Football is one of the world’s most popular sports as it continues to garner a widespread amount of intrigue from fans across the world, which includes football lovers who enjoy checking out the latest NFL odds.
While the sport has provided fans with plenty of action-packed highlight plays and nail-biting finales on the field, football has also translated into a tremendous asset for the film industry as there have been several releases that have been praised by fans for various different reasons.
From underdog stories to college drafting scenarios, these are some of the top football films that have ever hit the big screen for all audiences to enjoy:
- Draft Day:
While this football title features hardly any action when it comes to on-the-field play, it does center around the realistic feeling of what it takes to work as an executive in an NFL franchise’s front office, with this 2014 release allowing the audience to feel emotionally connected and in awe of Cleveland Browns GM Sonny Weaver Jr.
‘Draft Day’ is an enjoyable title as it focuses on the sheer thrill and anticipation that goes into the annual event as well as the pent-up adrenaline that is often felt during the selection process between executives, fans and ownership as it is often very difficult to decide as to which player is the preferred best selection for that teams’ needs.
Featuring a star-studded cast and a feel-good factor conclusion, ‘Draft Day’ has become almost an annual watch for any NFL fan whose team may often be picking during the early stages of the draft, as they hope their club can pull off a similar miracle as to the final negotiation scene between Sonny and the Seahawks GM where he would earn all his top picks back after previously trading them away.
- Safety:
While many kids or aspiring athletes may always have a special dream of playing in the NFL as a superstar talent, this particular journey can be amongst the most challenging and brutal pathways in almost any profession, with the amazing 2020 Disney release of the sports drama family title ‘Safety’ being one of the greatest recent renditions of the sport.
The film follows the true story surrounding Clemson Tigers safety Ray Ray McElrathbey and his struggles raising his younger brother on campus following his mother checking into rehab, whilst the developing prospect was still aspiring to make a case to become a top commodity coming out of college.
It is an emotional but an incredibly rewarding story that is perfect for the entire family to enjoy and provides football fans with a greater insight into the many challenges that these young stars have so often faced both on and off the field in their quest to become a professional for the sport that they adore.
- Brian’s Song:
Speaking of a roller coaster of emotions, there may be no sports film that has impacted its audience more than the 1971 release of ‘Brian’s Song’ which focuses around the adversity and struggles of another college star playing out of Wake Forest University.
In this tragic tale, Brian Piccolo is shocked to discover that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer with his friends and family members all helping him to provide the support he needs, with this film also being based off a true story.
The performances in this film from the likes of James Caan and Billy Dee Williams are second to none with both actors receiving nominations for the Outstanding Single Performance by an actor in a leading role at that year’s rendition of the Emmy’s, meaning that this film is simply a must-watch for all football fans to take in and enjoy.
- Invincible:
This 2006 release stars renowned actor and sports superfan Mark Wahlberg as the leading role as former NFL cult-icon Vince Papale who had previously suited up for the Philadelphia Eagles franchise during the late 1970s.
While Papale may not be a name that is solely recognizable to much younger NFL fans, his story to the NFL is tailor-made for the big screen with Wahlberg putting in another one of his many excellent performances which allowed the film to earn over $58 million at the box office from an initial $30 million budget, with this film also earning great credibility from fans and critics alike.
- Hard Knocks:
While this technically does not fully qualify as a film rendition, this is still a yearly release of the behind the scenes of a range of NFL franchises following the conclusion of an NFL season that certainly brings its own unique spin on the game.
No matter how your team has performed throughout the season and the many heartaches that soon proceed to follow, ‘Hard Knocks’ is always a gripping look at the NFL landscape throughout the past 18 weeks of action that is sure to keep all fans engaged and guessing as to whether they believe that their team is capable of achieving even greater honors ahead of the next campaign.
