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.
This page represents part 2 in a series of pages that are trying to identify the Top 100 Sports Movies. This page will rank (currently 56 movies) football movies from Best to Worst by 4 different columns of sortable 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.
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 | 375.5 | 667.20 | 4 | 82 | 05 / 01 | 99.1 | |
| 2 | Heaven Can Wait (1978) AA Best Picture Nom |
Warren Beatty | 81.60 | 376.1 | 376.10 | 5 | 71 | 09 / 01 | 98.3 | |
| 3 | The Longest Yard (1974) | Burt Reynolds | 43.00 | 247.9 | 247.90 | 12 | 76 | 01 / 00 | 96.7 | |
| 4 | The Blind Side (2009) AA Best Picture Nom |
Sandra Bullock | 256.00 | 367.9 | 444.40 | 8 | 67 | 02 / 01 | 96.5 | |
| 5 | Semi-Tough (1977) | Burt Reynolds | 61.60 | 298.0 | 298.00 | 7 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 94.9 | |
| 6 | Remember the Titans (2000) | Denzel Washington & Ryan Gosling |
115.70 | 231.3 | 273.40 | 18 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 94.5 | |
| 7 | Knute Rockne All American (1940) | Ronald Reagan | 4.30 | 166.8 | 180.80 | 26 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 93.2 | |
| 9 | North Dallas Forty (1979) | Nick Nolte | 26.10 | 112.0 | 112.00 | 38 | 77 | 00 / 00 | 88.6 | |
| 8 | The Longest Yard (2005) | Adam Sandler & Burt Reynolds |
158.10 | 266.3 | 320.60 | 12 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 88.3 | |
| 11 | The Last Boy Scout (1991) | Bruce Willis & Halle Berry |
59.50 | 152.4 | 334.80 | 20 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 88.1 | |
| 10 | Friday Night Lights (2004) | Billy Bob Thornton | 61.30 | 106.3 | 107.50 | 48 | 77 | 00 / 00 | 88.1 | |
| 13 | Any Given Sunday (1999) | Al Pacino & Cameron Diaz |
75.50 | 160.9 | 213.50 | 27 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 87.5 | |
| 12 | The Waterboy (1998) | Adam Sandler & Dan Patrick |
161.50 | 371.2 | 427.50 | 4 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 87.3 | |
| 14 | Trouble Along the Way (1953) | John Wayne & Donna Reed |
7.40 | 133.4 | 166.10 | 32 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 87.3 | |
| 15 | Jim Thorpe -- All-American (1951) | Burt Lancaster | 6.40 | 138.4 | 177.90 | 35 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 86.2 | |
| 16 | Father Was a Fullback (1949) | Fred MacMurray | 5.00 | 125.3 | 125.30 | 58 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 85.3 | |
| 17 | Invincible (2006) | Mark Wahlberg & Elizabeth Banks |
57.80 | 94.7 | 95.80 | 55 | 71 | 00 / 00 | 84.5 | |
| 18 | Two-Minute Warning (1976) | Charlton Heston | 27.60 | 139.7 | 139.70 | 23 | 55 | 01 / 00 | 83.7 | |
| 19 | Touchdown! (1931) | Jack Oakie | 2.30 | 119.4 | 119.40 | 42 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 82.9 | |
| 19 | Rudy (1993) | Sean Astin & Vince Vaughn |
22.80 | 59.2 | 59.20 | 68 | 77 | 00 / 00 | 81.4 | |
| 20 | The Game Plan (2007) | Dwayne Johnson | 90.60 | 142.0 | 231.70 | 32 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 79.0 | |
| 21 | Varsity Blues (1999) | Jon Voight | 52.90 | 112.7 | 115.70 | 44 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 76.0 | |
| 22 | Gus (1976) | Tim Conway | 21.90 | 110.7 | 110.70 | 32 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 75.8 | |
| 23 | Brian's Song (1971) | James Caan | 1.00 | 6.4 | 6.40 | 158 | 84 | 00 / 00 | 74.3 | |
| 24 | All the Right Moves (1983) | Tom Cruise | 23.10 | 79.2 | 79.20 | 30 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 73.0 | |
| 25 | We Are Marshall (2006) | Matthew McConaughey | 43.50 | 71.3 | 71.30 | 68 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 69.1 | |
| 26 | The Quarterback (1926) | Richard Dix | 1.20 | 43.5 | 43.50 | 32 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 68.5 | |
| 27 | American Underdog (2021) | Dennis Quaid | 23.10 | 24.5 | 24.50 | 45 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 67.8 | |
| 28 | Lucas (1986) | Charlie Sheen | 8.20 | 23.8 | 23.80 | 76 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 67.7 | |
| 29 | Woodlawn (2015) | Sean Astin | 14.40 | 18.4 | 18.40 | 107 | 73 | 00 / 00 | 65.6 | |
| 31 | Radio (2003) | Cuba Gooding Jr. & Ed Harris |
52.30 | 93.6 | 95.30 | 56 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 64.9 | |
| 33 | Concussion (2015) | Will Smith & Alec Baldwin |
34.50 | 44.2 | 62.20 | 72 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 64.3 | |
| 32 | Draft Day (2014) | Kevin Costner | 28.80 | 38.1 | 38.90 | 100 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 64.3 | |
| 34 | Big Fan (2009) | Patton Oswalt | 0.20 | 0.3 | 0.30 | 245 | 78 | 00 / 00 | 64.2 | |
| 34 | Gridiron Gang (2006) | Dwayne Johnson | 38.40 | 63.0 | 68.00 | 77 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 63.7 | |
| 35 | 80 For Brady (2023) | Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin |
39.30 | 39.3 | 39.70 | 57 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 62.5 | |
| 36 | Leatherheads (2008) | George Clooney & John Krasinski |
31.40 | 47.1 | 62.00 | 95 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 57.9 | |
| 38 | The Replacements (2000) | Gene Hackman & Keanu Reeves |
44.70 | 89.5 | 100.10 | 56 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 57.4 | |
| 37 | 12 Mighty Orphans (2021) | Luke Wilson & Robert Duvall |
2.30 | 2.4 | 2.40 | 92 | 72 | 00 / 00 | 56.4 | |
| 39 | The Express (2008) | Dennis Quaid | 9.80 | 14.7 | 14.70 | 145 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 51.9 | |
| 40 | Run the Race (2018) | Tim Tebow | 6.40 | 7.6 | 7.60 | 142 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 51.1 | |
| 41 | Brian Banks (2018) | Greg Kinnear | 4.40 | 5.2 | 5.20 | 161 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 46.7 | |
| 42 | The Program (1993) | James Caan & Halle Berry |
23.00 | 60.0 | 60.00 | 66 | 48 | 00 / 00 | 46.0 | |
| 43 | Paterno (2018) HBO Movie |
Al Pacino | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 415 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 44.3 | |
| 44 | Number One (1969) | Charlton Heston & Bruce Dern |
2.90 | 21.7 | 21.70 | 73 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 41.9 | |
| 45 | Little Giants (1994) | Rick Moranis | 19.30 | 51.0 | 51.00 | 75 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 40.5 | |
| 46 | National Champions (2021) | J.K. Simmons | 0.50 | 0.5 | 0.50 | 113 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 36.0 | |
| 47 | The Forward Pass (1929) | Loretta Young & Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. |
1.10 | 35.3 | 43.90 | 105 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 35.9 | |
| 48 | Gridiron Heroes (2016) | Taylor Kitsch | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 260 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 33.2 | |
| 50 | Necessary Roughness (1991) | Scott Bakula & Jason Bateman |
26.30 | 67.2 | 67.20 | 47 | 40 | 00 / 00 | 32.2 | |
| 49 | The Bear (1984) | Gary Busey | 2.70 | 8.6 | 8.60 | 128 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 31.5 | |
| 51 | Greater (2016) | Neal McDonough | 2.00 | 2.5 | 2.50 | 200 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 30.3 | |
| 52 | Paper Lion (1968) | Alan Alda | 4.90 | 40.0 | 40.00 | 65 | 48 | 00 / 00 | 30.1 | |
| 53 | Hometown Legend (2002) | Terry O'Quinn | 0.10 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 273 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 28.3 | |
| 54 | The Cowboy Quarterback (1939) | Bert Wheeler | 0.80 | 31.9 | 35.30 | 190 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 27.5 | |
| 56 | Wildcats (1986) | Goldie Hawn & Woody Harrelson |
26.30 | 76.4 | 76.40 | 36 | 34 | 00 / 00 | 27.0 | |
| 55 | Two for the Money (2005) | Al Pacino & Matthew McConaughey |
23.00 | 38.7 | 51.40 | 111 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 26.7 | |
| 57 | The 5th Quarter (2010) | Andie MacDowell | 0.40 | 0.6 | 0.60 | 211 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 25.8 | |
| 58 | Touchback (2011) | Kurt Russell | 0.20 | 0.3 | 0.30 | 220 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 25.6 | |
| 60 | When The Game Stands Tall (2014) | Jim Caviezel | 30.10 | 39.8 | 39.80 | 99 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 24.3 | |
| 60 | Everybody's All-American (1988) | Dennis Quaid & John Goodman |
12.60 | 33.1 | 33.10 | 77 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 22.1 | |
| 61 | Gridiron Flash (1934) | Margaret Dumont | 0.50 | 22.4 | 26.60 | 177 | 48 | 00 / 00 | 19.3 | |
| 62 | My All-American (2015) | Aaron Eckhart | 2.20 | 2.9 | 2.90 | 161 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 18.4 | |
| 63 | The Best of Times (1986) | Robin Williams & Kurt Russell |
7.80 | 22.6 | 22.60 | 79 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 17.7 | |
| 64 | The Longshots (2008) | Ice Cube | 11.50 | 17.3 | 17.70 | 141 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 16.1 | |
| 66 | All Things Fall Apart (2011) | Ray Liotta | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 271 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 14.4 | |
| 65 | Home Team (2022) Netflix |
Kevin James | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 323 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 14.4 | |
| 67 | Johnny Be Good (1988) | Robert Downey Jr. | 17.60 | 46.0 | 46.00 | 58 | 33 | 00 / 00 | 10.8 | |
| 68 | Facing the Giants (2006) | Alex Kendrick | 10.20 | 16.7 | 16.70 | 157 | 38 | 00 / 00 | 6.4 | |
| 69 | The Comebacks (2007) | Bradley Cooper | 13.30 | 20.9 | 21.20 | 127 | 25 | 00 / 00 | 1.0 | |
| 70 | Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1998) | Kevin Zegers & Tim Conway |
10.20 | 23.5 | 23.50 | 118 | 23 | 00 / 00 | 0.8 |
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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
- Ranking Baseball Movies
- Ranking Basketball Movies
- Ranking Boxing Movies
- Ranking Football Movies
- Ranking Golf Movies
- Ranking Hockey Movies
- Ranking Olympics Movies
- Ranking Racing Movies
- Ranking Soccer Movies
- Ranking Other Sports Movies poker, surfing, rodeo, curling and others
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(Visited 6 times)
Good list of some movies, I am not sure I agree with Heaven Can Wait as the number one football movie though. Looking at your Top 5 I would put Jerry M, Remember The Titans, Blindside and Longest Yard all ahead of Heaven. I think Remember the Titans is the best one of the bunch. I am also looking forward to the final list.
Hey YankeesRule….not many people mention Heaven Can Wait when they talk about football movies…..but the whole movie is about Beatty trying to get back on the football field….but I agree ….Remember the Titans could be the best football movie ever…..the beauty of lists….it always makes for good argument.
The closest thing to football these days, they need to end the lockout, because I have seen most of these movies already. I did not realize that Heaven Can Wait was a football movie. Besides the usual suspects like Maguire and Longest Yard, I really like The Replacements with Hackman and Reeves, also I just recently saw Big Fan, a strange but good movie. I am looking forward to seeing the final list, so when will we be seeing it?
hey hinton1966….thanks for stopping by and reading the hub….you mention two better than expected movies….I know I was surprised that The Replacements was way better than I was thinking….I give Hackman that credit…everything he appears in seems to be good….as for Big Fan….I know people like that about their teams…not the Giants….but I know huge Browns and Redskin fans…thanks for the comments.
“Show me the money!” Another fascinating hub on a sport I have little interest in! [sniggers] 🙂
Once again I’m surprised at the number of films which feature the sport, and you’ve found all the box office statistics too, you really have done your homework Conanson, kudos!
I’ve seen 8 of the films listed, a bit better than my Baseball count.
My first contact with American Football on film must have been Burt Reynolds “classic” The Longest Yard (1974) retitled The Mean Machine here in the UK, a film I still enjoy watching on dvd.
Hey Steve….8 is not bad for a Londoner…..lol…..but do not worry….I just finished the movies for the boxing movie page….and then it is on to soccer….and I know the soccer version of the Longest Yard will make that page. I know when the soccer movies are found, I will have seen very few of them. As always thanks for reading.
Alright bud, I really enjoy reading your hubs, but you are disrespecting the legend Paul “Bear” Bryant. 38th place? You have to be kidding me. One of the first movies I remember watching is The Bear, my family loves the movie. Is there a way to move that up the list? Just kidding with you, although my family loves the movie, around my parts many people think the movie is horrible.
Sorry AlabamaGirl86, The Bear barely even got released back in the early 1980s…..I imagine people in Alabama might like the movie more now than when it first came out right after the Bear’s death….but I am glad you and your family liked the movie…..I know Tom Berenger played the Bear in an ESPN movie The Junction Boys….how did you like that one?
I’m not a football fan, so I don’t have a list of favourites. But I must discuss Heaven can Wait. Normally I prefer versions of movies made during the studio system era. And I do love Here Comes Mr. Jordon starring Robert Montgomery as the boxer who dies when the angel takes him away too quickly and Claude Rains as the title character. But I also love Beatty’s version that was switched to football after Ali couldn’t do the remake and since Beatty had played football. Don’t get mixed up looking for the original version under the same name as Heaven Can wait as that is an entirely different movie starring the great Don Ameche.
I haven’t seen the tear jerker Brian’ Song yet.
Hey Flora, well I greatly appreciate you checking out the hub, especially since you are not a football fan. I am not the biggest Beatty fan, but I think Heaven Can Wait is by far his most enjoyable movie to watch. I love Jack Warden as the Rams coach, he is hilarious and received an Oscar nomination for his work in the movie. Warden only got two nominations in his entire career….both Warren Beatty movies….what are the odds of that happening? As for Brian’s Song…..I have always loved the movie….and brings must men….teary eyes when watching it….we have learned how to carefully wipe away tears without anybody noticing largely due to that movie. Thanks for the comments.