The following is a list of American football films.
List Title Year Genre Notes Two Minutes to Go1921ComedySilent film in which a star of his college football team (Charles Ray) is forced to work as a milkman when his father's business begins to fail. Now considered a lost film. The Freshman1925ComedySilent film with Harold Lloyd as a water boy who gets to play his in team's big game. The Plastic Age1925DramaSilent film with Clara Bow as a flapper who lures a star football player into a party lifestyle. Brown of Harvard1926DramaSilent film about Harvard football player, based on a Broadway play. The Kick-Off 1926 Drama "A photoplay of college life, replete with the romance of the campus, and an especially thrilling football game." The Quarterback1926ComedyA college athlete spends 27 years trying to defeat his school's arch-rival. The Drop Kick1927DramaA man's suicide damages a football player's reputation. The College Widow1927ComedyA coach's daughter helps Atwater College land a star player. West Point1927DramaA cadet fights his coach, insults the academy, and risks losing his girlfriend (Joan Crawford). The College Hero1927DramaA jealous teammate trips Carver College's football star and injures him. Salute1929DramaBrothers become opponents for Army-Navy game. So This Is College1929ComedyCollege teammates Biff and Eddie compete for the love of lovely Babs Baxter The Forward Pass1929ComedyA co-ed (Loretta Young) persuades a reluctant star to return to the gridiron. College Hounds1930ComedyShort film of "All Barkie Dogville Comedies" series in which trained dogs play football players. Maybe It's Love1930MusicalA college president's daughter (Joan Bennett) brings in ringers to win a big game. Maker of Men1931DramaA football player finds it hard to please his father, who is also his coach. The Galloping Ghost1931SerialA 12-chapter serial with Red Grange confronting a scandal at "Clay College." Touchdown1931DramaCoach (Richard Arlen) weighs an injured player's health against his own need to win. Freddy the Freshman1932shortFreddy the Freshman, "the freshest kid in town" and a canine "big man on campus", crash a college pep rally and becomes stars of the campus football game. Horse Feathers1932ComedyA Marx Brothers farce about college football. That's My Boy1932DramaA college hero demands $50,000 to keep playing football, but his stockbroker loses it. The All American1932DramaAfter a football player ruins his life, he keeps his brother from making the same mistake. 70,000 Witnesses1932MysteryHis teammate is murdered during a game, and Buck Buchanan suspects his own brother. The Sport Parade1932DramaDartmouth football teammates get involved in professional wrestling. Huddle1932RomanceA poor young Yale player falls in love with an heiress. Rackety Rax1932ComedyEx-convicts become players and nightclub dancers become cheerleaders to make a college team popular. College Coach1933DramaStars get money and academic favoritism under new coach (Pat O'Brien). Saturday's Millions1933DramaWestern University's top player (Robert Young) sees football strictly as a business. College Humor1933MusicalA professor (Bing Crosby) and a football star fall for the same co-ed. College Rhythm1934MusicalBig man on campus Finnegan (Jack Oakie) gets a store to sponsor a winner-take-all game. Three Little Pigskins1934ComedyA comical college tale involving The Three Stooges and Lucille Ball. Gridiron Flash1934DramaBelford College is so desperate that it recruits a new player who has been in prison. Hold 'Em Yale1935ComedyColorful crooks and a love-crazy girl distract a Yale football player (Buster Crabbe). Pigskin Parade1936ComedyA hillbilly (played by Stuart Erwin) becomes a Texas college football hero. The Big Game1936ComedyA gambler kidnaps Atlantic University's quarterback before the big game vs. Erie. Fighting Youth1936DramaCampus radicals try to persuade students to protest the football team. Rose Bowl1936Romance"Cheers" Reynolds must decide which Rose Bowl team's star she likes best. Over the Goal1937DramaA football star played by (William Hopper) risks permanent injury if he keeps playing. Saturday's Heroes1937DramaVal Webster (Van Heflin) opposes colleges getting rich while athletes like him stay poor. That Navy Spirit 1937Romance A new quarterback portrayed by Lew Ayres) and his rival play football for the academy. Navy Blue and Gold1937DramaA midshipman (James Stewart) clears father's name in time to play in Army-Navy game. Touchdown, Army1938DramaA cocky cadet (Robert Cummings) shapes up in time to play in the Army-Navy game. Up the River1938ComedyA couple of confidence men become involved in a prison football game. Hold That Co-ed1938ComedyFootball fortunes change for State thanks to a politician (John Barrymore) and a female kicker. The Gladiator1938ComedyJoe E. Brown joins a college team after an experimental serum gives him super strength. Mr. Doodle Kicks Off1938ComedyEllory Bugs offers a large donation to his alma mater, which is to be paid only if his son Jimmie "Doodle" Bugs becomes a football hero. However, "Doodle" is more interested in the band than the football team.$1,000 a Touchdown1939ComedyJoe E. Brown inherits a college and offers money to any player who can score a touchdown. The Cowboy Quarterback1939ComedyA professional scout from the "Chicago Packers" discovers a new star in rural Montana. Knute Rockne, All American1940BiographicalThe story of Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne as played by Pat O'Brien with Ronald Reagan as George Gipp. Too Many Girls1940ComedyBodyguards hired to watch rich college girl Lucille Ball) join the football team. The Quarterback1941ComedyA brother pretends to be his twin and becomes his school's football star. Harmon of MIchigan1941DramaTom Harmon as himself, a college hero who weds his sweetheart and becomes a coach. The Spirit of Stanford1942DramaFrankie Albert as himself, a high school quarterback who attends Stanford and excels at football. The Iron Major1943BiographicalThe story of coach Frank Cavanaugh (Pat O'Brien), a war hero. We've Never Been Licked1943DramaA World War II propaganda film about the Corps of Cadets and football at Texas A&M. Good News1947MusicalTait College can win the big game but only if its star (Peter Lawford) passes an exam. Triple Threat1948DramaAfter a Rose Bowl game, two rivals end up playing for the Los Angeles Rams. Father Was a Fullback1949ComedyThe daughter of a coach (Fred MacMurray) has a boyfriend who chooses her over Notre Dame. Easy Living1949DramaProfessional quarterback Pete Wilson (Victor Mature) discovers he has a heart condition. That's My Boy1951ComedyA Martin and Lewis college football comedy (unrelated to the 1932 film That's My Boy, which is also about college football). Saturday's Hero1951DramaA Virginia university's halfback played by John Derek deals with injuries and money issues. Jim Thorpe – All-American1951BiographicalThe life and football career of Jim Thorpe, portrayed by Burt Lancaster The Guy Who Came Back1951DramaInjured aging athlete (Paul Douglas) refuses to accept that his playing days are over. The Rose Bowl Story1952RomanceA college gridiron star and a Rose Bowl princess fall in love. Hold That Line1952ComedyThe Bowery Boys discover a miracle "vitamin" and join the school's football team. Bonzo Goes to College1952ComedyA coach (Edmund Gwenn) is so desperate that he lets a chimpanzee be his new quarterback. Trouble Along the Way1953ComedyA Catholic college in New York hires a new football coach played by John Wayne. Crazylegs1953BiographicalBased on college the career of Elroy Hirsch, playing himself. All American1953DramaA quarterback (Tony Curtis) deals with hazing and hardship at a Chicago college. John Goldfarb, Please Come Home1965ComedyThe CIA tries to get Notre Dame's team to lose a game on purpose. They Call It Pro Football1967DocumentaryFirst full-length production from NFL Films. Paper Lion 1968 Biographical Adaptation of writer George Plimpton's tryout with Detroit Lions, starring Alan Alda. Number One 1969 Drama An aging New Orleans Saints professional quarterback played by (Charlton Heston) falls into drinking and adultery. Brian's Song 1971 Biographical A television film on the bond between Brian Piccolo (James Caan) and Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) of the Chicago Bears and Piccolo's cancer battle. The Longest Yard1974ComedyBurt Reynolds plays a convict who plays on his prison football team. Two-Minute Warning1976ThrillerFictional story of stadium sniper starring Charlton Heston. Gus1976ComedyDisney tale of a mule that is able to take a slumping pro football team to the Super Bowl by winning with the ability to kick field-length field goals. Black Sunday 1977 Thriller A fictitious story of a terrorist attack on the Super Bowl by use of the Goodyear Blimp. Something for Joey 1977Biographical A television film about John Cappelletti, who won the Heisman Trophy but lost a brother to leukemia. Semi-Tough1977ComedyBased on Dan Jenkins professional football novel, starring Burt Reynolds. Heaven Can Wait 1978 Comedy A remake of Here Comes Mr. Jordan but with football as backdrop instead of boxing. Warren Beatty as owner-quarterback of the Rams. Superdome 1978 Drama A television film about Super Bowl quarterbacks (Tom Selleck and Ken Howard) who are distracted by off-the-field worries. North Dallas Forty1979Drama Based on former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Peter Gent's novel of the same title, starring Nick Nolte as a character based on Gent. Coach of the Year1980DramaA former professional player paralyzed in Vietnam agrees to coach at a correctional facility. Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story1980BiographicalAbout Rocky Bleier and the obstacles he overcame to play for the professional Pittsburgh Steelers after returning wounded from Vietnam. Grambling's White Tiger1980BiographicalFact-based TV film on Grambling University's first white quarterback, played by Bruce Jenner (Currently identifying as Caitlyn Jenner). Full Moon High1981Comedy/HorrorA teenage football player heads to Romania where his father is bitten by a werewolf. All the Right Moves1983Drama A high school football player (Tom Cruise)'s contentious relationship with his coach (Craig T. Nelson) may derail his plans to get a college football scholarship. Quarterback Princess1983BiographicalAn Oregon schoolgirl seeks a chance to quarterback the boys' team. The Bear1984BiographicalMade for television on the life and coaching career of Alabama's Bear Bryant, played by Gary Busey. Against All Odds1984DramaA professional receiver played by (Jeff Bridges) develops a fatal attraction to the daughter of team's corrupt owner Lucas1986Comedy A critically acclaimed American coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama written and directed by David Seltzer and starring Corey Haim, Kerri Green, and Charlie Sheen. The Best of Times1986ComedyChildhood friends replay their biggest game, starring Robin Williams and Kurt Russell. Wildcats1986ComedyGoldie Hawn as a high school football coach. Johnny Be Good1988ComedyA star high school quarterback played byAnthony Michael Hall) must choose among a number of colleges vying to recruit him. Everybody's All-American1988DramaDennis Quaid in adaptation of Frank Deford's football novel. Necessary Roughness1991ComedyThe story of a Texas college team filled with misfits. The Last Boy Scout1991Action An action-comedy film directed by Tony Scott and written by Shane Black, starring Bruce Willis as Joe Hallenbeck, a down-on-his-luck private investigator, and Damon Wayans as former pro quarterback Jimmy Dix. . A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story1991DramaA film of the relationship of between Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Ricky Bell and Ryan Blankenship. School Ties1992DramaA story of high school bigotry with Brendan Fraser and Matt Damon The Program1993DramaJames Caan as a college team's coach. Rudy 1993 Biographical True story of quest by Rudy Ruettiger to enroll in and play footba