There have been loans of football movies that have been released in history. However, only a few of them have managed to capture the magic of the beautiful game on the big screen.
Let’s take a look at the five best football movies that have been produced so far.
Escape To Victory (1981)
This 1981 classic remains one of the greatest films ever made and is a Christmas must-watch for most households in the United Kingdom.
The movie features some stellar star power in the form of Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Pele, Bobby Moore and Ossie Ardiles (via IMDB). The story mainly involves Allied prisoners of war plotting a courageous escape from a Nazi Prisoner Of War camp.
The Damned United (2009)
This movie was based on David Peace’s best-selling novel which shares the same name. It sheds light on the rise and fall of a young Brian Clough and also focuses on his growing rivalry with the legendary Leeds United head coach, Don Revie.
Michael Sheen captured the hearts of many people for his excellent portrayal of Clough.
Goal (2005)
This 2005 film remains one of the most popular football movies of all time and is the first of the three movies that have been released under the name ‘Goal’. It highlights the rise of a poor Mexican busboy Santiago Munez as he left Los Angeles to play for Newcastle United in England.
The movie is a rollercoaster of emotions for most of its run and would leave most football fans impressed by its characters and plot.
Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley caught the eye for their performances in this 2002 film. The movie was a critical and commercial success.
Bend It Like Beckham is the story of Jesminder ‘Jess’ Bhamra, who rebels against her conservative Indian Sikh parents by taking up football and playing for a local team. On a deeper note, the film’s commentary on issues of race and multiculturalism in modern England should be admired and seems relevant to this day.
Mean Machine (2001)
This movie was an adaptation of a popular 1974 American football comedy The Longest Yard. Vinnie Jones and Jason Statham stars in this film which showcases Jones’ character, Danny ‘The Mean Machine’ Meehan’s rise from being a match-fixer to becoming a prison legend.
This film is not a watch for the faint of heart as it features a lot of prison violence. However, for people who can stomach it, they will be surprised by a brief yet wonderful cameo from Ryan Giggs.
