81 Most Inspiring Sports Movies
We’ve put together the ultimate starting lineup of inspiring sports movies! In no time, you’ll be riding horses, climbing rocks, driving powerful race cars, bolting cross-country, and coaching underdog teams to miraculous victory.
Or they’ll at least get you off the couch.
Some of the most esteemed Certified Fresh inspirational sports movies take on MMA (Warrior), boxing (Creed, Cinderella Man), auto-racing (Rush, Senna), basketball (Hoosiers, He Got Game), hockey (Miracle, Goon). Of course, not everything that glitters is strictly critics’ gold. Which is why we included movies like The Cutting Edge, Stick It, or Lords of Dogtown: They may be lower on the Tomatometer, but they’re high on electric inspiration.
And now it’s 2024 and it’s been a while since we took a look at this list (we were working out the whole time), and we’ve updated it American Underdog, King Richard, Hustle, Facing Nolan, Champions, Next Goal Wins, The Boys in the Boat, Nyad, Gran Turismo, Shooting Stars, Big George Foreman, Chang Can Dunk, and The Beautiful Game.
Read on for our recommendations of the most inspiring sports movies of all time!
#1
Adjusted Score: 89705%
Critics Consensus:42 is an earnest, inspirational, and respectfully told biography of an influential American sports icon, though it might be a little too safe and old-fashioned for some.
Synopsis: In 1946, Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), legendary manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, defies major league baseball’s notorious color barrier by… [More]
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni
Directed By: Brian Helgeland
#2
Adjusted Score: 78788%
Critics Consensus:American Underdog sticks to the standard inspirational sports drama playbook — and proves once again that it can be very effective in the right hands.
Synopsis: American Underdog tells the inspirational true story of Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi), who went from a stockboy at a grocery… [More]
Starring: Zachary Levi, Anna Paquin, Dennis Quaid, Ser’Darius Blain
Directed By: Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin
#3
Adjusted Score: 100898%
Critics Consensus: The Bad News Bears is rude, profane, and cynical, but shot through with honest, unforced humor, and held together by a deft, understated performance from Walter Matthau.
Synopsis: Hard-drinking, ex-minor-league hopeful Morris Buttermaker (Walter Matthau) grumpily agrees to coach a Little League team at the behest of lawyer-councilman… [More]
Starring: Walter Matthau, Tatum O’Neal, Vic Morrow, Joyce Van Patten
Directed By: Michael Ritchie
#4
Adjusted Score: 87020%
Critics Consensus:The Beautiful Game has an undeniable warmth that further elevates an already irresistible true story, helping this inspirational drama score despite a reliance on well-worn clichés.
Synopsis: Mal (Bill Nighy, Living, About Time) is the manager of England’s homeless football team, taking his players to Rome with… [More]
Starring: Bill Nighy, Susan Wokoma, Callum Scott Howells, Kit Young
Directed By: Thea Sharrock
#5
Adjusted Score: 90147%
Critics Consensus: Inspiring, compassionate, and with a sly undercurrent of social commentary, Bend It Like Beckham is a lively feel-good movie that genuinely charms.
Synopsis: Jess Bhamra (Parminder Nagra), the daughter of a strict Indian couple (Anupam Kher, Shaheen Khan) in London, is not permitted… [More]
Starring: Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Anupam Kher, Archie Panjabi
Directed By: Gurinder Chadha
#6
Adjusted Score: -1%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Bert Bushnell and Dickie Burnell are thrown together in the double sculls just five weeks before the final of the… [More]
Starring: Matt Smith, Sam Hoare, James Frain, Douglas Hodge
Directed By: David Blair
#7
Adjusted Score: 44136%
Critics Consensus:Big George Foreman had a classic sports story to work with; unfortunately, the sluggishly ordinary way it’s told here is more Tomato Can than Heavyweight Champion.
Synopsis: Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World is based on the… [More]
Starring: Khris Davis, Forest Whitaker, Jasmine Mathews, Sullivan Jones
Directed By: George Tillman Jr.
#8
Adjusted Score: 77363%
Critics Consensus: Thanks to the spirited performances of a talented cast – particularly Will Ferrell and Jon Heder as rivals-turned-teammates — Blades of Glory successfully spoofs inspirational sports dramas with inspired abandon.
Synopsis: Figure skaters Chazz Michael Michaels and Jimmy MacElroy take their intense rivalry too far during the Olympic Winter Games in… [More]
Starring: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler
Directed By: Will Speck, Josh Gordon
#9
Adjusted Score: 65529%
Critics Consensus:The Boys in the Boat tells its inspirational true story with heart and solid craftsmanship, but director George Clooney’s stolidly traditional approach prevents it from leaving much of an impact.
Synopsis: The Boys in the Boat is a sports drama based on the #1 New York Times bestselling non-fiction novel written… [More]
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Chris Diamantopoulos, Callum Turner, Jack Mulhern
Directed By: George Clooney
#10
Adjusted Score: 92574%
Critics Consensus: Buoyed by standout performances from James Caan and Billy Dee Williams, Brian’s Song is a touching tale of friendship whose central relationship transcends its standard sports movie moments.
Synopsis: Brian Piccolo (James Caan) and Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) are teammates on the mid-1960s Chicago Bears. At a time… [More]
Starring: James Caan, Billy Dee Williams, Jack Warden, Shelley Fabares
Directed By: Buzz Kulik
#11
Adjusted Score: 69703%
Critics Consensus: Despite the formulaic, fluffy storyline, this movie is surprisingly fun to watch, mostly due to its high energy and how it humorously spoofs cheerleading instead of taking itself too seriously.
Synopsis: The Toro cheerleading squad from Rancho Carne High School in San Diego has got spirit, spunk, sass and a killer… [More]
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford, Gabrielle Union
Directed By: Peyton Reed
#12
Adjusted Score: 40175%
Critics Consensus: Enthusiastically unpleasant and mostly unfunny, The Bronze fails to stick the landing — or much else along the way.
Synopsis: A spoiled and largely forgotten Olympic medalist (Melissa Rauch) takes action when a promising young gymnast (Haley Lu Richardson) threatens… [More]
Starring: Melissa Rauch, Gary Cole, Haley Lu Richardson, Thomas Middleditch
Directed By: Bryan Buckley
#13
Adjusted Score: 64900%
Critics Consensus: Although its apparent attempts to be uplifting can often come across as patronizing, Champions is an amiable enough comedy with some seriously talented stars.
Synopsis: Woody Harrelson stars in the hilarious and heartwarming story of a former minor-league basketball coach who, after a series of… [More]
Starring: Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, Ernie Hudson, Cheech Marin
Directed By: Robert Farrelly
#14
Adjusted Score: 96385%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: “Chang Can Dunk” follows Chang, a 16-year-old, Asian American high school student in the marching band, who bets the school… [More]
Starring: Bloom Li, Dexter Darden, Ben Wang, Zoe Renee
Directed By: Jingyi Shao
#15
Adjusted Score: 94588%
Critics Consensus: Decidedly slower and less limber than the Olympic runners at the center of its story, Chariots of Fire nevertheless makes effectively stirring use of its spiritual and patriotic themes.
Synopsis: In the class-obsessed and religiously divided United Kingdom of the early 1920s, two determined young runners train for the 1924… [More]
Starring: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, John Gielgud, Nigel Havers
Directed By: Hugh Hudson
#16
Adjusted Score: 87851%
Critics Consensus: With grittiness and an evocative sense of time and place, Cinderella Man is a powerful underdog story. And Ron Howard and Russell Crowe prove to be a solid combination.
Synopsis: During the Great Depression, ex-boxer James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe) works as a day laborer until his former manager Joe… [More]
Starring: Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko
Directed By: Ron Howard
#17
Adjusted Score: 79445%
Critics Consensus: Cool Runnings rises above its formulaic sports-movie themes with charming performances, light humor, and uplifting tone.
Synopsis: Four Jamaican bobsledders dream of competing in the Winter Olympics, despite never having seen snow. With the help of a… [More]
Starring: Leon, Doug E. Doug, Malik Yoba, John Candy
Directed By: Jon Turteltaub
#18
Adjusted Score: 110411%
Critics Consensus:Creed brings the Rocky franchise off the mat for a surprisingly effective seventh round that extends the boxer’s saga in interesting new directions while staying true to its classic predecessors’ roots.
Synopsis: Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, boxing champion Apollo Creed, who died before Adonis was born…. [More]
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad
Directed By: Ryan Coogler
#19
Adjusted Score: 59534%
Critics Consensus: Part contrived romance, part hackneyed sports drama, The Cutting Edge shows how difficult it can be to figure skate through cheese.
Synopsis: Stuck-up figure skating whiz Kate Moseley (Moira Kelly) is denied a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics after a fall…. [More]
Starring: D.B. Sweeney, Moira Kelly, Roy Dotrice, Terry O’Quinn
Directed By: Paul Michael Glaser
#20
Adjusted Score: 97191%
Critics Consensus: Better than your average football pic, Damned United is carried by another star turn from Michael Sheen as Brian Clough.
Synopsis: The story of Brian Clough’s 44 day stint as manager of Leeds United Football Club takes place in 1974 England…. [More]
Starring: Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Jim Broadbent, Stephen Graham
Directed By: Tom Hooper
#21
Adjusted Score: 88233%
Critics Consensus:Downhill Racer plunges the viewer thrillingly into the action of the sport — and continues to hold the attention as a thoughtful drama.
Synopsis: A smug and overly self-assured downhill skier, David Chappellet (Robert Redford), joins the American ski team and quickly makes waves… [More]
Starring: Robert Redford, Gene Hackman, Camilla Sparv, Karl Michael Vogler
Directed By: Michael Ritchie
#22
Adjusted Score: 91454%
Critics Consensus:Eddie the Eagle‘s amiable sweetness can’t disguise its story’s many inspirational clichés — but for many viewers, it will be more than enough to make up for them.
Synopsis: Cut from the Olympic ski team, British athlete Michael “Eddie” Edwards travels to Germany to test his skills at ski… [More]
Starring: Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman, Jo Hartley, Tom Costello
Directed By: Dexter Fletcher
#23
Adjusted Score: 50820%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: This docudrama focuses on the life and accomplishments of Ethiopian runner Haile Gebrselassie, who won a gold medal at the… [More]
Starring: Haile Gebrselassie, Shawananness Gebrselassie, Yonas Zergaw, Tedesse Haile
Directed By: Bud Greenspan, Leslie Woodhead
#24
Adjusted Score: 96579%
Critics Consensus: Essential viewing for baseball fans and just as captivating for the uninitiated, Facing Nolan pays persuasive tribute to one of the sport’s greatest characters.
Synopsis: Nolan Ryan’s numbers tell a story, but numbers alone do not capture his essence. Certain flash-points have emblazoned him onto… [More]
Starring: Nolan Ryan, George W. Bush, Iván Rodríguez, Randy Johnson
Directed By: Bradley Jackson
#25
Adjusted Score: -1%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: In the 1980s, Anna, a Czech sprinter, starts training for the Olympics. After she collapses during training, she learns she… [More]
Starring: Anna Geislerová, Eva Josefikova, Roman Luknár, Judit Bárdos
Directed By: Andrea Sedlácková
#26
Adjusted Score: 105610%
Critics Consensus: Much like the sport it celebrates, Fighting with My Family muscles past clichés with a potent blend of energy and committed acting that should leave audiences cheering.
Synopsis: Born into a tight-knit wrestling family, Paige and her brother Zak are ecstatic when they get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to… [More]
Starring: Florence Pugh, Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Jack Lowden
Directed By: Stephen Merchant
#27
Adjusted Score: 111192%
Critics Consensus:Ford v Ferrari delivers all the polished auto action audiences will expect — and balances it with enough gripping human drama to satisfy non-racing enthusiasts.
Synopsis: American automotive designer Carroll Shelby and fearless British race car driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics… [More]
Starring: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe
Directed By: James Mangold
#28
Adjusted Score: 106386%
Critics Consensus:Free Solo depicts athletic feats that many viewers will find beyond reason – and grounds the attempts in passions that are all but universal.
Synopsis: Alex Honnold completes the first free solo climb of famed El Capitan’s 3,000-foot vertical rock face at Yosemite National Park…. [More]
Starring: Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Sanni McCandless, Jimmy Chin
Directed By: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin
#29
Adjusted Score: 92118%
Critics Consensus: Michelle Rodriguez gives a compelling performance, despite lack of a boxing background; Karyn Kusama packs a punch with this directorial debut.
Synopsis: Newcomer Michelle Rodriguez in an astounding performance alongside Jaime Tirelli, Paul Calderon and Santiago Douglas. Nothing comes easy for Diana… [More]
Starring: Michelle Rodriguez, Jaime Tirelli, Paul Calderone, Santiago Douglas
Directed By: Karyn Kusama
#30
Adjusted Score: 84676%
Critics Consensus: Goon is a crude slapstick comedy with well-formed characters and a surprising amount of heart.
Synopsis: Though a misfit among his brainy family members, Massachusetts bouncer Doug Glatt (Seann William Scott) has a knockout punch that… [More]
Starring: Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill, Marc-André Grondin
Directed By: Michael Dowse
#31
Adjusted Score: 65093%
Critics Consensus:Gracie can be rousing and touching in spots, but is ultimately undone by its predictable story arc and a lack of nuance.
Synopsis: Gracie Bowen (Carly Schroeder) is the only girl among her parents’ four children. Her brothers and father (Dermot Mulroney) eat,… [More]
Starring: Dermot Mulroney, Elisabeth Shue, Carly Schroeder, Andrew Shue
Directed By: Davis Guggenheim
#32
Adjusted Score: 77811%
Critics Consensus:Gran Turismo‘s brisk action and feel-good underdog drama are undermined by its loose telling of the fact-based story, but this is still a generally solid racing movie.
Synopsis: Based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, the film is the ultimate wish fulfillment tale of a teenage Gran… [More]
Starring: David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Darren Barnet
Directed By: Neill Blomkamp
#33
Adjusted Score: 66721%
Critics Consensus: Despite all the underdog sports movie conventions, the likable cast and lush production values make The Greatest Game Ever Played a solid and uplifting tale.
Synopsis: Blue-collar Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf) fights class prejudice while mastering golf, a game guarded by the upper crust. Employed as… [More]
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Stephen Dillane, Josh Flitter, Peyton List
Directed By: Bill Paxton
#34
Adjusted Score: 65429%
Critics Consensus: Those who enjoy Adam Sandler’s schtick will find plenty to love in this gleefully juvenile take on professional golf; those who don’t, however, will find it unfunny and forgettable.
Synopsis: All Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) has ever wanted is to be a professional hockey player. But he soon discovers he… [More]
Starring: Adam Sandler, Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen, Frances Bay
Directed By: Dennis Dugan
#35
Adjusted Score: 83621%
Critics Consensus: Though not without its flaws, He Got Game finds Spike Lee near the top of his game, combining trenchant commentary with his signature visuals and a strong performance from Denzel Washington.
Synopsis: Jake Shuttleworth (Denzel Washington) has spent the last six years in prison after accidentally killing his wife during a violent… [More]
Starring: Denzel Washington, Ray Allen, Milla Jovovich, Rosario Dawson
Directed By: Spike Lee
#36
Adjusted Score: 95308%
Critics Consensus: It may adhere to the sports underdog formula, but Hoosiers has been made with such loving craft, and features such excellent performances, that it’s hard to resist.
Synopsis: Failed college coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) gets a chance at redemption when he is hired to direct the basketball… [More]
Starring: Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper, Sheb Wooley
Directed By: David Anspaugh
#37
Adjusted Score: 101998%
Critics Consensus:Hustle doesn’t have any fancy moves, but it doesn’t need them — Adam Sandler’s everyman charm makes this easy layup fun to watch.
Synopsis: Stanley Sugerman’s (Adam Sandler) love for basketball is unparalleled, but the travel weary Philadelphia 76ers scout who has higher ambitions… [More]
Starring: Adam Sandler, Juancho Hernangomez, Queen Latifah, Ben Foster
Directed By: Jeremiah Zagar
#38
Adjusted Score: 61696%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: The career and the legacy of Jamaican runner Usain Bolt…. [More]
Starring: Usain Bolt, Pelé, Neymar, Serena Williams
Directed By: Benjamin Turner, Gabe Turner
#39
Adjusted Score: -1%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: This sequel to “National Velvet” follows Sarah Brown (Tatum O’Neal), a young girl who is sent to England after her… [More]
Starring: Tatum O’Neal, Christopher Plummer, Anthony Hopkins, Nanette Newman
Directed By: Bryan Forbes
#40
Adjusted Score: 85910%
Critics Consensus: Delivered with typically stately precision by director Clint Eastwood, Invictus may not be rousing enough for some viewers, but Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman inhabit their real-life characters with admirable conviction.
Synopsis: Following the fall of apartheid, newly elected President Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) faces a South Africa that is racially and… [More]
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng
Directed By: Clint Eastwood
#41
Adjusted Score: -1%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: In this stirring biographical drama, young Native American Jim Thorpe (Burt Lancaster) pursues his dreams of athletic stardom. Mentored by… [More]
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Charles Bickford, Steve Cochran, Phyllis Thaxter
Directed By: Michael Curtiz
#42
Adjusted Score: 93948%
Critics Consensus: Utterly predictable and wholly of its time, but warm, sincere, and difficult to resist, due in large part to Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio’s relaxed chemistry.
Synopsis: Daniel (Ralph Macchio) moves to Southern California with his mother, Lucille (Randee Heller), but quickly finds himself the target of… [More]
Starring: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, Randee Heller
Directed By: John G. Avildsen
#43
Adjusted Score: 100581%
Critics Consensus:The King of Kong is funny and compelling with more than a few poignant insights into human behavior. Director Seth Gordon presents the dueling King Kong players in all their obsessive complexity and with perfectly al dente observations.
Synopsis: Named “Video Game Player of the Century” in 1999, Billy Mitchell sets a record score in “Donkey Kong” that many… [More]
Starring: Steve Wiebe, Mark Alpiger, Walter Day, Steve Sanders
Directed By: Seth Gordon
#44
Adjusted Score: 105285%
Critics Consensus:King Richard transcends sport biopic formulas with refreshingly nuanced storytelling — and a towering performance from Will Smith in the title role.
Synopsis: Armed with a clear vision and a brazen 78-page plan, Richard Williams is determined to write his daughters, Venus and… [More]
Starring: Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, Saniyya Sidney
Directed By: Reinaldo Marcus Green
#45
Adjusted Score: 88078%
Critics Consensus: Sentimental and light, but still thoroughly charming, A League of Their Own is buoyed by solid performances from a wonderful cast.
Synopsis: As America’s stock of athletic young men is depleted during World War II, a professional all-female baseball league springs up… [More]
Starring: Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Lori Petty
Directed By: Penny Marshall
#46
Adjusted Score: 60154%
Critics Consensus: Lords of Dogtown, while slickly made and edited, lacks the depth and entertaining value of the far superior documentary on the same subject, Dogtown and Z-Boys.
Synopsis: A drought in 1970s Southern California has an unexpected side effect: as people empty their swimming pools, a group of… [More]
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk, John Robinson, Michael Angarano
Directed By: Catherine Hardwicke
#47
Adjusted Score: 89290%
Critics Consensus: Confident directing and acting deliver an insightful look at young athletes.
Synopsis: Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) are two childhood friends who both aspire to be professional basketball players. Quincy,… [More]
Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Alfre Woodard, Dennis Haysbert
Directed By: Gina Prince-Bythewood
#48
Adjusted Score: 103981%
Critics Consensus: Enthralling viewing even for audiences with little to no knowledge of or interest in sailing, Maiden pays powerful tribute to a true pioneer.
Synopsis: In 1989 Tracy Edwards leads the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Race, a grueling yachting competition… [More]
Starring:Tracy Edwards, Nancy Harris, John Chittenden, Bruno De Bois
Directed By: Alex Holmes
#49
Adjusted Score: 86099%
Critics Consensus: Major League may be predictable and formulaic, but buoyed by the script’s light, silly humor — not to mention the well-built sports action sequences and funny performances.
Synopsis: The new owner of the Cleveland Indians, former showgirl Rachel Phelps (Margaret Whitton), has a sweetheart deal to move the… [More]
Starring: Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Margaret Whitton
Directed By: David S. Ward
#50
Adjusted Score: 91077%
Critics Consensus: Gripping visually as well as narratively, Meru is the rare documentary that proves thought-provoking while offering thrilling wide-screen vistas.
Synopsis: Three elite climbers fight through obsession and loss as they struggle to climb Mount Meru…. [More]
Starring: Jon Krakauer, Jimmy Chin, Renan Ozturk, Grace Chin
Directed By: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
#51
Adjusted Score: 86286%
Critics Consensus: Kurt Russell’s performance guides this cliche-ridden tale into the realm of inspirational, nostalgic goodness.
Synopsis: When college coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) is hired to helm the 1980 U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team, he brings… [More]
Starring: Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Noah Emmerich, Sean McCann
Directed By: Gavin O’Connor
#52
Adjusted Score: -1%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci trains as a child (Leslie Weiner) and wins three gold medals as a teen (Johann Carlo)… [More]
Starring: Leslie Weiner, Johann Carlo, Joe Bennett, Carrie Snodgress
Directed By: Alan Cooke
#53
Adjusted Score: 86845%
Critics Consensus: Though heavy with sentiment, The Natural is an irresistible classic, and a sincere testament to America’s national pastime.
Synopsis: On the way to a tryout with the Chicago Cubs, young baseball phenom Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) is shot by… [More]
Starring: Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger
Directed By: Barry Levinson
#54
Adjusted Score: 54011%
Critics Consensus:Next Goal Wins finds director/co-writer Taika Waititi with his heart in the right place, even if his crowd-pleasing aim has noticeably strayed from its target.
Synopsis: Directed by Academy Award Winner Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok), NEXT GOAL WINS follows the American Samoa soccer team,… [More]
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Oscar Kightley, Kaimana, David Fane
Directed By: Taika Waititi
#55
Adjusted Score: 93770%
Critics Consensus:Nyad is an uplifting sports biopic strictly on the merits of its story, but it’s the outstanding performances from Annette Bening and Jodie Foster that really keep this picture afloat.
Synopsis: A remarkable true story of tenacity, friendship and the triumph of the human spirit, NYAD recounts a riveting chapter in… [More]
Starring: Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, Rhys Ifans, Garland Scott
Directed By: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin
#56
Adjusted Score: 88650%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: The story of Lithuania’s 1992 Olympic basketball team whose athletes won the bronze medal…. [More]
Starring:
Directed By: Marius A. Markevicius
#57
Adjusted Score: 76850%
Critics Consensus: Mariel Hemingway has a career-making star turn in this highly physical drama about two Olympic athletes who find each other during competitive training.
Synopsis: Young sprinter Chris Cahill (Mariel Hemingway) is having difficulty reaching her potential as an athlete, until she meets established track… [More]
Starring: Mariel Hemingway, Patrice Donnelly, Scott Glenn, Kenny Moore
Directed By: Robert Towne
#58
Adjusted Score: 57806%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Olympic defeat matures a selfish distance runner (Jared Leto) into a sports activist before his 1975 death in a car… [More]
Starring: Jared Leto, R. Lee Ermey, Ed O’Neill, Amy Locane
Directed By: Steve James
#59
Adjusted Score: 50938%
Critics Consensus:Pride features a typically stellar performance from Terrence Howard, but ultimately falls victim to its over usage of sports movie clichés.
Synopsis: In 1970s Philadelphia, Jim Ellis (Terrence Howard), who is driven by a love of competitive swimming, fixes up an abandoned… [More]
Starring: Terrence Howard, Bernie Mac, Kevin Phillips, Evan Ross
Directed By: Sunu Gonera
#60
Adjusted Score: 95443%
Critics Consensus: In addition to offering an enlightening early look into the world of future star/politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pumping Iron provides a witty and insightful overview of competitive bodybuilding.
Synopsis: This partly real and partly scripted film documents what many consider to be the golden age of bodybuilding that occurred… [More]
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Roger Callard, Franco Columbu
Directed By: George Butler, Robert Fiore
#61
Adjusted Score: 70199%
Critics Consensus:Race is nowhere near as thrillingly fleet or agile as its subject, but the story — and a winning central performance from Stephan James — are enough to carry it over the finish line.
Synopsis: Young Jesse Owens (Stephan James) becomes a track and field sensation while attending the Ohio State University in the early… [More]
Starring: Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis, Eli Goree, Shanice Banton
Directed By: Stephen Hopkins
#62
Adjusted Score: 73533%
Critics Consensus: Mamet’s mixed marital arts morality play weaves between action and intellect but doesn’t always hit its target.
Synopsis: Martial artist Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor) lives by a strict code of no competitions, for he feels that such contests… [More]
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen, Emily Mortimer, Ricky Jay
Directed By: David Mamet
#63
Adjusted Score: 76440%
Critics Consensus: An inspirational crowd-pleaser with a healthy dose of social commentary, Remember the Titans may be predictable, but it’s also well-crafted and features terrific performances.
Synopsis: In Virginia, high school football is a way of life, an institution revered, each game celebrated more lavishly than Christmas,… [More]
Starring: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Donald Faison, Wood Harris
Directed By: Boaz Yakin
#64
Adjusted Score: 101495%
Critics Consensus: This story of a down-on-his-luck boxer is thoroughly predictable, but Sylvester Stallone’s script and stunning performance in the title role brush aside complaints.
Synopsis: Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a small-time boxer from working-class Philadelphia, is arbitrarily chosen to take on the reigning world heavyweight… [More]
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith, Burt Young
Directed By: John G. Avildsen
#65
Adjusted Score: 88992%
Critics Consensus: A heart-warming sports flick, The Rookie greatly benefits from understated direction and the emotional honesty Dennis Quaid brings to the role of Jim Morris.
Synopsis: A true story about a coach who discovers that it’s never too late for dreams to come true. Jim Morris… [More]
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Rachel Griffiths, Jay Hernandez, Beth Grant
Directed By: John Lee Hancock
#66
Adjusted Score: 81204%
Critics Consensus: Though undeniably sentimental and predictable, Rudy succeeds with an uplifting spirit and determination.
Synopsis: Rudy Ruettiger (Sean Astin) wants to play football at the University of Notre Dame, but has neither the money for… [More]
Starring: Sean Astin, Ned Beatty, Charles S. Dutton, Robert Prosky
Directed By: David Anspaugh
#67
Adjusted Score: 99918%
Critics Consensus: A sleek, slick, well-oiled machine, Rush is a finely crafted sports drama with exhilarating race sequences and strong performances from Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl.
Synopsis: In the mid-1970s, charismatic English playboy James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Austrian perfectionist Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) share an intense… [More]
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara
Directed By: Ron Howard
#68
Adjusted Score: 70721%
Critics Consensus: It may be shamelessly derivative and overly nostalgic, but The Sandlot is nevertheless a genuinely sweet and funny coming-of-age adventure.
Synopsis: When Scottie Smalls (Thomas Guiry) moves to a new neighborhood, he manages to make friends with a group of kids… [More]
Starring: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Chauncey Leopardi
Directed By: David M. Evans
#69
Adjusted Score: 97475%
Critics Consensus: Even for filmgoers who aren’t racing fans, Senna offers heart-pounding thrills — and heartbreaking emotion.
Synopsis: Ayrton Senna becomes a three-time Formula One racing champion and Brazil’s national hero before his untimely death at age 34…. [More]
Starring: Alain Prost, Sir Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, Viviane Senna
Directed By: Asif Kapadia
#70
Adjusted Score: 91903%
Critics Consensus: The plot is utterly ridiculous, and the soccer in the movie is unlike any ever played anywhere on Earth, but watching Shaolin Soccer, you will probably find it impossible to care.
Synopsis: All his life, an ordinary young man (Stephen Chow) has been treated like dirt. Still, he’s never given up believing… [More]
Starring: Stephen Chow, Wei Zhao, Yin Tse, Cecilia Cheung
Directed By: Stephen Chow, Lee Lik-Chi
#71
Adjusted Score: 57172%
Critics Consensus: Although Shooting Stars isn’t without its engaging moments, this dramatized look back at LeBron James’ early years is less entertaining than simply watching him play.
Synopsis: Shooting Stars is set in the 1990s, where a young LeBron James (Marquis “Mookie” Cook) and his three best friends… [More]
Starring: Wood Harris, Marquis Mookie Cook, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalie Paul
Directed By: Chris Robinson
#72
Adjusted Score: 48925%
Critics Consensus: While it’s no slam dunk, Space Jam‘s silly, Looney Toons-laden slapstick and vivid animation will leave younger viewers satisfied — though accompanying adults may be more annoyed than entertained.
Synopsis: Swackhammer (Danny DeVito), an evil alien theme park owner, needs a new attraction at Moron Mountain. When his gang, the… [More]
Starring: Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight, Theresa Randle, Larry Bird
Directed By: Joe Pytka
#73
Adjusted Score: 35487%
Critics Consensus: Director Jessica Bendinger is unable to transfer her winning Bring It On formula to the world of gymnastics, despite Missy Peregrym’s strong lead performance.
Synopsis: Haley (Missy Peregrym) is a naturally gifted athlete but, with her social behavior, the teen seems intent on squandering her… [More]
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Missy Peregrym, Vanessa Lengies, John Patrick Amedori
Directed By: Jessica Bendinger
#74
Adjusted Score: 97173%
Critics Consensus:Sugar is an exceptionally-crafted film — part sports flick, part immigrant tale — with touching and poignant drama highlighted by splendid performances.
Synopsis: Like many young men in the Dominican Republic, 19-year-old Miguel “Sugar” Santos (Algenis Perez Soto) dreams of winning a slot… [More]
Starring: Algenis Perez Soto, Rayniel Rufino, André Holland, Michael Gaston
Directed By: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
#75
Adjusted Score: 48710%
Critics Consensus: Though Michael J. Fox is as charismatic as ever, Teen Wolf‘s coming-of-age themes can’t help but feel a little stale and formulaic.
Synopsis: When high school nerd Scott Howard (Michael J. Fox) learns from his father, Harold (James Hampton), that being a werewolf… [More]
Starring: Michael J. Fox, James Hampton, Scott Paulin, Susan Ursitti
Directed By: Rod Daniel
#76
Adjusted Score: 63122%
Critics Consensus:Unbroken is undoubtedly well-intentioned, but it hits a few too many of the expected prestige-pic beats to register as strongly as it should.
Synopsis: As a boy, Louis “Louie” Zamperini is always in trouble, but with the help of his older brother, he turns… [More]
Starring: Jack O’Connell, Domhnall Gleeson, Garrett Hedlund, Miyavi
Directed By: Angelina Jolie
#77
Adjusted Score: 70095%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: The head of a German POW camp, soccer enthusiast Karl von Steiner (Max von Sydow) organizes a match between Nazi… [More]
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Pelé, Bobby Moore
Directed By: John Huston
#78
Adjusted Score: 91646%
Critics Consensus:Warrior relies on many of the clichés that critics of the genre love to mock — and it transcends them with gripping action, powerful acting, and heart.
Synopsis: An estranged family finds redemption in the unlikeliest of places: the MMA ring. Tommy (Tom Hardy), an ex-Marine with a… [More]
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison
Directed By: Gavin O’Connor
#79
Adjusted Score: 96250%
Critics Consensus:The Way Back‘s occasionally frustrating treatment of a formulaic story is often outweighed by Ben Affleck’s outstanding work in the central role.
Synopsis: Jack Cunningham was a high school basketball superstar who suddenly walked away from the game for unknown reasons. Years later,… [More]
Starring: Ben Affleck, Al Madrigal, Janina Gavankar, Jeremy Radin
Directed By: Gavin O’Connor
#80
Adjusted Score: 93507%
Critics Consensus: While made from overly familiar ingredients, Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut has enough charm, energy, and good-natured humor to transcend its many cliches.
Synopsis: Bliss Cavendar lives in small-town Texas and yearns to break free of her mother’s world of beauty pageants and conformity…. [More]
Starring: Elliot Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Kristen Wiig, Drew Barrymore
Directed By: Drew Barrymore
#81
Adjusted Score: 80730%
Critics Consensus: This drama about American track star and hero Steve Prefontaine intelligently looks at the character of this oft mythologized athlete and features a fantastic performance by Donald Sutherland as Prefontaine’s trainer.
Synopsis: Before Steve Prefontaine (Billy Crudup) makes it to the 1972 Olympics in Munich, he is an unlikely track star at… [More]
Starring: Billy Crudup, Donald Sutherland, Monica Potter, Jeremy Sisto
Directed By: Robert Towne
