In a racially charged and economically drained Texas town, high school football players feel immense pressure to defend their team's winning reputation in this 2004 adaptation of H.G. Bissinger's book. Stars Oscar-nominated actor Billy Bob Thornton.
When the star tailback, Boobie Miles (Derek Luke), is seriously injured during the first game of the season, all hope is lost, and the town's dormant social problems begin to flare up. It is left to the inspiring abilities of new coach Gary Gaines (Thornton) to instill in the other team members - and, by proxy, the town itself - a sense of self-respect and honor.
Director Peter Berg (Lone Survivor) went on to create the Emmy-winning TV series Friday Night Lights which ran for five seasons.
Less
82%173 reviews
Thornton is impeccably cast as the tough but understanding coach who may lose his temper on the field, but refrains from getting excessively preachy during his locker-room speeches. Luke shines in his role, as do the rest of the well-rounded team players.
Full review
Uplifting and troubling, partly because it is more honest than most sports movies about the high cost and short life span of high school football glory.
Full review
Chronicling the team’s 1988 season, the film is red meat for rabid football junkies. Berg (The Rundown) takes you so deep into the action, you can hear the bones crunch.
Full review
Directed by sometime actor Peter Berg through the framework of an earthy coming-of-age saga, the grunt 'n' buckle trade-offs of 'football' have never felt so profound.
Full review
Oddly enough, despite all these undertones, "Friday Night Lights" does also work like a traditional sports movie, and there's enormous tension and excitement at the end, when everything comes down to the last play in the state finals.
Full reviewFriday Night Lights is available to stream in Australia now on Google Play and Apple TV and Foxtel and Binge.
Get to your watchlist.
Or sign in with your email
Don’t have a Flicks account?
Keep track of the movies and show you want to see + get Flicks email updates.
Or sign up with your email
Already have a Flicks account?
Don’t have a Flicks account?
Remembered your password?
To post ratings/reviews we need a username. This is what will appear next to your ratings and reviews.
