Varsity Blues: James Van Der Beek’s Teen Drama Soars on Streaming

by

Following the sad news of actor James Van Der Beek’s passing, his popular 1999 film, Varsity Blues, is seeing a surge in popularity on streaming. According to FlixPatrol, the movie has climbed to the number two spot among the most-watched films on Paramount+ in the United States.

Directed by Brian Robbins and written by W. Peter Illiff, Varsity Blues features James Van Der Beek as Jonathan “Mox” Moxon, the second-string quarterback for his high school football team. Despite appearing to have a perfect life, Mox actually dislikes playing football and dreams of leaving Texas to go to Brown University and focus on his studies.

The movie Varsity Blues boasts a talented cast, featuring Thomas F. Duffy as Mox’s father, Sam, and Jill Parker Jones as his mother, Maureen. Jon Voight plays the strict Coach Bud Kilmer, while Scott Caan portrays wide receiver Charlie Tweeder and Ali Larter is cheerleader captain Darcy Sears. Rounding out the main cast are Jesse Plemons, Eliel Swinton, Joe Pichler, Richard Lineback, Amy Smart, and Tonie Perensky.

When Varsity Blues came out in 1999, critics weren’t very impressed, and many reviews were negative. However, the movie quickly became popular with general audiences. Currently, Rotten Tomatoes gives it a “Fresh” rating of only 46%, based on 57 reviews from critics. Interestingly, viewers give it a much higher score of 76% on the site’s “Popcornmeter,” based on over 100,000 ratings.

The movie Varsity Blues was a hit with teenagers, and that success translated to strong ticket sales. It earned over $54.3 million in theaters, despite only costing $16 million to make. The film also received several award nominations, including Teen Choice and MTV Movie Awards, ultimately winning two. James Van Der Beek was also nominated for Best Male Newcomer at the 2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.

James Van Der Beek’s Legacy and Impact Have Never Been More Important

Actor James Van Der Beek announced the passing of his mother on February 11th, after a long battle with colorectal cancer. Born in Cheshire, Connecticut, in 1977, Van Der Beek became famous for playing Dawson Leery on the TV show Dawson’s Creek, which premiered in 1998 and launched his career.

Following his passing, fans quickly raised over $1.5 million through a GoFundMe campaign to help his family, including his wife, Kimberly, and their six children. The funds will be used to cover everyday costs, bills, and the children’s schooling, according to the GoFundMe page.

Kevin Williamson, the co-creator of Dawson’s Creek and a celebrated screenwriter, shared a touching statement after hearing the news. He wrote that he’s struggled to find the right words to express how wonderful James was and how much he meant to him, hoping he’ll be able to articulate his feelings someday.

Varsity Blues is currently available for streaming on Paramount+.

Read More

2026-02-13 02:06