“Couldn’t script it like that” is a line often thrown out by commentators at football’s most dramatic moments. Well, it turns out you can.
There are plenty of football-inspired films that have done just that, either drawing on stories from the beautiful game or making up their own. Either way, due to the general lack of football movies out there, these particular on-screen stories have often secured cult status among fans.
Here are the best and most popular football movies on the market.
The boardroom meeting in which Escape to victory was released must have been interesting.
The film focuses on a POW camp in Germany during World War II, with Allied prisoners forced to play an exhibition match against a German team. The production stars Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone and, of course, Pele. And yes, Pelé actually has dialogue.
The film also stars legends Bobby Moore, Ossie Ardiles and Kazimierz Deyna as the prisoners try to claim victory in their pitched battle with the Germans in a match that is rigged in favor of the home team.
Based very loosely on the excellent 1992 book by Nick Hornby, Fever Pitch combines the drama of Arsenal’s 1988/89 title-winning campaign with the feel-good romance most associated with its leading man Colin Firth.
Firth plays Paul Ashworth, an English teacher who is fascinated by his relationship with history teacher Sarah Hughes. However, Paul’s first love threatens to derail their relationship, with Sarah uncertain about his commitment to her for his beloved Gunners.
Football, martial arts and a fascinating underdog story – what’s not to like?
Shaolin Soccer is about a former Shaolin monk who is reunited with his five brothers shortly after the death of their master. Of course, they then apply their extraordinary martial arts skills to conquer the soccer field. Why not, huh?
The Shaolin team (the good guys) take part in a Hong Kong Cup competition, but face an illegal doping team (not surprisingly the bad guys) in the ultimate battle of superhuman football and arts ability martial
Double it like Beckham is a unique offering in the world of football film, which tells the inspiring story of Jesminder Bhamra, played by Parminder Nagra, as he pursues a professional football career despite the disappointment he will cause his family.
After meeting Jules Paxton (Keira Knightley’s breakthrough role), who is also looking to become a professional footballer, the two form a formidable friendship that is tested by the arrival of love interest Joe, a former footballer Irishman whose career was ended early by injury.
The film navigates a myriad of social issues with light-hearted grace, while also starring the likes of David Beckham, Gary Lineker and John Barnes.
If you’re looking for a football movie with a little more noise and a lot of cold-blooded violence, then The Football Factory it might be worth a look. Starring a young Danny Dyer, the plot revolves around rival hooligan firms in London.
Offering a glimpse into one of the uglier aspects of the beautiful game, Dyer’s character Tommy Johnson is a Chelsea fan who lives for weekend football. Tommy is ready to escape the danger and disillusionment of his current lifestyle, but leaving the criminal world behind is a difficult challenge.
Goal! It certainly didn’t make a significant impact upon its initial release in 2005, but it has since been embraced as a cult classic.
The film follows the trials and tribulations of Santiago Munez, an illegal Mexican immigrant living in the United States, as he is signed by Newcastle United after impressing at amateur level in Los Angeles. A complicated relationship with his father almost prevents the move, but the youngster eventually makes it to Tyneside.
However, things are not going well at St James’ Park, with Munez struggling to fulfill his potential, while feuds between him and his team-mates threaten his career with the Magpies. Unsurprisingly, Munez is finding form at the right time as Newcastle chase a European place.
out of play it’s a powerful film and one that deserves to be seen by both football fans and those completely uninterested in the beautiful game.
Centered around a group of Iranian women, it details their attempts to attend a 2006 World Cup qualifier between Iran and Bahrain. However, women are not allowed to attend football matches in Iran, and despite dressing as men to enter the arena, their cover is usually about to be blown.
Released in 2006, the film highlights the painful difficulties women face in being treated equally in Iran, and although women are now allowed to enter certain stadiums in the country, out of play remains as relevant today as it was in the mid-1990s.
The Damned United is one of the most iconic football films in the industry, and very much so Goal!its popularity has skyrocketed since its initial release in 2009.
Michael Sheen plays legendary English manager Brian Clough and the film revolves around his torrid 44 days as head coach at Leeds United after replacing Don Revie. The Welsh actor gives an outstanding performance as the enigmatic but flawed Clough, although the film has been slated for its historical inaccuracies.
Of course, his time at Leeds was followed by an outstanding spell with Nottingham Forest, with Clough guiding the Midlands outfit to two European Cups.
Focusing on the horrific events of the Munich air disaster, British film united is a heartbreaking and moving tale focused on the aftermath of tragedy. Returning home after a European Cup qualifier in Belgrade in 1958, a plane carrying the Manchester United The team crashed and killed 20 people including players, journalists and fans.
The film expands on the incredible relationship between United assistant manager Jimmy Murphy, played by the brilliant David Tennant, and legendary player Bobby Charlton, played by a young Jack O’Connell, in the weeks and months that followed to disaster as United find strength and unity in adversity.
Directed by New Zealand filmmaker and actor Taika Waititi, The next goal wins tells the remarkable real-life story of the American Samoa national team, widely regarded as one of the worst teams in the world, as they attempt to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
American Samoa, suffering a 31-0 loss to Australia in 2001, appointed Thomas Rongen, played by Michael Fassbender, to turn the country’s fortunes around, with the thrilling film culminating in American Samoa’s quest of a competitive victory for the first time in history. their clash with Tonga in 2011.
