
Brian's Song
By Nell Minow,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Weepy story of interracial pro football teammates.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Brian's Song
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Tearjerker with soul
3 Reasons Why Brian's Song is the Greatest Football Movie of All Time
What's the Story?
BRIAN'S SONG is the true -- and heartbreaking -- story of Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers, players for the Chicago Bears and the first interracial roommates in pro sports. Piccolo (James Caan) isn't as talented as Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) but his dedication is immense and he excels when competing against Sayers. When When Sayers is injured, Piccolo devotes himself to his friend's recovery. Sayers comes back, Piccolo is added to the starting lineup, and all seems fine until Piccolo becomes ill. It turns out that he has terminal cancer. The shy and reserved Sayers must learn to handle a devastating loss by keeping the best of Piccolo inside him.
Is It Any Good?
This is a touching and inspiring made-for-TV film with an outstanding musical score by Michael Legrand. The friendship and devotion between the two friends (and their wives) in Brian's Song is very moving, as is the treatment of racial issues.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about friendship and competition. Do you have friends you compete with? Is it hard on your friendship sometimes? What are more recent movies that deal with racial issues? How do they compare with Brian's Song?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 30, 1971
- On DVD or streaming: August 8, 2000
- Cast: Billy Dee Williams , Jack Warden , James Caan
- Director: Buzz Kulik
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: Columbia Tristar
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts , Friendship
- Run time: 74 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate