In 2004 the film version , featuring Billy Bob Thornton , was released .
Two years later , a fictional TV series helped turn Smash Williams , Tim Riggins and Matt Saracen into household names .
In 2004 the film version , featuring Billy Bob Thornton , was released , and two years later , a fictional TV series helped turn Smash Williams , Tim Riggins and Matt Saracen into household names .