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Friday Night Lights

  • 2004
  • PG-13
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
69K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,223
523
Friday Night Lights (2004)
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.
Play trailer2:26
2 Videos
99+ Photos
DocudramaFootballActionDramaSport

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 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 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
  • Writers
    • Buzz Bissinger
    • David Aaron Cohen
    • Peter Berg
  • Stars
    • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Jay Hernandez
    • Derek Luke
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    69K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,223
    523
    • Director
      • Peter Berg
    • Writers
      • Buzz Bissinger
      • David Aaron Cohen
      • Peter Berg
    • Stars
      • Billy Bob Thornton
      • Jay Hernandez
      • Derek Luke
    • 311User reviews
    • 109Critic reviews
    • 70Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:26
    Trailer
    A Guide to the Films of Peter Berg
    Clip 1:44
    A Guide to the Films of Peter Berg
    A Guide to the Films of Peter Berg
    Clip 1:44
    A Guide to the Films of Peter Berg

    Photos110

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    + 103
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Billy Bob Thornton
    Billy Bob Thornton
    • Coach Gary Gaines
    Jay Hernandez
    Jay Hernandez
    • Brian Chavez
    Derek Luke
    Derek Luke
    • Boobie Miles
    Lucas Black
    Lucas Black
    • Mike Winchell
    Garrett Hedlund
    Garrett Hedlund
    • Don Billingsley
    Lee Jackson
    Lee Jackson
    • Ivory Christian
    Lee Thompson Young
    Lee Thompson Young
    • Chris Comer
    Tim McGraw
    Tim McGraw
    • Charles Billingsley
    Grover Coulson
    Grover Coulson
    • L.V. Miles
    Connie Britton
    Connie Britton
    • Sharon Gaines
    Connie Cooper
    Connie Cooper
    • Mrs. Winchell
    Kasey Stevens
    • Flippy
    Ryanne Duzich
    Ryanne Duzich
    • Melissa
    Amber Heard
    Amber Heard
    • Maria
    Morgan Farris
    Morgan Farris
    • Jennifer Gaines
    Laine Kelly
    Laine Kelly
    • Comer's Girlfriend
    Gavin Grazer
    Gavin Grazer
    • Trapper
    Turk Pipkin
    • Skip Baldwin
    • Director
      • Peter Berg
    • Writers
      • Buzz Bissinger
      • David Aaron Cohen
      • Peter Berg
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews311

    7.268.8K
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    Featured reviews

    9andrewCmcauliffe

    Friday Night Explosions in the Lights

    When I first heard of this movie, I immediately let it go under my radar because I am not a big fan of sports movies. However, I am a huge fan of the Texas band Explosions in the Sky and when I heard a few months ago that they scored most of the soundtrack for Friday Night Lights, it was compulsory that I check it out.

    It turns out that I freaking love this movie. The cinematography is nicely done, comprising wide, sweeping shots of Texas plains, oil-rigs, and football fields. The colors come through nicely (the white and black of the jerseys is particularly nice). As I already mentioned, I am not a big sports fan, but from what I could tell, the football sequences were well done and quite intense.

    The acting is superbly executed by most in the film. However, there are still one or two times when one of the players' lines is delivered with that all-too-well-known teen-acting cheesiness that almost makes me cringe a little. Those times aside, the acting works wonderfully.

    As I already mentioned, the reason why I initially watched this movie, was because Explosions in the Sky did the score. In my opinion, every song that they wrote (or adapted from previously written songs) for this movie lends beautifully to the content. Their lush soundscapes play nicely alongside the beautiful fields of Texas (no surprise, since TX is their home). Their crescendo-laden rock happens also to fit perfectly with slow-motion sequences (which there are plenty of in Friday Night Lights).

    I am sure that almost all of the other reviews here have touched on the fact that this football movie does not play like other football movies (with all of the regular sport movie clichés). Because of this, I won't go into that. My thoughts are, if you like football (and also enjoy genuinely good cinema) OR if you aren't really a big fan of football (and also enjoy genuinely good cinema), you will probably dig Friday Night Lights.

    So go and buy the DVD; and while you are at the store, pick up an Explosions in the Sky CD.
    7RobTheWatcher

    Friday Night Lights

    Based on a book, this movie does a really good job following a Texas high school football team through their season while dealing with themes of expectations, racism, and class. I'm not sure if this is better than the series or not. There's pros and cons to both. But the movie captures everything in just 2 hours and keeps you engaged and excited throughout. There's also some great sport action scenes and music and edits. It's definitely a strong sports drama that's always worth watching. Definitely recommend this to anyone. IMDb needs to chilllllllll with this stupid character minimum expectation.
    Paige-2

    Not as good as the book.

    I just don't see how anyone who didn't read the book could follow the story at all. The book was so watered down, and the story is almost unrecognizable. We saw precious little of Booby Miles' complexity or the pressures around him over which he had no control. We saw almost nothing of Chavez, one of the very few players who actually made something of himself, or what effect the high school football experience had on his success in life. And the other players ... their personal lives were so affected by what happened that single season, and it was pretty much ignored. There was so much background about the frenzy that Mojo generated (and still generates) in Odessa that just wasn't shown.

    That being said, I can see why the people in Odessa so disapproved of the book and loved the movie. The movie doesn't show the rather affectionate, yet unflattering picture that Buzz Bissinger painted of the town. Instead, it only showed the stereotypical hype of small town football. After seeing the movie, PLEASE do yourself a favor and read the book.
    7Uriah43

    Captures the West Texas Environment Remarkably Well

    This film centers around a high school football team in West Texas known as the Odessa-Permian Panthers who have set a standard of excellence that remains difficult for anybody else to surpass on the football field. However, with this success has come such a rabid devotion to this team by the local residents that an enormous amount of pressure is put upon everyone associated with the team in the process. So much so that the local residents and alumni not only expect a victory each and every time the team takes the field but they also demand it--or else! And this puts the new coach "Gary Gaines" (Billy Bob Thornton) in an especially difficult postion which only gets worse after he loses his star running back "Boobie Miles" (Derek Luke) to a season ending knee injury in the very first game. And things really get bad when he not only loses this game but another one not too long afterward. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that, although there was some artistic license taken with the historical accuracy here and there, the film follows the basic plot of the book and makes for an enjoyable movie experience overall. I especially liked the manner in which the director (Peter Berg) managed to capture the West Texas environment as vividly as he did. Be that as it may, I enjoyed this movie and recommend it to all those who might be looking for a film of this type.
    zatz-1

    The Real Varsity Blues

    This is a very dark sports movie. It's about fanaticism, the great weight of importance certain people place on sports. Sports fans often regard their teams as extensions of themselves. In "Friday Night Lights," the entire town of Odessa, Texas collectively puts their town's reputation on the shoulders of a high school football team. It's basically the same exact plot as "Varsity Blues," except a serious version of high school football in small town Texas.

    One thing the movie does extremely well is taking hackneyed plots of the individual players (because it's all been done before) and putting them all in the background. So the plots play out not in a cheesy, inspirational, in-your-face way. Instead, they are just there with only as much attention as the viewer wants to put on them. The great aspects of sports are enough to keep us interested and makes the movie incredibly real.

    The only character whose plot is really focused on is Boobie, the cocky running back who is injured and tries to defy his own injury. This is a plot in sports movies that has been focused on somewhat - the injured player. But never before has the pain been so real and so powerful.

    This movie is heart-wrenching. Sports movies usually have so many moments of redemption and cheesy happiness that often feel false. This movie only has one such moment and it is incredibly powerful. Nothing about this movie is Hollywood. Billy Bob Thorton gives a great, understated performance as the coach, a man who is simply internal, who can do nothing but sit back and watch events unfold, knowing full well the impact that each game has on himself and his family. All the actors playing the football players do a good job, especially the guy who plays Boobie.

    Don't expect this movie to uplift you. But it will show you an interesting side of sports you may have never considered. And, in the end, it shows exactly what is great about sports, and it has nothing to do with winning or making a career out of the game. It's about giving all you have for a teammate.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The real James "Boobie" Miles can be seen standing next to Derek Luke (playing "Boobie" Miles) several times throughout the film. He is wearing a black Permian jacket and hat.
    • Goofs
      When departing Odessa for the game in the Houston Astrodome, the coach tells a player that "we have a six hour ride" when in reality it would take at least eight to nine hours to drive the 500 miles from Odessa to Houston.
    • Quotes

      Coach Gary Gaines: Being perfect is not about that scoreboard out there. It's not about winning. It's about you and your relationship with yourself, your family and your friends. Being perfect is about being able to look your friends in the eye and know that you didnt let them down because you told them the truth. And that truth is you did everything you could. There wasnt one more thing you could've done. Can you live in that moment as best you can, with clear eyes, and love in your heart, with joy in your heart? If you can do that gentleman - you're perfect!

    • Connections
      Edited into Friday Night Lights: Deleted Scenes (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      Terminator X to the Edge of Panic
      Written by Chuck D (as Carlton Ridenhour), Terminator X (as Norman Rodgers), Flavor Flav (as William Drayton)

      Performed by Public Enemy

      Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group

      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Friday Night Lights?Powered by Alexa
    • Who created the background music for the movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 8, 2004 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Germany
    • Official site
      • Universal Pictures
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Juego de viernes por la noche
    • Filming locations
      • Odessa, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Imagine Entertainment
      • Friday Night Lights LLC
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $61,255,921
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $20,269,025
      • Oct 10, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $61,950,770
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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