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.

Director:

Peter Berg

Writers:

Buzz Bissinger (book) (as H.G. Bissinger), David Aaron Cohen (screenplay)

Stars:

Billy Bob Thornton, Jay Hernandez, Derek Luke

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Coach Gary Gaines
Lucas Black	...	Mike Winchell
Garrett Hedlund	...	Don Billingsley
Derek Luke	...	Boobie Miles
Jay Hernandez	...	Brian Chavez
Lee Jackson	...	Ivory Christian
Lee Thompson Young	...	Chris Comer
Tim McGraw	...	Charles Billingsley
Grover Coulson	...	L.V. Miles
Connie Britton	...	Sharon Gaines
Connie Cooper	...	Mrs. Winchell
Kasey Stevens	...	Flippy
Ryanne Duzich	...	Melissa
Amber Heard	...	Maria
Morgan Farris	...	Jennifer Gaines

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

football | texas | coach | high school football | odessa texas | 

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Taglines:

Hope comes alive on Friday nights

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic issues, sexual content, language, some teen drinking and rough sports action

Did You Know?

Trivia

Frustrated with the authenticity of some actors playing assistant coaches, Director Peter Berg turned to actual Permian High School coaches to deliver some lines during game sequences.

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Goofs

In the state championship game, several of the Dallas players have Oakley shields on their helmets. Oakley did not make helmet shields in 1988.

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Quotes

State Trooper: You boys gonna go undefeated?
Brian Chavez: Yes sir.
State Trooper: You boys gonna win state?
Brian Chavez: Yes sir.
State Trooper: Good.

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Connections

Featured in HBO First Look: Friday Night Lights (2004)

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Soundtracks

It's Tricky
Written by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, Jam Master Jay, Rick Rubin
Performed by Run-D.M.C.
Courtesy of Profile Records, Inc.
Under license from BMG Film & TV Music

User Reviews

This movie sucks

Unfortunately, this movie sucks. Nothing about it was realistic; there was zero character development; and the facts were not even historically accurate. Playoffs were decided with the flip of a coin? Are you freakin' kidding me? If this is the way Texas high school football functions, then God help us all. Coaches get to choose the location and referee team for the game? Yeah right. Permian makes it to the state finals? Bullshizzle. Go watch "Varsity Blues," you might learn a little bit more about football in Texas. This movie is crap.

Why on earth did Billy Bob decide to do this movie? He had approximately 20 lines, none of which were significant. The production crew should have focused on one player - be it "Boobie," Billy Bob, or #26 (the guy with the drunk for a father) - any of which would have vaulted this film into the stratosphere. Instead, we got a high school football story about ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Your time is more valuable than this movie.

Details

Official Sites:

Universal Studios [United States]

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Friday Night Lights

Filming Locations:

Abilene, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$20,269,025, 10 October 2004

Gross USA:

$61,255,921

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$61,950,770

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Friday Night Lights LLC

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1