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Friday Night Lights

Play trailer Poster for Friday Night Lights PG-13 2004 1h 57m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 170 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
A small, turbulent town in Texas obsesses over their high school football team to an unhealthy degree. 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 (Billy Bob Thornton) to instill in the other team members -- and, by proxy, the town itself -- a sense of self-respect and honor.
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Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights

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Critics Consensus

An acute survey of the football-obsessed heartland that succeeds as both a stirring drama and a rousing sports movie.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/24/2010
4/5
So much more than a football movie. Go to Full Review
David Ansen Newsweek 11/01/2007
Few films have shown so powerfully the slashing double edge of sports fever. Go to Full Review
Andrea Gronvall Chicago Reader 03/26/2007
A heart-pounding big-screen treatment that captures all the action of a tumultuous season while showing the emotional toll on the players. Go to Full Review
James Croot The Post NZ 12/08/2023
Friday Night Lights still remains one of the most entertaining and engrossing sports movies of the past two decades. Go to Full Review
Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) 07/24/2020
4/5
The game sequences do stand out, but this refreshingly no-frills affair also finds time to question the value of the win-at-all-costs ethos rife in modern sport. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison The List 04/24/2019
3/5
With Billy Bob Thornton's garrulous Coach Gary Gaines masterminding every play, you'll get caught up in the action even if you can't tell your 'first-and-down' from your 'time-out.' Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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thiago s @Thiagostone 3d Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Genesis G @genesis_56 4d This show was so entertaining and great. The ending could've been much better, but honestly, I still think it was worth watching. I enjoyed all the character developments. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Aug 14 Success based on a true story in 01 hour, 57 minutes, and 30 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Rough Sports Action, Language, Sexual Content, Some Teen Drinking and Thematic Issues!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $61,200,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Filmed on: October 08th, 2004, in color!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Copyright 2004-2025 by Universal Studios, an NBC Universal company!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more THE NASHVILLE I @Nshvlleindie Jun 24 Masterpiece. Berg's way of shooting the surrounding cast, getting those genuine improvised emotions seriously heightens this beautiful and devestating film of warriors and attrition. Hands down one of the most accurate american sports films to be made...for every salvation, there is inevitably heartbreak and haunting pain that other films never captured. Side night: EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY were a musical revelation! See more Ed R @JustcallmeER Jun 6 A heart wrenching depiction of a great true story about the love of Texas Football. See more Matt O May 22 “Pure Football and Heart” – 5/5 Friday Night Lights is one of those movies that really gets what football—and small-town America—is all about. It’s not just a game; it’s a way of life, and this movie shows that with so much honesty and heart. The players feel like real kids, the coaches aren’t just heroes or villains, and the pressure everyone’s under feels real. The film balances intense football action with quiet moments that really stick with you. It’s inspiring, emotional, and never over-the-top. Sometimes sports movies get cheesy, but Friday Night Lights stays grounded and authentic. If you love football or just great storytelling, this one’s a must-watch. See more Read all reviews
Friday Night Lights

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Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Coach Gaines on Being Perfect Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Coach Gaines on Being Perfect 2:58 Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Boobie Goes Down Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Boobie Goes Down 2:41 Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - You're Gonna Seriously Fly, Son Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - You're Gonna Seriously Fly, Son 2:26 Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Boobie Cleans Out His Locker Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Boobie Cleans Out His Locker 3:00 Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Ivory's Pep Talk Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Ivory's Pep Talk 0:56 Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Boobie's MRI Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Boobie's MRI 2:48 Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Creepy Boosters Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Creepy Boosters 1:38 Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Duct Tape for Don Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Duct Tape for Don 1:58 Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Agony of Defeat Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Agony of Defeat 2:58 Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Get Off the Field, Dad Friday Night Lights: Official Clip - Get Off the Field, Dad 1:33 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis A small, turbulent town in Texas obsesses over their high school football team to an unhealthy degree. 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 (Billy Bob Thornton) to instill in the other team members -- and, by proxy, the town itself -- a sense of self-respect and honor.
Director
Peter Berg
Screenwriter
Buzz Bissinger, David Aaron Cohen
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Imagine Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Rough Sports Action|Language|Sexual Content|Some Teen Drinking|Thematic Issues)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 8, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$61.2M
Runtime
1h 57m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby SRD, DTS, Surround
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