The Greatest Sports Movies Ever Made
Everyone loves a good sports movie. Whether it's re-telling a classic tale of triumph, building a hero from the bottom up, or dramatizing pivotal moments in sports history, most of us can pinpoint some of our favorite sports movies. Below is a list of some of the greatest sports movies to ever grace our screens. Do you have a favorite?
Any Given Sunday
Any Given Sunday (1999) features a star-studded cast of Al Pacino, Dennis Quaid, Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx, and LL Cool J in an action-packed football drama that tells the story of the fictional football team (but a real-life rugby team) of the Miami Sharks. Telling the story of the struggling team rising from the ashes, the title is derived from Pat Toomay's quote in his memoir that "any team can win on any given Sunday."
Any Given Sunday is widely considered a classic among football-loving sports fans and is a movie that epitomizes the competitive spirit of the NFL.
Warner Bros., Any Given Sunday (1999)
The Color Of Money
A sequel to Paul Newman's The Hustler (1961), The Color Of Money (1986) again stars Newman, as "Fast Eddie" Felson, but this time includes a burgeoning young actor by the name of Tom Cruise as a new on-the-scene pool shark named Vincent Lauria.
The pair meet at a bar and Eddie begins to teach Vincent the ways of hustling. Although, a young Lauria is a know-it-all showboat, which Eddie dislikes. The pair part ways after a heated argument, but as Eddie again hustles his way across America, it isn't long before he meets his protégé.
Touchstone, The Color of Money (1986)
The Hustler
The first film in Paul Newman's pool playing series is The Hustler (1961). In this rags-to-riches story, small-time pool hustler Edward "Fast Eddie" Felson works his way through the pool scene to challenge a (fictional) pool legend, George Hagerman, otherwise known as "Minnesota Fats". While films about billiards are fairly uncommon, The Hustler is widely considered a classic.
Twentieth Century, The Hustler (1961)
White Men Can't Jump
Starring Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, White Men Can't Jump (1992) is a basketball comedy that tells the story of two ball hustlers, Billy Hoyle (Harrelson) and Sidney Deane (Snipes), who's partnership in an LA street ball tournament hinges on fooling the opposition into thinking that Hoyle is an unskilled player.
Beloved by basketball fans, White Men Can't Jump (1992) was adapted into a video game in 1995 for the Atari console and in 2009, Nike partnered with Snipes and Harrelson to release a shoe based on the film's characters.
Twentieth Century, White Men Can't Jump (1992)
When We Were Kings
Although many documentaries have been made about Muhammad Ali's life, When We Were Kings (1995) is certainly one of the best. Documenting the lead-up to his infamous 1974 bout, The Rumble In The Jungle in Zaire against George Foreman, and the accompanying 74 Zaire music festival, When We Were Kings also features interviews with Thomas Hauser, Spike Lee, and George Plimpton from the 1990s.
When We Were Kings won the Academy Award for the Best Documentary in 1996 and took director Leon Gast 22 years to edit and finance.
Universal, When We Were Kings (1996)
Senna
This one tells the story of the life—and tragic passing—of Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, who lost his life on the track at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994. Made up of voiceover narration and archival footage of Senna's racing career, the film was released in 2010 to much acclaim. Celebrating the life of one of Formula One's greatest racers. The film won two BAFTAs for Best Documentary and Best Editing, and received a nomination for Outstanding British Film.
I, Tonya
Here's a dramatic biopic about the life of American figure skater Tonya Harding, one of America's most celebrated figure skaters—that is, until her 1994 conviction for obstructing justice in an assault against her skating competition, Nancy Kerrigan. The film details Tonya Harding's life as a young figure skater, throughout her competitions, until she is banned from competitive figure skating following her conviction.
I, Tonya was received positively by critics and stars Margot Robbie and Allison Janney and has a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Talladega Nights
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) tells the story of fictional NASCAR driver, Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell), who has gone from the top of the world to the bottom of the pile when a former F1 driver, Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen), decides to take up NASCAR. Ricky must pull himself out of the depths of despair and reclaim his title in this hilarious movie, considered one of the best NASCAR-themed movies ever.
Columbia, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Bend It Like Beckham
Bend It Like Beckham (2002) tells the tale of a strict Indian family in London, who don't want their daughter Jess to pursue her soccer-playing dreams and do not permit her to play organized soccer. One day, while playing for fun, Jess' skills are seen by Jules Paxton (Kiera Knightley), who convinces Jess to play for her semi-pro team. While Jess uses elaborate excuses to hide her matches from her family, she also wrestles with romantic feelings for her coach, Joe.
Bend It Like Beckham is an infamous coming-of-age movie, particularly in the UK, receiving multiple award nominations and victories, including Best Comedy Film at the British Comedy Awards.
Kintop, Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Creed
A spin-off to the Rocky series, Creed (2015) tells the story of Adonis Creed (Michael B Jordan)—son of Apollo Creed from the first Rocky films. He's out to avenge his father's death and take on the son of Ivan Drago (the man who killed Apollo during Rocky IV). To do this, he's going to need some help from none other than Sylvester Stallone.
Creed enjoyed a huge commercial success and has spawned two sequels and a video game.
The Iron Claw
The Iron Claw (2023) tells the story of the Von Erich family, made up of a patriarch, Fritz Von Erich and his children, who became professional wrestlers like their father. The film depicts the struggles of the Von Erich sons to become everything their father dreamed of for them and stars Zac Efron, Jeremy Allan White, and Lily James.
The film was a huge commercial success, making $2.5 million on its first day at the box office, and was widely well-received by critics.
Sugar
Sugar (2008) tells the story of a young 19-year-old Miguel "Sugar" Santos, who dreams of playing baseball in the United States one day. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Miguel finally earns a spot on a single-A team in Iowa, as a promising pitcher. Unfortunately, the tale of Sugar is filled with culture shock, racism, and other bigotry that threatens to crush Miguel Santos' dreams before they've even begun.
Sugar performed well at the box office, grossing $1.1 million, and the immigrant tale was a hit among critics, scoring 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Rush
Rush (2013) fictionalizes the real-life drama between two Formula One drivers of the 1970s: James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Rush recalls how the drivers pushed themselves to their limits for the sake of winning. It includes the real-life crash of Niki Lauda in 1976 and tells a story of bitter competition, at the expense of almost everything near-and-dear to the racers.
It was nominated for many BAFTAs and Golden Globe Awards, winning a BAFTA and Boston Film Society award for Best Editing (for the breakneck racing sequences).
Tin Cup
Tin Cup (1996) is a romantic comedy that stars Kevin Costner and Rene Russo. Costner plays Roy "Tin Cup" McAvoy, a golfer who missed his shot at the PGA Tour by attempting a riskier shot than necessary. While playing to get back into the Tour, McAvoy falls in love with his arch rival, David Simms' girlfriend, psychologist Dr Molly Griswold.
Telling the story of a battle between two rivals for love—and a golf championship—Tin Cup is viewed as one of Costner's best films of the 1990s and is a classic golf title.
Caddyshack
One of the greatest sports movies of all-time and one of the greatest sports comedies of all-time, Caddyshack (1980) stars Brian Doyle-Murray, Chevy Chase, and Rodney Dangerfield. It tells the story of a young caddie vying for a prized scholarship, but when he joins a rich man's country club with the hopes of taking them down, things quickly turn sour.
The film has spawned a franchise that includes a sequel, books, and even a chain of Caddyshack restaurants.
Warner Bros., Caddyshack (1980)
Hoosiers
Another much-loved basketball movie, Hoosiers (1986) tells the story of a high school basketball coach seeking redemption. Gene Hackman plays Norman Dale, a high school coach brought in by a friend to restore an Indiana high school team to glory. Inspired by the 1954 high school championship-winning Miami High School, Hoosiers was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress' American Film Institute.
Love And Basketball
Love and Basketball (2000) is a sports romance that tells the tale of two basketball prodigies on their way to the big leagues, whilst trying to balance their love life and their professional obligations, Love and Basketball is widely viewed as a cult classic and one of the best basketball films of all-time.
Warner Bros., Love & Basketball (2000)
Moneyball
Moneyball (2011) starring Brad Pitt, Chris Pratt, and Jonah Hill tells the true story of how the Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane, along with his Ivy-League assistant GM, transformed baseball scouting and player analyses in an attempt to save their failing team with a shoestring budget.
The film was a huge commercial and critical success and received six nominations for Academy Awards.
The Sandlot
While more of a teen drama, The Sandlot (1993) tells the tale of six teenage baseball players who spend their summer days playing baseball at the local diamond. As the teenagers do battle, classic teen rivalry plays a big part in a film that has since become a cult classic.
Twentieth Century, The Sandlot (1993)
Invictus
Invictus (2009) is a biographical drama which tells the story of the 1995 Rugby World Cup win by the South African Springboks rugby team, against a backdrop of a post-apartheid South Africa and immediately following Nelson Mandela's release from Robben Island. Starring Matt Damon as rugby captain Francois Pienaar and Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela, this incredible film tells the story of the difficulties of unifying a divided nation, but how one can rally around a sport, regardless of political views.
King Richard
King Richard (2021) tells the story of Richard Williams, father and coach of tennis stars and champions Serena and Venus Williams. Despite being one of the more recent entries on our list, and not being a huge box office success, King Richard tells an important tale of the rise of the Williams' sisters and the pivotal role of their father in their successes.
Warner Bros., King Richard (2021)
He Got Game
Starring Denzel Washington, He Got Game (1998) tells the story of Jake Shuttlesworth, in prison for killing his wife, released early on parole to attempt to persuade his basketball protégé son, Jesus Shuttlesworth, to play for the prison governor's alma mater. It displays the tumultuous relationship between a father and son, revolving around a love of basketball, but also with the cloud of Jake's freedom hanging overhead.
While the film didn't perform well at the box office, nor scored particularly highly among critics, He Got Game is still considered a cult classic.
Touchstone, He Got Game (1998)
The Karate Kid
Widely considered one of the greatest sports films of all time, The Karate Kid (1984), starring Ralph Macchio as the titular character, Daniel LaRusso, and Pat Morita as Mr Miyagi, tells a classic martial arts tale of the teacher and the student. The recently-relocated Daniel becomes the target of a gang of school bullies, only to be saved by martial-arts veteran and handyman, Mr Miyagi.
The Karate Kid has since spawned multiple sequels, books, and a TV series.
Columbia, The Karate Kid (1984)
The Wrestler
The Wrestler (2008) stars Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, and Evan Wood. Rourke plays a professional wrestler intent on wrestling until his dying day, despite his aging body and financial hardship, all the while attempting to mend a fractured relationship with his estranged daughter. With a heavy resurrection theme, The Wrestler is widely credited with reviving Mickey Rourke's waning career.
Wild Bunch, The Wrestler (2008)
Miracle
Kurt Russell stars in Miracle (2004), which recounts The Miracle On Ice—a hockey game between the United States and Soviet Russia at the 1980 Winter Olympics, which saw the Americans score the game (and medal-winning) goal and hold on to beat the Soviets at the peak of the Cold War.
This dramatic tale drew Russell much praise for his acting as head coach Herb Brooks and is widely considered one of the best American sports films of all-time, and a classic title for ice hockey fans the world over.
Chariots Of Fire
Chariots Of Fire (1981) amalgamates many themes into a single piece of cinematic genius, telling the story of two British athletes at the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Christian and Harold Abraham, an English Jew. Both men are drawn together by running, each running in spite of rejection from society—Liddell experiencing rejection from his family (who disapprove of his running) and Abraham experiencing antisemitism whilst attending the University of Cambridge.
Widely considered one of the greatest British film productions of all time, Chariots of Fire won four Academy Awards and a Best Film Award at the 11th British Film and Television Awards.
Twentieth Century, Chariots of Fire (1981)
Murderball
Possibly one of the best—and most brutal—documentaries about sport of all-time, Murderball (2005) tells the story of physically-disabled athletes who are competing in wheelchair rugby, particularly focusing on the rivalry between the United States and Canada in an international wheelchair rugby competition.
Field Of Dreams
This baseball fantasy film hit a home-run among fans—starring Kevin Costner as a farmer who builds a baseball field in his cornfield, only to discover that the field attracts the ghosts of American baseball legends like "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Field Of Dreams (1989) also starred Ray Liotta and James Earl Jones, along with members of the Chicago Black Sox team.
Field of Dreams was nominated for three Academy Awards and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2017. It's widely considered one of the best sports fantasy films of all time.
Universal, Field of Dreams (1989)
Million Dollar Baby
Starring Hilary Swank and Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby (2004) is a drama that centers around female amateur boxer, Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald, who dreams of becoming a pro. She finds a boxing trainer in Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood), who agrees to help her. Maggie fights her way through the amateur division with Frankie's help and eventually fights for the WBA welterweight title.
A story of redemption, for both boxer and trainer, Million Dollar Baby won multiple Academy Awards and topped Best Picture lists across the nation among critics.
Warner Bros., Million Dollar Baby (2004)
A League Of Their Own
This 1992 motion picture starring Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Geena Davis tells the story of the creation of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which existed from 1943 to 1954. A huge ensemble cast and a unique angle on a professional baseball film saw the sports-comedy rake in $132.5 million worldwide at the box office and it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by Congress in 2012.
Columbia, A League of Their Own (1992)
Ali
Starring Will Smith, Ali (2001) is a biopic telling the tale of ten years in the life of Muhammad Ali, from his capturing the World Heavyweight Title from Sonny Liston, his conversion to Islam and subsequent backlash, and criticism of the Vietnam War and subsequent banishment from boxing. It features his return fight against Joe Frazier in 1971. Also included in the film is Ali's Rumble In The Jungle bout against George Foreman.
Dealing with themes such as racial tensions in the United States, the anti-Vietnam War movement, and civil rights against a backdrop of boxing, Ali received high praise from critics and multiple Academy Award nominations.
Raging Bull
This one focuses on the life of Jake "Raging Bull" LaMotta, a middleweight boxing world champion. Raging Bull (1980) is a boxing biopic directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro, detailing LaMotta's rise to holding the welterweight world title and then his catastrophic fall from grace.
Widely considered one of the best films of the 1980s, one of Martin Scorsese's best-ever movies, and one of the greatest American movies ever, Raging Bull was nominated for multiple Academy Awards and Robert De Niro won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role.
United Artists, Raging Bull (1980)
Hoop Dreams
Hoop Dreams (1994) is a classic basketball movie, following two American high school basketballers—Arthur Agee and William Gates—as they try and fulfill their dreams of becoming professional basketballers. Despite originally being intended as a 30-minute short film for PBS, Hoop Dreams was filmed over five years and accumulated 250 hours of footage.
When it premiered at Sundance in 1994, it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary and was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress in the American Film Institute.
Slap Shot
This comedy starring Paul Newman and Michael Ontkean tells the story of a minor league ice hockey team that will stop at nothing to gain the affection of their crowds in a declining town. Despite being a comedy, there are more than a few hits in Slap Shot (1977) and it is now widely regarded as a cult classic among ice hockey fans.
The writer, Nancy Dowd, based much of the movie on her brother's experiences playing in American minor hockey leagues in the early 1970s.
Cool Runnings
One of the greatest tales of perseverance that doesn't get enough credit as a sports movie, Cool Runnings (1993) tells the tale of the famous Jamaican bobsleigh team who debuted at 1988 Winter Olympics. It sees John Candy star as their former Olympic athlete coach, who agrees to guide a team of novices in the sport of bobsleigh.
Cool Runnings was a huge box office success and was recognized by the American Film Institute in their Top 100 most inspiring movies of the last century and featured in their Top 10 in the sports comedy category.
Walt Disney, Cool Runnings (1993)
Eddie The Eagle
This one's another tale from the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary, when Michael David Edwards, or "Eddie The Eagle", became the first Briton ever to compete in ski jumping. Despite Eddie finishing dead last in the Normal Hill and Large Hill events, he became something of a legend in the Olympic skiing world, which led to the 2016 biopic of his life.
Starring Taron Eagerton, Hugh Jackman, and Christopher Walken, Eddie The Eagle became a huge British success and was positively received by critics who loved the rags-to-riches, against-all-odds nature of the movie.
Twentieth Century, Eddie the Eagle (2015)
Remember The Titans
Remember The Titans (2000) is (loosely) based on the true story of American football coach Herman Boone, who attempts to integrate the TC Williams High School in 1971, against the backdrop of desegregation in the United States. It details a team fraught with racial tension, but also trying to gel together as a unit as enforced by their coach, to challenge for a national championship.
Remember The Titans is widely considered one of the finest football films ever, despite being poorly received upon its initial release.
Walt Disney, Remember the Titans (2000)
Coach Carter
Coach Carter (2005) tells the real-life story of Ken Carter, a high school basketball coach who returns to his old high school to whip the basketball team into shape. With a focus on academics and doing well in school as a precursor to playing for the basketball team, the unconventional nature of Carter's coaching style draws ire from students and parents as the team vies for the national championship.
Samuel L Jackson starred in the movie, which is considered to be a classic basketball movie and one of the best sports films ever made.
Paramount, Coach Carter (2005)
Rocky IV
Of course, we couldn't make a "GOAT" list without mentioning Rocky IV (1985), which sees Sylvester Stallone return to the screen as the titular character, fighting against Ivan Drago—the man who killed his friend and former training partner, Apollo Creed. In a film rich with Cold War themes of "East Versus West", Rocky IV is the highest-grossing Rocky film of all-time, reaching an astonishing total of $127 million worldwide at the Box Office.
United Artists, Rocky IV (1985)
Rocky
And of course, the greatest sports movie of all-time has to be the eponymous, unforgettable Rocky (1976). The one that began it all sees Rocky Balboa, a young and upcoming amateur boxer, training rigorously for the fight of his life: a world title shot against Apollo Creed.
Rocky is considered one of the ultimate rags-to-riches stories in cinema and a classic tale of the American Dream. It grossed $225 million worldwide at the box office and is considered one of the greatest movies of all time.
Icarus Shines A Light On Scandalous Sport
An award-winning documentary in 2017, Icarus, filmed by cyclist Bryan Fogel, dove into the world of doping in sport and how Russian athletes (in particular) have been party to various scandals throughout the last several decades. It features the brave tale of a Russian whistleblower, Grigory Radchenko, who was one of the key figures behind exposing a doping scandal that rocked Olympic sport in 2008, 2012, and 2016.
What's your favorite sports movie of all time? Do you think there are any that deserve a GOAT designation that we've missed? Head for the comments and let us know.
