Next Goal Wins is a 2023 sports-dramedy film based upon the 2014 documentary of the same name directed by Taika Waititi. It stars Michael Fassbender, Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Beulah Koale, Uli Latukefu, Rachel House, Kaimana, Rhys Darby, Will Arnett, and Elisabeth Moss.
The film tells the true story of a struggling soccer coach assigned to change the fortunes of the abysmal American Samoan team in time for the World Cup. The film was released in theatres on November 17th, 2023.
Previews: Trailer 1
Next Goal Wins contains examples of the following:
- Advertising by Association: Parodied. The trailer refers to director Waititi as the "Loser of the Best Picture Academy Award for Jojo Rabbit and loser of the Teen Choice Award for Thor: Ragnarok."
- The Alcoholic: Rongen is shown to be a heavy drinker in the trailer, ordering whisky, beer, and wine at a resturaunt and having dozens of small spirits in his suitcase.
- Artistic License – Sports: Although it was their first win in an official international, American Samoa's win over Tonga in 2011 did not feature their first ever goal. They scored three goals in their second ever official international in 1998, and scored four goals during the ten years between their 31-0 defeat to Australia and the victory over Tonga.
- Berserk Button: Jaiyah does not like to be referred to by her deadname (Johnny). Thomas learns the hard way after she body slams him for calling her that three times.
- Exact Words: Tavita says that he suffered a massive stroke after the team actually scores a goal, only for Ruth to point out that he actually got sunstroke.
- Face Doodling: Tavita gets eleven pairs of boobs drawn on his face with permanent ink as a consequence of the American Samoan team losing another game (the doodles come off eventually).
- Five Stages of Grief: Rongen visibly and comically goes through the five stages of grief upon learning he's being sent to train the American Samoan team. Alex knew this would happen and has a worker project the names of the stages on the wall as Rongen goes through each one.
- Jerkass: Alex, who's currently dating Thomas' ex-wife and is quite smug about it, and the two Australians (who actually played for Australia during the fateful match against American Samoa, one of whom has their winning score of 31-0 tattooed on his chest). However, all three are legitimately happy when American Samoa actually wins against Tonga
- Mighty Whitey: Various Samoan characters lampshade that they're essentially doing this by hiring a white guy to get them better at soccer.
- The Reveal: During his final motivational speech to the team, Rongen reveals that his daughter, who we've been hearing voicemails from the whole movie, died in a car accident, which is part of why he has such a sour attitude.
- Save Our Team: As shown in the trailer, the American Samoan team has never even scored ONE goal. Ever. They're hoping Rongen can change this.
- Self-Deprecation: The trailer refers to Taika Waititi as the "Loser of the Best Picture Academy Award for Jojo Rabbit and loser of the Teen Choice Award for Thor: Ragnarok." There's somewhat of a point to this, however, as the film itself is about a team of "losers" and the Advertising by Association is a set up for the "winning story" Tagline.
- Shoe Slap: Tavita's wife threatens to hit their son with her sandal for insisting the team's coach needs to be Samoan. Later she does so for real (with Tavita's encouragement) as punishment for messing up during the game against Tonga.
- Shout-Out:
- When Thomas is interviewed upon arriving in American Samoa over why he is coaching this team, he begins with "What I have are a particular set of skills. Skills that I have acquired over a long career."
- There are multiple references to The Karate Kid, such as the American Samoan team being referred to as a bunch of "Daniel-sans" and Rongen as their Miyagi. Rongen is seen standing on a rock at the beach doing a crane kick during a training montage, as Daniel famously does during his own montage. During the final game against Tonga, Ace and Thomas get jerseys with the name "Miyagi" printed on the back of each one.
- The Stinger: At the end of the credits, the priest played by Taika Watiti finishes up his tale and begins to walk away from the camera. Straight into a pond, whereupon he swears and then the film ends.
