Sports was always a great source of material for fictional media. Books, music, TV series, and movies brought us some amazing real-life, inspiring stories that took our breath away. Even though not everyone is fond of sports, people always find the stories of that are inspiring.
This article will present our picks of 15 football movies currently available on Disney+. We will cheat a bit and include American and European football (soccer), which will expand the choices for those movies and expand this list. If you are interested in some inspiring sports movies, you have come to the right place. Stay with us until the end of the article. Let’s start!
15. Elway To Marino (2013)
Directed by: Ken Rodgers
Writer(s): Ken Rodgers
Release date: April 23, 2013
Running time: 79 minutes
Starring: Marvin Demoff, John Elway, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Ernie Accorsi
Synopsis: This 30 for 30 ESPN documentary special is set in the spring of 1983 when new generations of superstars were poised to enter the best football league in the world – NFL. In football, quarterbacks were always the centerpiece of every franchise, and when in the 1983 draft first round presented us with six quarterbacks, fans and analysts knew that this generation of footballers will be something special.
14. Goal! The Dream Begins (2005)
Directed by: Danny Cannon
Writer(s): Mike Jefferies, Adrian Butchart, Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais
Release date: October 1, 2005
Running time: 118 minutes
Starring: Kuno Becker, Alessandro Nivola, Marcel Iureș, Stephen Dillane, Anna Friel
Synopsis: A young man Santiago Muñez, a son of immigrant Mexican parents who grew up in Los Angeles, always had a dream to become a professional footballer (soccer). After the obstacles and journey of exploring himself, Santiago gets an unexpected tryout with the English Premier League club Newcastle United. From there, Santiago needs to adapt to the new culture, club, and footballing stage that rarely forgives any mistakes.
13. Invincible (2006)
Directed by: Ericson Core
Writer(s): Brad Gann
Release date: August 25, 2006
Running time: 104 minutes
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks
Synopsis: On one day in 1976, a man Vince Papale is between a hard place and an immovable object – his wife left him, and has lost his job as a substitute teacher in the local school. Now, most people would try to find another job, which Vince did, however, he went further – he went to the open tryout held by Philadelphia Eagles, and miraculously, got into the team. The movie was inspired by a true story.
12. The Game Plan (2007)
Directed by: Andy Fickman
Writer(s): Nichole Millard, Kathryn Price
Release date: September 27, 2007
Running time: 110 minutes
Starring: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Madison Pettis, Kyra Sedgwick, Morris Chestnut, Roselyn Sanchez
Synopsis: An NFL bachelor Joe Kingman is living his best life – he is an NFL star, can have any woman he wants, tons of money, and fame. Everything seems perfect for him. However, everything changes when the famous football player discovers he has an eight-year daughter from a previous relationship. Little Peyton turns the footballing star’s life around and the reluctant father-daughter goes on a journey of their life.
11. Safety (2020)
Directed by: Reginald Hudlin
Writer(s): Nick Sandra
Release date: December 11, 2020
Running time: 122 minutes
Starring: Jay Reeves, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Corinne Foxx, Matthew Glave, James Badge Dale
Synopsis: Chasing dreams can be hard, but when you have a family that goes are unstable and younger siblings that are suffering, you need to take things into your hands. Ray-Ray McElrathbey, a freshman at Clemson University does exactly that and takes his younger brother to his campus to secretly raise him and shelter him. One of the most inspiring stories in recent years.
10. Remember the Titans (2000)
Directed by: Boaz Yakin
Writer(s): Gregory Allen Howard
Release date: September 19, 2000
Running time: 113 minutes
Starring: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Donald Faison, Nicole Ari Parker
Synopsis: Based on the actual events of 1971, suburban Virginia schools have been segregated for decades. After Black and White high schools are closed, they merge into T.C. Williams High School under a federal mandate to integrate into one. The story was told from the view of the school’s football team when they hired a black coach from North Carolina. Students of different ethnicities and backgrounds need to put their judgment aside and work together to be the best footballing team in the country.
9. How to Play Football (1944)
Directed by: Jack Kinney
Writer(s): Harry Reeves, Rex Cox
Release date: September 15, 1944
Running time: 7 minutes
Starring: Pinto Colvig
Synopsis: This short movie is one of the oldest sports football cartoons in Disney’s history, and it follows Goofy and his instructions on how to play football. Goofy tries to explain every aspect of the beautiful game in a funny way, and this charming film takes us back to the times when football was much different.
8. The Book of Manning (2013)
Directed by: Rory Karpf
Writer(s): Rory Karpf
Release date: 2013
Running time: 120 minutes
Starring: John Goodman, Archie Manning, Cooper Manning, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning
Synopsis: Another 30 for 30 ESPN movie this time tells the story of, Archie Manning, whose football career in college and NFL kick-started the biggest footballing dynasty ever – the Manning family. Before he saw his sons become legendary quarterbacks, Archie himself had an amazing college and professional career. In this film, Archie Manning tells his personal story – how his father’s suicide changed his life.
7. Gus (1976)
Directed by: Vincent McEveety
Writer(s): Arthur Alsberg, Don Nelson
Release date: July 7, 1976
Running time: 95 minutes
Starring: Edward Asner, Don Knotts, Gary Grimes, Tim Conway, Liberty Williams
Synopsis: This silly movie follows the story of The California Atoms team that is struggling at the bottom of the league. The team desperately needs something fresh and new that will kickstart their form, and they decide to put their mascot in the team – a Yugoslavian mule Gus. The former mascot is now part of the American footballing team and it can kick the football 100 yards, which helps the Atoms to finally secure some wins.
6. Believe Land (2016)
Directed by: Andrew Billman
Writer(s): Andrew Billman
Release date: May 15, 2016
Running time: 77 minutes
Starring: Hank Aaron, Ernie Accorsi, Sandy Alomar
Synopsis: This documentary takes us to Ohio, the true sports state of America. One of the oldest sports franchises like the Indians, Browns, and Cavaliers are constantly losing. Each of these franchises just could not win the previous decades. Despite constant losing and the conclusion of some Cleveland sports fans that “God Hates Cleveland”, the city finally enjoys success in 2016, when each of its franchises starts winning. This documentary talks about the sports culture of the city of Cleveland but mostly about Browns, Indians, and Cavaliers fans that never gave up on their teams.
5. Four Falls of Buffalo (2015)
Directed by: Ken Rodgers
Writer(s): Ken Rodgers
Release date: December 12, 2015
Running time: 100 minutes
Starring: Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Don Beebe
Synopsis: One of the most talented footballing teams in the 1990s, the Buffalo Bills managed to qualify for Superbowl four times, but all of them. The media and football historians proclaimed them as footballing losers. However, this documentary shows behind the scenes of the team that had so many problems but still managed to become one of the best teams in the 1990s. If the circumstances were a bit different, maybe the Bills team would become the footballing dynasty.
4. Pony Excess (2010)
Directed by: Thaddeus D. Matula
Writer(s): Thaddeus D. Matula
Release date: December 11, 2010
Running time: 102 minutes
Starring: Fred Akers, Dick Anderson, Ken Andrews
Synopsis: Another ESPN 30 for 30 special brings us the story of a Texas small private school called Southern Methodist University whose football team The Mustangs, managed to become the best college team in the country. However, by the end of the 1980s, the shady background of suspicious investments, oil barons that used the college team to embezzle money, and other corrupted actions that “took away” football from the people. After 25 years, The Mustangs are on the rise again and are a great example of the team that was at the top, burned to ashes, and eventually started to rise from the ashes.
3. What Carter Lost (2017)
Directed by: Adam Hootnick
Writer(s): Adam Hootnick
Release date: August 24, 2017
Running time: 77 minutes
Starring: John Anderson, Jessie Armstead, Jason Bremer
Synopsis: Football in Texas is like a religion, and the Dallas Cowboys are considered the “American team” for forever. However, when the unbeaten Texas team strongly got into the playoffs and started getting accused of suspicious activity by the media and their competitors, local fans rallied behind their team. Unfortunately, the fans were “betrayed” by their team when they found out that the accusations were true. This 30 for 30 tells the story of innocent people involved in the scandal and the talented players whose future was altered forever.
2. The Big Green (1995)
Directed by: Holly Goldberg Sloan
Writer(s): Holly Goldberg Sloan
Release date: September 27, 1995
Running time: 99 minutes
Starring: Steve Guttenberg, Olivia d’Abo, Jay O. Sanders
Synopsis: When a teacher from England decides to use the exchange option and temporarily move to the United States, little did she know she will end up in an underachieving Texas school, where American football is at the forefront of sports. The coach with soccer knowledge will try to transform her team of misfits into an amazing soccer team seeking success from their peers.
1. The Waterboy (1998)
Directed by: Frank Coraci
Writer(s): Tim Herlihy, Adam Sandler
Release date: November 6, 1998
Running time: 90 minutes
Starring: Adam Sandler, Kathy Bates, Fairuza Balk, Jerry Reed, Henry Winkler
Synopsis: The movie follows the story of Bobby Boucher, who is a waterboy for a college football team. No one respects him, and he’s been treated like he is from the lowest tiers of the social hierarchy. However, one day the coach of the team discovers Bobby has the ability to tackle people much bigger than him and decides to sign the waterboy to his team. Unfortunately for Bobby, his mother is extremely against football, and now he needs to find a way to hide the new gig from her.
