World Cup fever meets streaming oddballs and hits

A Boston editor revisits four of the weirdest, most absurd soccer movies now streaming—then pivots to new picks in sports-adjacent entertainment, including an Avatar sequel, a James Gunn Superman reboot, and The Bear’s return.

If you’ve been feeling a low-grade itch for soccer—the kind that hits whenever the World Cup gets too loud—consider this your antidote. In Boston. the frenzy has been building around Gillette Stadium. where five games were played alongside Assistant Sports Editor Hayden Bird. Now the focus shifts from the field to the strange. the silly. and the strangely perfect way movies can scratch that same itch.

The picks start with the kinds of soccer stories that refuse to be normal. “Shaolin Soccer” (2001) was released in Hong Kong and became a cult classic overseas before reaching U.S. theaters in 2004. Officially labeled a “sports comedy. ” the movie mixes soccer with Shaolin kung fu and leans into the goofiness without taking itself too seriously. It’s streaming on Paramount+, Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel.

“Diamantino” (2018) goes in a very different direction. Described as a political satire, it centers on a Cristiano Ronaldo-esque Portuguese superstar. The story’s whimsy and morality are part of what keeps it moving—grounding the film while it touches on subjects that feel uncomfortably familiar. It’s available on Kanopy and Hoopla.

Then there’s “Mike Bassett: England Manager” (2001). which returns to the kind of soccer satire that plays better the more ridiculous it gets. Since a previous list included “An Impossible Job. ” this one adds “Mike Bassett. ” framed as a satirical homage to that title. The film includes cameos from Pele and Ronaldo Nazario and roots its origin story in Norwich City. a detail the editor calls out as a personal favorite English club. It’s streaming on The Roku Channel.

Finally, the list includes “United Passions” (2014)—and with it, no polite wrapper. The film is called “utter garbage,” but it’s also described as appointment viewing for exactly that reason. The movie is flagged as historically bad, with a budget of more than $30 million and a grossed opening weekend of $918. It can be found on Tubi, The Roku Channel, Plex, and The CW.

The stream list doesn’t stop with soccer. New entertainment is lined up right after. starting with what the editor calls “the weakest of the Avatar series yet. ” while still praising James Cameron’s singular approach. “Avatar: Fire and Ash” (2025) is described with a standout performance by Oona Chaplin—granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin—who plays Varang. the “unhinged leader of the fire tribe.” It’s streaming on Disney+.

For superhero fans looking for something steadier than a “can’t recommend” detour, the editor points to “Superman” (2025). It comes as a follow-up note to a separate warning about “Supergirl,” which is framed as not recommended. Still. the reboot is praised for bringing Clark Kent back to the screen. with the editor saying they enjoyed James Gunn’s reboot last year. “Superman” is on HBO Max.

And for anyone who’s been waiting through the rougher stretch. “The Bear” Season 5 is positioned as a return to form. After a decline in quality over the past two seasons. the editor says the new season brings renewed focus for its finale. The season is described as eight episodes. and it’s said to bring back the high-stakes. humorous feel of earlier episodes. with Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) stepping back from the restaurant he took to new heights. It streams on Hulu.

Not everything gets a green light. “Little Brother” (2026) is included as a skip, even with what’s described as a game cast of comedians and a straight man performance from John Cena. The complaint is simple: the buddy comedy is short on laughs. It’s streaming on Netflix.

If there’s a theme running underneath all of it, it’s that the editor isn’t trying to send people into the World Cup feeling refined. The goal is more basic than that—keeping the mood alive with movies that are either entertainingly absurd or stubbornly watchable, even when they’re messy.

World Cup streaming soccer movies Shaolin Soccer Diamantino Mike Bassett: England Manager United Passions Avatar: Fire and Ash Superman (2025) The Bear season 5 Little Brother (2026)