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IMDbPro

National Champions

  • 2021
  • R
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
National Champions (2021)
Three days before the college football national championship game, star quarterback LeMarcus James (Stephan James) and teammate Emmett Sunday (Alexander Ludwig) ignite a player's strike declaring they won't compete until all student-athletes are fairly compensated. With billions of dollars at risk and legacies on the line, the stakes could not be higher. Now, with only hours until kickoff, the head coach (J.K. Simmons) and various power brokers (Lil Rel Howery, Tim Blake Nelson, Andrew Bachelor, Jeffrey Donovan, David Koechner, Kristin Chenoweth, Timothy Olyphant, Uzo Aduba) must race against the clock to protect or destroy the prevailing collegiate athletics system.
Play trailer3:02
7 Videos
7 Photos
DramaSport

Follows star quarterback who ignites a players strike hours before the biggest game of the year in order to fight for fair compensation, equality and respect for the student-athletes.Follows star quarterback who ignites a players strike hours before the biggest game of the year in order to fight for fair compensation, equality and respect for the student-athletes.Follows star quarterback who ignites a players strike hours before the biggest game of the year in order to fight for fair compensation, equality and respect for the student-athletes.

  • Director
    • Ric Roman Waugh
  • Writer
    • Adam Mervis
  • Stars
    • Stephan James
    • J.K. Simmons
    • Alexander Ludwig
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    2.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ric Roman Waugh
    • Writer
      • Adam Mervis
    • Stars
      • Stephan James
      • J.K. Simmons
      • Alexander Ludwig
    • 42User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
    • 52Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos7

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:02
    Official Trailer
    National Champions
    Trailer 3:07
    National Champions
    National Champions
    Trailer 3:07
    National Champions
    National Champions
    Trailer 3:09
    National Champions
    National Champions: Glory
    Clip 0:59
    National Champions: Glory
    National Champions: You're The Guest Of Honor
    Clip 0:41
    National Champions: You're The Guest Of Honor
    National Champions: This Is A Shakedown
    Clip 0:49
    National Champions: This Is A Shakedown

    Photos6

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    Top cast53

    Edit
    Stephan James
    Stephan James
    • LeMarcus James
    J.K. Simmons
    J.K. Simmons
    • Coach James Lazor
    Alexander Ludwig
    Alexander Ludwig
    • Emmett Sunday
    Lil Rel Howery
    Lil Rel Howery
    • Coach Dunn
    Tim Blake Nelson
    Tim Blake Nelson
    • Rodger Cummings
    Andrew Bachelor
    Andrew Bachelor
    • Taylor Sheridan
    David Koechner
    David Koechner
    • Richard Everly
    Jeffrey Donovan
    Jeffrey Donovan
    • Mark Titus
    Kristin Chenoweth
    Kristin Chenoweth
    • Bailey Lazor
    Timothy Olyphant
    Timothy Olyphant
    • Elliott Schmidt
    Uzo Aduba
    Uzo Aduba
    • Katherine Poe
    Russell Wilson
    Russell Wilson
    • Russell Wilson
    Malcolm Jenkins
    Malcolm Jenkins
    • Malcolm Jenkins
    Mike Greenberg
    Mike Greenberg
    • Mike Greenberg
    Steve Levy
    • Steve Levy
    Michael Smith
    Michael Smith
    • Michael Smith
    Jemele Hill
    Jemele Hill
    • Jemele Hill
    Michael Holley
    • Michael Holley
    • Director
      • Ric Roman Waugh
    • Writer
      • Adam Mervis
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews42

    5.72K
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    Featured reviews

    2joshbsweeney

    Best cast of the worst movie I've seen

    I have no idea how they paid so many great actors to be in this. The plot is slow moving. The pivotal moment of information doesn't really make sense. It's a lazy writer trying to make money off a very controversial topic.
    7kenzibit

    Felt like a true story.

    Welcome to the business side of football.....if you are a fan and wanna get into this game for some football action please be advised....there's no single football game in the movie but this movie got some powerful punches with dialogues, emotions, performances and the truth. Was kinda disappointed to find this actually didn't happen and all is based on a play...the movie's plot was soo convincing and real and wanna make you find out what happens next in college football or any other college sport. It's a well directed movie centered around what we see in college sport and I highly recommend this movie.
    6danielgraves

    good plotline and acting but premature ending

    Writer Adam Mervis put out a pretty good plot on this one. The flick was interesting with little dead time. But the ending was abrupt. It felt like they just ran out of money, or couldn't think of a way to end the movie. What a let-down! At least they have room for a sequel. But kudos to Adam Mervis for an original plot and near-real storyline. Director Rick Roman Waugh did a good job getting interesting and believable performances from his actors, but the continuity needed some polishing. Some scene cuts and actor emotional transitions were a little confusing. Kudos for the producers choosing to shoot in New Orleans, where they could use the money influx.
    8Movi3DO

    Gripping and intense

    Nothing is inevitable except the truth.

    A fictionalized version on an interesting topic in the college football scene. The movie showed what a boycott against the NCAA on the issue of treating student athletes as employees would look like.

    The first great thing about the movie was J. K. Simmons. Previously he was a ruthless music coach, and now he's an old, broken college football coach with the desire of winning the national championship with his team. He again brought passion and energy to his role. His dialogues were powerful, and can be emotional too. He can be both fearsome and convincing. What an amazing actor.

    The story itself was amazing as well. It's an intense stabbing back and forth between the brave college football quarterback and the administration. Each tried or was forced to bring the other down. It became personal very quickly, and I was on board for most of it.

    Overall, a gripping sport drama. 8-8.5/10.
    8JoBloTheMovieCritic

    National Champions

    8/10 - despite some clunky dialogue/story elements and me knowing next to nothing about college football, this fascinating dramatization of the ongoing NCAA debate is truly gripping and is empowered by the fantastic acting performances of Stephan James, J. K. Simmons, and most of all, Uzo Aduba (who in another universe would be Oscar-nominated for this emotionally riveting performance)

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The entire movie was filmed at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans.
    • Quotes

      Coach James Lazor: Seventy-two hours till the national goddamn title game, and I got to parade around in this dog-and-pony show.

    • Connections
      References Pulp Fiction (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Big Drumline
      Written and Performed by Ron Feemster (as Theron "Neffu" Feemster)

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    FAQ17

    • How long is National Champions?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 10, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 내셔널 챔피언스
    • Filming locations
      • New Orleans
    • Production companies
      • Game1
      • Thunder Road Pictures
      • Amet Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $475,488
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $301,028
      • Dec 12, 2021
    • Gross worldwide
      • $475,488
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 56 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39:1

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