Football On Film: 24 for 2024
Wed, Jan 10.24
Not only one of the best football journalists this country has produced. But as filmmaker; Eli Mengem is a man with deft taste on the subject, both football related and otherwise. Fancying ourselves in the field as well, we teamed up to bring you 24 football films for 2024. And it's not just 'Goal' either, there's everything in here from cult classics to the niche and arthouse that reference the game we love.
Disclaimer: they aren't all directly about football, some just football inspired, but we make the rules— and some of the following make up for a lack actual ball kicking with other great attributes.
24. She's The Man
Some say, 2006 is where cinema peaked. This isn't a good movie critically, by any stretch but it makes the list based on living rent free in the brains of anyone who was a child of the mid 2000's, and of course the cultural cache of being one of very few films to feature female football players at a time when that was very much out of fashion.
23. Mean Machine
Vinnie Jones used to be known primarily as AFC Wimbledons good old-fashioned hard man. But Guy Ritchie saw the Hollywood potential and from there Lock Stock and Smoking Barrel, Snatch, and then this remake of the iconic Longest Yard but with a round ball. So who better to join the cast than an actor who was the real deal Mr Jones once again. It's a vintage performance from a man so adept at playing the character of himself you almost forget its a movie.
22. Bend It Like Beckham
The real deal. Keira Knightly, Parminder Nagra, and Gurinder Chadha it turns out are the ingredients for a cult classic football movie. Is it corny? Yes. Is it predictable? Entirely. But it also might be the reason a generation of girls started playing football. And more women in football is a good thing.
21. Gregorys Girl
Being replaced as the striker on your football team by a girl would be a lot of boys worst nightmares. But when the girl looks like this, it turns into a dream. All the best parts of the 80's. Flares, short shorts, and some classic Umbro gear we wouldn't mind getting our hands on still.
20. Green Street Hooligans
What's Frodo doing in a football film list you may ask? Well what else would you do after playing the lead role in a legendary box-office trilogy of fantasy films? Join West Ham's Green Street Elite, of course. If you're a football fan and haven't heard of Green Street Hooligans you must've been living under a rock. One of the all time cult classic films about football casuals in the UK. Watch to see Charlie Hunnam get the badge in.
19. Warnock
Neil Warnock makes man management look like an art. And this documentary from his days at Sheffield contains some of his best ever work both on and off the pitch. You can even watch this one for free, with the whole thing uploaded to Youtube. Get on it.
18. Ultra
Italy: The home of the football Ultra. this 1991 drama follows a group of Roma Ultras as they travel to Turin to play Juventus away. There's violence, political extremists and a bit of football too. Ricky Tognazzi paints a picture of when football, all too often crosses over with the political. And how it can escalate from just sport to something much more
17. Escape to Victory
If we're talking iconic football movies, you cant go past Escape to Victory. Set during World War II, a group of allied POW's is forced to play a German professional football team in an exhibition match as a propaganda stunt. Naturally the prisoners plan an escape attempt during the match. but not everything goes as planned.
One of the best on screen football teams ever assembled, and with some serious actors too. Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone are joined by none other than Pele himself, and the like of Bobby Moore, Osvaldo Ardiles, and Paul Van Himst, along with a host of Ipswich Town players of the day. Essential Viewing.
16. ID
A film about a group of undercover police officers infiltrating a group of violent football hooligans connected to the local club. Football is sometimes called a surrogate religion and this film illustrates how easy it is for someone to find belief in their immediate surroundings, when it's missing elsewhere in their life. A cautionary tale but an entertaining one.
15. Beckham: Documentary
Only the most popular football related media of the last few years. The Beckham documentary on Netflix explores Becks' rise to the glittering heights of the world game and delves into some of the things that happened behind the scenes. If that's not enough, there's plenty of re-surfaced 2000's content from the absolute peak of the Posh & Becks era. Right on time.
14. Anelka: Misunderstood
Nicolas Anelka; often labelled just another journey-man. But the film paints a portrait of someone who was, for a long time touted as a superstar in the making and by his own acknowledgment, never quite made it. The Beckham's, Maradona's, and Michael Jordan's story's are always easy to tell, but its important to realise that for each one of those, there are a million Anelka's who get left wondering what could've been?
13. Football Factory
Ahh the dulcet tones of Danny Dyer. One of the defining voices of football hooligans in film. Another cult classic, Football Factory and Green Street Hooligans were the introduction for many to the world of the football casual.
12. The Happiest Man in The World: Ronaldinho
This man made football fun. He transcended the game. He played with an unbridled joy, creativity, and power that, more than once caused things to happen, that never have or will ever happen again on a football pitch. It is true that the light that burns twice as bright, burns half as long. A wonderful trip down memory lane focusing on his upbringing in Brazil and the peak of his career at Barcelona. Nostalgia overload.
11. Goal II: Living The Dream
Before you ask, yes the original is coming later. But the second iteration of Goal is nothing to sneeze at. Santiago Munez makes a star studded move to the club of his dreams. Real Madrid. The Galacticos. The Bernebeau and all of the pressure that comes with it. with cameos from Zidane, Beckham and Ronaldo, it's the sequel we needed. Should've just ended it there.
10. The Damned Utd
One of the most iconic Football managers of all time. Brian Clough played by Michael Sheen; Orator of that earth-shattering speech to the Welsh team ahead of the last World Cup. Excellent.
9. Once in A Lifetime: Osasuna
This isn't just in here because we love Eli Mengem. The new Once in a Lifetime series on Copa 90 gives us a deeper look into the ways Football transcends sport, and is intimately tied to some of the most interesting geopolitical narratives across the world. For those unfamiliar; the region that the Osasuna football team represents in Spain have some unique idiosyncrasies that define them as a region unlike anywhere else in the country. Eli talks to club and to local people in the area to find out what makes the region one of a kind. Highly recommend for anyone interested in the more niche corners of the game.
8. Mike Basset: England Manager
The England Manager has a heart-attack and his replacement, Mike Basset promptly announces that they will win The World Cup. Another cameo from Pele. And plenty of famous faces. This one is hilarious.
7. Derby Days—The Super Classico
For those unaware, the derby days series is some of the best footballing journalism on the internet. I'll leave you to check out the rest in your own time. But our personal favourite in a collection of favourites is The Super Classico. Nothing else compares, and words can't do it justice. Go watch it.
6. Joga bonito: Series
Technically not a film. But Nike's Joga Bonito Series of advertisements, belong in a museum of some kind. With prologues from Eric Cantona, and featuring a stable of talent that would terrify anyone. They took the world's superstars and made them look like the sauciest street footballers ever. PS. We're still trying to recreate that Thierry goal from behind the net.
5. Rudo y Cursi
Produced by not one but three of arguably the best directors of the last 10 years. Rudo y Cursi was always destined to be a great film. It just happens to be the story of two brothers playing football in rural Mexico, who get discovered and taken on by the nations top talent scout. Stellar in every way.
4. Once In A Lifetime: Argentina
The Once In A Lifetime episode that examines the lead up, peak, and basking glory of Argentina's 2022 World Cup Victory. It's not out just yet but stay tuned because it's going to be something else.
3. Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait
It's subjective of course, but for me, the greatest players are not only decided by numbers, but by style. being good isn't enough, it's those that make it look as if they're not trying at all that capture the imagination. For the football purists this film follows Zidane's POV through the entirety of Real Madrid's match against Villareal on April 23, 2005. It marries football and art with no better subject than Zizou.
2. The Hand Of God
Paolo Sorrentino, one of the greatest Italian filmmakers of this generation, turns his attention inwardly to a semi-biographical story of a Neopolitan teenager who's entire world is lost and redeemed in the same breath. Fabi also follows Diego Maradona religiously in the lead up to his signing for Napoli, and into his first season. A tragic-drama-comedy. this film has everything and enough references to the god to warrant a place in this particular list. A must-see on Netflix
1. Goal!
One that started it all, the quintessential football movie. Everyone and their father grew up wanting to be Santiago Munez. Going from the slums of Mexico, to working illegally in the US. To becoming a superstar in the English Premiere League. the highs, the lows, and Gavin Harris' redemption arc. This thing has it all. and a great education on the Newcastle accent if nothing else. 10/10.
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