My fighting Irish are ranked #5 in the nation, and this weekend they face off against the Florida State Seminoles, who are ranked #2 in the nation. Both teams are undefeated but only one will have that status at the end of the game Saturday night in Tallahassee. This, my friends, is a big game. Big.
In my family, this game means even more. My mom graduated from Florida State. Our alma maters battling to remain undefeated.
Our high school team has an away game this week, so Friday night is the perfect time to get fired up for the Saturday showdown by checking out some of our favorite football movies streaming on Netflix.
These movies are all based on a true story and rated PG. They all have wonderful messages that make them great family viewing, and while they are about football, they offer life lessons on a wide variety of topics that go far beyond the football field.
Rudy
I love this movie for many reasons, and not just because it takes place on the Notre Dame campus, although that certainly doesn’t hurt. You can’t help but root for the underdog in this movie. There are many positive messages, including about the importance of perseverance, friendship and aiming high in this film that even those who aren’t fans of the Fighting Irish find themselves chanting “Rudy! Rudy!”
Radio
Set in South Carolina in 1967, Ed Harris stars as a high school football coach who takes a developmentally delayed young mean, nicknamed Radio, played by Cuba Gooding, Jr. under his wing.
Robert Ebert said in his review of the film, “Every once in a while human nature expresses itself in a way we can feel good about, and this is one of those times. For families, for those who find most movies too cynical, for those who want to feel good in a warm and uncomplicated way, ‘Radio’ is a treasure.”
Common Sense Media describes this true story of an inner-city Memphis high school football team and its dedicated volunteer coach as an “inspiring football documentary about the power of teamwork” and recommends the movie for kids ages 11 and older. Released in 2011, this is a good option if your family is looking for something more modern, and it could be a great way to introduce kids to the documentary genre.
The 5th Quarter
I’m an Aidan Quinn fan (don’t hear that every day, do you?) and he and Andie MacDowell star in this 2010 movie as grieving parents who lost a son in a tragic accident cause by reckless teen driving. Their surviving son, football player Jon Abbate, leads the Wake Forest Demon Deacons to their best season ever in 2006, where they were co-champions of the ACC.
If you’re looking for more than just a movie, check out Friday Night Lights available on Netflix Streaming.
What are your favorite football movies?
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Disclosure: I am a member of the Nextflix Stream Team, and look forward to sharing monthly stories and suggestions about using Netflix streaming. I have received a year of Free Netflix Streaming and a Roku. All opinions in this post are my own.
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