GREATER
A walk-on's true story of faith, grit, and a purpose only God could see.
Should You Watch It?
Yes — this is one to gather the family for. GREATER tells the true story of Brandon Burlsworth, a "chunky kid" from Arkansas who trusted God's call on his life even when his own brother doubted it, and turned a walk-on tryout into one of the great stories in college football. The production is excellent, the writing is strong, and the movie holds your attention for its full two hours.
It also doesn't flinch from its faith. Brandon prays, quotes Scripture, and witnesses to his teammates throughout — this isn't a movie that hides its convictions to be more palatable.
The caution is small but real: a handful of mild words, some drinking and smoking, a scene of drunkenness, and intense moments that may be heavy for the youngest viewers. For older children and up, this is a rich, honest, encouraging watch. Bring the popcorn and the tissues.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESBrandon Burlsworth has always been the "big kid" — the one nobody expects to make a Division I football team, let alone earn a scholarship. He dreams anyway, trusting that God has a purpose for him even when his mother is his only believer and his brother Marty thinks the dream is foolish. So Brandon walks onto the University of Arkansas team with no scholarship and everything to prove — and the hardest, most surprising part of his journey is just beginning.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is filmmaking that works on its own terms, not just as an inspirational message movie. The production quality is excellent, the script is well written, and the pacing keeps you invested for the entire runtime — no small feat for a true story audiences may already know the outline of. Brandon's arc from doubted walk-on to All-American is handled with genuine heart rather than sentimentality for its own sake, and his humility under adversity gives the film its emotional center.
The Worldview
GREATER carries a very strong Christian, biblical worldview, and it wears that conviction openly rather than softening it. Brandon trusts God for his purpose, prays, studies Scripture, attends church, and actively witnesses to the people around him — and the film treats his faith as the reason for his success, not an incidental detail. Family togetherness matters here too: a skeptical brother's arc toward understanding is as central to the story as Brandon's own.
The film doesn't pretend obedience is easy or painless. Marty has to learn that hearing God's call isn't the same as acting on it, and that a life's true purpose may only be visible in hindsight — sometimes tragically so. That's a mature, honest way to handle providence, and it's part of what makes this more than a feel-good sports movie.
Brandon's story is, at bottom, about a young man who trusted that God had already written a purpose for his life before he could see it himself. Scripture says the same: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong Christian, biblical worldview supports trusting in God, witnessing to others, family togetherness, church attendance, prayer, and Bible study; three utterances of a**, one “butt,” one “suck,” one reference to “sex specs,” a man vomits; football gameplay gets rough in some places; no sexual content; men shown in their underwear in a locker room, man shown wrapped in a towel; one scene of drunkenness, references to alcohol throughout, a man holds an alcohol bottle, college students drink; a man smokes a cigarette; and, some bullying and protagonist’s father is an alcoholic separated from mother.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Brandon's mother believes in his dream when almost no one else does. How does encouragement from family shape our willingness to trust God's calling?
Proverbs 17:17 · Hebrews 10:24–25Marty starts out skeptical of his brother's faith and slowly comes to see God's hand in Brandon's life. Has doubt ever given way to conviction in your own family?
Mark 9:24 · Jeremiah 29:11Brandon works hard and trusts God at the same time — he doesn't just wait for a miracle. How do faith and effort work together in the Christian life?
Philippians 2:12–13 · James 2:17The film treats witnessing to teammates as a normal, everyday part of Brandon's life. What would it look like for your family to talk about faith that openly?
Matthew 5:14–16 · 1 Peter 3:15The Final Word
Brandon Burlsworth's story earns its four stars honestly — well-made, well-written, and unafraid to let its Christian convictions show. A little discernment for the youngest viewers is all that's needed. Our answer: worth the trip — older children and up.
