Based on: The life of Ernie Davis (1939 – 1963), Heisman Trophy winner and the award’s first Black recipient.
Rob Brown leads the cast as Ernie Davis, the “Elmira Express” who lead Syracuse University to a national championship in just his sophomore year. In the movie, as in real life, Davis faces ugly examples of racism, playing in an era when Black players were only starting to become a more familiar sight. The film goes hard on “inspirational sports movie” tropes, but tastefully, and without creeping into full-on tearjerker mode, even when Davis’ leukemia diagnosis brings a premature end to his career. Brown is great, but The Express also marked the film debut of Chadwick Boseman, who plays Davis’ successor at Syracuse U., Floyd Little.
Where to stream: Peacock, Fubo, Sling
