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Movies & TV

16th Dec 2023

Netflix has just added one of the best sports movies of recent years

Stephen Porzio

american underdog

It holds a whopping 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

American Underdog, the sports drama that earned a coveted and rare A+ CinemaScore rating, has just been added to Netflix in Ireland and the UK.

The biographical movie stars Zachary Levi (Chuck, Shazam!) as American footballer Kurt Warner, with the film telling the “inspirational true story” of how he went from “a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion and Hall of Fame quarterback”.

american underdog

American Underdog has just been added to Netflix

Its plot synopsis reads:

“The film centres on Warner’s unique story and years of challenges and setbacks that could have derailed his aspirations to become an NFL player — but just when his dreams seemed all but out of reach, it is only with the support of his wife, Brenda (Anna Paquin) and the encouragement of his family, coaches, and teammates that Warner perseveres and finds the strength to show the world the champion that he already is.”

Also featuring amongst its cast Dennis Quaid, American Underdog holds a 76% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as a whopping 98% audience score.

On top of this, the market research firm CinemaScore – which surveys film audiences to rate their experiences with the movies they see in theatres – said the sports drama received an A+ score – suggesting it is a real crowd-pleaser.

Here is a sample of some of the positive reviews American Underdog received from critics:

Detroit News: “The just-good-enough tale of a nice guy who worked hard and believed in himself and eventually got his chance to shine.”

San Jose Mercury News: “In this well-made crowd-pleaser of a biopic, the story of former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Kurt Warner is told with all the emotion and the abiding respect for the power of faith that it deserves.”

Variety: “American Underdog is a thoroughly predictable yet hugely entertaining sports biopic that is bound to please almost anyone who’s not a sourball cynic or a snarky critic.”

Washington Post: “This down-the-middle crowd pleaser ultimately makes for a rousing enough portrayal of against-the-odds fortitude, pad-crunching gridiron action and good old-fashioned Midwestern decency.”

American Underdog is streaming on Netflix in Ireland and the UK now. You can watch its trailer right here:

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