The Damned United

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The Damned United

R

2009

1h 37m

Drama

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

138 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

The story of Brian Clough's 44-day stint as manager of Leeds United Football Club takes place in 1974 England. When Don Revie quits Leeds to become the England boss, the outspoken Brian Clough takes charge. Determined to impose his own style upon Revie's tough-tackling team, Clough soon alienates his players and the board. Based on the book by David Peace.

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Critics Consensus

Better than your average football pic, Damned United is carried by another star turn from Michael Sheen as Brian Clough.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

08/29/2018

Moves along crisply with, mercifully, very little on-pitch football and many beautifully crafted, touching moments.

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Ed Koch

The Atlantic

01/17/2018

The story should have added up to an interesting and exciting movie, but it didn't for me. It was not due to Sheen's acting, but rather to a boring and confusing script.

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Graham Fuller

Film Comment Magazine

10/20/2014

The Damned United eliminates the existential anguish and pain that propelled Peace's novel, and curtails its lowering style.

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Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

11/29/2022

3/5

While the movie sensibly focuses on a relatively short period of Clough's career to tell its story, there's no escaping the liberties it takes with what actually happened, something that is likely to make soccer fans who know their history tune out.

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Jason Best

Movie Talk

11/21/2020

Even if you have next to no interest in football, The Damned United is enormously entertaining.

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

04/20/2020

4/5

A superb sports film, based on the best-selling book by David Peace.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 7

1 hour and 37 minutes based on a true story. Rated R for Language.

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Mason W

@RT57124725 03/02/2025

The Damned United is a Worth Watch Football Film casting with Martin Sheen as Brian Clough who plays a brilliant role in this story, it’s a funny short Film that only takes up hour n half but if your a fan of dirty Leeds, you should enjoy this film

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John C

@RT25427934 09/10/2024

I don't mind football, but I doubt I could watch a movie containing lot of it, which is probably why I enjoyed The Damned United. It charts Brian Clough's ill-fated move from Derby to Leeds where he comes uncharacteristically unstuck in his managerial attempts. Martin Sheen is (as always) brilliant at playing the self appointed `greatest manager in England' and he's backed up by the equally excellent Timothy Spall and Jim Broadbent. You don't have to love, or even know much about, football to like this film. It's about someone who isn't quite as clever as he thinks he is. Therefore you can't help but take a little bit of evil delight in his fall from grace. However, although Clough isn't always the genius he believes himself to be, he's never far from it. So, even when he's down, you know he won't be there for long. Good British drama - very entertaining.

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isla s

@RT89656869 09/03/2022

This is a reasonably good film at depicting the passion people have for a local football team. Good performances from a good cast, particularly Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall. Its mainly about the level of influence that the manager has over the direction the football team take and how much attention others pay to him. I imagine football fans would enjoy this, so I'd recommend it, yes.

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avant s

@RT02026086 05/05/2022

one of the best sports movie out there.

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Adam Z

@RT74066928 05/02/2022

The movie is on Sheen and that's all it needs.

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Tom Hooper

Director

Michael Sheen

Brian Clough

Timothy Spall

Peter Taylor

Jim Broadbent

Sam Longson

Stephen Graham

Billy Bremner

Joe Dempsie

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Synopsis

The story of Brian Clough's 44-day stint as manager of Leeds United Football Club takes place in 1974 England. When Don Revie quits Leeds to become the England boss, the outspoken Brian Clough takes charge. Determined to impose his own style upon Revie's tough-tackling team, Clough soon alienates his players and the board. Based on the book by David Peace.

Director: Tom Hooper
Producer: Andy Harries, Grainne Marmion
Screenwriter: Peter Morgan
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Screen Yorkshire, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Left Bank Pictures, BBC Films
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 9, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $449.6K
Runtime: 1h 37m

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