Draft Day
On one pressure-cooker NFL draft day, a Cleveland Browns general manager risks his career and personal stability to make the defining choice of his tenure.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- sentimental
- upbeat
- tense
- sports night
- game day viewing
What critics said
Critics generally found the film entertaining and sentimental but predictable, implausible, and notably unrealistic about NFL draft operations.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Sonny Weaver Jr. must manage trades, prospects, ownership expectations, and team consequences throughout draft day.
Sonny is explicitly forced to walk in the footsteps of his father while making his own defining choices.
The story takes place during the NFL draft, when Sonny has only a limited window to determine the Cleveland Browns' future.
The film frames the NFL and its executives through an upbeat, paternalistic vision of organizational decision-making.
Films like Draft Day, and why
Jerry Maguire
shared sports drama focus, professional pressure, leadership decisions, and emotionally accessible ambition
Moneyball
shared behind-the-scenes sports business setting, strategic decision-making, and determined professional protagonist
The Replacements
shared inspirational sports drama tone, institutional pressure, and personal redemption through high-stakes competition
Any Given Sunday
shared american football setting, ensemble workplace tension, and sentimental underdog storytelling
Movie Details
- Director
- Ivan Reitman
- Release Date
- 2014-04-11
- Runtime
- 110 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (1036)
Cast
- Kevin Costner
- Jennifer Garner
- Denis Leary
- Chadwick Boseman
- Frank Langella
- Josh Pence
- Arian Foster
- Terry Crews
- Ellen Burstyn
- Sean Combs
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Draft Day about?
- On one pressure-cooker NFL draft day, a Cleveland Browns general manager risks his career and personal stability to make the defining choice of his tenure.
- What is Draft Day like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Draft Day as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Draft Day violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Draft Day.
- What did critics think of Draft Day?
- Critics generally found the film entertaining and sentimental but predictable, implausible, and notably unrealistic about NFL draft operations.
- Which films are like Draft Day?
- Films with a similar feel include Jerry Maguire, Moneyball, The Replacements, and Any Given Sunday.
- How long is Draft Day?
- Draft Day runs 110 minutes.
- Where can I watch Draft Day?
- In United States, Draft Day streams on fuboTV, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel.
