The Damned United

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The Damned United

R

2009

1h 37m

Drama

Biography

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Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

138 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

The story of Brian Clough's 44 day stint as manager of Leeds United Football Club takes place in 1974 England. When Don Revie quits Leeds to become the England boss, the outspoken Brian Clough takes charge. Determined to impose his own style upon Revie's tough tackling team, Clough soon alienates his players and the board. Based on the book by David Pearce.

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Critics Consensus

Better than your average football pic, Damned United is carried by another star turn from Michael Sheen as Brian Clough.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Moves along crisply with, mercifully, very little on-pitch football and many beautifully crafted, touching moments.

Aug 29, 2018

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Ed Koch

The Atlantic

The story should have added up to an interesting and exciting movie, but it didn't for me. It was not due to Sheen's acting, but rather to a boring and confusing script.

Jan 17, 2018

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Graham Fuller

Film Comment Magazine

The Damned United eliminates the existential anguish and pain that propelled Peace's novel, and curtails its lowering style.

Oct 20, 2014

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Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

While the movie sensibly focuses on a relatively short period of Clough's career to tell its story, there's no escaping the liberties it takes with what actually happened, something that is likely to make soccer fans who know their history tune out.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 29, 2022

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Jason Best

Movie Talk

Even if you have next to no interest in football, The Damned United is enormously entertaining.

Nov 21, 2020

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

A superb sports film, based on the best-selling book by David Peace.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 20, 2020

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Stephen C

1 hour and 37 minutes based on a true story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $449,600.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/08/25

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Mason W

The Damned United is a Worth Watch Football Film casting with Martin Sheen as Brian Clough who plays a brilliant role in this story, it’s a funny short Film that only takes up hour n half but if your a fan of dirty Leeds, you should enjoy this film

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/02/25

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John C

I don't mind football, but I doubt I could watch a movie containing lot of it, which is probably why I enjoyed The Damned United. It charts Brian Clough's ill-fated move from Derby to Leeds where he comes uncharacteristically unstuck in his managerial attempts. Martin Sheen is (as always) brilliant at playing the self appointed `greatest manager in England' and he's backed up by the equally excellent Timothy Spall and Jim Broadbent. You don't have to love, or even know much about, football to like this film. It's about someone who isn't quite as clever as he thinks he is. Therefore you can't help but take a little bit of evil delight in his fall from grace. However, although Clough isn't always the genius he believes himself to be, he's never far from it. So, even when he's down, you know he won't be there for long. Good British drama - very entertaining.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/10/24

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isla s

This is a reasonably good film at depicting the passion people have for a local football team. Good performances from a good cast, particularly Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall. Its mainly about the level of influence that the manager has over the direction the football team take and how much attention others pay to him. I imagine football fans would enjoy this, so I'd recommend it, yes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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avant s

one of the best sports movie out there.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

The movie is on Sheen and that's all it needs.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Tom Hooper

Director

Michael Sheen

Brian Clough

Timothy Spall

Peter Taylor

Jim Broadbent

Sam Longson

Stephen Graham

Billy Bremner

Joe Dempsie

Duncan McKenzie

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The Damned United – A Photo Primer

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Synopsis

The story of Brian Clough's 44 day stint as manager of Leeds United Football Club takes place in 1974 England. When Don Revie quits Leeds to become the England boss, the outspoken Brian Clough takes charge. Determined to impose his own style upon Revie's tough tackling team, Clough soon alienates his players and the board. Based on the book by David Pearce.

Director: Tom Hooper
Producer: Andy Harries, Grainne Marmion
Screenwriter: Peter Morgan
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Screen Yorkshire, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Left Bank Pictures, BBC Films
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 9, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $449.6K
Runtime: 1h 37m

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