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Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos poster

Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos

Documentary
2006, 1h 37min
In the 1970s the North American Soccer League marked the first attempt to introduce soccer to American sports fans. While most teams had only limited success at best, one managed to break through to genuine mainstream popularity - the New York Cosmos. The brainchild of Steve Ross (Major executive at Warner Communications) and the Ertegun brothers (Founders of Atlantic Records), the Cosmos got off to a rocky start in 1971, but things changed in 1975 when the world's most celebrated soccer star, the Brazilian champion Pele, signed with the Cosmos for a five-million-dollar payday. With the arrival of Pele, the Cosmos became a hit and the players became the toast of the town, earning their own private table at Studio 54. A number of other international soccer stars were soon lured to the Cosmos, including Franz Beckenbauer, Rodney Marsh, and Carlos Alberto, but with the turn of the decade, the team began losing favor with fans and folded in 1985.
Country: United Kingdom, United States
Cast:
Matt Dillon,
Pelé,
Franz Beckenbauer,
Ahmet Ertegün
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Ratings

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IMDb rating 7.3
Critic rating Average critic rating
Critic rating 8

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Critic Will Lawrence
rated 8

An engrossing account of American soccer's strangest episode and you don't even have to like footie to enjoy it.

Read full review at Empire

Cast & Crew

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Paul Crowder
Director
John Dower
Director
John Dower
Writer
John Dower
Director
Matt Dillon
As Narrator (Voice)
Pelé
As Himself (archive footage)
Franz Beckenbauer
As Himself

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos about? Toggle content

"Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos" is a documentary that tells the story of the rise and fall of the New York Cosmos, a soccer team that captured the hearts of Americans in the 1970s. With the help of legendary players like Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer, the team became a sensation, attracting celebrity fans and packing their home stadium. But their success was short-lived, and the team's decline was as dramatic as their rise. Through archival footage and interviews with the players themselves, this film takes a look at a unique moment in sports history when soccer fever gripped the United States.

Where can I stream Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos? Toggle content

Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos is currently unavailable to stream in UK on the streaming services we have in our catalogue

What movies are similar to Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos? Toggle content

Some movies that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos include Who Killed the Electric Car?, Harbour of Hope, Sharkwater, Sacred Planet, Exit Through the Gift Shop, Stalin Thought of You.

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