Underrated Kevin Costner and Chadwick Boseman Drama Film Finds New Life on Streaming 11 Years Later
Released by Lionsgate in 2014, Draft Day chronicles fictional Cleveland Browns general manager Sonny Weaver Jr. (Costner) as he and his team decide what to do with the first pick in the NFL draft as they look to rebuild the team. Boseman plays Vontae Mack, a linebacker and top NFL Draft prospect. The star-studded film also sees Jennifer Garner portray Sonny’s love interest and Browns’ finance manager Ali Parker, Denis Leary as Browns head coach Vince Penn, Terry Crews as retired Browns Hall of Fame player Earl Jennings and now-disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs as Chris Crawford, the agent of the #1 draft prospect and Heisman-winning quarterback Bo Callahan. Draft Day also features appearances by real-life Browns legend, the late, great Jim Brown, and All-Pro running back Arian Foster.
Directed by the late Ghostbusters franchise helmer Ivan Reitman, Draft Day received mixed reviews (60% on Rotten Tomatoes) following its release and became a box-office bomb, earning $29 million worldwide against its $25 million budget. However, Draft Day gained a cult following over the years and has spawned a planned TV reboot, developed by Lionsgate’s TV arm and Madison Wells, who co-produced the film. Unlike the movie, the Draft Day reboot will be set in the NBA rather than the NFL.
