The Civil War happened from 1861 to 1865. The North won, which kept the United States together and ended slavery.
But, many people died in this war—about 625,000. It started because the free and slave states disagreed about whether the national government could stop slavery in new areas that were not yet states. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln became president. He was from the Republican party and said he wouldn’t allow slavery in these new places. Then, seven Southern states where slavery was legal formed a new country called the Confederate States of America.
By the end of 1861, millions of armed men from Virginia to Missouri fought for this, which came to be recognized as the Civil War.
These stories have been captured in books and on the silver screen of Hollywood. Some of the Best films on American Civil War to have been made in Hollywood are:
List of All-Time Best Movies on the American Civil War
Glory (1989)
Glory – Glory was based on Lincoln Kirstein’s ‘Lay This Laurel’ and Peter Burchard’s ‘One Gallant Rush’, of which the latter was based on the letters of Col. Robert Gould Shaw. Glory is a great depiction of the mass courage displayed by soldiers during the Civil War.
This is about heroes involved who have been ignored by history due to racism and were part of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, headed by Col. Robert Gould Shaw. It showed how black soldiers were denied all privileges and amenities as compared to those of whites and were given the most menial and demeaning of tasks.
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Gone with the wind – this is again one of the finest films made during the American Civil War and was adapted from the novel by Margaret Mitchell.
Gone With the Wind opens in April of 1861, in the home named Tara, where Scarlett O’Hara, the spoiled daughter of a well-to-do plantation owner, wants to come out of the poverty she sees herself in during the Civil War. Its portrayal of slavery and African Americans is controversial, and so are the racial slurs used there.
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
The Outlaw Josey Wales – The Outlaw Josey Wales story tells or shows us in the film about a hero’s journey westward after the Civil War. Having fresh memories of his family’s slaughter by Red Leg soldier Terrill, Confederate Josey Wales character played by Clint Eastwood refrains from joining his captain Fletcher and the rest of his comrades in surrender to a U.S. Army regiment.
He is considered a dangerous outlaw after battling single handily with his regiment and is chased by U.S. cavalry soldiers led by the Fletcher and the villainous Terrill.
Lincoln (2012)
Lincoln—This 2012 movie was based on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. Steven Spielberg’s historical drama shows the 16th President’s final months and the passage of the 13th Amendment by the House of Representatives in 1865.
It shows the abolition of slavery and how in the house of congress they discussed freedom of slaves will affect all. How blacks will compete for jobs, marry white women and one day even vote.
Gettysburg (1993)
Gettysburg –based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel ‘The Killer Angels’ by Michael Shaara it was the dramatization of the events of July 1863 when the armies of the Union and Confederacy fought at the small Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg.
It shows how Robert E. Lee and his General James Longstreet argue over battle strategy, and Jeff Daniels as Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a college professor whose odd techniques help his army to win.
Cold Mountain – Based on the novel by Charles Frazier, Anthony Minghella’s dramatic story is set at the end of the American Civil War days. Jude Law was acting as Inman, a young soldier injured in civil war who is struggling to return home to Cold Mountain, NC, where the love of his life waits for his return.
How the West Was Won (1962)
How the West was won – this epic Western adventure is a true cinematic classic. Three directors, Henry Hathaway, John Ford, and George Marshall together make up a story and tell the story of three families travels from one place to another between 1839 and 1889.
It is made of 5 segments and depicts each one with great care. The third segment of this film deals with the civil war and how the character has to fight his own confederate friend. This film has won many awards and accolades for the great cinematic work.
Gangs of New York (2002)
Gangs of New York – this is an American historical fiction film set in the mid 19th century in Lower Manhattan. It has been inspired by Herbert Asbury’s book of 1927 of the name ‘The Gangs of New York’. Most of the film take place in 1863. The two main issues of this time in New York were Irish immigration to the city and the ongoing Civil War.
The story follows William “Bill the Butcher“ in his roles as crime boss and the political person under the helm of Boss Tweed. The film ends in a violent fight sequence between the mobs with Amsterdam Vallon and his allies, which happened during the New York City Draft Riots of 1863.
Ride with the Devil (1999)
Ride with the Devil – Based on Daniel Woodrell’s novel, Woe To Live On, and adapted for the screen by James Schamus, Ride Including The Devil tells a story of the Civil War from a rather unusual perspective.
When the Civil War begins, good friends Jake and Jack Bull join a team of Southern guerrilla fighters. But soon after the war begins, they understand what it actually means and have to decide for themselves what is right or wrong. In Ride With The Devil, it is difficult to understand the boundaries between North and South, and the character of Holt blurs the lines between slavery and freedom and black and white.
Your Turn!
Share your favourite film on the American Civil War in the comment section!
Movies are a source of entertainment that takes us towards a new journey, a new adventure or a new experience. Most of the times, the movies are simple fiction stories based on a realistic plot with few dramatic as well as larger than life action sequences.
However, there are a good number of movies that are set in the times way ahead of us. These futuristic movies in Hollywood are highly dominated by Sci-Fi movies, yet there are a few movies in different genres like thriller, action, adventure etc.
The most surprising fact about these futuristic movies is that many of the devices or technologies used in them have inspired real-life innovators to build them.
Hence, today, we bring you a list of amazing futuristic movies produced in Hollywood that you must watch at least once in your life.
Top Hollywood Movies Sets in The Future
I Am Legend
(Release Year: 2007; Set in 2009-2012)
I Am Legend is a post-apocalyptic film starring Will Smith as the lead character and the only survivor in New York City after a massive breakdown of a virus that killed almost 90% of the human life on the island and turned the remaining 10% into nocturnal mutants.
Who feed on other humans or animals. Accompanied by his dog Sam, military virologist Neville, portrayed by Will Smith, is trying to find a cure by performing experiments on infected rats and sometimes even by catching live nocturnal mutant.
Set in 2012, the movie was released in 2007 and hence qualifies for our list of futuristic movies.
I, Robot is a 2004 American Sci-Fi action film starring Will Smith and Bridget Moynahan in the lead roles. As the name suggests, the movie is about humanoid robots and is set in 2035, a time when robots have become a part of this world and assist humans with all kinds of tasks.
However, the things take a drastic turn when the central artificial intelligence computer gets evil and corrupts all the robots in believing that humans are the ultimate danger to the earth, they go on a rampage against the humans.
The rest of the story follows how Spooner, portrayed by Will Smith, stops them with the help of Sonny, an individual robot designed by Dr. Lanning, the co-founder, himself.
Directed by Steven Spielberg, Minority Report is an American Sci-Fi mystery thriller film based on a short story of the same name written by Philip K. Dick.
Starring Tom Cruise in the lead role, the movie is set in 2054, when the technology has advanced in a way that the local police department in Washington, D.C. can now stop murders before they happen, bringing down the crime rate to zero.
However, the things backfire when the Precogs, who predict the crimes, generate a new vision of the future, where PreCrime Captain John Anderton, portrayed by Tom Cruise, will murder a man named Leo Crow in the next 36 hours.
The interesting key here is that Anderton is not familiar with anyone named Leo Crow. Now, with the authorities behind him, Anderton needs to prove innocence.
12 Monkeys
(Release Year: 1995; Set in 1996-2035)
12 Monkeys is a 1995 American Sci-Fi film set in the year 2035 and is focused on Time Travel.
Starring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, and Brad Pitt in the lead roles, the movie is about James Cole, played by Bruce Willis, who time travels back from 2035 to 1990 to prevent an epidemic caused by a deadly virus outbreak that destroys the most of the humanity in 1996.
Directed by Terry Gilliam, the movie is based on a 1962 short film La Jetee. Will James Cole succeed in stopping the epidemic forms the rest of the story?2001: A Space Odyssey
(Release Year: 1968; Set in 2001)
Released in the year 1968, 2001: A Space Odyssey is an epic Sci-Fi film based on space traveling. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, the film is a screen adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s short story “The Sentennial”.
The film revolves around a space voyage to Jupiter with a Sentient computer Hal after the humans discover a black monolith affecting human evolution. Made in 1968, the film brilliantly depicts the aspect of space travel with a sheer accuracy of spaceflight with the help of pioneering special effects and ambiguous imagery.
Different concepts like artificial intelligence, extraterrestrial life, and human evolution are highly explored in the movie.
The Fifth Element
(Release Year: 1997; Set in 2263)
The Fifth Element is a 1997 English-French film starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich and Gary Oldman in the lead roles.
Set in the 23rd century, the film is way too advanced with flying cars, humanoid robots, and many other high-end technologies.
The film is centered around Korben Dallas, portrayed by Bruce Willis, who is burdened with the responsibility of saving the earth after a humanoid, portrayed by Jovovich, falls into his flying cab. How Korben Dallas saves the Earth from an evil force forms the rest of the story!
The Matrix
(Release Year: 1999; Set in 2199)
There is no way that a passionate movie buff is unaware of the film called The Matrix.
Directed by The Wachowski Brothers, the film became an iconic movie highly for its cult following and magnificent action sequences that are blended with slow-motion shooting while popularizing the visual effect known as “bullet time”.
Starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, and Carrie-Ann Moss, in the pivotal roles, the movie is set in 2199, where people are actually living in a simulated reality called “The Matrix”.
The movie is focused on a team of rebellions led by Neo, portrayed by Keanu Reeves, who take on the machines and try to take control of The Matrix, in order to free the humans from a virtual life.
Oblivion
(Release Year: 2013; Set in 2017-2077)
Oblivion is yet another post-apocalyptic Sci-Fi action film starring Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Andrea Riseborough, and Olga Kurylenko in the pivotal roles.
The movie is focused on Jack, portrayed by Tom Cruise, and Vika, portrayed by Andrea Roseborough, who are posted on Earth to protect the generators from the attacks of an extraterrestrial invader, known as Scavengers (Scavs).
These generators are used to drain the ocean water to power the Earth’s new colony on Saturn’s Moon Titan. However, when Jack comes across a woman in stasis, whom he remembers as his wife before the alien invasion, he is shocked to find the real truth about the Scavengers and the state of the Earth. Watch the movie know what Jack does next!
Total Recall
(Release Year: 1990; Set in 2084)
Directed by Paul Verhoeven, Total Recall is a 1990 American Sci-Fi movie that focuses on the story of a construction worker named Douglas Quaid, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
When Quaid dreams about Mars and a mysterious woman there, he begins to investigate as every aspect of his life seems unreal to him. Finally, he has a total recall and realizes his true mission.
The rest of the story is about how he fights the corrupt Governor Vilos Cohaagen, played by Ronny Cox and rescues the people of Mars. The film also stars Sharon Stone and Rachel Ticotin in pivotal roles.
Surrogates
(Release Year: 2009; Set in 2017)
Starring Bruce Willis as FBI Agent, Tom Greer, Surrogates is a 2009 American Sci-Fi action film based on a popular comic book series titled, “The Surrogates”.
Directed by Jonathan Mostow, the film talks about a futuristic life, where people purchase remote-controlled humanoid robots known as surrogates to take their respective roles in the outer world and interact with the society while they stay in the comfort and safety of their homes.
However, FBI Agent Tom Greer is forced to come out into the outer world in order to investigate the murder of surrogates along with their owners. The investigation to find the culprit behind the murders forms the rest of the story.
Equilibrium
(Release Year: 2002; Set in 2072)
Equilibrium is yet another dystopian Sci-Fi action film on our list of futuristic films. Starring Christian Bale in the lead role as John Preston, an enforcement officer.
The film is set at a future time after the fictional World War III, in the city of Libra, where having emotions are outlawed by the Liberia Government and citizens are instructed to take daily doses of drugs that suppress emotions.
Anybody found violating this instruction and missing a dose is considered a sense offender and a Liberia’s law enforcement team of Clerics is given the charge of punishing the offenders.
However, things go awry when one of the clerics, John Preston accidentally misses a dose one day and what he does next forms the rest of the story.
Snowpiercer
(Release Year: 2013; Set in 2031)
Snopiercer is the English language South Korean Sci-Fi film directed by Bong Joon-ho and is based on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige created by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette.
The movie is focused around The Rattling Ark, a train that holds the last remaining humans on the Earth. Humanity is on the verge of declining after a failed attempt at climate engineering to counter global warming that resulted in a new ice age.
However, the train is divided into two sections. Front cars are occupied by the elites and the rail cars by the scum.
The rest of the story forms as Curtis Everett, portrayed by Chris Evans, leads the tail passengers to take up the front cars all the way to the engine. To find out whether he succeeds or not, you must watch the movie.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
(Release Year: 2014; Set in 2026)
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes continues after 10 years from the events of its prequel Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
The film focuses on the rivalry between the group of people in San Francisco, which is trying to get back to their normal lives fighting through the plague that is destroying the humanity, and the community of intelligent apes led by Caesar.
The film stars a whole new cast comprising of Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russel, Toby Kebbell, Kirk Acevedo, and Judy Greer.
Divergent
(Release Year: 2014; Set in 2064)
Divergent is a 2014 American Sci-Fi film set in the dystopian era in a post-apocalyptic Chicago.
The people in the city are divided into different factions based on human virtues. Every year, children who turn 16 are placed into their respective faction based on their qualities.
The film focuses on Beatrice Prior, played by Shailene Woodley, a divergent surprisingly chooses Dauntless, a group of braves over the wishes of her family who expect her to choose Abnegation, a group of selfless.
However, things get awry, when the group of intellectuals of an Erudite plot against Abnegation for supremacy.
Beatrice, divergent tries to save Abnegations and starts a revolt against the age-old society.
The Hunger Games
(Release Year: 2012; Set in 2280)
Another movie set in the dystopian era and somewhat similar to Divergent is the 2012 Sci-Fi adventure film.
The Hunger Games Starring Jennifer Lawrence in the lead role of Katniss Everdeen, the film is based on the novel of the same name authored by Suzanne Collins.
Directed by Gary Ross, the movie is set around a televised competition known as The Hunger Games, where young boys and girls aged between 12 and 18 are forced to take part and fight to the death until there is one survivor, the winner of the competition.
To save her little sister, Katniss takes her place in the competition and the rest of the story forms around her will to survive and how she beats other opponents while maintaining her sanity and good nature, which later wins the heart of people in all the districts as well as the sponsors of the games.
Children of Men
(Release Year: 2006; Set in 2027)
Children of Men is a thriller movie based on the novel of the same name written by P.D. James. Directed and co-written by Alfonso Cuaron, the film stars Clive Owen in the lead role while Clare-Hope Ashitey, Julian Moore, and Michael Caine in supporting roles.
The movie is set in the year 2027 at a time when humanity is on the verge of declining owing to the 18 years of human infertility.
However, there comes a new hope for the future, when Kee, played by Clare-Hope Ashitey, gets pregnant.
Now, Theo, portrayed by Clive Owen, has the responsibility to help Kee board the Humanity Project ship “Tomorrow”, so she could be of some help in curing infertility and saving humanity. Whether he succeeds or not, forms the rest of the story.
Prometheus
(Release Year: 2012; Set in 2089-2094)
Prometheus is a 2012 Sci-Fi action adventure film directed by Ridley Scott. Set in the late 21st century, the movie centers around the crew of spaceship Prometheus, who follow a star map and land on distant moon LV-223 under stasis accompanied by an Android named David tasked with monitoring the voyage until they reach the destination.
However, new dangers and challenges approach them during their expedition to find the Engineers, a species assumed to be humanity’s forerunners.
The film stars an ensemble cast comprising of Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce, Sean Harris, and Logan Marshall-Green.
Elysium
(Release Year: 2013; Set in 2154)
Starring Matt Damon in the lead role as Max Da Costa, Elysium is a 2013 American Sci-Fi action film directed by Neill Blomkamp.
The film is set in the mid-22nd century and takes place on both the ruined Earth and a luxurious space habitat called Elysium.
Although set too far in the future, the movie does involve most of the political and sociological causes that trouble our society nowadays.
The movie is centred upon the lead character of Max Da Costa, portrayed by Matt Damon, who tries to migrate to the luxurious space habitat called Elysium in order to prevent himself from dying of radiation poising by using a Med-Bay at Elysium, a medical machine that can cure all diseases.
Whether he succeeds in finding the cure or dies in the process forms the rest of the story.
Avatar
(Release Year: 2009; Set in 2148-2154)
Avatar is an epic sci-fi fantasy film written, directed and produced by James Cameron. The film is remarkable because of its realistic approach towards building a whole new universe of an alien world called Pandora and its creatures popularized as Na’vi using special effects and makeup.
The film is centred around conflicts between humans and Na’vis on Pandora. In the mid-22nd century, humans have colonized Pandora, a lush habitable moon inhabited by Na’vis, in order to mine the mineral unobtainium, a highly expensive superconductor on Earth.
However, the greed of the humans is threatening the natural environment of Na’vis and they are even ready for a war against humans. The movie is a real adventure trip to someone who enjoys exploring a new world, new places, and new lifestyle.
Interstellar
(Release Year: 2014; Set in 2065-2154)
Interstellar is a 2014 space fantasy film directed by Christopher Nolan. The film is set in the year 2067 where Earth is suffering from famine because of a crop blight that is threatening human existence on the planet.
After receiving a secret message from an unknown source, former NASA pilot Cooper, portrayed by Matthew McConaughey, interprets the message and reaches a secret NASA facility led by Cooper’s former professor Dr. John Brand, played by Michael Caine.
From there, Cooper joins an expedition into space through a wormhole to evaluate possible life in numerous potentially habitable planets, so humanity can survive even if the life on Earth is destroyed.
Nolan has beautifully crafted this movie into a space adventure saga with amazing locations and vision about how different planets would look like in the whole universe beyond our own solar system or even the galaxy.
The movie also stars Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, John Lithgow, and Casey Affleck in supporting roles.
Hollywood always presents us with amazing stories and movies based on everything you can imagine, from sports to romance to movies about seas and ships.
Who doesn’t love to travel on sea or cruise? Not everyone can do it whenever they want, so people like to entertain themselves by watching movies at sea, on ships, or during ship journeys.
As fun as it may seem, it isn’t easy to depict on screen, but there are some great Hollywood movies about ships and ship journeys that depict the enthralling beauty of the sea or ships without actually taking anything away from the story. Don’t you think that’s a mammoth task to achieve? Some of these Hollywood movies weren’t even actually filmed on ships, and you would have never even guessed it!
So here we have listed some of the Best Hollywood movies about ships or ship journeys that will blow your mind!
List of Best Hollywood Movies on Ships
Titanic
One of the most popular and loved movies of all time, Titanic, can be a bit predictable. band you will probably guess the ending of the movie, but the effects given will make you feel like you are present there on the ship. It’s truly an amazing masterpiece if we talk about the cinematography and VFX. And you can already guess what lengths the producers went to shoot the movie as the ship was so important to be put as the film’s title. The team worked hard and built the replica of the ship right from scratch. And after watching it you will surely hum Celine Deion’s theme song for days. You just can’t talk about thebest Hollywood movies on ships or ship journeys without mentioning this movie in the list.
Triangle
Triangle is among the most successful movies of the thriller genre of all time. It stars Liam Hemsworth as Victor and Melissa George as Jess. The surprising thing is, despite being from 2009, it is still popular. It’s about a few passengers of a yacht who get troubled by the weather in the Atlantic Ocean and jump to another ship to save themselves, only to invite more trouble. Triangle is one of the Best Mind-Bending Movies of All The Time.
Speed 2: Cruise Control
Jan de Bont directed this amazing movie in 1997 and made a great crossover in the collections it achieved. The story is based on Characters by Graham Yost. It’s all about a girl named Annie who’s cruising with her policeman boyfriend, Alex, but they find themselves in trouble because of a madman Giger.
Pirates of the Caribbean Series
Pirates of the Caribbean is a very successful movie seriesby Disney’s movie franchise. It is based on Walt Disney’s theme park ride with the same name. The movie has a great reception and fanbase. The main starters include Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, etc. The movies follow the adventures of Jhonny Deep as Captain Jack Sparrow and take place in a fictional historical setting: a world ruled by the East India Trading Company, the British Empire, and the Spanish Empire, with pirates depicting the freedom from the people ruling.
Life of Pi
The Academy Award-winning movie has a different approach to look things. He (Pi Patel) after the loss of his ship, is stuck with a Royal Bengal Tiger on a lifeboat, with a hyena and an orangutan, but eventually all die, except Pi Patel and the tiger. It stars Irfan Khan, Suraj Sharma, Tabu, etc. It was among the best movies released in 2012.
A movie of the year 1989, and still soaring through the best movies of the thriller genre, directed by Philip Noyce. It gained a good critical response and made it to the highest-grossing movie of its time. Nicole Kidman and Billy Zane play the main characters in the movie. The movie’s plot focuses on Kidman and Neill, the married couple sailing through the Pacific on a yacht. While sailing they met a distraught man named Zane in a damaged boat. The couple decided to investigate and help, which led them into danger.
Jaws
This is not for the faint-hearted because the movie has many scenes of sharks displaying rough aggression by using their jaws. The movie was directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg and released in 1975. It is about a police chief, an old seafarer, and a marine biologist who form a team and go to rescue the people of Amity Island, where a giant white shark has caused terror and destruction.
Poseidon
Poseidon is a beautiful, luxurious cruise liner that is crashed by a strong wave. It turns upside down, gets water, and starts to sink. People find different ways to survive in such a panic. It was first released in the Philippines in 2006. Wolfgang Petersen directed the movie. Emmy Rossum and Kurt Russell portrayed the lead roles.
The Philadelphia Experiment
Stewart Raffill directed The Philadelphia Experiment, which was released in 1984. The movie is a fantasy/thriller based on The Philadelphia Experiment: Project Invisibility, a 1979 novel. It’s one of the best Hollywood movies about ships or ship journeys and is a must-watch if you want to use all your senses to guess what’s going to happen next.
Captain Phillips
This movie was nominated for the Academy Award for best picture. The movie was released in 2013 and was directed by Paul Greengrass. The movie is all about the attack on Maersk, Alabama, which is a container ship by Somali pirates. The ship’s captain uses his wits to negotiate and bring everything to balance. It stars Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi in the main roles.
All is Lost
‘All is lost’ highlight the transient nature of human life, that you cannot be permanent no matter how great you are. The movie is about a person who goes to a solo voyage on a yacht and has it collided with a container ship. The supplies slowly decrease, and the man can see his mortality floating around him, looking at him in the face. The movie was directed by J. C. Chandor and was released in 2004 with Robert Redford as the only lead role.
The Finest Hours
The movie is all about the drama with a disaster in the plot. The movie was released in 2016 and was directed by Craig Gillespie. It’s all about four coast guards who get caught up in a deadly storm and give their best efforts to save the survivors of an oil tanker that was split in half and stars Chris Pine, Casey Affleck and Holliday Granger in the lead roles.
Battleship
This is a movie most of us would have watched because it’s so amazing. The movie is about an international fleet of ships discovering an alien fleet that aims to destroy everything. So, there is a war between the human and the alien forces for the future. Battleship was directed by Peter Berg and was released in 2012. The thrill of the science fiction on this movie is commendable.
Deep Rising
This action and adventure movie released in 1998 and was directed by Stephen Sommers. The movie is about a group of jewel thieves trapped in an empty luxury liner, and a sea monster kills the crew and the passengers. It’s an amazing experience to watch. The main roles were played by Famke Janssen, Treat Williams, Anthony Heald, etc.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
This movie is a multiple Academy Award winner for its amazing visuals and storyline. ‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World’ was released in 2003, directed by Peter Weir, and is no less than an adventure and drama. The movie is about Captain Jack Aubrey, who orders his team to seek the French war vessel, but when his own ship is attacked, he realizes that it is not an easy task. The main actors in the movie were Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, and James D’Arcy.
Your Turn!
We know Titanic is everyone’s favorite film about ships, but we want you to share your favorite Film about ships or boats from the list, or you can mention the missing films in the comment section.
Football is the most popular sport in the world, and somehow, it has been the subject of many great films ever since filmmaking became one of the most important sources of entertainment for the general public.
We have maintained a list of the best films from all over the world based on football, which is compiled below.
Please be nice and remind us in the comments if we have forgotten your favorite one.
Football and Soccer are the same thing; Americans call football Soccer. So we are sharing the list of all the Best Football Movies made in Britain and some other famous Football Movies from around the world.
The Damned United (Britain) (2009)
Best Film on Football by Britain
The Damned United is a British sports drama film that is centered around the rivalry between two coaches.
Brian Clough, our protagonist, has been chosen as the new coach of the Leeds team and is now under immense pressure to perform better than his predecessor.
However, he goes way too overboard with this and becomes harsh with his players, which eventually costs him his place as the team’s coach.
However, the immense drama the film takes the audience through is shown in a way that resonates very well with the audience.
Offside (Iran) (2006)
One of the Best Football Films of All Time
Director Jafar Panahi is known for his films that are too personal, too real, and too hard-hitting. These traits have put him on the list of the best contemporary directors of the present generation.
The offside film is a take on women’s football that has not been given attention in Iran. The film tells the story of a group of female Iranian football fans who want to watch a match live in the stadium, which is forbidden.
The film takes the audience into a highly patriarchal Iranian society and how the human spirit trumps all.
The Goalkeeper’s Fear of the Penalty (Germany) (1972)
German cinema after the Second World War has evolved greatly in content.
While before, German films were mostly propaganda films, they have explored some new, greater content territories.
Directed by one of the greatest German directors of all times, Win Wenders, the film tells the story of a professional soccer player who checks into a hotel, sleeps with a cashier, and kills her afterward in a fit of impulsiveness.
This was one of the most successful German films of the year and one of the most internationally recognized films made by the director Win Wenders.
Goal! (Britain) (2005)
Goal is yet another film from the United Kingdom that takes the love for the game of soccer to a whole new level.
The film tells the story of a lower middle-class boy who dreams of becoming a professional footballer. But his family has some needs and it is now up to him to choose between his family and his love for the game or to find something in the middle.
The plot may not be the freshest of all, but the film was a captivating drama that perfectly portrayed Santiago’s troubled state of mind.
When Saturday Comes (Britain) (1995)
When Saturday comes is one more entry in our list, which British films have somehow dominated.
Here comes one more entry, another masterpiece of a film. This time, the film tells the story of a very talented football player who struggles with his own demons.
He wants to be a top-notch footballer but is struggling with the habit of drinking. His girlfriend tries to help him but its all upto him in the end to quit drinking to take his game to another level and to become what he was destined to become.
Green Street (Britain-America) (2005)
Green Street happens to be one of the most experimental films on our list.
Telling the strange story about the fans of the game fighting each other off before and after each game, the film was an independent drama that scored many accolades at different film festivals.
Elijah Wood plays the lead role in the film as a young journalist who moves to England from America and gets stuck in the ‘football hooliganism’.
The moving drama is a hard-hitting examination of the strange culture prevalent in many parts of the United Kingdom.
The Game of Their Lives (USA) (2005)
The Game of Their Lives is an American film based on the same book.
The film stars Gerard Butler in the lead role as a footballer in the American national football team. The story is set in the 50s when America was considered a major underdog when it came to football.
The film is a story of how a team goes against all odds and performs miracles on their own. The film is also known for being one of the best performances of actor Gerard Butler’s career.
Escape to Victory (USA) (1981)
Escape to Victory is a film that is very hard to describe. Often described as one of the very few war sports dramas, it was set during the Second World War.
The story begins as some American soldiers are being held captive by the Nazis, and they have given up on the prospect of ever getting freedom. The Nazis agree to a football game to take place between the two teams, and the Americans have to plan their escape during the game itself.
The film received average reviews from the critics but was a box office smasher.
Now check out some Best Football Comedy Movies.
Shaolin Soccer (Hong Kong) (2001)
Best of Hong Kong Cinema
We have saved the best one for the last. There arguably is no film on our list that is as entertaining as this one.
Written and directed by Stephen Chow, who also stars in the lead role, the film tells the story of a kung fu enthusiast who assembles a team of his childhood friends to win a local football tournament.
The wacky comedy film was highly layered with many other themes such as love, loyalty, friendship and drama. One of the most entertaining football films of all time, this film was one of the most successful films of the year in China.
Bend it Like Beckham (Britain) (2012)
Bend it like Beckham is a 2012 British family romantic comedy film directed by Gurinder Chadha, who is of Indian origin.
The film tells the story of a typical Indian family living in Britain. The daughter idolizes David Beckham, the English football star, and wants to become a footballer, but her parents are the biggest roadblock on her way to becoming a footballer.
They want her to learn how to cook and marry an Indian guy. The film perfectly tells the classic story of how honesty and hard work trump all.
Your Turn!
These are our list of the Best Football films of all Time. You can share your favorite soccer Movies in the comment sections.
Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and we will share some of the best Hollywood Romantic movies of all time available on Prime Video; if you own an Amazon Prime subscription, you can watch these Romantic movies with your love.
There are plenty of Romantic movies and Romantic Comedy movies in Hollywood. We have a list of the best Romantic Movies of all time available on Prime.
Best Hollywood Romantic Movies on Amazon Prime
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
The characters in Doug Liman’s 2005 Hollywood action-comedy Mr. & Mrs. Smith are played by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Following a dull, unhappy married couple who learn they are paid assassins to kill each other, the movie depicts their heated and dramatic struggle. Critics gave the movie mixed to excellent reviews and was a commercial success. It was noteworthy for introducing Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as a couple, eventually resulting in their marriage.
Damien Chazelle is the author and director of the 2016 Hollywood musical romantic comedy-drama film La La Land. It features Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as aspiring actresses and jazz pianists, respectively, who fall in love while pursuing their aspirations in Los Angeles. The movie pays homage to musicals from the 1940s and 1950s with a combination of song numbers and conventional speech.
The Film received many positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, and it won awards for its director, cinematography, musical score, and lead actors’ performances. One of the most popular musicals recently, it was nominated for and won numerous honors, including six Oscars at the 89th Academy Awards.
About Time
Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, and Bill Nighy star in Richard Curtis’ 2013 British romantic comedy-drama About Time. Tim Lake (Gleeson), a young guy who learns he has the capacity to travel back in time, is the subject of the movie. Tim tries to better his own life, especially his sexual relationships, by using his power. About Time is one of the Best Time Travel films of all time.
The film joyfully and endearingly tackles the themes of love, family, and the meaning of life. Both audiences and critics gave it mostly favorable reviews, praising its eccentric humor and emotional profundity. With over $200 million in international sales, “About Time” was a commercial triumph and has since gained a devoted following as a beloved romantic comedy classic.
Her
Her best romantic film science fiction Hollywood
The 2013 Spike Jonze film “Her” is a science fiction love drama starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, and Scarlett Johansson (voice). Theodore Twombly (Phoenix), a lonely writer, buys a highly sophisticated artificial intelligence operating system designed to suit all of his needs in the near future. However, he ends himself falling in love with Samantha, the voice of the AI (Johansson).
In an original and provocative approach, “Her” addresses the topics of love, technology, and interpersonal connections. The writing, directing, and performances all earned high accolades from critics. Joaquin Phoenix, in particular, received plaudits for his depiction of Theodore. The movie received five Oscar nominations and took home the prize for Best Original Motion Picture.
Silver Linings Playbook
The romantic comedy-drama Silver Linings Playbook was released in 2012 and was directed by David O. Russell. It is based on Matthew Quick’s book of the same name. The movie stars Jennifer Lawrence as Tiffany, a strange and disturbed young woman, and Bradley Cooper as Pat Solitano, a former teacher who, after being released from a mental facility, goes back in with his parents. The two end up becoming friends in an odd way and then start dating.
The poignant and eccentric movie Silver Linings Playbook covers the themes of mental illness, family, love, and finding hope in the midst of difficulty. It received a lot of accolades for its directing, storyline, and performances, especially Jennifer Lawrence’s, who received both critical and economic success.
Jennifer Lawrence, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role. The film was nominated for several other awards, including eight Oscars, and it is widely regarded as one of the best romantic comedies of the 21st century.
The Theory of Everything
James Marsh’s 2014 biographical drama film “The Theory of Everything” is based on Jane Wilde Hawking’s autobiography Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen. Eddie Redmayne portrays famed theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking in the movie, and Felicity Jones plays his first wife Jane. The movie recounts their friendship from their early years as University of Cambridge students to Hawking’s diagnosis with motor neuron illness and his eventual notoriety as one of the 20th century’s greatest thinkers.
The charming and moving movie The Theory of Everything addresses the concepts of love, family, and the pursuit of scientific knowledge. Its director, storyline, and performances earned it much positive feedback from critics.
Eddie Redmayne represented Stephen Hawking and won the Academy Award for Best Actor. The movie is regarded as one of the best biographical dramas in recent years and was nominated for several additional accolades.
A Walk to Remember
Adam Shankman’s 2002 American coming-of-age romantic drama film A Walk to Remember is based on Nicholas Sparks’s book of the same name. The movie stars Mandy Moore as Jamie Sullivan, the daughter of the town’s pastor, and Shane West as Landon Carter, a rebellious youngster who falls in love with Jamie Sullivan. The movie follows their relationship as they deal with the difficulties of first love and personality clashes.
Chemical Hearts
The 2020 American romantic drama film Chemical Hearts is directed by Richard Tanne and is based on Krystal Sutherland’s book Our Chemical Hearts. The movie stars Lili Reinhart as Grace Town, a transfer student who recently lost her boyfriend, and Austin Abrams as Henry Page, a high school student who is the editor of her school newspaper. The connection between Henry and Grace is followed in the movie as they collaborate on the newspaper and start to fall for each other despite the obstacles they encounter.
Thanks for Sharing
The 2012 American comedy-drama was directed by Stuart Blumberg and written by Blumberg and Matt Winston. Adam, a recovered sex addict who is attempting to find his way through life and relationships, is portrayed in the movie by Mark Ruffalo.
“Thanks for Sharing” takes a candid, amusing look at a touchy, frequently taboo subject. Audiences and critics had mixed reactions to it; some praised the actors’ performances while others criticized how the sensitive subject matter was handled. Despite receiving a mixed response, the movie is regarded as a significant addition to the discussion around sex addiction and rehabilitation, and it has received appreciation for its accurate and compassionate portrayal of its characters.
Midnight Sun
Bella Thorne plays Katie Price, a young girl with a rare condition that prohibits her from being exposed to sunlight, in Scott Speer’s 2018 American movie. The movie chronicles her relationship with Charlie (played by Patrick Schwarzenegger), her longstanding crush, as they work through the difficulties of Katie’s disability and the ups and downs of first love.
The heartwarming and moving movie Midnight Sun examines the themes of love, illness, and the significance of living life to the fullest. Both spectators and critics gave it mostly favorable reviews, praising the lead actors’ portrayals and the movie’s moving message. The movie is generally regarded as a must-see for lovers of coming-of-age tales and romantic romances.
Hollywood has been producing films comprising an array of different genres that are targeted toward every kind of audience in the world. Whether action-packed adventure movies or soft-hearted, romantic movies, Hollywood has entertained us with beautiful and sometimes not-so-beautiful yet great cinema.
One genre that Hollywood filmmakers have mastered is movies featuring kids as the lead characters. However the trend has taken off late since the beginning of cinema in Hollywood, the trend is evergreen even today with a good amount of movies focusing on Children produced year after year.
With so many great movies about children, deciding and forming the top Hollywood movie list featuring kids in the lead roles was tough. Nevertheless, I did my best to include all the best and also my favorite children’s movies as below:
Movies Featuring Children in the Lead Roles
Baby’s Day Out
If there’s one movie that would want you to get back to you toddling days, then it’s definitely Baby’s Day Out. Although it failed at Box Office, the movie entertained audiences of all ages with the charm of the baby who makes a fool out of 3 notorious kidnappers while roaming all over the city, including a construction site, a zoo, a departmental store and a bus ride being the highlights. Filled with a lot of humor and fun, the movie will keep you engaged all the way.
Home Alone
Now, as the title suggests, the movie is about being alone at home. However, that’s normal so what’s the catch here. It becomes interesting when it’s a kid left alone at home on Christmas Eve, and a pair of burglars tries to break in. Although it seems like a scary plot, the movie is full of comedy as Kevin, the kid manages to outrun the burglars with his quick wit and mischievous booby traps. Owing to its success, the movie became a franchise with 2 more sequels, Home Alone 2 and Home Alone 3.
An interesting Sci-Fi comedy film, Honey, I Shrunk The Kids will take you to a whole new universe. Don’t misunderstand me, it’s nowhere close to a space movie. The movie is about an incident in which an inventor accidentally shrinks his and his neighbor’s kids to ¼ of an inch and throws them into the trash. The movie then movies into a new dimension from the point of view of the shrunk kids while they save themselves from insects and other hurdles and try to get back into normal self. If they are successful or not forms the rest of the story.
Little Rascals
Featured in a group of neighborhood kids, The Little Rascals is a film adaptation of popular short series Our Gang by Hal Roach that successfully ran during the 20s, 30s, and 40s. The plot is centered on a group of kids who form a club called He-Man Womun Haters Club, who are aiming to win the annual Soap Box Derby style race. The film is special because of its innocence and bonding within the group.
Dennis The Menace
Dennis The Menace is a 1993 live-action American family comedy based on one of Hank Ketcham’s most popular comic strips. The movie centers on a highly active and mischievous kid named Dennis and his middle-aged next-door neighbor, Uncle George. The movie is about childhood and talks about bonding with neighbors, irrespective of the odds and change of opinions. The film will keep you entertained with the menace caused by Dennis, whose pranks accidentally fall upon Uncle George, annoying him all the time.
Journey To The Center Of The Earth
Have you wondered what’s at the center of the Earth? Is there a life or a world that we don’t know about at the center of the Earth? If such questions have raised in your minds too, then you must watch Journey To The Center Of The Earth, a 2008 fantasy adventure film. Directed by Eric Brevig, the film is about a young boy and his uncle who set off on a journey to an amazing world of mysteries, adventures, fantastic creatures and dangers beneath us while moving down towards the center of the earth.
Spy Kids
Spy Kids is an American Sci-Fi family adventure film featuring two kids as spies. Born to former spies, Carmen and Juni are not aware of their parents previous jobs. They learn the truth when the notorious criminal captures their parents, Fegan Floop and his army of Thumb-Thumbs robots. The kids now need to act as spies in order to rescue their parents as well as the world from Floop’s evil plan. Whether the kids succeed in the rescue mission or not forms the rest of the story.
Jumanji
Jumanji is a fantasy comedy film based on an adventurous board game that comes to life most drastically. Every step opens a cryptic message in the crystal ball at the center of the board describing the roll’s outcome. However, unlike a normal board game, the outcome of the roll in the form of a cryptic message becomes a reality, which causes a lot of destruction and new fantasy creatures entering the real world. The only way to reverse all the destruction caused by the Jumanji, the players must finish the game. Starring Robin Williams in the lead role, the film is full of surprises, fun, and comedy.
The Parent Trap
The Parent Trap is a 1998 romantic comedy film about two identical twin sisters who were separated at birth due to their parents’ divorce. However, things start getting interesting when the sisters reunite at a summer camp. Initially rivals, the two sisters realize their true relationship and bond together to reunite their parents so they can live together in one family.
The Pacifier
Starring Vin Diesel in one of the lead roles, The Pacifier is a 2005 action comedy that tells the story of a family with five children who are under threat and need protection as their father is dead while the mother is away for an important task. At this time, Shane Wolfe, played by Vin Diesel, is assigned to take care of the children while on a mission to retrieve an important classified secret project called GHOST, somewhere hidden in the house. Highly famous for his action-hero persona, it is quite funny and humorous to see Vin Diesel donning the role of a nanny to these five children and slowly bonding with them after showing some reluctance initially.
The Pagemaster
The Pagemaster is an amazing children’s film based on a mystical plot. The movie tells us a story about a young boy, who lives his life based on risk calculations which worry his parents about his future. However, things get really interesting after the boy’s accidental visit to a library, which takes him on an amazing journey into the books as illustrations. While experiencing a new world, encountering new fictional characters, and as per the instructions of the page master, the boy must find a way to the library’s exit in order to get out of this fantasy world. If he is successful or not forms the rest of the story.
Matilda
Matilda is an American fantasy comedy film about a young girl, who harnesses telekinesis powers as she grows up. Although uncontrollably at the beginning, she slowly learns to control her special yet unexpected power of telekinesis to help her beloved teacher to get justice. The film is actually based on Roald Dahl’s novel of the same title and is directed by Danny DeVito, who also plays the character of Matilda’s father in the film and serves as the narrator.
The Goonies
The Goonies is an adventure comedy film about the quest of a group of kids, who call themselves as “The Goonies” to hunt for treasure using a recently acquired map that leads to a long-lost fortune of One-Eyed Willy, a legendary 17th Century pirate. During the treasure hunt, they face a lot of hurdles in the form of difficult clues, deadly booby traps, and, of course, a family of criminals who demand the treasure for themselves. The rest of the movie is about how they find the pirate’s treasure and save their homes in the “Goon Docks” neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon from foreclosure.
Peter Pan
Based on J.M. Barrie’s famous play and developed as one of the famous folklore, Peter Pan is a 2003 American fantasy film that narrates the play as a full-length live action movie. Same as the play, the movie is centered upon the titular character of Peter Pan, a mischievous boy, who can fly and his friends that include Wendy Darling and her brothers, Tinker Bell, and the lost Boys. Most of the adventures in the movie are set on the mystical island of Neverland and while fending off the evil pirate, the main antagonist of the tale, Captain Hook.
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone
The first installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone, is the first chapter of a long journey to an amazing world of Wizards and Witches. Highly focused on three kids, Harry, Hermione, and Ron, characters who have engraved into our life so deeply that we could connect to them even today, the film takes you to a secret world of magic, where students are taught magic at one of the best schools for Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Hogwarts. Filled with so many adventures, mischief, drama, emotions and, of course, duels, the film makes us believe of a hidden world, where one can learn magic and be a wizard.
Richie Rich
Richie Rich is a screen adaptation of the Harvey Comics character of the same name. The film features a rich boy with a huge mansion and a lot of wealth, but without any real friends except a loyal butler, Herbert Cadbury, as his only companion. However, things start changing for Richie when he befriends a group of sandlot boys and learns the true worth of friendship in life. While bonding with his new friends, he also faces an evil villain among his own corporation, who plots to kill his parents to take over complete leadership of the Rich Corporation. The rest of the story is about how Richie, with the help of his new friends, decoys the evil plans of Van Dough and makes everything right at the end.
Mrs. Doubtfire
Based on a novel Alias Madame Doubtfire, Mr.s Doubtfire is a comedy drama that is centered on a broken family, where the wife is granted the custody of the three children as the husband has no job or residence. However, the husband hasn’t given up on his children yet and he does something unimaginable. He transforms himself into Mrs. Doubtfire, a newly appointed nanny for the children in order to stay closer to his kids without the knowledge of his wife. Starring Robin Williams in the titular role, the film has lots of emotion and fun moments qualifying the movie as a complete family movie.
Into the West is an Irish mystical film about two boys born who set off on a journey to the West in search of their beloved white horse called Tír Na nÓg (meaning Land of Eternal Youth in Irish). The search for the horse and to keep it safe with them lets them encounter a number of adventures and escapades that one could have never imagined. While on this journey, they also fulfill their dream of becoming cowboys.
Zathura
Considered a sequel to Jumanji, Zathura is also based on a space-themed board game without any plot connections to any of the characters or storylines in the previous film. Zathura is a American Kids Adventure film, Similar to Jumanji, Zathura also brings the message on the card into reality, that causes their house float into the outer space, where a lot of adventures are waiting for them. The only way to get back to the Earth and into their normal lives is to finish the game. If you loved Jumanji, you will surely love Zathura as it offers a similar experience just this time in the outer space.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Considered one of Steven Spielberg’s best movies, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 Sci-Fi film about the bonding between a young boy named Elliot and an extraterrestrial alien stranded on Earth. While the government is hunting for the alien, Elliot and his siblings do everything possible to keep it hidden while attempting to help it return home to its own planet. The film’s concept was inspired by Spielberg’s childhood memory of an imaginary friend created by his parents’ divorce.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if an Orangutan is set free on the premises of a 5-star hotel? If not, then try watching the 1996 American comedy film Dunston Checks In, as the movie is centered upon an Orangutan named Dunston, who, along with the kids of the hotel manager, creates chaos and trouble for the residents, hotel manager, and the owner, while providing the viewers a blend of fun, humor, and laughter.
Casper
Based on Harvey Comics and a cartoon character, Casper is 1995 American family comedy film that tells the story of a friendly ghost, Casper and the young girl named Kat. Although the movie has ghosts, the film is quite funny and contains lots of humor in addition to some evil plots and conspiracies that Casper wards off easily with the help of Kat and his obnoxious prankster uncles, the Ghostly Trio. This is one of that horror-themed movies that won’t scare you but make you laugh out loud.
Letters To God
Letters to God is an emotional drama Film about a young 8-year-old boy suffering from cancer who has developed a habit of writing letters to God. The film is based on a real story written by Patrick Doughtie about his son, Tyler with few fictionalized versions such as the character of the mailman who receives the letters to God and gets connected with the boy. Although a sad ending, the film talks about hope, relationships and human bonding.
Nanny McPhee
Based on Nurse Matilda, Nanny McPhee is a 2005 family comedy film centered on Nanny McPhee, a fairy nanny who visits a family with troubled children and takes charge as a caretaker to teach them discipline and mend the family’s problems with a little magic. The movie is special because of its fairy tale theme, which made us wish that there was a Nanny McPhee in all families.
Mary Poppins
Based on the same lines as Nanny McPhee, Mary Poppins is a 1964 musical fantasy film loosely based on P.L. Travers’ book series of the same name. Featuring Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins, the film is centered on a dysfunctional family in London, which is amended by a fairly young nanny with an umbrella. The film has some cute moments with singing and dancing and some great lessons about discipline, caring, and responsibility.
The Karate Kid
Although the fifth installment of The Karate Kid series, this 2010 Chinese-American martial arts film serves as a reboot of the franchise. It stars Jaden Smith as the new Karate Kid and Jackie Chan as the Kung Fu teacher. The film is beautifully crafted, showcasing the antics of a young boy who has determination but lacks discipline, which is later taught by the master himself. Personally speaking, it was a lot better than the previous Karate Kid movies.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The first installment of the Narnia film series, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe starts with a story of four siblings and their accidental discovery of an entrance to a whole new world of Narnia through a wardrobe in the professor’s house, where they were staying to be safe during the second world war. While experiencing their journey to the new world, they realize that they are part of a prophecy and must help the Lion Aslan gain control of Narnia from the evil Witch destroying it.
Your Turn!
Share your favorite film based on kids in the comment section, These films are available on Netflix and Amazon Prime.
