For Brady (2023) | Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin |
39.30 | 42.9 | 43.30 | 57 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 63.3 | |
| 38 | The Replacements (2000) | Gene Hackman & Keanu Reeves |
44.70 | 97.5 | 109.10 | 56 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 60.6 | |
| 36 | Leatherheads (2008) | George Clooney & John Krasinski |
31.40 | 51.3 | 67.60 | 95 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 59.3 | |
| 37 | 12 Mighty Orphans (2021) | Luke Wilson & Robert Duvall |
2.30 | 2.6 | 2.60 | 92 | 72 | 00 / 00 | 55.8 | |
| 39 | The Express (2008) | Dennis Quaid | 9.80 | 16.0 | 16.10 | 145 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 52.1 | |
| 40 | Run the Race (2018) | Tim Tebow | 6.40 | 8.2 | 8.20 | 142 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 50.9 | |
| 42 | The Program (1993) | James Caan & Halle Berry |
23.00 | 65.4 | 65.40 | 66 | 48 | 00 / 00 | 48.9 | |
| 41 | Brian Banks (2018) | Greg Kinnear | 4.40 | 5.6 | 5.60 | 161 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 46.4 | |
| 43 | Paterno (2018) HBO Movie |
Al Pacino | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 367 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 43.9 | |
| 45 | Little Giants (1994) | Rick Moranis | 19.30 | 55.6 | 55.60 | 75 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 43.0 | |
| 44 | Number One (1969) | Charlton Heston & Bruce Dern |
2.90 | 23.6 | 23.60 | 72 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 42.7 | |
| 47 | The Forward Pass (1929) | Loretta Young & Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. |
1.10 | 38.5 | 47.80 | 105 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 37.8 | |
| 50 | Necessary Roughness (1991) | Scott Bakula & Jason Bateman |
26.30 | 73.3 | 73.30 | 47 | 40 | 00 / 00 | 36.4 | |
| 49 | National Champions (2021) | J.K. Simmons | 0.50 | 0.5 | 0.50 | 113 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 35.6 | |
| 48 | Gridiron Heroes (2016) | Taylor Kitsch | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 261 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 32.8 | |
| 52 | Paper Lion (1968) | Alan Alda | 4.90 | 43.6 | 43.60 | 65 | 48 | 00 / 00 | 32.1 | |
| 52 | The Bear (1984) | Gary Busey | 2.70 | 9.4 | 9.40 | 128 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 31.8 | |
| 53 | Wildcats (1986) | Goldie Hawn & Woody Harrelson |
26.30 | 83.2 | 83.20 | 36 | 34 | 00 / 00 | 30.3 | |
| 54 | Greater (2016) | Neal McDonough | 2.00 | 2.7 | 2.70 | 200 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 30.1 | |
| 54 | The Cowboy Quarterback (1939) | Bert Wheeler | 0.80 | 34.7 | 38.40 | 190 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 28.5 | |
| 55 | Two for the Money (2005) | Al Pacino & Matthew McConaughey |
23.00 | 42.2 | 56.00 | 111 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 28.2 | |
| 57 | Hometown Legend (2002) | Terry O'Quinn | 0.10 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 274 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 28.1 | |
| 60 | When The Game Stands Tall (2014) | Jim Caviezel | 30.10 | 43.3 | 43.40 | 99 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 26.1 | |
| 57 | The 5th Quarter (2010) | Andie MacDowell | 0.40 | 0.6 | 0.60 | 211 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 25.5 | |
| 58 | Touchback (2011) | Kurt Russell | 0.20 | 0.3 | 0.30 | 220 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 25.4 | |
| 60 | Everybody's All-American (1988) | Dennis Quaid & John Goodman |
12.60 | 36.1 | 36.10 | 77 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 23.7 | |
| 61 | Gridiron Flash (1934) | Margaret Dumont | 0.50 | 24.4 | 29.00 | 177 | 48 | 00 / 00 | 20.9 | |
| 63 | The Best of Times (1986) | Robin Williams & Kurt Russell |
7.80 | 24.7 | 24.70 | 79 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 18.5 | |
| 62 | My All-American (2015) | Aaron Eckhart | 2.20 | 3.1 | 3.10 | 161 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 18.4 | |
| 64 | The Longshots (2008) | Ice Cube | 11.50 | 18.9 | 19.30 | 141 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 17.1 | |
| 65 | Home Team (2022) Netflix |
Kevin James | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 295 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 14.4 | |
| 66 | All Things Fall Apart (2011) | Ray Liotta | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 294 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 14.3 | |
| 67 | Johnny Be Good (1988) | Robert Downey Jr. | 17.60 | 50.2 | 50.20 | 58 | 33 | 00 / 00 | 12.2 | |
| 69 | It's Time (2020) Film Festival Circuit Only |
Danielle Deadwyler | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 100 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 8.4 | |
| 68 | Facing the Giants (2006) | Alex Kendrick | 10.20 | 18.2 | 18.20 | 157 | 38 | 00 / 00 | 6.9 | |
| 69 | The Comebacks (2007) | Bradley Cooper | 13.30 | 22.8 | 23.10 | 127 | 25 | 00 / 00 | 1.0 | |
| 70 | Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1998) | Kevin Zegers & Tim Conway |
10.20 | 25.6 | 25.60 | 118 | 23 | 00 / 00 | 0.9 |
‘
Football Movies Adjusted World Wide Box Office Grosses
My other Sports Movie Links
- Top 100 Biggest Box Office Grossing Sports Movies
- Top 100 Best Reviewed Sports Movies
- Top 400 Sports Movies
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- Ranking Other Sports Movies poker, surfing, rodeo, curling and others
If you do a comment….please ignore the email address and website section.
great fun. john goldfarb please come home is not on list. from a shirley maclaine fan. i saw 34, including 16 of top 20. i love your top 7. sad to see sandler with 2 of top 10 but at least the good longest yard ranked higher.
Hmmm I’m guessing some sort of sporting event is on the horizon over in the Americas.
Hey Steve Lionsmane…..yep…..there was a big game tonight….we had our 25th straight SuperBowl party tonight…a good time was had by all. Basically it is our World Cup….but it happens every year. Good stuff.
What about The Freshman with Harold Lloyd?
There is also a decent old b/w film with Victor Mature as an aging NFL quarterback with a bad heart and a greedy and unfaithful wife who eggs him into playing past his expiration date as an athlete.
Number One has Chuck Heston as another past it quarterback who suffers one sack too many from the Dallas Doomsday Defense, well named in this case.
I forgot to mention that the Victor Mature film is Easy Living.
I noticed that Number One is on your list, but I still wanted to comment on it.
Hey John….thanks for listing the name of the Mature movie….I will have to check out Easy Living….thanks for the suggestion.
Hey John….I wanted to include The Freshman…but I struck out when it came to box office research….so it did not make the page. Mmmmm…I have actually seen Heston in Number One…but I have never even heard of the Victor Mature football movie….I will have to check that one out.
This page was part of a massive project I did almost 6 years…..for awhile it was part of the most successful pages on our website. Thanks for the comment and the visit.
Nice update to your page. I have not seen many of these movies. But I have seen a few of the older ones. Keep up the good work.
Thank you BERN1960….I appreciate your kind words.