Believe - 2013
By The Bottom Reel Editorial Team ·
Believe (2013)
Theatre of Dreams: Matt Busby’s Last Match with the Kids of Manchester
Overview
Believe is a 2013 British sports drama directed by David Scheinmann. Set in Manchester in 1984 and “inspired by true events,” it stars Brian Cox as legendary Manchester United manager Sir Matt Busby, who comes out of retirement to coach a team of working-class boys. The film was released theatrically in the UK on July 25, 2014 after premiering at the Zurich Film Festival on Sept 28, 2013.
Plot
Manchester, 1984. 11-year-old Georgie Gallagher Jack Smith is a gifted but unruly footballer and petty thief, captain of a ragtag under-12s team. After stealing Sir Matt Busby’s wallet, Georgie is caught and tracked down by the retired Manchester United manager Brian Cox.
Matt, still haunted by the 1958 Munich air disaster that killed eight of his “Busby Babes,” is restless in retirement. Intrigued by Georgie’s talent, he decides to “teach the tear-a-way a lesson” by coaching the boy’s team of misfits. With his wife Jean Anne Reid watching on, Matt uses football to give the kids discipline and hope.
The story builds to a cup final that coincides with Georgie’s scholarship exam and Sir Matt’s 75th birthday. Without Georgie, the team is down 2-0. Georgie’s mother Erica Natascha McElhone races to get him to the second half. Georgie scores with a direct free kick to win the cup, honoring his late father and giving Matt a final taste of the game he loves.
Cast & Crew
Sir Matt Busby – Brian Cox
Georgie Gallagher – Jack Smith
Erica Gallagher – Natascha McElhone
Jean Busby – Anne Reid
Dr. Farquar – Toby Stephens
Bob – Philip Jackson
Helen – Kate Ashfield
Director – David Scheinmann
Screenplay – Carmelo Pennisi, Massimiliano Durante, David Scheinmann
Music – Christian Henson
Social Impact & Themes
Matt Busby Legacy: The film trades on Busby’s real history – taking over Manchester United in 1945, the Munich air crash of 1958, and rebuilding the club. It frames him as a man still committed to “training lads for life”.
Working-class Manchester, 1980s: Set against the miners’ strike and Thatcher-era Manchester, it uses period details like Musical Youth to ground the story.
Feel-good sports formula: Critics noted it’s a “proudly manipulative underdog tale” and “crowd-pleasing in the best possible way”. Screen Daily called it “a solidly told, skillfully acted and engagingly shot tale... a modest but effective piece of mainstream entertainment”.
Limited cultural footprint: Unlike Billy Elliot or Bend It Like Beckham, it had a very small release and minimal social impact. Most audiences outside Man United fandom didn’t see it. Audience reviews say “Probably would have to be a Man United fan to enjoy this”.
Reception
Critics: Mixed to negative.
Rotten Tomatoes: 30% Tomatometer from 10 critic reviews. No consensus posted.
Metacritic: 39/100 “Generally unfavorable” from 6 critics.
The Guardian gave 2/5: “often cringeworthy... a formulaic plot... the attempt to evoke the trauma of the Munich air disaster is rendered wholly insupportable by the trifling hooey around it”.
Positive notes: Screen Daily praised Brian Cox’s “wonderfully understated performance” and called it “sprightly”. L.A. Weekly said Wood was “unusually well cast” but that’s for a different film – for Believe, critics said Cox “is a delight”.
Audience: Slightly warmer but still mixed.
IMDb: 5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes audience: No % shown, but reviews range from 5/5 “Best film I’ve watched in a while” to 2/5 “mawkish tale... well-meaning but corny football fable”.
Common complaints: “formulaic,” “mawkish,” “trifling hooey”. Praise: “inspirational story,” “heart and humour,” “Brian Cox is a delight”.
Budget vs. Box Office
Production Budget: $6 million / £4.7 million
Worldwide Gross: $283,995
Breakdown: International only – $283,995. No domestic US theatrical gross reported.
Top territories: Chile $274,957, United Arab Emirates $4,951, Lebanon $4,087
Performance: The film earned ∼4.7% of its budget theatrically, a major commercial loss. It had a very limited release and went straight to streaming/DVD in most markets.
Ratings
IMDb: 5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 30% Tomatometer (10 reviews); audience score not displayed but individual reviews are mixed
Metacritic: 39/100 Metascore
Rating: PG for Thematic Elements, Smoking, Language Runtime: 92–96 minutes
Bottom line: Believe is a sentimental, Man United-flavored family drama that banked on Brian Cox and Sir Matt Busby’s legacy. Critics found it formulaic and “corny,” while fans of Busby or 1980s Manchester nostalgia found it earnest. With a $6M budget and <$300K gross, it’s a footnote in British football cinema – heartfelt, but not a game-changer.