Victory (1981)
Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Pelé, Bobby Moore. This is the classic soccer movie. The story later inspired "The Longest Yard" with Burt Reynolds. Filmed in black and white the story takes place in a World War II Nazi prison camp. The Allied POWs plan a daring escape during a match against the Nazi guards. This movie has Stallone and Pele! You can't argue with that.


Hotshot (1987)
Pele, Mario Van Peebles. This movie is like the Karate Kid. But with soccer. And not as good. I don't remember too much about this movie except that Pele was in it. Pele is the wise old soccer master and he teaches the main character to execute a crane...I mean bicycle kick. What Van Peeples did in this film is beyond me.


The Ladybugs (1992)
Rodney Dangerfield. Rodney Dangerfield's character is the coach of the company sponsored girls soccer team. He enlists his fiance's son Matthew to play on the team as Martha. In case you weren't sure, this is a silly comedy.


Fever Pitch (1997)
Before Jimmy Fallon and Drew Berrymore starred in a story about a man's love for the Red Sox and a woman, this movie told us about a man's love for Arsenal and a woman. It was not that memorable of a film. I admit the box cover lured me in.


A Shot at Glory (2000)
Robert Duvall, Michael Keaton, Brian Cox. Look at this cast! This is a hidden gem. Duvall is the coach of a Scottish third division club in a small town. The owner played by Michael Keaton brings in an aging superstar to help the team win the Scottish Cup. Great story, funny and believable.


Shaolin Soccer (2001)
This was made by the same guys that did Kung Fu Hustle. You can expect the same type of humor, action and effects. Five brothers use soccer to share kung fu with the world. Unless you speak Chinese you are reading badly translated subtitles. If you liked Kung Fu Hustle you will enjoy this.


Mean Machine (2001)
Vinnie Jones. Did you know Vinnie Jones was a professional footballer? He even captained Wales. This is a remake of Victory/The Longest Yard. British prisoners play the guards in a soccer match.


Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley. This is one of the more mainstream soccer movies to be released. The main character is a young Indian woman in the UK that loves playing soccer despite her family's protests. There is a lot of "girl power" in this film trumped by a romantic player-coach sub-plot. Did anyone else find that storyline uncomfortable considering the target audience of this movie?


The Football Factory (2004)
The Football Factory is not for the skittish. This film was banned in Swedish cinemas after a brawl broke out. It is a fictitious story about hooligan supporters of Chelsea FC. There is a lot of drinking, drug use and violence. Did I mention it was about soccer hooligans? I can't remember seeing any soccer being played in this film actually.


The Game of Their Lives (2005)
Gerard Butler, Gavin Rossdale, John Rhys-Davies. Base on the true events in 1950 when the United States defeated England at the World Cup tournament. Don't believe it? Find an any Englishman over the age of 70, mention this event and see if he hits you with his cane. The story is fun because its history. I swear the the soccer choreography was done by someone that hates soccer though.


Goal: The Dream Begins (2005)
This was supposed to be the soccer blockbuster. Although I was glad that Hollywood was getting behind some soccer films I thought it was a bust. The story just isn't believable. The sequel is reportedly complete and the third movie is in production. Maybe they will save the trilogy.


Kicking and Screamin (2005)
Will Ferrell, Robert Duvall, Mike Ditka. Do you need to know more than Will Ferrell? He plays the coach of his son's soccer team. They compete against his father's team coached by Duvall's character. Its a funny movie with the expected Will Ferrell humor.


Green Street Hooligans (2005)
Elijah Wood. A group of hobbits form a soccer team and win the Middle Earth Cup. Just kidding. Elijah Wood is a visiting American that gets caught up in the crazy world of football firms in English football. This film is really interesting, educational even for the typical Yank.


She's the Man (2006)
Amanda Bynes, Vinnie Jones. Amanda Bynes plays a soccer playing student who pretends to be her brother and plays soccer at his boarding school. I forget why she does it. She then falls for her teammate who is also her roommate who doesn't know she is a girl. At least she didn't start dating the coach.


Gracie (2007, June 1 release date)
Dermot Mulroney, Elisabeth Shue. This story is loosely based on the real life events of the Elisabeth Shue and her family. Elisabeth's brother, Andrew Shue produces and stars in this film. I would expect some real family emotion in this film about a teenage girl trying to play soccer on the boys team following the death of her older brother who was the team's star player. Good timing with this film. The Women's World Cup begins in September. Watch the trailer for Gracie.