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National Champions

  • 20212021
  • RR
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
National Champions (2021)
Three days before the college football national championship game, star quarterback LeMarcus James (Stephan James) and teammate Emmett Sunday (Alexander Ludwig) ignite a player's strike declaring they won't compete until all student-athletes are fairly compensated. With billions of dollars at risk and legacies on the line, the stakes could not be higher. Now, with only hours until kickoff, the head coach (J.K. Simmons) and various power brokers (Lil Rel Howery, Tim Blake Nelson, Andrew Bachelor, Jeffrey Donovan, David Koechner, Kristin Chenoweth, Timothy Olyphant, Uzo Aduba) must race against the clock to protect or destroy the prevailing collegiate athletics system.
Play trailer3:02
3 Videos
5 Photos
  • Drama
  • Sport

Follows star quarterback who ignites a players strike hours before the biggest game of the year in order to fight for fair compensation, equality and respect for the student-athletes.Follows star quarterback who ignites a players strike hours before the biggest game of the year in order to fight for fair compensation, equality and respect for the student-athletes.Follows star quarterback who ignites a players strike hours before the biggest game of the year in order to fight for fair compensation, equality and respect for the student-athletes.

IMDb RATING
5.5/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ric Roman Waugh
  • Writer
    • Adam Mervis
  • Stars
    • Stephan James
    • J.K. Simmons
    • Alexander Ludwig
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ric Roman Waugh
  • Writer
    • Adam Mervis
  • Stars
    • Stephan James
    • J.K. Simmons
    • Alexander Ludwig
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 31User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
    • 52Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:02
    Official Trailer
    National Champions
    Trailer 3:07
    National Champions
    National Champions
    Trailer 3:09
    National Champions

    Photos

    Tony Winters and David Maldonado in National Champions (2021)
    Jeffrey Donovan in National Champions (2021)
    Jeffrey Donovan in National Champions (2021)
    Jeffrey Donovan in National Champions (2021)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Stephan James
    Stephan James
    • LeMarcus Jamesas LeMarcus James
    J.K. Simmons
    J.K. Simmons
    • Coach James Lazoras Coach James Lazor
    Alexander Ludwig
    Alexander Ludwig
    • Emmett Sundayas Emmett Sunday
    Lil Rel Howery
    Lil Rel Howery
    • Coach Dunnas Coach Dunn
    Tim Blake Nelson
    Tim Blake Nelson
    • Rodger Cummingsas Rodger Cummings
    Andrew Bachelor
    Andrew Bachelor
    • Taylor Jacksonas Taylor Jackson
    • (as Andrew Byron Bachelor)
    David Koechner
    David Koechner
    • Richard Everlyas Richard Everly
    Jeffrey Donovan
    Jeffrey Donovan
    • Mike Titusas Mike Titus
    Kristin Chenoweth
    Kristin Chenoweth
    • Bailey Lazoras Bailey Lazor
    Timothy Olyphant
    Timothy Olyphant
    • Elliott Schmidtas Elliott Schmidt
    Uzo Aduba
    Uzo Aduba
    • Katherine Poeas Katherine Poe
    Russell Wilson
    Russell Wilson
    • Russell Wilsonas Russell Wilson
    Malcolm Jenkins
    Malcolm Jenkins
    • Malcolm Jenkinsas Malcolm Jenkins
    Mike Greenberg
    Mike Greenberg
    • Mike Greenbergas Mike Greenberg
    Steve Levy
    • Steve Levyas Steve Levy
    Michael Smith
    Michael Smith
    • Michael Smithas Michael Smith
    Jemele Hill
    Jemele Hill
    • Jemele Hillas Jemele Hill
    Michael Holley
    • Michael Holleyas Michael Holley
    • Director
      • Ric Roman Waugh
    • Writer
      • Adam Mervis
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Seventy-two hours before the championship game, Missouri Wolves Heisman-winning quarterback LeMarcus James vanishes from the team hotel with his best friend, tight end Emmett Sunday. LeMarcus drops a televised bombshell. He's organizing a players' strike of the game. LeMarcus demands that student-athletes be regarded as employees and be compensated as such. Consequently he starts the fight for fair compensation, equality, and respect for the athletes who put their bodies and health on the line for their schools. —Frank Liesenborgs <frank.liesenborgs@gmail.com>
    • championship game
    • ncaa
    • nfl
    • quarterback
    • players' strike
    • 23 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • How Much is One Player Worth in a $18 Billion Game?
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Sport
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language throughout and sexual references
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The entire movie was filmed at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans.
    • Quotes

      Coach James Lazor: Seventy-two hours till the national goddamn title game, and I got to parade around in this dog-and-pony show.

    • Connections
      References Pulp Fiction (1994)

    User reviews31

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A sports drama, without, well, any sports.
    As a 116 mins long sports drama, I was expecting to see at least one game. But instead it was scenes in and out of hotel rooms with some soap-opera melodramatics and twists. I will say though, this did feel very real, and I'm curious if this story was conceived as a slap in the face to college football et al. The performances by all were excellent and captivating, especially J. K. Simmons, and the only reason I sat through the entire film. The ending was underwhelming, and I never did get to see any game, but the film was still unique and well put together. This may not be for everyone, especially if you don't follow college football or sports in general. It's a generous 7/10 from me.
    helpful•14
    3
    • Top_Dawg_Critic
    • Jan 5, 2022

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 10, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 내셔널 챔피언스
    • Filming locations
      • New Orleans
    • Production companies
      • BondIt Media Capital
      • Capstone Global
      • Game1
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $475,488
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $301,028
      • Dec 12, 2021
    • Gross worldwide
      • $475,488
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 56 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39:1

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