Sports

10 Best Football Movies of All Time

By Eric W. Bolin Athlon Sports

Updated June 9, 2026 11:24 AM

Football may be the most popular sport in the United States, and the United States may be home to Hollywood, but the game lacks when it comes to great sports movies.

Baseball easily outshines football -- as do boxing and basketball -- with the best sports coming from those games. But football does have a few great pictures up its sleeve.

Here are the 10 we think are best, though you're sure to disagree. Have at it!

10. The Waterboy (1998)

Great movie, maybe not. But iconic status stands for something and "The Waterboy" came out in the Adam Sandler-as-goofball heyday. It stands as his last of what we call the Moron Trio (with "Happy Gilmore" and "Billy Madison").

9. Paterno (2018)

A movie dogged by both supporters of long-time Penn State football coach Joe Paterno and by those who think the film lets him off too easy, "Paterno" may not uncover anything new in the scandal, but it holds a rare great late-career performance from Al Pacino.

8. The Longest Yard (2005)

We're talking about the Burt Reynolds version here, not Sandler. The 1974 version, directed by Robert Aldrich, has spawned a number of remakes besides Sandler's. "The Longest Yard" is a little meaner than you probably remember.

7. Friday Night Lights (2004)

We wish it would have delved a bit more into the nuances of the book, but, hey, let's be real. That was never going to happen. "Friday Night Lights" remains a decent look into the insane culture of high-school football in Texas.

6. Rudy (1976)

We know, we know. This is too low for most of you. "Rudy" is, without a doubt, the most legendary movie on this list. And it is good! Nothing wrong with sixth.

5. Brian's Song (1971)

Yes, it's literally a Movie of the Week. But 1971's "Brian's Song" is one of the best TV movies ever made. James Caan and Billy Dee Williams have excellent chemistry as Chicago Bears teammates Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo. If "Rudy" makes you cry - and you enjoy crying - give this one a go.

4. Big Fan (2009)

Undoubtedly the least familiar movie on this list to most readers, "Big Fan" features Patton Oswalt as a delusional fanatic of the New York Giants. The movie shouldn't have been prescient, but online sports discourse has only exacerbated since the release of this flick in 2009.

3. The Last Boy Scout (1991)

A chaotic motion picture that comes at you at 1,000 miles-an-hour, "The Last Boy Scout" is wild from its opening scene. If you've seen it, you know it. Tony Scott's football movie isn't really a football movie at all, but it's a showcase in all the machismo the sport offers, anyway.

2. Heaven Can Wait (1978)

Warren Beatty. Jack Warden. Julie Christie. Charles Grodin. No better cast exists on this list. "Heaven Can Wait" was nominated for nine Academy Awards in 1979. It's winsome and charming, masculine and romantic. Sort of like the next movie on this list.

1. Jerry Maguire (1996)

"Jerry Maguire" is a rather easy pick for No. 1. Spoofed to no end at the time, this Cameron Crowe picture played well for audiences of all (adult) ages and genders. Tom Cruise has rarely been better and the world was introduced to a wonderful Renee Zellweger, too.

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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 11:14 AM.