Detroit Lions winning it all? As these 12 movies show, anything can happen in football

Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press
Updated ·5 min read
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Detroit Lions fans are living their best lives, as hopes of reaching the playoffs finally seem real this year.

After Thursday's season-opening win against the Kansas City Chiefs, how can you keep your Lions joy at maximum levels until the next game? Try watching these 12 football-themed movies bursting with goodness, optimism and the stuff that makes impossible dreams come true. One of them actually is about the Lions.

Binge until you can imagine seeing Honolulu blue on the Super Bowl field.

'Remember the Titans' (2000)

Denzel Washington in "Remember the Titans."
Denzel Washington in "Remember the Titans."

Denzel Washington gives a memorable performance as real-life coach Herman Boone, who is tasked with leading a high school football program in 1971 that has just become integrated. A longtime favorite, “Remember the Titans” shows how the team tackles racism and unites to become a true sports family. The cast includes an early appearance by future Ken, Ryan Gosling. Stream on Disney+; watch on Amazon, Google Play, and more.

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'Brian's Song' (1971)

Billy Dee Williams and James Caan in "Brian's Song."
Billy Dee Williams and James Caan in "Brian's Song."

If men use football to deal with their emotions, all the feelings are here in this classic TV movie: courage, fear, love, anger, empathy. "Brian's Song" recounts the friendship between Chicago Bears teammates Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams), who becomes an NFL star, and Brian Piccolo, who is terminally ill. Although the hospital scenes between Williams and Caan will make you weep like a baby, the message is that what matters is how you live your life, not how long it is. Stream on Fubo and Tubi; rent or buy on Amazon, GooglePlay, and more.

'The Waterboy' (1998)

You can lead football fans to “The Waterboy,” but you can’t make them think about how improbable the story is. That’s because the silliness is the beauty of this 1998 comedy blockbuster. Adam Sandler stars as Bobby Boucher, the voluntary water boy for the fictional South Central Louisiana State University Mud Dogs who becomes a star linebacker. Worth it alone for Sandler’s classic line, “Now that’s what I call high-quality H20.” Stream on Fubo, Tubi and DirecTV; rent or buy on Amazon, GooglePlay, AppleTV+ and more.

'The Freshman' (1925)

Harold Lloyd in "The Freshman."
Harold Lloyd in "The Freshman."

The remarkable Harold Lloyd stars in this slapstick silent film about a college student who tries to become a big man on campus by landing a spot on the football team. Lloyd’s physical comedy genius as a bumbling player helped make this one of the first 50 movies to be placed on the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry for its overall significance to cinema. With his round glasses and cheerful determination, Lloyd is the ultimate underdog here (meaning he's worthy of being a Detroit Lion). Stream on Max and Criterion Channel and more; rent or buy on Amazon or AppleTV+.

'80 for Brady' (2023)

Rita Moreno, left, Jane Fonda, Sally Field and Lily Tomlin in "80 for Brady."
Rita Moreno, left, Jane Fonda, Sally Field and Lily Tomlin in "80 for Brady."

Sorry, wrong answer, if you think this is only for women members of AARP. Corny though it may be, the story of four longtime pals (Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Rita Moreno and Sally Field) who are die-hard New England Patriots and Tom Brady fans — and on a quest to attend the 2017 Super Bowl — is really about never giving up on yourself or your team. Oh, and that Brady appearance near the finale helps, too. Stream on Prime Video, Paramount+, MGM+ and Fubo; rent or buy from Amazon, Google Play, AppleTV+ and more.

'Paper Lion' (1968)

Alan Alda as author George Plimpton in "Paper Lion."
Alan Alda as author George Plimpton in "Paper Lion."

Before the sitcom “M*A*S*H*” made him a superstar, good-guy Alan Alda starred as author George Plimpton in the adaption of Plimpton’s best-selling book about his adventures as what the Free Press called “the last-string quarterback" at Lions training camp 60 years ago. The big-screen version is a pleasant take on one man’s effort to defy the odds. Plus, defensive tackle Alex Karras, who went on to a successful acting career, and other members of the 1967 Lions play themselves in it. Stream on TCM.com.

'Rudy' (1993)

Sean Astin in "Rudy."
Sean Astin in "Rudy."

Anything is possible in a Cinderella football saga. Based on a true story, "Rudy" is about the ultimate sports dreamer, played by Sean Astin. Devoted to becoming a Notre Dame player, Rudy overcomes his blue-collar background, gets into the college and becomes a walk-on player ready to grab his chance at greatness on the field. A new 4K Blu-ray edition from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is coming in November to mark the 30th anniversary of the timeless movie. Stream on Peacock Premium and Paramount+; rent or buy on Amazon, GooglePlay, AppleTV+ and more.

'Friday Night Lights' (2004)

"Friday Night Lights," starring Billy Bob Thornton, is based on the 1990 book "Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream."
"Friday Night Lights," starring Billy Bob Thornton, is based on the 1990 book "Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream."

In the film that inspired the beloved television series, Billy Bob Thornton stars as the coach of a high school team in Odessa, Texas, where football is treated like a secular religion. The story delves into the pressures faced by players on the field and at home — and the partying that helps them blow off steam. It's an excellent critique of what it means to do your best and why victory isn’t always about winning. Stream on Peacock Premium; rent or buy on Amazon, Google Play and more.

'Gridiron Gang' (2006)

Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson in "Gridiron Gang."
Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson in "Gridiron Gang."

Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson leads this satisfying if formulaic movie about a probation officer for juvenile delinquents who teams up with his co-worker (Xzibit), who teach the kids some life lessons through football. An inspiring take on second chances, it benefits from the Rock’s ability to be as credibly low-key as an actor as he was over-the-top as a pro wrestler. Stream on Netflix and Fubo; rent or buy on Amazon, Google Play and more.

'Undefeated' (2011)

A 2012 Oscar winner for best documentary, the film focuses on the Manassas Tigers, an inner-city high school team in Memphis, Tennessee, that hasn’t won a playoff game in its 110 years of existence. Then Bill Courtney, a former coach at the high school level, volunteers to help turn the program around. An award-winning exploration of how football can shape the lives of young men. Stream on Hoopla; rent or buy on Amazon, Redbox and more.

'Air Bud: Golden Receiver' (1998)

"Air Bud: Golden Receiver" is about a football-playing dog on a mission.
"Air Bud: Golden Receiver" is about a football-playing dog on a mission.

Never mind that it didn’t live up to the box office take or reviews of the original “Air Bud.” This gentle family comedy about a football-playing dog who helps a junior high team reach the championships is a case study in wish fulfillment. With cameos by Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon and former NFL wide receiver and ESPN analyst Joey Galloway. Rent or buy on Amazon, GooglePlay, AppleTV+ and more.

'Harvard Beats Yale 29-29' (2008)

"Harvard Beats Yale 29-29" is a documentary about an unusual 1968 game.
"Harvard Beats Yale 29-29" is a documentary about an unusual 1968 game.

The New York Times described this documentary about at a famous Ivy League football game as “preposterously entertaining." It chronicles the 1968 gridiron grudge match between two undefeated teams. As Yale entered the fourth quarter ahead by 16 points, “everything changed in the final 42 seconds as all the forces of the universe, or so it seemed, shifted,” as the Times wrote, leading to the Harvard Crimson headline that's used as the film's title. Stream on Hoopla, Tubi and more; rent or buy on Amazon, GooglePlay, YouTube and more.

Contact Detroit Free pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 12 football movies to inspire Detroit Lions fans