The Best Soccer Movies

The Best Soccer Movies

Will

Release Date 2012
Rating : 6.8 Production Companies: Strangelove Films, Galatafilm Director: Ellen Perry Stars: Damian Lewis, Bob Hoskins, Rebekah Staton

Summary: Brennan is Liverpool's number one fan, able to recite facts ad infinitum about the club and at a public school in the south of England since his father Gareth is emotionally unable to care for him following the death of Will's mother. Gareth appears one day out of the blue with tickets for Liverpool's trip to the 2005 Champions League Final in Istanbul.

The Football Factory

Release Date 2004
Rating : 6.7 Production Companies: Vertigo Films, Rockstar Games Director: Robin Vickers, James Hagger, James Hagger Stars: Danny Dyer, Neil Maskell, Frank Harper

Summary: The Football Factory is more than just a study of the English obsession with football violence, it's about men looking for armies to join, wars to fight and places to belong. A forgotten culture of Anglo Saxon males fed up with being told they're not good enough and using their fists as a drug they describe as being more potent than sex and drugs put together.

United

Release Date 2011
Rating : 7.3 Production Companies: Lipsync Productions, World Productions Director: James Strong Stars: David Tennant, Jack O'Connell, Sam Claflin

Summary: United is based on the true story of Manchester United's legendary "Busby Babes", the youngest side ever to win the Football League and the 1958 Munich Air Crash that claimed eight of the their number. The film draws on first-hand interviews with the survivors and their families to tell the inspirational story of a team and community overcoming terrible tragedy.

Kicking and Screaming

Release Date 1995
Rating : 6.7 Production Companies: Castleberg Productions, Sandollar Productions Director: Noah Baumbach Stars: Josh Hamilton, Olivia d'Abo, Chris Eigeman

Summary: After college graduation, Grover's girlfriend Jane tells him she's moving to Prague to study writing. Grover declines to accompany her, deciding instead to move in with several friends, all of whom can't quite work up the inertia to escape their university's pull. Nobody wants to make any big decisions that would radically alter his life, yet none of them wants to end up like Chet, the professional student who tends bar and is in his tenth year of university studies.

Fever Pitch

Release Date 1997
Rating : 6.7 Production Companies: Scala Productions, Wildgaze Films Director: David Evans, Sara Desmond Stars: Colin Firth, Ruth Gemmell, Mark Strong

Summary: A romantic comedy about a man, a woman and a football team. Based on Nick Hornby's best selling autobiographical novel, Fever Pitch. English teacher Paul Ashworth believes his long standing obsession with Arsenal serves him well. But then he meets Sarah. Their relationship develops in tandem with Arsenal's roller coaster fortunes in the football league, both leading to a nail biting climax.

Bend It Like Beckham

Release Date 2003
Rating : 6.7 Production Companies: Fox Searchlight Pictures, Kintop Pictures Director: Gurinder Chadha, Guy Heeley Stars: Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Summary: Jess Bhamra, the daughter of a strict Indian couple in London, is not permitted to play organized soccer, even though she is 18. When Jess is playing for fun one day, her impressive skills are seen by Jules Paxton, who then convinces Jess to play for her semi-pro team. Jess uses elaborate excuses to hide her matches from her family while also dealing with her romantic feelings for her coach, Joe.

Shaolin Soccer

Release Date 2004
Rating : 7.3 Production Companies: Star Overseas, Universe Entertainment Director: Stephen Chow, Paco Yiu Fung-Suen, Yiu Man-Kei Stars: Stephen Chow, Zhao Wei, Ng Man-tat

Summary: A young Shaolin follower reunites with his discouraged brothers to form a soccer team using their martial art skills to their advantage.

Escape to Victory

Release Date 1981
Rating : 6.6 Production Companies: Paramount, Lorimar Director: John Huston, Elie Cohn Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Max von Sydow

Summary: A group of POWs in a German prison camp during World War II play the German National Soccer Team in this powerful film depicting the role of prisoners during wartime.

Goal!

Release Date 2006
Rating : 6.7 Production Companies: Touchstone Pictures, Milkshake Films Director: Christopher Newman, Danny Cannon, Christopher Newman Stars: Kuno Becker, Alessandro Nivola, Anna Friel

Summary: Like millions of kids around the world, Santiago harbors the dream of being a professional footballer... However, living in the Barrios section of Los Angeles, he thinks it is only that--a dream. Until one day an extraordinary turn of events has him trying out for Premiership club Newcastle United.

The Damned United

Release Date 2009
Rating : 7.5 Production Companies: BBC Film, Columbia Pictures Corporation Director: Gemma Nunn, Tom Rye, Martin Curry Stars: Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney

Summary: Taking over Leeds United, Brian Clough's abrasive approach and his clear dislike of the players' dirty style of play make it certain there is going to be friction. Glimpses of his earlier career help explain both his hostility to previous manager Don Revie and how much he is missing right-hand man Peter Taylor.