21. The Waterboy Plot: A downtrodden college football team discovers a defensive superstar in its water boy. Stars: Adam Sandler, Henry Winkler and Kathy Bates. Notable cameos: The Big Show and Lawrence Taylor ("don't smoke crack"). What went right: I probably liked this movie more than most. And I still liked to drop the term "foosball" when talking about football, so it does have some quotable lines. What might only interest me: This is the first of many appearances of Rob Schneider in this list. Spoiler alert: Of course, Bobby Boucher's team wins. But Dan Fouts actually makes me laugh during his cameo. Read more...
Not sure I'd rank them this way, but that's a very thorough list. Before reading I tried to think of as many as I could and came up with 21. (though I'm familiar with 11 more) Never saw Semi-Tough or Paper Lion. I thought Rudy would be #1 as it is a favorite of many sports/football fans....that or Brian's Song which is just a great film even if you don't like football. I agree with Nose....Radio did kinda suck, but then again.....so did The Replacements which is seriously in the wrong area on this list to me though I can almost stomach Keanu's "acting" in it! Remember The Titans doesn't do it for me either and I'm glad The Blindside is where it is....though it was cited recently in a discussion on GTP as if it had great football knowledge in it...LOL! I'd prefer Brian's Song, Rudy, School Ties, The Program, Any Given Sunday, or Wildcats if interested in watching a football film that I've already seen. We Are Marshall is inspiring. For folks looking for a new one to add to this list.....and since there were several films that weren't really about just football....check out a film called Touchback. (34 is a silly number of anything....either drop 4 to 30 or find another and make it 35) I won't tell you any plot points, cause I hate it when folks do that to me.....but it's heartfelt....though formulaic. It's not a cinematic masterpiece, but it's not garbage like several of the films on that list! He could have easily rounded out the list with a film called Something For Joey about former Charger player John Cappelletti and his little brother. He could have put Knute Rockne, All American on the list as well. (best thing Reagan ever did)
The longest yard (1974). The Express, (story about Ernie Davis), Brian's song. were pretty good. And I've always liked Horse Feathers (with the Marx Brothers)
Invincible was entertaining. I'm not sure if "Heaven can Wait" would qualify but football was the sub-plot of the movie.
Gotta be honest, here. Most of these films I have NO use for! Surprised to see glaring omissions like "Knute Rockne All American", "Jim Thorpe: All-American" or "Something For Joey" (about John Cappelletti and his little brother). I really enjoyed "Any Given Sunday" and thought it was ranked a little low, even with this film being A TAD over the top ("Scarface" meets Pro Football!). I liked Carolina Bolt's mention of the Marx Brothers' "Horse Feathers". It made me think of this:
Most football movies suck, as Oz noted. The problem is that a realistic football movie would be too boring for most audiences and game action sequences are usually over-choreographed or out and out fake. As for actors who give credible performances as football players (and not counting real players who act in some of these movies), Kurt Russell actually looked like a QB in Best of Times. Same goes for the football uniforms in the same movie. The Taft Rockets' uniforms looked like the Jets uni from the old AFL days. Movie/TV helmets
Seems like this mov Seems like this movie should have found it's way to Netflix or the 99 Cents Only store by now
