The legend of John Madden looms large over the NFL, but the upcoming biopic about his life is already drawing heavy skepticism from fans. With Nicolas Cage stepping into the iconic coach's shoes, the internet has made up its mind: this movie might be a trainwreck.
Prime Video dropped the latest trailer for Madden on Thursday, giving fans their best look yet at the film that chronicles Madden's journey from Super Bowl-winning coach with the Oakland Raiders to the voice of football and the creator of the legendary video game franchise. The trailer also showcases Christian Bale as Al Davis, the Raiders' late owner, and Madden's close friend.
While the story has all the makings of an inspirational sports drama, the reactions from NFL fans have been overwhelmingly negative. Many are pointing to Cage's portrayal as the main issue, particularly his inability to capture Madden's distinctive raspy voice.
“Without overreacting, this looks like the worst movie ever made,” tweeted Kyle Tucker of 247Sports. Sam Neumann of Awful Announcing echoed the sentiment, saying, “We might be underestimating how bad this movie might be.”
Fans on social media were equally unimpressed. “This looks like it could be okay but Nicolas Cage not even coming close to nailing the Madden voice is seriously taking me out of it,” one fan wrote. Another added, “I absolutely love Nicolas Cage, but I just can’t see him fully as John Madden.”
Some are even suggesting viewers should approach the film with low expectations. “I think this movie can be enjoyed if we all enter with low expectations and take it completely unseriously,” one person commented on X.
Interestingly, the one bright spot seems to be Christian Bale's portrayal of Al Davis. Fans have praised Bale's ability to transform into any role, comparing his work here to his performances in The Dark Knight and The Fighter. It seems the movie might be worth watching for Bale alone, even if Cage's Madden falls flat.
This isn't the first time the Madden franchise has stirred up controversy. From fans fearing the movie will disappoint to debates over Madden 27 quarterback rankings, the brand always sparks strong opinions. And with the Madden curse talk heating up after Caleb Williams' injury, the timing of this film feels especially loaded.
Madden hits select theaters on Nov. 11 and will stream on Prime Video starting Nov. 18. Whether it lives up to the hype or becomes a punchline, one thing is certain: NFL fans will have plenty to say.
