“My All American,” a 2015 sports drama biopic, has entered the Top 10 of most-streamed movies on Netflix in the US (as for Feb. 5th), according to FlixPatrol. The specialized website reports that the film, which stars Aaron Eckhart, is the ninth most-watched on the platform.
The film was written and directed by Angelo Pizzo, who also wrote “The Hill,” which recently claimed the number 1 spot on Netflix’s most viewed list. In “My All American,” Pizzo tells the story of college football player Freddie Steinmark, based on the book Courage Beyond the Game: The Freddie Steinmark Story by Jim Dent.
Finn Wittrock (known for his role in American Horror Story) portrays Steinmark, supported by a cast including Sarah Bolger, Robin Tunney, and Eckhart. Although the film faced mixed reviews and performed poorly at the box office, it is gaining a second life on streaming.
What is the true story behind ‘My All American’?
As we said, the film tells the story of Freddie Steinmark, who was awarded a scholarship to play football for the University of Texas under the coaching of Darrell Royal (Eckhart) in the late 1960s.
Despite being small, he and his teammates Bobby Mitchell (Rett Terrell) and James Street (played by his son Juston Street), the team achieve success, beating Arkansas in the “Game of the Century” after recovering from a 14-0 score.
However, post-game, Freddie received devastating news – a cancerous bone tumor just above his left knee. His leg was amputated at the hip a mere six days later. Yet, his spirit and resilience served as inspiration, propelling the team to a national championship that year.
The movie accurately depicts President Richard Nixon’s attendance at the “Game of the Century.” After meeting Freddie that day, Nixon called him while he was in the hospital and later invited him to the White House. This encounter inspired the initiation of the “War on Cancer,” marked by the signing of the National Cancer Act of 1971.