Common Sense Media Review
By Stefan Pape
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inspiring sports drama based on real events; some language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Beautiful Game
What's the Story?
In THE BEAUTIFUL GAME, former soccer scout turned coach Mal (Bill Nighy) brings together a group of young men to represent England at the Homeless World Cup in Rome. Competing against other nations made up of players experiencing homelessness, Mal persuades Vinny (Micheal Ward) -- a man who showed great promise as a youngster before his life took a different path -- to join his squad. Will the tournament remind Vinny again of his ability to shine and to make a difference -- both on and off the pitch?
Is It Any Good?
While there's a sense of predictability with this British sports drama, as it follows all the familiar beats associated with the genre, there's still much to enjoy. Directed by Thea Sharrock, The Beautiful Game comes equipped with a real sense of hope, supporting the notion of the underdog throughout, in this case, soccer players who are experiencing homelessness. While it's cliched at times, and conventional at others, as a film that is pretty easy to second-guess, the movie's heart is very much in the right place. Nighy is a safe pair of hands. He manages to carry the tone of the movie well, even if he feels somewhat miscast, his affability just about seeing him through. The matches are full of drama and the soccer sequences are impressive, with the cast of young actors actually looking like they can play -- not something every movie depicting the sport can claim.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Beautiful Game depicted people experiencing homelessness. Were they portrayed with compassion and empathy? Why does that matter? Why representation matters in kids' media.
What did Vinny learn about teamwork? Why is teamwork such an important character strength? Can you think of a time when you've shown this trait in your own life?
Do you play a sport? What are some of the benefits of playing a sport?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 29, 2024
- Cast : Bill Nighy , Micheal Ward , Callum Scott Howells
- Director : Thea Sharrock
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy , Teamwork
- Run time : 125 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some language, a suggestive reference, brief partial nudity and drug references.
- Last updated : May 17, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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