Back to trending
Brian's Song

Brian's Song

Drama · TV Movie · 1971

Based on the real-life relationship between teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers and the bond established when Piccolo discovers that he is dying.

Movie details

Brian's Song

1971 Drama · TV Movie 1h 13m

Critical arithmetic

The consensus, allegedly.

IMDb

7.5 / 10

9.2K votes

Rotten Tomatoes

86 %

Tomatometer

Metacritic

62 / 100

Metascore

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

External scores via OMDb · CC BY-NC 4.0. Values normalized for display; availability varies by title.

Based on the real-life relationship between teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers and the bond established when Piccolo discovers that he is dying.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Brian's Song?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Mr. Church

Mr. Church

Drama · 2016

A unique friendship develops when a little girl and her dying mother inherit a cook - Mr. Church. What begins as an arrangement that should only last six months, instead spans fifteen years.

Radio

Radio

Drama · 2003

In the racially divided town of Anderson, South Carolina in 1976, football coach Harold Jones spots a mentally disabled African-American young man nicknamed Radio near his practice field and is inspired to befriend him. Soon, Radio is Jones' loyal assistant, and he becomes a student at T.L. Hanna High School. But things start to sour when Coach Jones begins taking guff from parents and fans who feel that his devotion to Radio is getting in the way of the team's quest for a championship.

The Music Never Stopped

The Music Never Stopped

Drama · 2011

Henry struggles to bond with his estranged son, Gabriel, who suffers from a brain tumor that prevents him from forming new memories. With Gabriel unable to shed the beliefs and interests that caused their physical and emotional distance, Henry must learn to embrace his son's choices and try to connect with him through music.

Third Star

Third Star

Drama · 2010

James and his three closest lifelong friends go on an ill-advised trip to the stunning coastal area of Barafundle Bay in West Wales. What follows is a touching and comical adventure dealing with friendship, heroism and love.

Eleanor the Great

Eleanor the Great

Drama · 2025

94-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein tries to rebuild her life after the death of her best friend. As a result, she moves back to New York City after living in Florida for decades.

Death of a Superhero

Death of a Superhero

Drama · 2011

A dying 15-year-old boy draws stories of an invincible superhero as he struggles with his mortality.

Concussion

Concussion

Drama · 2015

A dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth to be known. Omalu's emotional quest puts him at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful institutions in the world.

23 Blast

23 Blast

Drama · 2014

When a high school football star is suddenly stricken with irreversible total blindness, he must decide whether to live a safe handicapped life or bravely return to the life he once knew and the sport he still loves.

Blackbird

Blackbird

Drama · 2019

A terminally ill mother invites her family to their country house for one final gathering, but tensions quickly boil over between her two daughters.

Invincible

Invincible

Drama · 2006

Inspired by the true story of Vince Papale, a man with nothing to lose who ignored the staggering odds and made his dream come true. When the coach of Papale's beloved hometown football team hosted an unprecedented open tryout, the public consensus was that it was a waste of time – no one good enough to play professional football was going to be found this way.

Where it lives

Watch in your region.

Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.

Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.

Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Buzz Kulik

Written by

William Blinn

James Caan

James Caan

Brian Piccolo

Billy Dee Williams

Billy Dee Williams

Gale Sayers

Jack Warden

Jack Warden

Coach Halas

Bernie Casey

Bernie Casey

J.C. Caroline

Shelley Fabares

Shelley Fabares

Joy Piccolo

David Huddleston

David Huddleston

Ed McCaskey

Judy Pace

Judy Pace

Linda Sayers

Court is in session

Put Brian's Song on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.