Football or soccer (if you are American) has not had many blockbuster hits compared to comic books or even other sports. Nevertheless, some football movies have done a great job in their attempt to capture the drama inside and outside the football stadium.
In this article, we take a look at the best football movies that fans should see. We looked through various movie ranking sites like IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes to rank the films.
1. Montevideo: Taste of a Dream
Taste of a Dream is an adapted screenplay based on Montevideo, a book written by famous sports journalist Vladimir Stankovic.
The football movie follows a group of young people who decide to chase a dream. The dream leads them to the World Football Championship in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1930.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
2. The Damned United
The Damned United is a 2009 movie by Tom Hooper. The film focuses on a popular British manager, Brian Clough. The story takes off from when Clough took over as the coach at the top club Leeds United where he attempts to change the style of play from “dirty and aggressive,” which leads to in-fighting.
Further, he is also missing his favorite player from his former club, making it more difficult for him to adapt. The story makes for a good football drama about the life of a top-flight coach, struggling to fill his new role.
IMDB Rating: 7.5 Stars
3.Green Street Hooligans
A football movie for the fans, Green Street Hooligans, explores the beautiful and sometimes ugly nature of football fandom. The film by Lexi Alexander focuses on an expelled Havard student who turns into a football hooligan.
The main character in the movie, Matt, gets expelled from Havard for controversial reasons. He then moves to London and encounters football hooliganism. Initially scared of the violence, Matt becomes a part of it as things take a dark turn.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
4.United
United is a movie tribute to one of the most illustrious Manchester United squads of all time. The very youthful side became the youngest team to win the Football League but are later hit by a major tragedy.
The major tragedy was the 1958 Munich Air Crash, which led to the death of 8 members of the team. The movie is made based on first-hand accounts from team members and people close to them at that time.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
5. Shaolin Soccer
Probably one of the most popular football movies. Shaolin Soccer takes football out of the normal and adds a bit of martial arts.
The movie focuses on ex-footballer Bum, who meets a Shaolin kung fu student trying to promote the form of martial arts. The ex-soccer player helps the student reunite with his five brothers, and trains them to merge kung fu with football.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
6. Offside
This movie looks at football from the lense of fans, but this time fans living in an unequal position with limited or no opportunity to enjoy the beautiful game.
Offside is about a group of girls who finds themselves in a country where they cannot watch matches because females are not allowed into the stadium.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
7. Brother
Brother explores the hardship of two brothers who grow up in a slum with amazing football talent. Julio is a born leader and team caption while Daniel is an exceptional striker.
Their past activities intended to feed their family haunts them when the most prominent opportunity arrives. In the third act of the film, the brothers have to chase their dreams while fighting for their lives.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
8. All Stars
A team of Dutch footballers has been playing together on the same team since their childhood. Conflict arises right before their 500th game due to external pressure and infighting.
The 500th match happens when the team is all grown and is in their twenties. The changing times and additional responsibilities lead to personality clashes that make their 500th match not what they wished for.
IMBD Rating: 7.2
8. Pilkarski Poker
This movie is set up in communist Poland in the mid-1980s. The film captures the corrupt nature of football at the time, which was a game for the rich to benefit from.
Pilkarski Poker is a story about match-fixing by chairmen of football clubs who start a cooperative that uses corrupt referees.
IMBD Rating: 7.1
10.The Football Factory
Football Factors follows the life of a Chelsea fan who becomes a full hooligan living on drugs, sex, and violence.
Critics describe the football hooligan movie as a study of the English obsession with football violence.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
11.Rudo y Cursi
Another football movie about two brothers, Rudo y Cursi, is about a rivalry that emerges between two individuals in the field of play.
They both begin to make a name for themselves but get caught up in fame, causing a fall in their glory.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
12.Victory
Another mix of global politics with football, Victory follows a team of prisoners selected to play in a propaganda match against a German team in Nazi-occupied France.
Besides the match, British army officials attempt to use this opportunity to free the prisoners.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
13. Fever Pitch
Maybe it is true that some men love football more than their partners. In Fever Pitch, a man’s love for Arsenal Football Club gets in between his relationship with new love Sarah.
The romantic comedy leaves the man contemplating on how to balance his love for football and a new budding love commitment.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
14. The Miracle of Bern
The Miracle of Bern is one of the best performing football movies at the box office, grossing over $24 million worldwide. The film is based around the championship-winning German soccer team of 1954.
The main narrative in the movie is split in two with a partial focus on a young boy who is struggling with his family post-World War 2 and is friends with a team member. Additionally, the movie focuses on a reporter and his wife reporting the tournament.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
15.Goal! The Dream Begins
Goal! “The Dream Begins” is a story about Santiago, a man enters the US illegally with the help of his father. He then begins to chase his dream as a footballer, which leads him to meet an ex-British international who recognises his talent.
An initial deal to get him signed fails. Then, he ends up at Newcastle United despite his Asthma. However, when he is paired with a troublesome roommate, the problems begin.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
If you miss football because there’s no action this weekend, these football movies may replenish your thirst for footie.
