'Bend It Like Beckham' Is Still One Of The All-Time Great Films

SPORTbible viewers may have voted 'GOAL' as the greatest football film of all time but the 2002 classic 'Bend It Like Beckham' will always be number one in my eyes.

Don't get me wrong, Santiago Munez's journey to stardom was pretty spectacular and while he ended up playing for Spanish giants Los Blancos, the hidden gem Jess Bharma, played by Parminder Nagra, was far more relatable.

After a random knockabout in the local park gave her the opportunity to shine for Hounslow Harriers, she decided to realise her dream of playing in the US.

There was one problem - Jess or 'Jesminder' was desperate to play but her family wouldn't let her.

That didn't stop her from going out to buy a classic pair of Adidas Predators, though, impressing for the women's team, managed by Joe, A.K.A Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who eventually fell for the 18-year-old talent.

From the smash hits 'Do Your Thing', 'Move On Up' and 'She's A Lady' to the classic scene when Jess' sister, Pinky, gets married, this film will forever be a classic.

It even changed lives, with England defender Alex Greenwood recalling how the movie inspired her to play the beautiful game.

"That was the film for girls to watch to inspire them to play football." she said. "I love that film. I mean I watch it back now and it's a little bit cringe but it was the film to watch."

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'Bend It Like Beckham' was a film that gave women's football a platform. It not only inspired younger people to realise their dreams, but it was an entertaining watch for all the family.

Oh yeah, and it was based around the king, David Beckham - it was never going to be a flop, was it?

It became the highest grossing Indian-themed film ever in the United States, picking up a massive 32 million dollars in box office revenue when it was released in 2002.

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16 years on, this all-time classic movie is still one of the greatest football films of all time.

GOAL may be your favourite, but has it been made into a musical? Didn't think so.

Topics: Film News, Film, Football

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_