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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

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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)

    User reviews42

    Featured review
    7/10

    A sports drama, without, well, any sports.

    As a 116 mins long sports drama, I was expecting to see at least one game. But instead it was scenes in and out of hotel rooms with some soap-opera melodramatics and twists. I will say though, this did feel very real, and I'm curious if this story was conceived as a slap in the face to college football et al. The performances by all were excellent and captivating, especially J. K. Simmons, and the only reason I sat through the entire film. The ending was underwhelming, and I never did get to see any game, but the film was still unique and well put together. This may not be for everyone, especially if you don't follow college football or sports in general. It's a generous 7/10 from me.
    • Top_Dawg_Critic
    • Jan 4, 2022
    • Permalink

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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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