6 Best Football Underdog and Triumph Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 25, 2026

Football is the great underdog sport, and these films milk that for all it’s worth. We Are Marshall has a college team and its community rebuilding after a devastating plane crash, Friday Night Lights puts a small Texas town’s whole identity on a high school team, and Remember the Titans has a newly integrated team overcoming racial tension. Radio, Varsity Blues and Rudy round out the six.

We Are Marshall (2006)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A college football programme rebuilds from nothing after a plane crash kills nearly the entire team.

Directed by McG · 2h 11m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Friday Night Lights (2004)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A small Texas town pins its whole identity on one high school football team's playoff run.

Directed by Peter Berg · 1h 58m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Radio (2003)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A high school football coach befriends a mentally challenged young man, transforming their whole community.

Directed by Michael Tollin · 1h 49m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Remember the Titans (2000)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A newly integrated football team has to learn to function as a team before the season destroys them.

Directed by Boaz Yakin · 1h 53m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Varsity Blues (1999)

TMDB ★ 6.2

A backup high school quarterback is thrust into the spotlight after the star player is injured.

Directed by Brian Robbins · 1h 46m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Rudy (1993)

TMDB ★ 7.5

An undersized walk-on spends years just trying to earn one play for Notre Dame.

Directed by David Anspaugh · 1h 54m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: TNT, TBS, tru TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Football Underdog and Triumph Movies

We Are Marshall (2006)

Friday Night Lights (2004)

Radio (2003)

Remember the Titans (2000)

Varsity Blues (1999)

Rudy (1993)

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