🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Holly Goldberg Sloan
- Genre: Comedy, Family, Sport
- Release year: 1995
- Runtime (length): 1h 40min
- IMDb rating: 5.5/10 (11K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 20%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A British teacher turns a bunch of Texan kids who think a football is a lemon into soccer stars, mostly to get back at a jerky coach and maybe find love with a goofy sheriff.
🍿 The Big Green: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Introduction of Miss Anna Montgomery and the Underachieving Class
Anna Montgomery, a teacher from England, arrives in Elma, Texas, to teach a class of underachieving students. The kids are disinterested and lack self-esteem. Anna struggles to connect with them initially but discovers their shared interest in a sport she calls ‘football,’ which they know as soccer.

Forming ‘The Big Green’ Soccer Team
Anna, with the help of Sheriff Tom Palmer, decides to form a soccer team. The team consists of misfit kids who have never played soccer before. They face ridicule and lack proper equipment. The team is named ‘The Big Green’ after the neglected field they practice on.

Challenges and Training
The Big Green faces numerous challenges, including lack of skill, resources, and a formidable rival team, The Knights, coached by Jay Huffer. Anna and Tom work tirelessly to train the team, teaching them the basics of soccer and fostering teamwork and confidence. The kids start developing their skills and working together, slowly improving their game.

Overcoming Obstacles On and Off the Field
The team members face personal struggles. Juan’s mother is an undocumented immigrant facing potential deportation. Kate deals with an alcoholic father. These issues add emotional depth to the story, reinforcing themes of friendship and support. The community starts rallying behind The Big Green, offering help and encouragement.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Miss Anna Montgomery (Olivia d’Abo): An English teacher who inspires her underachieving Texas students by coaching them in soccer.
- Sheriff Tom Palmer (Steve Guttenberg): A small-town sheriff who assists Miss Montgomery in coaching the soccer team while developing a romantic interest in her.
- Coach Jay Huffer (Jay O. Sanders): The arrogant and competitive coach of the rival soccer team, The Knights.
- Evan Schiff (Chauncey Leopardi): A member of the Big Green team who initially lacks confidence but grows throughout the season.
- Juan Morales (Anthony Esquivel): A talented soccer player who joins the Big Green and faces immigration-related challenges.
- Kate Douglas (Jessica Robertson): A key player on the Big Green team who has to overcome personal issues with her father.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Miss Anna Montgomery: “Oh, that’s right. What I call football, you call soccer. So, this is a soccer ball.” – Miss Anna introduces soccer to her Texan students, highlighting the cultural difference in terminology.
- Nick Anderssen: “Yeah, it’s for foreigners.” – Nick expresses a common, dismissive sentiment towards soccer before being introduced to the game.
- Miss Anna Montgomery: “Well, I’m a foreigner.” – Miss Anna challenges the children’s prejudiced view on soccer, connecting it with her own foreign background.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $12,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $17,736,619
- Worldwide Gross: $17,736,619
💥 The Big Green Reviews
Personal Review
I remember watching this as a kid and absolutely loving it! The goofy humor and underdog story were perfect for a Saturday afternoon. I especially enjoyed Larry’s goalie nightmares – they were so creatively weird. It’s not a cinematic masterpiece, but it brings back nostalgic feels and makes you root for the team.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Families with young children”
- “Fans of sports comedies”
- “People who enjoy underdog stories”
- “Those looking for a feel-good movie”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Brief references to alcoholism”
- “Themes of immigration”
- “Mild language and humor”
Professional Reviews
- ScreenRant: “While ‘The Big Green’ might not be a cinematic masterpiece, it offers a feel-good sports story with enough heart to entertain families. It’s a classic underdog tale about finding confidence and teamwork. The humor and simple plot make it an easy watch.
- IMDB User Review: “The movie is funny, cool and about showing a lower school, if have the ability to learn and keep trying they can do anything. Got Patrick O’Renna, and Steve Guttenburg to me this is a good movie. It deserves better.
Audience Reactions
Fans loved the humor, especially the goalie’s wild imaginations and Steve Guttenberg’s comedic performance.: Viewers generally agree that it’s a feel-good movie with a positive message about teamwork and believing in yourself.
Overall Consensus: While predictable, ‘The Big Green’ remains a charming and nostalgic family film, delivering a feel-good story about teamwork and self-belief.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Many of the child actors had little to no soccer experience prior to filming. Anthony Esquivel, who played Juan, was the only one with prior knowledge of the sport.”
- “The film was shot on location in Austin, Texas, adding to the authentic small-town Texan atmosphere.”
- “Holly Goldberg Sloan, the writer of ‘The Big Green’, also directed the movie. This was one of her earlier directorial efforts.”
🖥️ How to Watch The Big Green?
Currently, ‘The Big Green’ is available for purchase or rental on various digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check these services for current availability and pricing.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed The Big Green, you might like these similar films:
- The Mighty Ducks (1992): Features a ragtag group of kids learning to play a sport and becoming a winning team with the help of an unconventional coach.
- The Bad News Bears (1976): Another story of a misfit team overcoming their initial lack of skill and challenging the status quo in youth sports.
- Little Giants (1994): A group of underdog kids, deemed not good enough for the main team, form their own team and challenge the better-equipped team.
🛒 The Big Green Related Products
- The Mighty Ducks Trilogy: If you love the underdog sports movie trope and enjoyed the spirit of teamwork and perseverance in The Big Green, you’ll definitely appreciate the iconic Mighty Ducks Trilogy. This collection brings together all three classic films.
- Classic Soccer Ball: A high-quality soccer ball perfect for practicing your skills and reliving the excitement of the movie. Available in various sizes and designs.
- Custom Soccer Team Jersey: Design your own custom soccer team jersey with team name. Perfect for recreating the Big Green team spirit.
- Funko Pop! Sports Figures: Start a collection of Funko Pop! figures featuring iconic sports figures. Available in various sizes and designs.
🎧 Soundtrack
The Big Green features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
‘The Big Green’ is a sports comedy about an English teacher who forms a soccer team with a group of misfit kids in a small Texas town. The film follows their journey as they learn to play soccer, overcome challenges, and ultimately achieve unexpected success.
The main actors in ‘The Big Green’ include Steve Guttenberg as Sheriff Tom Palmer, Olivia d’Abo as Miss Anna Montgomery, and Jay O. Sanders as Coach Jay Huffer. The film also features a cast of child actors playing the members of The Big Green soccer team.
‘The Big Green’ was filmed in Austin, Texas, USA.
🔥 Bonus Content
The “Big Green” Dub
Okay, this has absolutely nothing to do with the movie itself but it has a funny twist with the title! Check out this comedic dub that cleverly uses ‘The Big Green’ name for some laughs – it’s surprisingly hilarious and worth a watch.
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