Women’s soccer movies have helped the game’s visibility increase. (Credit: Al Bello/Allsport)
Women’s soccer has experienced a significant rise in popularity and recognition in recent years.
As it ascends to new levels, so does its representation across various storytelling mediums, particularly through documentaries, TV series and movies.
Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to women’s soccer, here are 4 movies that will spark your passion, expand your knowledge, and leave you amazed by the incredible achievements both on and off the field.
So, grab your favorite snack, turn on your streaming device, and enjoy these captivating stories.
Bend It Like Beckham is considered as one of women’s soccer’s most iconic movies. (Photo by Shaun … [+]
If there is one film that pinpoints the main motive of soccer in society, it sure is Bend It Like Beckham.
As the title suggests, the film has little to do with the soccer star David Beckham except for acknowledging his professionalism.
The film revolves around a girl who is passionate about soccer.
To date, it is considered as one of the best soccer movies in the world, as it has explored various themes such as sexuality, tradition, and gender stereotypes.
In Gurinder Chadha’s coming-of-age comedy, Jess (Parminder Nagra) is obsessed with the eponymous soccer superstar and the sport. Her traditional family forbids her from playing, but Jess joins a women’s team behind their backs.
With issues surrounding family, culture clashes, and identity at the forefront, the film has much more on its plate than just who wins and who loses the game. But Bend It Like Beckham also understands what this sport means for those who love it. Soccer isn’t just a sport for Jess, it’s also an expression of her freedom and ambition.
Any good sports movie and any good coming-of-age movie often need to have heart and a hero to root for, and thankfully Bend It Like Beckham has this in spades.
The story of a group of female soccer fans that do everything to attend a match live in the stadium.
Even though the movie was released in 2006, it is still one of the best soccer movies in 2022. The film revolves around gender segregation and soccer, whereby a group of Iranian girls is not allowed into the stadium to watch the game they cherish.
Like Mustang, Offside is about several women intent on seeing their team play live. But the catch is Iran didn’t allow women to attend the sporting event when their national team played Japan in 2005.
Women have to sneak into the stadium dressed as men and when they’re caught they are held and guarded in the stadium. It is this group of apprehended women that Jafar Panahi’s film follows.
The director based the film on his own daughter’s experience trying to see a game and had to secretly film the movie because he hadn’t been approved to make it.
The film’s interrogation of the treatment of women in Iran was controversial, as Panahi’s films often are. As he said about the movie:
The premiere of “She’s the Man” was in March 8, 2006. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Adapted from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, She’s the Man follows Amanda Bynes’ Viola who masquerades as her brother, Sebastian, in order to play for his school’s elite soccer team after her own school’s team is disbanded.
In typical Shakespearean fashion, things become even more complicated when Viola falls for fellow player Duke (Channing Tatum).
Like Bend It Like Beckham, She’s The Man invokes rom-com tropes and blends them with sports movie staples to create an entertaining teen comedy that I’m sure any millennial will look back on with nostalgia.
A fun movie about women in soccer that is worth watching.
Another fun movie about women in soccer is Gracie.
This is the story of the only daughter among four children, surrounded by brothers and a father extremely passionate about soccer. The film follows this family and their passion as they adjust to their new reality after a tragic loss.
When Gracie’s eldest brother is killed, she tries to convince her school board to let her join the boy’s varsity team.
She has to prove she has what it takes to become a team member without her community believing all she wants to do is replace her brother.
One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts.
Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.
In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site’s Terms of Service. We’ve summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.
Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:
User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:
So, how can you be a power user?
Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site’s Terms of Service.
