He’s eventually able to pull the team through the season and then the movie starts to focus more on the love interests. At the end of the movie, you may find yourself rooting for ESU but also thinking the school should shut down the football program in general.

4. Varsity Blues (1999)

When a backup quarterback is chosen to lead a Texas football team to victory after their star quarterback is injured, we see how teenage athletes respond to the almost impossible pressures that are placed on them. 

Football is king in the small town of Canaan. The head coach, Kilmer (a crusty Jon Voight), is not someone to idolize, encouraging the team to “win at all costs.” The QB, Mox (James Van Der Beek), is dealing with an insane amount of pressure from the entire town, the coach, and his peers. 

Kilmer’s lack of concern for his players leads to injuries on and off the field. He eventually assaults Mox, causing the team to refuse to take the field during one game. Without Kilmer’s guidance and Mox’s instead, the team goes on to win the game and the district championship. 

It’s a movie that shows how toxic some sporting environments can be and how important the human side of the game is. 

5. Friday Night Lights (2004)

Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama movie that was released in 2004. It follows the coach and players of a high school football team in Odessa, Texas. The town of Odessa has an unwavering love for its football team and will accept nothing but success. 

After losing a few games and sustaining injuries, the team finds themselves in a three-way tie for first place. They are successful in the playoffs and make it to the state championship games.

The team is initially overwhelmed by the size of the opponents they are facing and falls behind in the first half. They mount a comeback in the second half to pull within one score. Throughout the game, the defense is improving its tackling and the offense pulls through despite the injuries they’re dealing with. With seconds remaining they seemingly win the game, but a holding penalty is called and they lose.