Tom Brady Probably Wouldn’t Enjoy These Movies
Tom Brady is widely considered one of the most competitive and driven athletes of all time. Over his over two decades in the NFL, Brady has established himself as the ultimate winner, securing a record 7 Super Bowl titles and 5 Super Bowl MVP awards. Brady’s relentless pursuit of excellence on the football field is legendary. However, his competitive nature means there are certain movies he likely has no interest in watching. While movies are meant for entertainment, some depictions of defeat, losing or the harsh realities of professional sports may not resonate with Brady’s psyche. Here are 3 movies that Tom Brady probably wouldn’t find very enjoyable based on his legendary competitiveness and track record of success.
The Longest Yard (1974 or 2005)
Both the original 1974 comedy starring Burt Reynolds and the 2005 remake starring Adam Sandler feature inmates organizing a football team to play against the prison guards. On the surface, it’s an entertaining premise that pokes fun at the rivalry between the two teams. However, the central plot involves the inmate team ultimately defeating the guards on the football field. For Tom Brady, the mere concept of losing a football game, even if it’s in a fictional movie, probably isn’t too appealing.
Brady has built his career on an unwillingness to accept defeat. He famously led the New England Patriots to an improbable comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 51 after being down 28-3 in the third quarter. Brady simply does not know how to lose, especially when it comes to football. Watching a movie where the protagonists triumph by defeating their opponents on the gridiron may trigger Brady’s ultra-competitive instincts in a way he isn’t too fond of.
The comedic elements and satire of the prison setting in The Longest Yard make it an enjoyable watch for most. But for someone like Brady, whose entire identity is wrapped up in his status as a winner in football, seeing any team lose may go against his very nature. Brady’s mind is wired for success, not failure or losing on any level of competition. So while The Longest Yard is a classic underdog sports movie, its outcome of the underdogs winning isn’t something Brady would find very satisfying from a competitive standpoint.
Any Given Sunday (1999)
Oliver Stone’s gritty drama takes viewers into the cutthroat world of professional football from the perspective of a veteran quarterback fighting to keep his starting job. The film paints a realistic portrait of the pressure-filled lifestyle of NFL stars and the brutal physical toll the sport can take. While praised for its authenticity, Any Given Sunday also shows the darker side of football that most fans don’t see – ruthless team politics, the replacement of aging stars, and the harsh business of the sport.
For Brady, who has experienced unprecedented longevity and avoided major injuries over two decades in the NFL, the bleak depiction of football in Any Given Sunday is likely not what he wants to see. Brady has always presented an extremely positive image of his career and approach to the game. He avoids drama and focuses solely on doing what it takes to help his team win games. Brady doesn’t want to dwell on the harsh realities of the sport that could undermine his legacy or mental approach. He prefers keeping things upbeat and team-oriented.
Watching a movie that highlights the cutthroat competition for playing time and inevitable decline of older players also goes against Brady’s self-belief. At age 45, Brady is still playing at his peak and shows no signs of slowing down. Any Given Sunday’s realism about football’s physical toll and replaceable nature of stars may strike too close to home for Brady’s liking. He doesn’t want any negative or cynical associations with his career. So while it’s a classic sports film, Any Given Sunday’s gritty take on the NFL isn’t the type of movie viewing experience Brady seeks.
Major League (1989)
On the surface, Major League, the classic comedy about a hapless Cleveland Indians baseball team, seems like light and fun entertainment without any real stakes. But scratch below the surface and its central plot still involves a major defeat – the Indians rising up to shockingly contend for the division title before ultimately losing in the final game.
For Brady, even a lighthearted, fictional sports comedy like Major League depicting the main characters coming up just short of their goal may trigger that innate refusal to accept losing. Brady simply doesn’t have a sense of humor about defeat, no matter the context. He’s trained his mind to believe losing is unacceptable in any form of competition. Watching a movie climax with the loveable underdog team of Major League falling just short of their championship dreams is not how Brady is wired to think.
In Brady’s mind, there is no glory in coming close, only in getting the job done and emerging victorious. Major League tells an enjoyable story of an unheralded group of misfits bonding together to succeed against the odds. But because it ultimately ends in defeat, however dramatized or comedic the context, Brady likely can’t fully relax and enjoy the experience. His competitive juices would be flowing the whole time, mentally preparing to win rather than lose. So while a lighthearted comedy for most, Major League’s conclusion may strike too close to reality for Brady’s liking.
Of course, these are lighthearted guesses into the mind of one of sports’ most intense competitors. Tom Brady seems to enjoy life and likely has a great sense of humor. He may very well find ways to appreciate these movies that most fans do. But given his singular track record of success and unwillingness to accept anything but first place, these three films depicting defeat or the harsh realities of sports probably don’t match Brady’s motivational mindset. In the end, Brady is only interested in total triumphs, on and off the field. Movies depicting any other outcome simply may not float his competitive boat.