The big game is almost here. Of course, I can only be talking about the most expensive football game ever – the Super Bowl. But before you watch the Patriots and Rams bash their helmets into each other, behold the top five football movies you should be worshiping right this instant! It’s quite a diverse group, but essential for all you pigskin fanatics.

RUDY

There’s nothing quite like this uplifting sports underdog story about doing the very best you can to achieve a childhood dream. Starring as the titled character, Sean Astin is terrific by carrying a fighting spirit necessary to play for the Fighting Irish. While being completely predictable, the persistence and heart that’s displayed on and off the field get your emotions going. I dare you not to tear up once the chanting of his name slowly begins.

ANY GIVEN SUNDAY

Oliver Stone‘s hard-hitting, testosterone-pumping football drama leaves nothing on the field by being big, raucous and in-your-face. It’s entertaining yet painful witnessing the cutthroat business of the game colliding with the violence that puts players down and out for good. With one hell of an ensemble cast featuring Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx, and Dennis Quaid, along with Hall of Famers Jim Brown and Lawrence Taylor – they bring the fury required for this blistering look into the imperishable pro football culture.

THE LITTLE GIANTS

This one is a childhood favorite. Another underdog story? Yes. But, this time it’s a sibling rivalry that can only be settled by being victorious in a pee-wee football game. Of course, what starts out as a brotherly competition rapidly turns into a hard-hitting, personal war on their home turf. Rick Moranis and Ed O’Neill play brothers who will do all they can to prove who the dominant O’Shea brother truly is – and their pint-size players must choose sides. This family-friendly football movie is funny yet meaningful, showing no one is invincible and how underestimating someone can be a big mistake.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

Director Peter Berg puts high school football under the bright lights in this excellent story of a grueling season and the physical and emotional toll it takes on its players and coaches. In a football worshiping town united by the integrity, intensity, and insanity of a sport, the wins are magnificent, but the losses are more than mournful. Ultimately, that can be a dangerous thing for those playing and for the ones rooting for them. The entire cast, lead by Billy Bob Thornton as Coach Gaines, are incredible – making each scene involving and exciting by showing us how sports shakes us all to our deepest core.

REMEMBER THE TITANS

If there’s one thing Disney knows how to do it’s tell an inspirational sports story. And this is one of their best (up there with Miracle). Based on a true story about two southern high schools being integrated, animosity is sky high on the football team. The always stellar Denzel Washington plays HC Herman Boone and Will Patton is terrific as the former HC but now assistant coach to Boone, and he ain’t liking it. Sports can bring people together – we know that. But, there are always bigger issues at hand that extend beyond football, and this well-meaning movie undeniably understands that. Even if it’s told in a very predictable, contrived way. Its social conscience is too big to ignore.

Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association and the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.

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