Friday Night Lights

Release Date: 13th May 2005
Distributor: UIP
Certificate: 12A
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Lucas Black, Garrett Hedlund, Derek Luke
Director: Peter Berg
Running Time: 117 mins

Friday Night Lights is the true story of a group of young American athletes, their town and their dreams of success. Set in a small Texas town in the dying days of the 80’s, it is a story of challenge against adversity, set in a time of racial, social and economic unease.

Every Friday from September to December, in the nondescript small-town heartlands of West Texas, an eerie glow fills the horizon for miles around, and chants of ‘Mo-Jo! Mo-Jo!’ can be heard. On these Friday nights, Ratliff stadium plays host to the Permian Panthers, Odessa’s favourite high-school football team – a team who carry the hopes and dreams of their small town on their shoulders every game they play.

Since their first season back in 1959, the Panthers have established themselves as one of the most successful football programs in the country, and in the last days of summer in 1988 they set their minds on winning their fifth state championship in their 30-year history.

For Coach Gary Gaines (Thornton), it all comes down to one thing – being perfect. And as Gaines tells his players, ‘Being perfect is about being able to look your friends in the eye and know that you didn’t let them down’.