| MOVIE |
RATING |
ESPN.COM SAYS |
| Remember the Titans (2000) |
? |
Too early to tell for the Disney film released Friday. |
| The Replacements (2000) |
 |
Despite Keanu Reeves at quarterback, this was a surprisingly entertaining yarn about the strike season of 1987. Gene Hackman was believable as an old-school head coach. |
| Any Given Sunday (1999) |
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The action sequences were solid and the cameos (LT, Jim Brown, Y.A. Tittle, Dick Butkus, Johnny Unitas, etc.) were terrific. But we can't give a thumbs-up to a movie in which the backup QB reads a newspaper on the bench and another player gets hit so hard he loses an eye. And what's with all the gladiator scenes? |
| Varsity Blues (1999) |
|
Someday, there's going to be a great movie made about the culture of high school football in small towns. This is not it. |
| Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1998) |
|
Enough with dogs catching things already. |
| The Waterboy (1998) |
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It was pointless, immature and just plain silly. But if you like Adam Sandler, this is your movie. |
| Angels in the End Zone (1996) |
|
End Zone? Outfield? Does it really matter? |
| Jerry Maguire (1996) |
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Although it caused countless idiots to keep yelling, "Show me the money!" this Cameron Crowe film provided a good portrait of the sports agent. Plus, the cameos by Leigh Steinberg clients never end. |
| Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) |
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Dan Marino plays a major role, and several other Dolphins have cameos. Ray Finkle is the theatrical version of Scott Norwood. Plus, Jim Carrey's at his best. |
| Rudy (1993) |
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Wake us when the sappiness ends. |
| The Program (1993) |
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Who can forget the scene when the two defensive linemen spit in each other's mouths? Gross stuff. But this movie tries to tackle every problem in college football. |
| Everybody's All-American (1988) |
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Based on Frank Deford's novel, this Dennis Quaid flick followed the saga of a college football star after the lights had dimmed. It's a bit clichéd, but not bad. |
| Necessary Roughness (1991) |
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Scott Bakula throws like an NFL player ... Garo Yepremian. |
| The Last Boy Scout (1991) |
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The opening scene is one of the worst in recent memory. It doesn't exactly improve after that, either. |
| Johnny Be Good (1988) |
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Anthony Michael Hall as the star high school QB sought by every college? We don't think so. Of course, we remember, this guy as "The Geek" in "Sixteen Candles." |
| Wildcats (1986) |
 |
Predictable Goldie Hawn offering was the first movie to team Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson. |
| The Best of Times (1986) |
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Kurt Russell still blames Robin Williams for dropping a touchdown pass in a big game. We say he should have seen it coming. |
| All the Right Moves (1983) |
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Before he became "Coach," Craig T. Nelson was the drill sergeant for Tom Cruise and Co. in this story of high-school ball in Western Pennsylvania. |
| North Dallas Forty (1979) |
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Loosely based on the Cowboys teams of the 1970s, this ranks as one of the best football films. Nick Nolte stars, and Jon Matuszak makes a cameo. |
| Heaven Can Wait (1978) |
|
There are plenty of unbelievable parts in the plot, but none more so than the Rams making the Super Bowl. |
| Semi-Tough (1978) |
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Robert Preston is perfect as a team owner, and Kris Kristofferson is believable as a wide receiver. Plus, it's got cameos from "Too Tall" Jones and Paul Hornung. |
| Black Sunday (1977) |
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A terrorist group plots to bomb the stadium during Super Bowl X. As you can tell from that plot, there's not a lot of football in this one. |
| Gus (1976) |
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Disney flick about a field-goal-kicking mule is fun for kids. As movie kickers go, we'll take Gus over Ray Finkle. |
| The Longest Yard (1974) |
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Twenty-five years later, Burt Reynolds still scores with this story of an intense game between prison guards and cons. And we still think that dude has a broken neck. |
| Brian's Song (1972) |
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Even the toughest guy cries when Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) tells the team, "Brian Piccolo is sick, very sick." |
| Paper Lion (1968) |
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Alan Alda is believable as George Plimpton, although neither is believable as an NFL quarterback. Plenty of Detroit Lions play themselves. |
| Knute Rockne, All-American (1940) |
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The best of a slew of football flicks during the 1930s and '40s, most remembered for future President Ronald Reagan uttering the most famous line from a sports movie -- "Win one for the Gipper." |
