Last year, 2023, I reviewed 47 films/series. It turns out, that was the end of the Golden Age of Streaming. Hollywood is now in a depression, with the entertainment industry having lost 15% of its jobs.
I was also quite distracted this summer, as my homeowners insurance got non-renewed, and it was a little traumatic to get reinstated by qualifying for the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home certificate. So I only reviewed 35 soccer movies and series in 2024. However, the USA, Canada, and Mexico are hosting WC 2026 so there may be increased football content in 2025. But if it’s like the Paramount+ Pulisic docuseries, I may decline to watch paint dry.
I’m a patron of Letterboxd, and it issues stats on my film review posts. I thought this was a nice breakdown of what I watched this year, although it left out a few languages.
2024 Best Soccer Films:
Here are this year’s top 5 soccer shows that I rated as 9 or 10:
- #SeAcabo – It’s All Over (2024) – Spain’s womens team won WC 2023, but the celebration was marred by an assault by the Federation’s president. This Netflix documentary shows how the women prevailed over their sexist federation.
- Next Goal Wins (2023) – Taika Waititi creates a feel-good underdog comedy, based on the 2014 documentary, that brings Polynesian faces and culture to the big screen.
- Lionesses: How Football Came Home (2022) – Although England’s Lions have been unable to win a major tournament since WC 1966, the Lionesses brought home the 2022 Euros. This inspirational docu will make you a fan.
- The Final: Attack on Wembley (2024) – England’s men had a chance to win the 2021 Euros at home, in Wembley Stadium. But being the second year of the pandemic, fans looked to celebrate being out of lockdown. The Netflix documentary shows the chaos outside the stadium and how fans tried to break in.
- The Playbook: A Coach’s Rules for Life (2020) – this Netflix docuseries interviews coaches across basketball, soccer, and tennis. It’s the best show I’ve seen on coaching collegiate and world class athletes.
2024 Worst Soccer Films:
The 3 worst soccer movies I saw this past year:
- Onye Egwu (2023) – a Nollywood mess from a female director. Sigh.
- Greener Grass (2019) – While this black comedy was created by a rare duo of female directors, I found it very unpleasant.
- Zizou the Great: The Zinedine Zidane Story (2009) – covers the great Zidane’s playing career without any game footage. Remind me to stay away from old documentries on PeacockTV.
Soccer Movies reviewed in 2024
This table lists all the football films reviewed this year. Within a numerical Rating, movies are sorted by release year and then by title.
| Title | Rating | Year | Category | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #SeAcabo – It’s All Over | 10 | 2024 | docu | ESP,Netflix |
| Next Goal Wins | 10 | 2023 | comedy | USA |
| Lionesses: How Football Came Home | 10 | 2022 | docu | British |
| The Final: Attack on Wembley | 9 | 2024 | docu | British,Netflix |
| The Playbook: A Coach’s Rules for Life | 9 | 2020 | docuseries | USA,Netflix |
| Courts of Belonging | 8 | 2024 | docu,short | USA |
| Rafa Marquez: El Capitan | 8 | 2024 | docu | MEX,Netflix |
| Untold: Hope Solo vs US Soccer | 8 | 2024 | docu | USA,Netflix |
| Perder es ganar un poco | 8 | 2023 | comedy | Colombia |
| The Ladies with Style Banyana ba Style | 8 | 2022 | docu | RSA |
| Punto Rojo Red Dot | 8 | 2021 | suspense | ARG |
| A Game of Three Halves | 8 | 2020 | docu,short | AUS |
| Hero Steps Pasos de Heroe | 8 | 2016 | drama,kids | Colombia |
| Aussie Chuk-gu Dream | 8 | 2015 | docu | AUS,Korea |
| The Beautiful Game | 7 | 2024 | drama | British,Netflix |
| The Champion | 7 | 2024 | drama | ESP,Netflix |
| The Other Zoey | 7 | 2023 | romantic comedy | USA |
| Fathima on the Mic Sesham Mike-il Fathima | 7 | 2023 | drama | India,Netflix |
| Old Rookie | 7 | 2022 | drama,series | JPN,Netflix |
| Club America vs Club America | 7 | 2022 | docuseries | MEX,Netflix |
| My New Favorite Futbolista Mi Mundialista Favorita | 7 | 2022 | docuseries | USA,MEX |
| The Football Aficionado | 7 | 2022 | docu | IRN |
| Kids Cup Bortebane | 7 | 2021 | docu | NOR |
| The Match | 7 | 2020 | drama | CRO,USA |
| Inside Story | 7 | 2011 | drama | RSA |
| An Invisible Victim – The Eliza Samudio Case | 6 | 2024 | docu | Brazil,Netflix |
| Christmas in Notting Hill | 6 | 2023 | romance | USA,CAN,British,Hallmark |
| Captains of the World | 6 | 2023 | docuseries | USA,British |
| Broke | 6 | 2022 | drama,short | British |
| Captains – The Chosen Few | 6 | 2022 | docuseries | USA,British |
| Elijo Creer Soccer Soul | 6 | 2022 | docu | ARG |
| Under Pressure: The U.S. Women’s World Cup Team | 5 | 2023 | docuseries | USA |
| Onye Egwu | 3 | 2023 | drama | NGR,Amazon |
| Greener Grass | 3 | 2019 | comedy | USA |
| Zizou the Great – The Zinedine Zidane story | 3 | 2009 | docu | AUS |
