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THE PITCH — The greatest month in football — or should I say, soccer — is upon us! Millions will be watching, as the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is underway.
For 31 nations, the journey will end in heartbreak. But for one national team, the dream will come true and it'll be a Hollywood ending just like we see on the silver screen.
Speaking of movies, there have been some great films that have revolved around “the beautiful game.” Many recognizable and award-winning actors and actresses have been in soccer-themed movies, including Keira Knightly, Robert Duvall and Michael Caine.
With all of that in mind, I decided we should name the best soccer-themed movies of all time. Some of the movies in this list are comedies while others are dramas filled with emotion.
And the movies are:
"Goal! The Dream Begins" (2006)
The story of an immigrant kid with big soccer dreams is the plot of this footy movie classic.
Actor Kuno Becker portrays Santiago Muñez, a busboy in Los Angeles trying to overcome great odds to become a professional footballer. The message of working hard, taking risks, family and believing in yourself — along with some nice soccer skills displayed throughout — makes "Goal!" an entertaining experience for soccer and movie fans. The late, great film critic Roger Ebert said in his 2006 review of the film, "(Goal!) is good and caring work, with more human detail than we expect."
The movie, which inspired two subsequent sequels, features a cameo by David Beckham. Other soccer stars appearing in the film include Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry and Raúl González.
“Goal!” is rated PG-13.
"Kicking & Screaming" (2005)
Will Ferrell + soccer + rowdy kids + angry Mike Ditka = hilariousness.
“Kicking & Screaming” is a movie that will entertain everyone, from soccer fans to those who just want to sit back and watch a funny flick.
Ferrell stars as Phil, a dad who takes on coaching his son’s soccer team. In order to help his son’s team go from worst to first, Phil asks help from his neighbor, NFL Hall-of-Famer Mike Ditka, to help turn the team around. The story revolves around Phil’s rivalry with his father, Buck, played by the legendary Robert Duvall.
As in any Ferrell flick, there are hilarious moments only the “Saturday Night Live” alum can produce: from random one-liners to comical yelling.
Executively produced by Judd Apatow, “Kicking & Screaming” has plenty of footy action, laughs, and most importantly, a nice message that the family can enjoy.
“Kicking & Screaming” is rated PG.
"Escape To Victory" (1981) ==========================
World War II, Allied prisoners, Nazi soldiers, "The Italian Stallion" and Pelé. Sounds like a perfect recipe for a classic soccer movie, right?
While it may sound crazy, this combination ended up becoming one of the most beloved soccer-themed movies of all time. “Escape To Victory,” or “Victory” as it was named when released in North America, revolves around a group of Allied prisoners of war who, thanks to a German camp commander, will play a match against a German team in Paris. But unbeknownst to the Germans, the POWs are planning an escape.
Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone star in the film, and several soccer stars play roles in the film, including Pelé and Bobby Moore. Several professional footballers from English club Ipswich Town FC played stand-ins in the movie.
“Escape To Victory” is supposedly based on an actual match that occurred in 1942. The film is a sports cult classic thanks to the star power — both in actors and in soccer stars — and thanks to the storyline, seemingly outrageous or not.
“Escape To Victory” is rated PG.
"Bend It Like Beckham" (2002) =============================
It’s arguably the most known soccer-themed movie of all time.
“Bend It Like Beckham” stars Parminder Nagra as Jess, the daughter of Punjabi Sikhs in London. Jess’ parents are strict and want their daughter to follow traditions. However, Jess wants to break away from her family's idea of what she should do and play soccer like her hero, David Beckham.
Keira Knightly plays Jules, who convinces Jess to try out for a local team. Jess tries to find a balance between choosing her own path while helping her parents understand along the way.
The coming-of-age movie is praised by many for showing the difficulty of balancing family and cultural tradition while embracing modern, independent ideals. “Bend It Like Beckham” is considered by many as a “Girl Power” film, with the movie being written and directed by Gurinder Chadha, having female leads and a storyline that embraces a woman’s right to choose her own destiny.
Making $32 million at the box office, “Bend It Like Beckham” is also one of the highest-grossing Indian-themed movies of all time in America.
There are few movies that are embraced by the masses like “Bend It Like Beckham.” It’s not a kids movie, but with a PG-13 rating, “Bend It Like Beckham” is a movie you can watch with your teenager and enjoy.
Xoel Càrdenas is the Evening Managing Editor at KSL.com. He co-hosts KSL Cafecito, the podcast that talks all things culture.
