Rudy has always been told that he was too small to play college football. But he is determined to overcome the odds and fulfill his dream of playing for Notre Dame.
Based on the story of Vince Papale, a 30-year-old bartender from South Philadelphia who overcame long odds to play for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles in 1976.
Director:
Ericson Core
Stars:
Mark Wahlberg,
Greg Kinnear,
Elizabeth Banks
When a plane crash claims the lives of members of the Marshall University football team and some of its fans, the team's new coach and his surviving players try to keep the football program alive.
Director:
McG
Stars:
Matthew McConaughey,
Matthew Fox,
Anthony Mackie
The true story of Herb Brooks, the player-turned-coach who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the seemingly invincible Soviet squad.
Director:
Gavin O'Connor
Stars:
Kurt Russell,
Patricia Clarkson,
Nathan West
Based on H.G. Bissinger's book, which profiled the economically depressed town of Odessa, Texas and their heroic high school football team, The Permian High Panthers.
Director:
Peter Berg
Stars:
Billy Bob Thornton,
Jay Hernandez,
Derek Luke
The new owner of the Cleveland Indians puts together a purposely horrible team so they'll lose and she can move the team. But when the plot is uncovered, they start winning just to spite her.
Director:
David S. Ward
Stars:
Tom Berenger,
Charlie Sheen,
Corbin Bernsen
In 1947, Jackie Robinson becomes the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era when he was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers and faces considerable racism in the process.
Director:
Brian Helgeland
Stars:
Chadwick Boseman,
T.R. Knight,
Harrison Ford
The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All-American football player and first-round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family.
Rudy grew up in a steel mill town where most people ended up working, but wanted to play football at Notre Dame instead. There were only a couple of problems. His grades were a little low, his athletic skills were poor, and he was only half the size of the other players. But he had the drive and the spirit of 5 people and has set his sights upon joining the team.Written by
Brian W Martz <B.Martz@Genie.com>
In the middle of the film, during the scene in which Father Cavanaugh speaks to Rudy in the Basilica, Notre Dame President Emeritus Father Theodore Hesburgh and Edmund (Ned) Joyce, Hesburgh's Vice-President, makes a cameo appearance. They are seen at the beginning of the scene walking in the Basilica to the right side of Father Cavanaugh's character. Father Hesburgh was President when the real Rudy Ruettiger attended Notre Dame. The Joyce Athletic and Convocation Center, on the Notre Dame Campus, was named after Ned Joyce. See more »
Goofs
In the scene when the players lay the jerseys down on the desk of Dan Devine, the number 70 is laid down twice. See more »
Quotes
Steele:
I want Rudy to dress in my place Coach. He deserves it.
Dan Devine:
[laughs]
Don't be ridiculous, Georgia Tech is one of the top offense teams in the country.
[Steele continues to stand and stare at the Devine]
Dan Devine:
You are an All-American and our Captain, act like it!
Steele:
I believe I am.
[lays his jersy down on Devine's desk and walks out]
See more »
Crazy Credits
This is one of the few films in which the infamous "Alan Smithee" is given directorial credit for ONLY the commercial TV version. If viewed on VHS, DVD, pay cable etc... David Anspaugh is given his proper credit as director in the opening credits. However the editing for extra commercials on the free TV version is done so heavily -which alters the context- that Mr Smithee is the "director" when this film is shown there. See more »
Alternate Versions
National TV broadcasts omit the word "shit". See more »
Hike, Notre Dame!
Written by Vincent Fagan and Joseph J. Casasanta
Performed by The Notre Dame Glee Club (as University of Notre Dame Glee Club)
Courtesy of University of Notre Dame See more »
User Reviews
Too sentimental but a good look at the American Dream
Every since he was a boy, Rudy Ruettiger has dreamed that he would play football for Notre Dame college. However his grades are low in high school and he misses out ending up at his dad's steel mill. When his closest friend is killed on the job, Rudy sets out to follow his dream and enlists at Holy Cross college to get his grades and takes on jobs within Notre Dame to make his dream come true.
I taped this as I thought it would be the traditional sports movie where the underdog comes through to win the big game at the key moment. Happily this film aspires to be more than that and is very obvious that it has no desire to be a football film, in fact the game isn't really shown until the final few moments of the film. Of more interest is the look at Rudy's dream and how it is very difficult to reach, he has to work very hard to get his dream, it isn't something that he is entitled too or has dropped in his lap it is an American Dream build on work and persistence. The story is inspiring but is also mixed in reality Rudy's dream amounts to one tackle and 8 seconds of game time. This took away a little from his story, but also it made it a better ending his appearance is in a game already won with only seconds left, but it's HIS dream.
The film is way too sentimental and mawkish at times, but it's strong theme still makes it work and be enjoyable. The cast do a good job on the whole but it is Astin's movie and he does a great job in the lead, maybe only being a bit too nice at times. Favreau is OK in a small role, as is Beatty but Taylor has almost nothing to do and barely shows her face. Dutton is good as always. However the film does rest of Astin's abilities and he does it well.
Overall this is a good sports movie except it isn't really a sports movie. Despite it being sentimental and slightly predictable it is still a good story of chasing a dream and fair comment on the fact that the `American Dream' is not just something that happens, it is something to be worked on and chased, and even then not everyone's dream will result in them being rich etc, but, it says, in America, if you work hard and persevere, then anything is possible.
11 of 13 people found this review helpful.
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Every since he was a boy, Rudy Ruettiger has dreamed that he would play football for Notre Dame college. However his grades are low in high school and he misses out ending up at his dad's steel mill. When his closest friend is killed on the job, Rudy sets out to follow his dream and enlists at Holy Cross college to get his grades and takes on jobs within Notre Dame to make his dream come true.
I taped this as I thought it would be the traditional sports movie where the underdog comes through to win the big game at the key moment. Happily this film aspires to be more than that and is very obvious that it has no desire to be a football film, in fact the game isn't really shown until the final few moments of the film. Of more interest is the look at Rudy's dream and how it is very difficult to reach, he has to work very hard to get his dream, it isn't something that he is entitled too or has dropped in his lap it is an American Dream build on work and persistence. The story is inspiring but is also mixed in reality Rudy's dream amounts to one tackle and 8 seconds of game time. This took away a little from his story, but also it made it a better ending his appearance is in a game already won with only seconds left, but it's HIS dream.
The film is way too sentimental and mawkish at times, but it's strong theme still makes it work and be enjoyable. The cast do a good job on the whole but it is Astin's movie and he does a great job in the lead, maybe only being a bit too nice at times. Favreau is OK in a small role, as is Beatty but Taylor has almost nothing to do and barely shows her face. Dutton is good as always. However the film does rest of Astin's abilities and he does it well.
Overall this is a good sports movie except it isn't really a sports movie. Despite it being sentimental and slightly predictable it is still a good story of chasing a dream and fair comment on the fact that the `American Dream' is not just something that happens, it is something to be worked on and chased, and even then not everyone's dream will result in them being rich etc, but, it says, in America, if you work hard and persevere, then anything is possible.