Each one is a winner in our book! 🏈
Every item on this page was chosen by a The Pioneer Woman editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
There ain't no season like football season, that's for sure! It doesn't get better than cheering on your favorite football team, whether it be from the stands or the comfort of your own home. Bonus points if you're a proud parent (like Ree and Ladd!) rooting for your own personal players. Plus, getting invited to those tailgates and Super Bowl parties brings on a whole other layer of excitement! The next best thing are any of these motivational football movies—that'll leave you feeling inspired even if you don't know the rules.
Many of these feel-good movies are based on real events, which makes them even more fascinating. The true stories of America's most famous teams and players are filled with high-stakes drama and lots of inspiring life lessons. This list also includes a handful of comedies (and even some romantic comedies!) that are guaranteed to make you laugh. A few even have some pretty great soundtracks. (Remember the Titans, we're looking at you.)
Read on for the best football movies every fan should see in their lifetime. We recommend having a sports movie marathon leading up to the Super Bowl, to really get your head in the game!
There are movies with all-star casts, then there's 80 for Brady, which has Rita Moreno, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Sally Field at its forefront. (Iconic!) They play four women who have been BFFs longer than they can remember. Sharing a love for Tom Brady, they need to find a way to see him play right before he retires!
Want to know what's better than football? Watching everyone's favorite golden retriever join in on the fun! Air Bud surprises his community once more by proving he can be both adorable and talented on the game field.
When was the last time you watched a silent film? Whatever your answer may be, go ahead and watch this one about a rather quiet, unsuspecting student who joins his school's football team to woo over the girl of his dreams. Hopefully he actually learns how to play the sport, first! 😬
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
It just takes one good leader to be able to switch things around for the better! The Manassas High School football team learns exactly that when their new coach transforms them from underdogs to championship contenders. Your spirits will be raised at the end of this one!
"The Rock" plays a detention center counselor who shapes a group of troubled teens into a winning football team. This is a heartwarming story about growth and second chances.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
When a dark horse team ends up pulling through in the most inspiring way possible, the whole town feels it. Be prepared to shed tears...lots of tears!
When a football movie is nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, you know it's got to be really good. This true story about NFL player Michael Oher stars Sandra Bullock in an Oscar-winning performance.
Here's a football comedy that's appropriate for the whole family! The sibling rivalry is real in this '90s kid favorite about two brothers who coach competing pee-wee football teams.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
What do you get when you tell the true story of a Chicago Bears football player stricken with terminal cancer? This critically acclaimed film that brings all the waterworks.
We love a good Dwayne Johnson football film! This time around, he plays an NFL star whose young daughter unexpectedly enters his life.
There's nothing like a small-town football story! See the film that inspired the beloved TV series of the same name.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
This movie follows the true story of Dr. Bennet Omalu, the man who discovered and raised awareness about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and its connection to football. Will Smith was nominated for a Golden Globe for his starring role.
You'll recognize a few famous faces here, including George Clooney, John Krasinski, and Renee Zellweger. It's about a 1920s football team and the newswoman who suspects something fishy.
It's one of the best romantic comedies of all time, but it's also a classic football movie. It had us at hello!
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the struggles of football players, their coaches, and the team owners. The cast is totally amazing, and includes Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, and more.
One year after a devastating plane crash killed 75 of the football players at Marshall University, a new coach arrives to take the job no one else wanted. Cue the tears!
Mark Wahlberg gives the performance of a lifetime in this true story about a Philadelphia Eagles football player.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
A coach and a student form an unlikely bond in a racially divided town, and the effects of their friendship quickly spread beyond the football field.
When the starting quarterback of a Texas high school football team gets injured, the benchwarmer is thrust into the spotlight. This coming-of-age tale has drama, romance, and plenty of action.
Kelly O'Sullivan
Senior Editor
Kelly O’Sullivan is the senior editor for The Pioneer Woman and manages the website’s social channels, in addition to overseeing content strategy and news.