Dwight D. Eisenhower thought that football was the best sport for young men to play because it was the closest sport to war. Football's similarity to battle also explains why it has made for such excellent fodder for movies through the decades. There's violence, bonding, competition, and plenty of drama, both on and off the field. Like war, football has also been the subject of much controversy over whether all the sacrifice and casualties are worth it.
The 17 films and documentaries listed below cover the game from all these angles and more. These gridiron-themed greats are the ones that stick with you long after you've watched them; they make you think, they make you laugh, and most of all, they get you pumped for taking on whatever fight you're faced with.
