On the latest episode of Cinematic Underdogs, we’re diving into It’s In The Game: Madden NFL. This four-part documentary traces the unlikely collaboration between Trip Hawkins, a brilliant computer programmer, and the larger-than-life coach John Madden: an odd pairing that somehow ignited one of the most influential sports gaming franchises ever made.

The series isn’t a traditional cradle-to-today history lesson; instead, it moves between two timelines. One chronicles Madden NFL’s early breakthroughs, creative battles, and the franchise-defining push for realism. The other drops us inside EA’s modern studio as the developers hustle to shape Madden 25, revealing just how massive and intricate that yearly operation has become.

What emerges is a doc that starts modestly but grows steadily more engaging, blending nostalgia, industry insight, and a surprisingly heartfelt tribute to Madden himself. It doesn’t shy away from the franchise’s bumps or the criticism surrounding its current era, yet it still manages to capture why the game has mattered to so many players for so long.

Whether you’ve logged thousands of virtual snaps or only know the series by reputation, this doc (and hopefully our discussion) offers a compelling look at how Madden became more than a game, rising to the status of a cultural fixture.