Is ‘Remember the Titans’ based on a true story?

Remember the Titans became an instant classic when it premiered in theaters in 2000. 

The sports film, which takes place in 1971, follows the story of Herman Boone — an African American coach — and his high school football team as they played their first season as a racially integrated group. Remember the Titans starred Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst, Donald Faison, Craig Kirkwood, Ethan Suplee, Ryan Gosling, Earl Poitier, Nicole Ari Parker, Hayden Panettiere, and many others. 

Since its theatrical debut 23 years ago, Remember the Titans has become one of the highest-grossing sports films of all time, generating over $136 million at the box office. In addition to the movie’s revenue, it would receive fairly positive reviews from fans and critics alike. Currently, Remember the Titans has a 72% on Rotten Tomatoes‘ Tomatometer. 

The movie would also be nominated for several awards and win many, including an NAACP Award for outstanding motion picture and outstanding actor in a motion picture. Aside from the overall success Remember the Titans has achieved over the years, what many don’t know is that it is based on actual events. 

The real-life character Herman Boone whom Denzel Washington portrays in the blockbuster, revealed in a 2002 interview with The Observer-Reporter, that although there are certain parts of Remember the Titans that are not true, the movie, in general, did capture the essence of instances that did occur during his time as a coach. Boone, who was 68 at the time, told the publication, 

“The movie is actually really close to what happened. There are only about four or five things that were not true, but they weren’t actually false either.”

Remember the Titans is now streaming on Disney Plus.