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.
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
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.
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 Russian squad.
Director:
Gavin O'Connor
Stars:
Kurt Russell,
Patricia Clarkson,
Nathan West
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
Odessa, Texas, is a small, town in Texas. Racially divided and economically dying, there is one night that gives the town something to live for: Friday Night. The Permian Panthers have a big winning tradition in Texas high school football, led by QB Mike Winchell and superstar tailback Boobie Miles, but all is not well, as Boobie suffers a career-ending injury in the first game of the season. Hope is lost among citizens in Odessa, and for the team, but Coach Gary Gaines, who believes that "Perfection is being able to look your friends in the eye and know you did everything you could not to let them down", is somehow able to help the team rise up from the ashes and make a huge season comeback. Now on their way to state, the Panthers must go out and be perfect, because they may never matter this much for the rest of their lives.Written by
Zac Abrams
Mike WInchell receives a recruiting visit from Kansas Wesleyan University. One of the coaches says there are a Division 2 program. In actuality, Kansas Wesleyan is a non-scholarship NAIA program. See more »
Quotes
Boobie Miles:
Where's your girlfriend at, Water Bug?
Chris Comer:
What?
Boobie Miles:
You mean to say you have no girlfriend, Water Bug?
Permian Assistant Coach:
5 minutes, boys.
Boobie Miles:
You want to know why you have no girlfriend, Water Bug?
Chris Comer:
Why?
Boobie Miles:
You got the wrong shoes, man!
[Comer looks at him confused]
Boobie Miles:
You got on white Adidas! Dude, everyone knows that the shoes to wear is Nikes!
[Boobie pronounces them as Niks]
[...] See more »
Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos
Written by Chuck D (as Carlton Ridenhour), Hank Shocklee, Eric Sadler, Flavor Flav (as William Drayton)
Performed by Public Enemy
Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises See more »
The reason Varsity Blues is so much like Friday Night Lights is b/c VB is a fictional story which was written 10 years after the true story of FNL took place in Odessa, TX in 1988.
The game faces worn by the players in FNL are genuine. The "Religion" of High School Football gave them no other choice. H.G. Bissinger spent almost an entire year with his family in 1988 in Odessa, TX. He essentially became a part of the community and team in documenting and then writing his book Friday Night Lights. He said that due to depressed economic conditions, lack of higher education, and good paying jobs, the communities in West Texas looked upon the high school football programs as saviors from reality.
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The reason Varsity Blues is so much like Friday Night Lights is b/c VB is a fictional story which was written 10 years after the true story of FNL took place in Odessa, TX in 1988.
The game faces worn by the players in FNL are genuine. The "Religion" of High School Football gave them no other choice. H.G. Bissinger spent almost an entire year with his family in 1988 in Odessa, TX. He essentially became a part of the community and team in documenting and then writing his book Friday Night Lights. He said that due to depressed economic conditions, lack of higher education, and good paying jobs, the communities in West Texas looked upon the high school football programs as saviors from reality.