Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Colombian footballer charms in straightforward sports docu.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
James.
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
JAMES. is a three-part documentary series about Colombian football midfielder James Rodríguez told largely from his perspective and those of the people closest to him. From his meteoric rise in club football and making his professional debut at the age of fourteen playing for Colombia's Envigado FC, to becoming an international superstar and winning multiple titles playing for teams like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, the series chronicles his career while offering a behind-the-scenes look at how he's preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Throughout it all Rodríguez shares what he believes to be some of the best moments and biggest disappointments of his twenty-year professional career, including not winning a FIFA World Cup title. He also talks about some of the most significant events in his personal life, including being a husband and father. Interviews with his mother, María del Pilar Rubio, highlight how she managed his early career as a single mother with the help of her family, while conversations with players like former Real Madrid teammates Marcelo and Sergio Ramos, coaches Julio César Falcioni and Carlo Ancelotti, and others he's worked with throughout his career help tell his story. Meanwhile, family photographs, match footage, and a few animated scenes help fill out his story.
Is It Any Good?
This straightforward sports documentary features the very polite and engaging James (pronounced HAH-mez) Rodríguez talking about some the highs and lows of his professional and personal life. In James., he and others offer details about his international career, during which he has played for clubs in Argentina, Portugal, Monaco, Spain, Germany, England, Qatar, and the United States. Rodríguez offers honest and pragmatic assessments about the things he learned, the mistakes he's made, and what continues to motivate him. While coaches and former and current teammates closest to him talk about his talents and commitment to the sport, Rodríguez credits them, along with his mother and stepfather, for helping him develop the work ethic, discipline, and skills necessary to succeed as a professional athlete. Not surprisingly, there's also an attempt to make much of his ambition to lead the Colombian national team to victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after their quarterfinal loss in 2014 and round of sixteen elimination in 2018. Football fans will enjoy the stories being told here, as well as the match footage showcasing his talent. But it's the charming and sensitive way that Rodríguez talks about his life's ups and downs that make the overall series compelling.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the pros and cons of becoming a professional athlete at a young age. Did James Rodríguez face challenges early in his career because of his age?
Documentaries like James. entertain sports enthusiasts by profiling top athletes. Is there another reason for producing them?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 21, 2026
- Cast : Carlo Ancelotti
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Family Stories ( Single Parents ) , Sports ( Soccer )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Gratitude , Humility , Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : June 1, 2026
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