Disney movies cover subjects from fantasy to true-life documentaries – inspirational to pure comedy. Among these are a number of sports movies, including some of the best football movies on the market. This article looks at the best Disney football movies, both for amusement and inspiration.
What Are The Best-Known Disney Football Movies?
When it comes to sports movies, Disney has a good mix of funny and inspiring to choose from. In the field of football, they recently released a new one – 2020’s true story ‘Safety’.
Aside from this new movie, the best known inspirational football films include:
‘Remember The Titans’
‘Invincible’
What About Humorous Football Movies?
When it comes to football films that are meant to bring laughter, Disney has a number of candidates. These are some of the best known:
‘The Game Plan’
‘Air Bud: Golden Receiver’
‘Gus’
‘How to Play Football’
1. How to Play Football
‘How to Play Football’ is perhaps one of the oldest sports movies. A Disney original and an Academy nominated Best Animated Short Film – 75 years ago.
‘How to Play Football is a very short film – only about 7-8 minutes in total length. It features all the favorite age-old Disney characters, with Goofy as the star.
This short film is a humorous way to introduce young children to the ideas and rules of football.
It may be an incredibly old film, but it’s considered by film reviewers to be a classic that deserves a place on the ‘best football films’ list.
2. Gus
Gus is an old-time comedy from 1976. A failing football team discovers a Yugoslavian youth named Andy and his mule, Gus, who can kick a football any distance on command of his owner.
Desperate to have a winning football season to prevent his team from falling into the hands of mobsters, Atoms team owner Hank Cooper hires Gus and Andy to give his team an edge. With no rules that state an animal can’t be a team member, Gus becomes a kicker and helps lead the Atoms to winning games, and eventually to the Super Bowl.
What Makes This Disney Football Movie Great?
‘Gus’ has an excellent mix of humor and inspiration that can appeal to all ages.
On the humorous side of the equation, you have the story of a mule playing football. There’s also the sub-plot involving the inept attempts of the mobsters to prevent Gus from leading the Atoms to victory and freeing Hank Cooper from his crushing debts.
On the inspirational side, there’s a team going from losers to victors, gaining strength and confidence along the way. There’s also the story of Andy, who struggles to emerge from his older brother’s shadow and make his family proud.
There’s even a little bit of romance involved, with Andy and Cooper’s secretary Debbie forming a relationship.
Some critics say it’s a bit formulaic, but others say it’s a great example of the balance of elements that Disney is known for.
3. Air Bud: Golden Receiver
‘Air Bud: Golden Receiver’ is the second movie in the popular ‘Air Bud’ series, which is all about a golden retriever with an unusual skill in sports.
In ‘Air Bud: Golden Receiver’, Buddy and his owner Josh change sports from basketball to football after Josh discovers that Buddy has an uncanny ability to catch and run with a football.
With Buddy and Josh helping out, the once failing Junior High football team begins to thrive and win, emerging from last place to competing in the playoffs. Despite several troublesome issues, Josh and Buddy manage to help their team become playoff champions.
What Makes This Disney Football Movie Great?
‘Air Bud: Golden Receiver’ is more a movie for the younger generations than all ages, but that doesn’t make it less of a good movie.
There’s plenty of fun and excitement, between Buddy’s on-the-field performance, and a subplot involving Russians trying to steal Buddy to perform in a circus.
There are also some important and very real issues addressed in the subplots involving Josh. Josh’s reaction to his mother finding a romantic connection, and the issues he tries to come to terms with are a good example.
It might not be a universal ‘great’, but it’s an excellent mix of humor and real-life concerns for adolescents.
4. Remember the Titans
‘Remember the Titans’ is the 2000 movie adaptation of a true story, involving the football team of T.C. Williams in Alexandria, Virginia.
In 1971, T.C. Williams becomes one of the first integrated football teams. Amidst racial tensions and related issues, coaches Herman Boone and Bill Yoast struggle to forge the Titans into a winning team.
While the team is fractured a by racial tensions in the beginning, they later come together as a unit during an inspirational training camp at Gettysburg College. At the beginning of the season, new tensions are introduced at the outset, with Boone being told he will lose if the Titans lose even 1 game.
Despite issues, the team manages to maintain a perfect season, even when faced with corrupt school chairs, biased calls, and attempts at rigging the game.
Even though the state championship is marred by the unexpected and tragic injury to one of the players, the Titans pull through to win and maintain a perfect undefeated season.
It is later revealed that the coaches, and many of the players, remained good friends after the events portrayed in the movie.
What Makes This Disney Football Movie Great?
Part of the inspirational nature of this movie is its basis in actual historical events. Despite some of the dramatization of the circumstances, the core of the story is based on things that happened.
It’s a story about overcoming a number of obstacles, many of which we still see today. It’s about not just teamwork, but the forging of life-long bonds.
This might not be a movie for younger age groups, but the influence of this story has spread far and wide. Even individuals who are not huge football fans appreciate the messages in this movie.
5. Invincible
‘Invincible’ is a 2006 film adaptation of a true story, involving 1970 Eagles football player Vince Papale.
Down-on-his-luck Vince Papale is convinced by friends to participate in the open tryouts for the Eagles team after the loss of his job and his wife. Through grueling tryouts and difficult training, he perseveres to secure a roster slot on the Eagles team.
Training is difficult, his fellow players are not always supportive, and he faces personal issues concerning a possible romance. Despite a rough start, Vince finds his footing and eventually leads the Eagles to their first win of the season.
What Makes This Disney Football Movie Great?
Part of the appeal of this movie is the very real ‘rags-to-riches’ tale of perseverance and triumph.
The fact that it is a true story makes the movie even more inspirational.
This is more a story for older age groups, but it can be enjoyed even by those who aren’t sports fans. It presents a message of hope and community that people from all walks of life can appreciate.
6. The Game Plan
Quarterback Joe Kingman is heavily invested in his football career and preparing for the playoffs when his 8-year-old daughter Peyton appears on his doorstep. Despite a rough start, Peyton and Joe begin to bond as father and daughter.
Peyton teaches Joe some life lessons with the help of ballet teacher Monique Vasquez and encourages him to change some of his arrogant and selfish behaviors.
Things take a wrong turn when an accidental allergic reaction reveals Peyton is a runaway who left her legal guardian’s home, and Joe’s manager Stella interferes in their relationship to encourage Joe to sign a major endorsement deal.
Despite this, Peyton and Joe reunite at the championship, and garner a win in both the game and their personal relationship.
What Makes This Disney Football Movie Great?
There’s plenty of humor to delight viewers of all ages, but there’s also some life lessons to take away – and not just for the main character.
This is a movie that all ages can enjoy. It’s light-hearted, with a good mix of humor, romance, and serious subtopics.
It’s an excellent family movie, despite what some might say about it having a formulaic nature.
7.Safety
‘Safety’ is the newest Disney Football Movie, produced in 2020 for Disney+. Based on true events, it follows the story of Ray McElrathbey and the beginning of his career at Clemson University.
A freshman at Clemson University, Ray is settling into college life when he receives word that his mother is in rehab and his brother is at risk of going into the foster system. He decides to take his brother in, despite the difficulties.
With help from his roommate and later the freshman football squad, Ray juggles caring for his brother, doing his schoolwork, and football. Eventually, his coaches are informed, and Ray’s life changes.
Working a job, caring for his brother and keeping up with school and football is difficult for Ray, but he receives help from a supportive community. Though trouble comes in the form of an NCAA investigation, Ray perseveres.
Eventually, Ray overcomes the obstacles before him to have a successful football career, a successful college career, and a healthy home life.
What Makes This Disney Football Movie Great?
It has all the classic Disney Football Movies hallmarks. An inspiring story, real-life events, and a good balance of drama, romance, and messages.
It’s a more modern movie than some of the others on this list, but that helps give it more relatability.
It’s better for an older age group, but it’s still an excellent movie, rated one of the top 5 Disney Sport movies on Rotten Tomatoes.
For more posts on Disney movies take a look at the links below...
How to Tell if a Disney VHS is Black Diamond
Movies to Watch Before Going to Disney World
The History of Disney Movies on VHS
The Best Disney Football Movies
I hope you have enjoyed these picks for the Best Disney Football Movies. There is hours of movie fun to be enjoyed here for all the family. Why not also check out our Ultimate Guide to Disney Witch Movies too. You can also find some more Disney Fun below:
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