12 films about football that are as exciting as a real match

Soviet classics, stories based on real events, and dashing comedies.

12. Hit! Another blow!

• USSR, 1968.
• Comedy, sports.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.4.

The coach of the Zarya team, Andrei Tamantsev, was a former footballer and even once participated in the mast in besieged Leningrad. Now the hero is faced with a very difficult problem: his son Sergei is a great striker, but he broke discipline. Tamantsev must remove the young man from the game, so as not to provoke an accusation of bias. But the final match with the European “Reefs” is ahead, and the absence of the main striker may affect the result.

Viktor Sadovsky wrote the script of his debut film together with the famous Lev Kassil, the author of "Conduit and Schwambrania". Subsequently, the director has repeatedly filmed sports dramas: about skiing competitions, swimming and, of course, again about football.

11. Bone breaker

Mean machine

• UK, USA, 2001.
• Drama, comedy, sports.
• Duration: 99 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.5.

English football coach Danny Meehan retired from the sport after being accused of organizing match fixing. And then he did attack a police officer and received three years in prison. As it turned out, the head of the correctional institution had long wanted to assemble his own football team. Meehan begins to train the prisoners and prepares them for a match with the overseers. But the prison has its own rules.

Vinnie Jones, who played the main role in this film, was a football player before starting his acting career. And he was often called "Bonecrusher" for a very tough style of play. And Jones got into the cinema thanks to Guy Ritchie and Matthew Vaughn. They also produced this film.

10. Play like Beckham

Bend It Like Beckham

• Great Britain, Germany, USA, 2002.
• Comedy, sports.
• Duration: 112 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.6.

Jess is from a traditional Indian family living in London. Parents are already looking for a groom for her and planning a career as a lawyer for the girl in advance. Jess herself dreams of playing football and is already in full swing in the yard along with the boys. And one day she meets Jules, who invites her friend to a real women's team.

This film combines a story of a sincere love of football and a drama about the clash of different cultures. And yet it was "Play Like Beckham" that introduced many viewers to the talented actress Keira Knightley.

9. Reserve player

• USSR, 1954.
• Comedy, sports.
• Duration: 83 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.8.

The factory team "Blue Arrows" reaches the final of the football tournament and sets off on a motor ship to meet the favorite of the competition "Vympel". On the way with the heroes there are many adventures. But the main thing is that the center striker Alexander Vesnushkin does not show himself in the best way. And instead of him they decide to put his younger brother Vasily. He is not very experienced, but he is really eager to win.

About this picture, which was shot by the director of "Heavenly Slow" Semyon Timoshenko, it is enough to know one thing. It was thanks to the "Reserve Player" that the whole country recognized the young actor Georgy Vitsin. And even earlier Tymoshenko directed the next film on the list.

8. Goalkeeper

• USSR, 1936.
• Comedy, musical, sports.
• Duration: 75 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.0.

Simple guy Anton Kandidov works on a collective farm, transporting cargo on a boat. Once football players sailed along the same river and noticed how easily and skillfully the hero catches watermelons. Then they offered Anton to become a goalkeeper. And so the career of the future sports star began.

It is interesting that in this funny film, filmed even before Great Patriotic War, a lot of real football players appeared. Dynamo Kiev appeared in the crowd with a full roster, canceling an important match because of this. And the team goalkeeper even taught the skills of Grigory Pluzhnik, who played the main role.

7. Cup

Phörpa

• Bhutan, Australia, 1999.
• Comedy, sports.
• Duration: 93 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.0.

The whole world is watching the next football championship. And even in a distant Buddhist monastery, three young novices sneak into a local bar to watch TV. They are, of course, caught. But the young heroes decide by all means to get permission to watch the final.

This funny comedy was directed by the real lama Khyentse Norbu. The monks played the main roles. They certainly did not become stars of the first magnitude. But for Bhutan's small cinematography, the Cup has been incredibly successful.

6. Gregory's Girl

Gregory's Girl

• Great Britain, 1980.
• Drama, melodrama, comedy.
• Duration: 91 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.1.

The awkward teenager Gregory plays on the high school soccer team. After another failure, the coach recruits new charges, and the girl Dorothy takes the place of Gregory on the field. At first, the young man is unhappy, but soon falls in love with her.

Surprisingly, the film by aspiring director Bill Forsyth, in which non-professional actors were played, proved to be very popular. And not only in his native Scotland, but all over the world. Probably the point is that football is only a background here. Gregory's Girl is a great story about teenage life. For example, about first love and communication with peers.

5. The first swallow

• USSR, 1975.
• Comedy, adventure.
• Duration: 77 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.2.

Young Khvicha saw grown men running across the field after the ball. He even volunteered to stand at the goal and immediately fell in love with football. At first, people go to the field in home clothes, are divided into teams of single and married, and spectators help the players. But soon the players decide to play by the rules and even get in shape. And then they arrange the first international match.

Someone may be surprised, but this naive and very funny comedy about real men was shot by a woman - the magnificent director Nana Mchedlidze. And she was able to perfectly tell how enthusiasm and will to win can make a real team out of newbies.

4. Lethal football

Siu Lam juk kau

• Hong Kong, China, 2001.
• Comedy, sports.
• Duration: 113 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.3.

Shaolin kung fu master Xing dreams of bringing the benefits of his art to people. One day he meets the football player Feng, who had to leave the sport due to the betrayal of a friend. New friends understand that they can help each other. Then they assemble a team that includes both kung fu masters and football players.

You need to understand in advance that realistic football in this film is unlikely to be seen. The heroes make incredible jumps and hit the ball so that it breaks through the concrete wall. This is a traditional comedy about martial arts, only in the setting of a football drama.

Watch on Google Play →

3. Offside

Offside

• Iran, 2006.
• Drama, comedy, sports.
• Duration: 93 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.3.

Qualifying matches for the World Cup are being held in Iran. In case of victory, the national team will go to the competition in Germany. Young fans really want to see such important events with their own eyes. In Iran, women are prohibited from going to stadiums, but this does not stop resourceful heroines.

Director Jafar Panahi has shot a witty and energetic comedy about real football fans. But at the heart of this story is a very serious issue of the country's culture. In reality, women were allowed to a football match in IranFor the first time in 40 years, Iranian women were allowed to play football. And immediately 14: 0 only in 2019.

2. United. Munich tragedy

United

• UK, 2011.
• Drama, sporty, historical.
• Duration: 94 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.4.

The young player of the reserve Bobby Charlton makes his way to the main team of Manchester United. Under the leadership of coach Matt Busby and his assistant Jimmy Murphy, the young team has won numerous matches. But then tragedy strikes.

The plot of this film is based on a true story. In 1958, a significant part of the team and several coaches were killed in a plane crash in Munich. The next time Manchester United became the champion of England only 10 years later. Moreover, it included the survivors of the crash Bobby Charlton and Bill Foulkes.

Watch on Google Play →

1. Damned United

The damned united

• UK, 2009.
• Drama, sports, biography.
• Duration: 98 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.5.

Former footballer Brian Clough as manager unexpectedly led a weak Derby County squad to the English title. After that, he is invited to lead the favorites of the Leeds United tournament. But the team is not too happy about the new coach.

This picture is also based on real events. Brian Clough could not find a common language with the charges and led the team for only a month and a half. But this short period was so eventful that a film was made about him.

What films about football do you like? Plausible dramas or grotesque comedies? Share your options in the comments!