Watching movies that are sports centered are not always my favorite genre, but when a story is told that incorporates elements of faith, and is made by the beloved Angel Studios – you have my attention, and my ticket! The Senior tells the true story of Mike Flynt, a 59 year old man that decides to return to college football. But here’s the catch – he’s not looking for a coaching job. His senior year in college he was kicked out of school and off the football team, and after attending a reunion, decides to cash in his 4th year of eligibility and try out for the team. The movie follows his journey throughout the football season and everything he has to deal with from his age, his current and past family life, and fighting for the belief that he is able to do this even though everyone is telling him that he can’t.
“The Senior” originally released on November 9, 2023, and two years later had it’s red-carpet premiere in Bedford, TX on September 8, 2025, shortly before its nationwide theater release on September 19, 2025. This film stars actors Michael Chiklis as Mike Flynt, Mary Stuart Masterson as Eileen Flynt, Brandon Flynn as Mich Flynt, Corey Knight as Jeremy Cartwright, Rob Corddry as Coach Sam Weston, and many more.
I attended this movie in at the Holland Plaza Theater in Orange City, and if I had to give this movie an overall grade, it would deserve a 10/10. I have watched many sport genre movies in my past. My dad is the head cross country coach of my high school and we have had many nights of having the team over and watching movies such as “McFarland USA”, “Secretariat”, and “Overcomer”. The Senior has the same vibes as those.
Mike Flynt has much to teach people today. In his story, he is forced to decipher where his identity should be placed. The time in between his college times and where he sat in present time was 37 years, and he was still thinking about what he missed out on. A big part about his character was how he was raised, and how he later treated his own family. He has good intentions and a good heart, although he can he sometimes gets into physical fights, which can get him into trouble. Mike has to face the idea that maybe his absolute dream is not possible, and he has to come to terms with that. He is never going to get the exact season that he dreamt in his head or what he thinks he deserves, but he can do something that can impact someone in such an outstanding and positive way. Mike has many regrets from his past, but he has to figure out if he is going to let that define him. There are also challenges with his family members as they come to terms with what Mike is doing and how their relationships with him change over this time in their lives, including what they have done in their past.
Another part of the movie that I appreciated was the ending. The end credits showed how the actors got to meet the real Mike Flynt and his family, and how with the movie they are doing a program that you can donate for someone else to have the chance to see this film if they are not able to do it with their own means. Overall, I enjoyed this movie very much and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a new movie to try out.
The Senior, new movie in theaters
