The Super Bowl is essentially a national holiday that often draws more eyes than any other event, and Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX—between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs—will be no exception. But the one bad thing about the big game is that it’s also the last game of the season, with a long seven-month wait until the NFL begins again.
Thankfully, there’s a wide array of classic football films out there to pass the offseason with. Want some inspiring true stories? Look no further than Remember the Titans and Rudy. Prefer wild action? Any Given Sunday and North Dallas Forty have plenty of it. Are you a sucker for movie stars delivering motivational speeches that will have you ready to suit up yourself? Gene Hackman, Denzel Washington, Al Pacino, Dwayne Johnson, and Tom Cruise have you covered.
So once the Super Bowl is over, throw on these all-time great football movies and kick off an undefeated marathon.
Brian’s Song (1971)
Director: Buzz Kulik
Genre: Drama
Notable cast: James Caan, Billy Dee Williams, Jack Warden
MPA rating: G
Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
Metacritic: 62
Are you looking for a good cry? Brian’s Song is the right play call. The 1971 ABC Movie of the Week shares the true story of the unlikely and heartwarming friendship between Chicago Bears teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers. Future legendary actors James Caan and Billy Dee Williams star as the duo who became the first interracial roommates in NFL history. The film documents the evolution of their relationship, which ended in 1970, when Piccolo died of cancer at only 26 years old. Sports movies are famous for their rousing speeches from coaches looking to rally their teams, but Brian’s Song and Williams deliver an all-timer when Sayers accepts an award and professes his love for Piccolo. We promise, you’ll love it too.
The Longest Yard (1974)
Everett Collection.
Director: Robert Aldrich
Genre: Dramedy
Notable cast: Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert, Ed Lauter, Mike Conrad
MPA rating: R
Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
Metacritic: 61
No offense to Adam Sandler’s 2005 remake, but if you’re going to watch one version of The Longest Yard, it should definitely be the original Oscar-nominated film. The 1974 prison dramedy stars Burt Reynolds—a former college standout himself—as Paul “Wrecking” Crewe, a convict who was a star NFL quarterback before being kicked out of the league for point-shaving. When Crewe lands at Citrus State Prison, home to a semi-pro team consisting of the guards, the warden pressures Crewe into putting together his own squad of inmates for a not-so-friendly matchup.
Heaven Can Wait (1978)
Director: Warren Beatty and Buck Henry
Genre: Dramedy
Notable cast: Warren Beatty, Buck Henry, Julie Christie, Charles Grodin, Dyan Cannon, Jack Warden
MPA rating: PG
Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Metacritic: 72
Warren Beatty was the ultimate do-it-all player on the 1978 sports dramedy Heaven Can Wait. Serving as producer, codirector (with Buck Henry), and cowriter (with Elaine May), Beatty also starred as Los Angeles Rams quarterback Joe Pendleton—who, just ahead of the Super Bowl, is mistakenly taken to heaven by a rookie guardian angel (Henry). Upon realizing that Joe wasn’t supposed to die yet, he’s returned to Earth—but in a new body, belonging to a recently murdered millionaire. Under his new identity, Joe buys the Rams and decides that he’s the perfect person to lead the team to victory in the Super Bowl. Heaven Can Wait scored nine Oscar nominations, including four for Beatty (best picture, director, actor, and screenplay).
North Dallas Forty (1979)
Director: Ted Kotcheff
Genre: Dramedy
Notable cast: Nick Nolte, Mac Davis, Charles Durning, G.D. Spradlin, Dabney Coleman
MPA rating: R
Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Metacritic: 80