Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India

Lagaan is takes place during a dry year when the British commanding officer doubles the tax (lagaan) on the Indian villagers in the province he rules. The villagers resist, and the officer challenges them to a game of cricket. If the villagers win, the lagaan is canceled for three years, but if they lose, the tax is tripled. A Bollywood classic. (Note: Originally filmed in Hindi, depending on which version you buy, you might only be able to have English subtitles).


Release Year: 2001
Rating: PG
Length: 224m (yes, it's that long - not a typo)


For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Cultural Differences: Each team has different "playing" styles, different dress, different values, etc. all of which are obvious; the commanding officer's sister helps the villagers and learns about their traditions; the players must also deal with an "Untouchable" who wants to join the team
• Focus: During the match, a couple players become too amped up and lose their concentration, causing them to get out
• Leadership: Bhuvan (the protagonist) must convince his fellow villagers the cricket match is a good idea and recruit people to play; Bhuvan is also looked to as the team captain and keeps everyone on track
• Sportsmanship: During the cricket game, the British team engages in acts of unsportsmanlike conduct, such as deliberately throwing the cricket ball at the batters to injure them
• Teamwork: All the villagers must work together to defeat the British team; each person has a role, but sometimes they must step up in order to succeed

The Waterboy

The Waterboy is about the team waterboy (Bobby Boucher) who accidentally has his anger unleashed, turning him into a defensive maniac and a feared linebacker. However, if he wants to play football, he must keep it a secret from his mother who believes he is too delicate, while also overcoming academic adversity.

Release Year: 1998
Rating: PG-13
Length: 90m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Aggression: Aggression is seen in nearly every scene of this movie. His aggressive is usually unlocked by opposing team members and even his coach. For example, Coach Klein tells Bobby that water sucks and gatorade is better to motivate him and make him angry, which leads Bobby to have a field goal block/return to win the game. (42m)
• Confidence: Confidence plays a major role in the beginning of this film. Bobby was picked on by players from both teams he worked for but failed to redeem himself due to a lack of confidence. It is evident when he recalls a memory from his childhood where a past coach belittles him when he tries to stand up for himself. (13m)
• Cultural Differences: Bobby has never considered playing football and when given the opportunity he is hesitant because of what his mother will say. Coach Klein attends dinner at Bobbies house where his mother rattles on about how bobby is to delicate and how she raised a sweet boy and he doesn't need to go to college. You can tell they have different standards and beliefs towards education. (16m)
• Imagery: In several instances he recalls images from his past that contribute to his aggression. But a better reference for imagery is the scene where Bobby replaces the heads of the offensive line and field goal kicker with Coach Klein's face while having them sing a catchy tune. (43m)

True Blue

True Blue (also known as Miracle at Oxford) is about the Oxford rowing team's rivalry with Cambridge.  After a tough loss, the team argues over how to band together to come back and win again.

Release Year: 1996
Rating: R
Length: 115m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Wildcats

Wildcats is about a white middle-class woman who becomes the head coach of a black inner-city football team.

Release Year: 1986
Rating: R
Length: 106m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Running Brave

Running Brave is the story of Sioux Indian Billy Mills who won gold at the 1964 Olympics.

Release Year: 1983
Rating: PG
Length: 106m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Rocky IV

Rocky IV continues the story of Rocky, who boxes for his country against the Soviet Union's top fighter.

Release Year: 1985
Rating: PG
Length: 91m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Remember the Titans

Remember the Titans is the story of a coach who unites a racially diverse football team and takes them to championships.

Release Year: 2000
Length: 113m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

The Program

The Program is the story of a college football team facing the pressure of winning and balancing life. The team has players from all walks of life, and they need a winning season so the program can survive.

Release Year: 1993
Rating: R
Length: 112m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Aggression: Shown through the desire to win and one player's use of steroids, which caused him to become very angry and aggressive.
• Anxiety: There was a lot of pressure on the team to win, otherwise their program would be cut. Plus, the quarterback came from a family of alcoholics, so he was always on edge and nervous, and ultimately ended up going to rehab for drinking.
• Parents/Families: Girlfriends and families played a big role. Alvin wanted to get his family out of poverty, the QB wanted his family to support his playing, and the running backs were battling for a girl's heart and approval.
• Cultural Differences: The team was made of players with very different backgrounds and the team had to try and blend everyone together for their success.

Price of Glory

Price of Glory is about a father who pushes his three sons into boxing after he was cheated out of his own career.

Release Year: 2000
Rating: PG-13
Length: 118m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Oxford Blues

Oxford Blues is about an American competing for Oxford's prestigious rowing team.

Release Year: 1984
Rating: PG-13
Length: 97m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

The Dirty Dozen

The Dirty Dozen is about an army major who is assigned to lead a team of misfit inmates into an elite unit during World War II.

Release Year: 1967
Length: 150m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Chariots of Fire

Chariots of Fire is the story of two English runners who competed in the 1924 Olympics.

Release Year: 1981
Rating: PG
Length: 124m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Bring It On

Bring It On is about the pressures of maintaining a championship-caliber cheer squad.

Release Year: 2000
Rating: PG-13
Length: 98m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Brian's Song

Brian's Song is a heartwrenching tale of friendship between Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo, who is fighting cancer.

Release Year: 1971
Rating: G
Length: 73m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

The Boxer

The Boxer is about a boxer who attempts to leave the Provisional Irish Republican Army after being released from prison.

Release Year: 1997
Rating: R
Length: 113m

For more information, view its pages on the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Billy Elliot

Billy Elliot is the story of a British lad who wants to be a dancer instead of a boxer, which is his father's dream for him.

Release Year: 2000
Rating: PG-13
Length: 110m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

The Bad News Bears

The Bad News Bears is about a little league team of misfits and their cranky coach.

Release Years: 1976, 2005
Rating: PG (1976), PG-13 (2005)
Length: 102m (1976), 113m (2005)

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database (1976 and 2005) and Rotten Tomatoes (1976 and 2005) or purchase it from Amazon.



View the original trailer from 1976 here.

Hoop Dreams

Hoop Dreams is a documentary that follows two high school basketball players as they pursue their dream to play in the NBA.

Release Year: 1994
Rating: PG-13
Length: 170m

For more information, view its pages on the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.