Movie · 1993 · Drama, History · 1h 54m · PG · English
Curator score: 5.7/10 (69.8K ratings)
It's not the size of the dog in the fight, It's the size of the fight in the dog.
Overview
Rudy grew up in a steel mill town where most people ended up working, but wanted to play football at Notre Dame instead. There were only a couple of problems. His grades were a little low, his athletic skills were poor, and he was only half the size of the other players. But he had the drive and the spirit of 5 people and has set his sights upon joining the team.
Ratings
Curator score: 5.7/10
Letterboxd: 3.57/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
TMDB: 7.3/10
Director
David Anspaugh
Production
TriStar Pictures
Cast
Sean Astin, Jon Favreau, Ned Beatty, Lili Taylor, Charles S. Dutton, Vince Vaughn, Greta Lind, Christopher Reed, Deborah Wittenberg, Kevin Duda, Amy Pietz, Scott Benjaminson, Mary Ann Thebus, Christopher Erwin, Robert Benirschke, Luke Massery, Robert J. Steinmiller Jr., Lauren Katz, Gerry Becker, Robert Prosky
Where to watch
Netflix, fuboTV, Philo
Curator Review
Verdict
A sincere, crowd-pleasing underdog sports drama that wins on heart, performance, and emotional payoff more than on originality. It’s unabashedly sentimental, but the film’s earnestness is exactly what makes it work.
Best for
viewers who love inspirational true stories
fans of classic 90s sports dramas
audiences who don’t mind obvious emotional beats
people looking for a comfort-watch with a big payoff
Skip if
you want subtle or psychologically complex drama
you’re allergic to sentimentality
you dislike formulaic sports-movie structure
you need a film with a lot of on-field action
Overview
Rudy is one of the purest examples of the inspirational sports movie: simple premise, clear obstacles, and a payoff built on persistence rather than talent. It’s the kind of film that knows exactly what it wants to do and does it with total sincerity, which is a big part of its appeal. Sean Astin gives the title role a likable, dogged warmth that keeps the movie grounded even when it leans hard into uplift.
Worth noting
The film’s emotional machinery is very visible, and it does not pretend otherwise. Some of the dialogue and plotting are familiar, and the sentiment can feel heavy-handed if you prefer your drama less polished into a feel-good shape. But the working-class setting, the faith in effort over pedigree, and the steady accumulation of setbacks give it a real emotional charge.
Bottom line
What lingers most is the movie’s commitment to the idea that being underestimated can become a kind of fuel. It’s a comfort movie with a genuine pulse, elevated by Jerry Goldsmith’s score and a final stretch that lands exactly where it’s supposed to. If you want a sports film that earns its tears through sheer conviction, this is an easy recommendation.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Mike Flanagan · 730 likes
I've seen this movie twenty times, and I've smiled and cried harder each time I've seen it. The true story of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, a kid whose dreams outpaced his abilities, is a shining beacon of persistence and tenacity. Sean Astin is wonderful in the title role, and Jerry Goldsmith's score is in my top 5 of all-time. A beautiful, earnest film with a timeless message. I'm so glad this movie exists, and I will return to it for comfort, inspiration, and joy for the rest of my life.
tru · 353 likes
why do gym teachers like this movie so hecking much
☆ sophie ☆ (4★) · 292 likes
Did this movie make me cry 3 times? yes... yes it did.
Am I embarrassed by that? absolutely not.
cinem_Ali (2★) · 249 likes
Men will literally devote their lives to college football before going to therapy
celia (3.5★) · 220 likes
my friend andrew is a sometimes crotchety, very quiet Irish Catholic man. we barely knew each other at the start of law school, and all we had in common was both enjoying La La Land and both having no plans on thanksgiving. we ended up spending that day just the two of us, eating pizza and cheesecake. a few days later, he helped me move out of my ex’s apartment and into my current studio and he’s been a go-to… more my friend andrew is a sometimes crotchety, very quiet Irish Catholic man. we barely knew each other at the start of law school, and all we had in common was both enjoying La La Land and both having no plans on thanksgiving. we ended up spending that day just the two of us, eating pizza and cheesecake. a few days later, he helped me move out of my ex’s apartment and into my current studio and he’s been a go-to… more