Top 6 Best Football Movies You Should Watch

United is a drama based on the true story of the 'Busby Babes,' a group of young Manchester United players, and the tragic Munich air disaster in 1958. The film follows events from August 1956 to May 1958, focusing on the experiences of assistant manager Jimmy Murphy, portrayed by David Tennant, and player Bobby Charlton, played by Jack O'Connell.

The story highlights the bond between Murphy and the young Charlton, starting with Charlton's first chance to play for Manchester United’s first team, known as the 'Busby Babes,' a squad made up mostly of homegrown talent, except for a few older players brought from other clubs.

DETAILS:

Director: James Strong

Cast: Dean Andrews, Kate Ashfield, Natalie Burt

Duration: 1h 34m

Release Year: 2011

IMDb: 7.4

Shaolin Soccer is a Chinese football film about a former famous player, Iron Leg, who becomes a washed-up coach due to selling out his talents. He meets Sing, a passionate martial artist determined to spread Kung Fu worldwide. Together, they form a football team and recruit their old Shaolin brothers. This unusual Shaolin soccer team begins to make waves in the global football scene.

After its release, Shaolin Soccer became the highest-grossing film in Hong Kong cinema history and won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Picture. It is considered one of the greatest works of Hong Kong comedy king, Stephen Chow.

DETAILS:

Director: Stephen Chow

Cast: Stephen Chow, Ng Man-tat, Lee Kin-yan

Duration: 1h 27m

Release Year: 2001

IMDb: 7.3

TOMATOMETER: 90%

AUDIENCE: 84%

There are not many films in world cinema that focus on the beautiful game of football. However, every time the World Cup comes around, football fans and movie buffs alike remember a special football film from 1981 that stars the king of football, Pelé, and England's 1966 World Cup captain, Bobby Moore: Escape to Victory.

In Escape to Victory, Nazi officers organize a propaganda event featuring a football match between German stars and a team of Allied prisoners of war. The prisoners agree to play, seeing the match as an opportunity to escape from captivity.

DETAILS:

Director: John Huston

Cast: Michael Caine, Max von Sydow, Pelé

Duration: 1h 56m

Release Year: 1981

IMDb: 6.7

TOMATOMETER: 63%

AUDIENCE: 71%

Jason Sudeikis stars as Ted Lasso, an American football coach who is hired to manage a British football team despite having no experience in the sport. Can Ted prove himself to a skeptical team and a doubtful city?

Ted Lasso has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its performances, writing, tone, and standout themes. The series earned 20 Primetime Emmy nominations, making it the most-nominated freshman comedy in Emmy history, with Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, and Brett Goldstein winning for their performances. The show also won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2021.

DETAILS:

Directors: Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Bill Lawrence

Cast: Jason Sudeikis, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt

Duration: 23 episodes

Release Year: 2020

IMDb: 8.8

TOMATOMETER: 95%

AUDIENCE: 88%

The English Game is set in the 19th century, following two football players from opposing social classes as they overcome personal and professional struggles to revolutionize the game and forever change England. The show tells the story of how football was invented and how it quickly became the world’s most popular sport by breaking down class divides.

The English Game is a historical sports drama created by Julian Fellowes for Netflix, exploring the origins of modern association football in England. The series consists of six episodes, released on March 20, 2020.

DETAILS:

Directors: Birgitte Stærmose, Tim Fywell

Cast: Edward Holcroft, Kevin Guthrie, Charlotte Hope

Duration: 6 episodes

Release Year: 2020

IMDb: 7.6

TOMATOMETER: 53%

AUDIENCE: 83%

11 Hopes is an inspirational football movie that follows a group of young footballers driven by their passion for the game and their dream of representing their country. The film captures their journey as they strive to wear the national team jersey and fight with the pride of millions of Vietnamese football fans.

Set in a fictional coastal city in Vietnam, the story centers around a prestigious regional football tournament. The film tracks the tumultuous journey of Phong (Nhan Phúc Vinh), a player who sits on the bench but plays with an unyielding love for the sport. Along the way, Phong faces opposition from his family, life challenges, love, and friendships, sometimes pushing him and his teammates into difficult situations. With the national colors on their backs and the weight of their nation's pride, will they rise to become true warriors for the flag?

DETAILS:

Director: Robie Trường

Cast: Nhan Phúc Vinh, Võ Hoài Nam, Lâm Minh Thắng

Duration: 1h 50m

Release Year: 2018

IMDb: 6.5