Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inspiring football documentary about the power of teamwork.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Undefeated
What's the Story?
UNDEFEATED is an Oscar-nominated documentary that follows the underrated football team from Manassas High School -- a lower-income school in North Memphis, Tenn. -- through a year of tragedies and triumphs. Led by Bill Courtney, a businessman who volunteers his time to coach and mentor the mostly fatherless young men on the team, the Manassas Tigers fight their way to an extraordinary season. The action follows Coach Bill and three of his defensive linemen: OC Brown, a gifted left tackle who needs serious academic help to qualify for a scholarship; Chavis Daniels, a short-fused linebacker with rage issues; and Montrail "Money" Brown, a scholar athlete whose prospects plunge after an injury.
Is It Any Good?
Executive produced by Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, this documentary is exactly the sort of inspiring underdog story that would make an excellent feature film. Coach Bill, a Philip Seymour Hoffman lookalike, is always ready with a pep talk or a nugget of wisdom for his team, but he's also not afraid to talk tough with them when they need a kick in the rear. Although some might think of the situation as a case of white paternalism (a wealthy white businessman volunteers to coach the poor black kids), Bill is truly generous, even at the expense of spending time with his own four children.
But Bill's exceptional generosity isn't the point of Undefeated; it's about the three players who have different difficulties to overcome to make it out of their rough neighborhood and into college. In a move right out of The Blind Side, Coach Bill agrees to let OC live with him part of the week so that the teen can receive the kind of tutoring necessary to help him meet the minimum requirements to earn a football scholarship. We care about the OC and Money and even combative Chavis, and it's that irresistible pull to find out whether they end up victorious -- not just on the field but in the future -- that will keep you mesmerized until the credits (and epilogue title cards) roll.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Undefeated's messages. Are they all positive? How about role models? Who do you find most inspiring?
Discuss the movie's inherent race and class issues. Does race a play a role in how the team relates to Coach Bill?
How does Undefeated compare to other inspiring football films about underdog teams? Did the movie end how you expected?
Why are sports films so compelling, even if you're not a fan of that particular sport?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 17, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : February 19, 2013
- Directors : Daniel Lindsay , T.J. Martin
- Studio : Weinstein Co.
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Integrity , Teamwork
- Run time : 113 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some language
- Last updated : September 30, 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