Varsity Blues | Rotten Tomatoes

Varsity Blues

R

Released Jan 15, 1999

1h 44m

Comedy

Drama

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Varsity Blues: Trailer 1

2:11

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45%

Tomatometer

58 Reviews

76%

Audience Score

100,000+ Ratings

In West Canaan, Texas, high school football reigns supreme. When starting quarterback Lance Harbor (Paul Walker) turns up injured, the Coyotes' ruthless coach, Bud Kilmer (Jon Voight), must promote benchwarmer Jonathon "Mox" Moxon (James Van Der Beek) to lead the team in its quest for a divisional title. Suddenly thrown into the spotlight, Mox must deal with the pressure of carrying the aspirations of an entire town on his shoulders, as he struggles to pursue his own very different dreams.

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Critics Consensus

This is a predictable football movie that lacks intensity.

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Susan Stark

Detroit News

Rated: 1/4

Oct 19, 2002

Full Review

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Rated: 3/5

May 11, 2001

Full Review

Kevin Maynard

Mr. Showbiz

Already a prime candidate for 1999's worst!

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Allison Rose

FlickDirect

Varsity Blues is a fun, teen movie but that is about it.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jan 9, 2024

Full Review

Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

Now, 25 years later, even when realizing that maybe the heroes of this story shouldn’t have their faults laughed off so much (Tweeder really should be in jail), there’s still a lot of good left.

Jan 8, 2024

Full Review

Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

High school football drama has swearing, nudity, sexism.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 7, 2020

Full Review

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Nathan W

Not the most well acted film but not bad either. It had a good a good story, was well directed and had a lot of heart, all of which made for an enjoyable viewing experience.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/21/24

Full Review

Jeff C

Such a trash movie...20 minutes into it I already hated Vanderbeek and Voight...characters were so formulaic and they didn't even try to be more. Crazy awful movie!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/08/24

Full Review

Chris M

Two words, TONE WHIPLASH. It can't make up it's mind if it's a coming of age comedy like "Porky's" or a sports melodrama like "Any Given Sunday". I don't mind a drama to have a sense of humor, in fact I prefer it. But not when the drama comes out of nowhere then stops without warning. Plus the sheriff, the law is afraid of the High School football coach. Which is so insanely stupid it's not even funny. He's the coach, not the mobster. Plus, the father trying to force the child to follow in his footsteps cliché. Plus there is a ton of underage drinking. I know football stars get away with a ton in these spit towns but I think in this movie they would get away with murder. But it is slightly better than "Any Given Sunday". But not by much.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/19/23

Full Review

Adam P

I like this one a lot. The 90s vibes are strong and I'm here for that. The biggest flaw here is that it's too damn melodramatic. There are big issues at play, but most of the time it doesn't feel like it earned the right to address them through the character development. It's still more than decent, just not one that I love. 7.75/10

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/09/23

Full Review

Michael C

Ali Larter's portrayal of Darcy Sears in "Varsity Blues" is a standout performance that shines in this coming-of-age sports comedy-drama film. Despite being surrounded by a talented cast, Larter manages to capture the attention of the audience with her effortless charm and natural acting ability. She is a breath of fresh air in a movie filled with testosterone and football, and her character's story arc adds depth to the film. Larter's chemistry with her co-star James Van Der Beek is undeniable, and their on-screen relationship feels authentic and genuine. Her character, Darcy, is a cheerleader who is tired of the small-town life and wants to leave West Canaan to start anew. Larter's performance perfectly captures the frustration and desperation of a young woman who feels trapped by her circumstances. What sets Larter apart in this film is her ability to convey so much emotion without saying much at all. Her subtle facial expressions and body language speak volumes, and she is able to convey a sense of vulnerability and strength at the same time. When Darcy attempts to seduce Van Der Beek's character with a whipped cream "bikini," Larter makes the scene both playful and poignant. Overall, "Varsity Blues" is an entertaining and engaging film that has gained a cult following over the years. Ali Larter's performance is a major reason why the film is so memorable, and her talent shines through in every scene she is in. It is no surprise that Larter went on to have a successful career in Hollywood, and her performance in "Varsity Blues" is a testament to her acting ability.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Extremely flawed movie, but the intrigue I have with Texas highschool football outweighs it 2.9

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/10/22

Full Review

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Brian Robbins

Director

James Van Der Beek

Jonathon "Mox" Moxon

Jon Voight

Coach Bud Kilmer

Paul Walker

Lance Harbour

Ron Lester

Billy Bob

Scott Caan

Charlie Tweeder

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Varsity Blues: Official Clip - Billy Bob's Touchdown

2:12

Varsity Blues: Official Clip - The Whipped Cream Bikini

2:11

Varsity Blues: Official Clip - No Huddle Offense

1:42

Varsity Blues: Official Clip - Playing Hungover

2:12

Varsity Blues: Official Clip - Harbor Goes Down

2:03

Varsity Blues: Official Clip - One for Wendell

2:04

Varsity Blues: Official Clip - Coach Kilmer's Final Game

2:13

Varsity Blues: Official Clip - Beer Can Challenge

2:10

Varsity Blues: Official Clip - Second String

1:55

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Trailer Bulletin: The Shaggy Dog

Varsity Blues: Trailer 1

2:11

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Synopsis

In West Canaan, Texas, high school football reigns supreme. When starting quarterback Lance Harbor (Paul Walker) turns up injured, the Coyotes' ruthless coach, Bud Kilmer (Jon Voight), must promote benchwarmer Jonathon "Mox" Moxon (James Van Der Beek) to lead the team in its quest for a divisional title. Suddenly thrown into the spotlight, Mox must deal with the pressure of carrying the aspirations of an entire town on his shoulders, as he struggles to pursue his own very different dreams.

Director: Brian Robbins
Producer: Tova Laiter, Brian Robbins, Michael Tollin
Screenwriter: W. Peter Iliff
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Marquee Tollin/Robins, MTV Films
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $52.9M
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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