| 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 | |
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
Maybe I'm too old for the MTV giggle-cam style of photography, but I don't want to be distracted, and irritated, by the rapid and broken splices of film that dominated the first 20 minutes, or so. If that's the only way modern directors have to portray chaotic events, then they need to go back to film school. (et tu, The Bourne Supremacy?) Furthermore, the film failed to make me care about any of the characters. The main thing I learned about the kids...they're ugly when they eat. Friday Nights Lights is about kids, (lacking storyline characterization) living in a football obsessed town, learning how to win at football. Remember The Titans is about kids, (deeply defined), living in a football obsessed town, learning how to win at life. No comparison.