In any discussion about the best movies about sports, there is sure to be agreement about one thing: we will disagree.   To each their own.  However, that does not discourage me, as I still love sports movies and love to discuss them.   So flame on, as they say.

Perhaps one thing we can agree on:  Sports movies are a fantastic (and entertaining and fascinating) expression of the medium.   Why is that?   For one thing, they are so people centric, and generally celebrate a lot of our positive attributes:   Perseverance, dedication, passion, focus, loyalty, achievement against all odds, and many more.  The point is, we can all relate to our own struggles, whether in sports or not.  Secondly, in a world as divisive as ours, especially in regards to politics, the economy, and culture, rooting for the home team, or home town hero, is as together as we ever get these days. It just feels good.  Third, and very important, in many case these movies depict real people and real events, or at least believable people and believable events.  No super powers and super heroes, just real people striving for perfection.

In order to widen the field, I will first pick my favorites by sport. I tried to limit my selections to actual movies about sports, rather than movies that have sports as a background. Different sports may have a different number of great movies. I did some honorable mentions when there was a high volume of good movies in a sport.  These are in no particular order, just the best in my humble opinion:

Football

Remember the Titans – 2000 – Based on real life events and people, although many scenes and a few events were “Hollywoodized”. Not the most realistic football scenes, predictable,  but also an excellent example of what can be achieved by working together, and trusting each other, in a time of racial tension. The best scene:  Denzel’s speech at the edge of a Gettysburg battlefied.  I remembered it when I visited Gettysburg a few years ago. Moving stuff!

Friday Night Lights – 2004 – Based on a non-fiction book, the movie is very faithful to real life personalities and events. The movie dramatizes certain events for “cinematic” effect, but remains a wonderful depiction of high school football in Texas.  The violence, the injuries,  the bond (and conflict) between people, it’s all there. Incredible acting, led by Billy Bob Thorton.

We are Marshall – 2006 –  Another movie that stays very faithful to real life events, depicting the aftermath of the tragic plane crash involving the Marshall football team.  It is really more than a football movie, but rather a movie about a football team’s relationship with a town, and its painful healing process. Superb supporting acting.

Brian’s Song – 1971 – The true story of the relationship between Brian Piccolo and Gales Sayers, running backs for the Chicago Bears.   It’s funny at times, poignant at others, a tear jerker at the end, but still a wonderful story of love and relationship. Jack Warden’s portrayal of Papa George Halas is excellent, a Primetime Emmy award winner. Originally a “made for TV” movie.

Honorable mention list: The Express (Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid), Draft Day (Kevin Cosner), Any Given Sunday (Al Pacino, Dennis Quaid), The Replacements (Keanu Reeves), Best of Times (Robin Williams, Kurt Russell), Gridiron Gang (Dwayne Johnson), North Dallas Forty (Nick Nolte), Invincible (Mark Wahlberg), Rudy (Sean Astin)

Baseball

The Natural – 1984 -I admit I am a sucker for period pieces.  And because of baseball’s long history, there are many opportunities to re-live the past in movies.  This movie is not based on a true story, but on Bernard Malamud’s book of the same title.  Hollywood managed to completely change the ending, the mood, and the message of Malamud’s book.  Nevertheless, I loved it.  It beautifully captured the period, sometime in the 30’s, with details like outfielders’ leaving their gloves in the field, the rickety stadiums and cramped locker rooms.  Just perfect, amazing how Hollywood can sometimes transport you in time.

A League of Their Own – 1992 – Loosely based on the real All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which happened during World War Two.  An incredible cast with Tom Hanks and Genna Davis, the movie is funny, heartfelt, dramatic, and some of the most notable lines in all of sports movie history, “There’s no crying in baseball!”.   Another period piece, it most notably dispels any argument that women are not great athletes and competitors.

The Sandlot – 1993 -Pure fiction, but showing baseball in its truest form.  A kid’s game, no money or fame, just play ball.  It’s a coming of age story, following a group of baseball loving kids playing in a sandlot.  Wonderful performances from a young cast, the movie tugs at our fondest memories.

Moneyball – 2011 –  I admit I have a prejudice about this movie.  I was in the stands at the Oakland Coliseum for the A’s dramatic 20^th win in a row in 2002.    But seeing the inner workings of how that transpired was truly fascinating.  This is perhaps one of the most insightful of all sports movies.  And how being creative, and different, can break the mold. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill received Oscar nominations for their roles and the film was nominated for Best Picture.

Honorable mention list: The Trouble with the Curve (Amy Adams and Clint Eastwood), 42 (Chardwick Boseman, Harrison Ford), The Rookie (Dennis Quaid), Bull Durham (Kevin Cosner), Field of Dreams (Kevin Cosner), For Love of the Game (Kevin Cosner).    I guess Mr. Cosner like baseball…

Basketball

Hoosiers – 1986 – This movie is about a small town Indiana high school basketball team that makes it to the state championship in 1951. It is inspired, but not really based on, the Milan, Indiana high school team of 1954.   But the story is mostly fiction.  Nevertheless, the life of a small midwestern town obsessed with basketball is spot on.   

Glory Road – 2006 – A very accurate portrayal of the 1966 Texas Western basketball team coached by Don Haskins that makes it to the NCAA finals.  This is a historic team that broke a long standing color barrier.  It is the first team in NCAA history to feature an all African American starting line up. It faithfully depicts the issues they encounter when Haskins resolves to play the best players available.  The movie has superb acting and excellent basketball scenes.

Hoop Dreams – 1994 –  An amazing documentary that follows 2 African American teens for 5 years as they pursue their dreams of basketball stardom.  A superb and intimate study of family, economic struggles, race issues, and inner city life.

Finding Forrester – 2000 – I broke my rule, as basketball is the background, not the star of this movie. But…it is so good!  Inner city, talented basketball player forms an unlikely bond with a famous author.  Outstanding performances by Sean Connery and Rob Brown.

Space Jam – 1996 – A basketball movie, or a cartoon?  Well, it’s both.  Numerous NBA players make appearances, and it stars Michael Jordan.  The acting…let’s be nice (Bugs Bunny was excellent, however).  But the movie is so creative and entertaining, it has to be on the list.  Wonderful script and memorable lines.

Honorable mention list: Coach Carter (Samuel L. Jackson)

Ice Hockey

Miracle – 2004 – About the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team, it chronicles the team from tryouts to the gold medal ceremony.   No movie here depicts those enduring qualities: perseverance, dedication, passion, focus, loyalty, achievement against all odds, like this one.   To top it off, the movie was about as accurate as Hollywood has ever made, and the live action scenes some of the best ever recreated.   I recently saw a documentary about the team, and a reunion of its members.  Their recollections synced perfectly with events from the movie.  Bravissimo!

Slap Shot – 1977 – A farce, but also a cult classic about a struggling minor league hockey team.   Hilarious, many memorable lines I still hear today.  A Paul Newman classic.

Mystery Alaska – 1999 – Pure fiction, but a wonderful story about a small town hockey team taking on the NY Rangers on their home ice…..which is a frozen pond.  Russell Crowe at his best.

Boxing

Cinderella Man – 2004 – No movie here depicts the crushing despair of the Great Depression like this one does.  The movie is the real life story about James J. Braddock, a once promising professional boxer that is injured, and he and his family spiral into dire poverty in the heart of the depression.  And then his remarkable comeback and redemption.   Truly inspiring story, the movie stays very true to history.  Russell Crowe and Renee Zellwenger are superb, and so is Paul Giamatti, who was nominated for an Oscar.

Rocky – 1976 – Just the first one makes the list.  I think Sylvester Stallone’s finest performance, and an iconic role.  It beautifully captures the dead end career of a down and out boxer, and his redemption.   Inner city Philadelphia is faithfully re-created, as they embrace their new hero.  It was so good, the real city built an actual statue! 

Golf

The Legend of Bagger Vance – 2000 – The story of a fictional golf match between Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, and the local hero (Matt Damon) with a mysterious caddy (Will Smith).  Wonderful story, acting, and a faithful rendering of golf in that period.   The movie does an interesting job of exploring the metaphysical aspects of sports and golf, and the role of confidence and state of mind. 

 Cadyshack – 1980 – Perhaps the greatest cult classic on my list, it is the eternal king of golf comedy.  Go to any golf course and hear the lines. Is it truly a sports movie about golf? Well, not really.  But golf is the supporting cast, so it gets my vote, plus I still love it.

The Greatest Game Ever Played – 2005 – Based on true events, it’s the story of Francis Ouimet’s surprise win at the 1913 US Open.   It’s plenty “Hollywoodized”, but still a fascinating look at the beginning of golf’s immense popularity in the U.S.

Tin Cup – 1996 – Unlikely fictional story of a driving range pro making the US Open, it is  wonderfully romantic and funny.  Kevin Costner and Rene Russo have great chemistry, and Cheech Marin has his career role.

Soccer

The English Game – 2020 – Whoops, this isn’t a movie, it was a limited historical series streamed on Netflix.  But there is a real lack of great soccer movies, and this series is just excellent.  It takes place in the 1870’s and follows the real history of the FA Cup, and the class struggle that changes the game forever.

Bend it like Beckham – 2002 – I cheated again, as this is less about soccer, and more about family and chasing your dreams.  But that title is so great, and the movie is also.  It’s about an Indian teen living in London who loves the game, but of course her parents do not.

Auto Racing

Rush – 2013 – I said I would not rank movies within the sports, but this is hands down the best racing movie ever made.  It follows the real life careers, and relationship, between James Hunt and Niki Lauda, and their race for the World Championship in 1976.  Superb acting, photography, and script. Real life drama like this can’t be made up. 

F1 – 2025 – Fictional story of a driver 30 years removed from his prime (Brad Pitt) who returns to help a struggling F1 team.  The story and events are a stretch, but the photography and special effects are incredible.  Also fascinating is an inside look at the amazing technology of the modern F1 car. 

Grand Prix – 1966 – The first “Hollywood blockbuster” to take on Formula 1, it has excellent photography, effects, and stunts for the time. Lot’s of real racing footage if you know what to look for. The fictional script is all Hollywood, but the racing scenes save the movie.

Ford vs Ferrari – 2019 – All about Ford’s entry into long distance sports car racing in the mid 60’s, the movie takes some glaring historical  shortcuts, and has a few “Hollywoodized” scenes that are a bit ridiculous.  Neverthless, most of the racing scenes are good (except showing the driver press down on the accelerator halfway down the Mulsanne straight…) and it accurately shows the rigor of a race like the 24 hours of Le Mans.  The human side story about Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and Ken Miles (Christian Bales) is well done (except Hollywood had to add that silly fist fight).  Frankly, I rooted for Ferrari, then and now.

Track and Field, Olympic sports and others

Chariots of Fire – 1981- True story of the 1924 Olympic track and field team from England.   It follows the careers and Olympic races of Eric Liddell, Harold Abrahams, and their teammates.  Excellent acting and recreation of the period. 

McFarland USA – 2015 – True story of a cross country high school team in a small farming town in California’s central valley.  Loved Kevin Costner’s introduction to a Mexican American meal, I’ve been there myself.  Inspiring and heartfelt.

Cool Runnings – 1993 – It’s easy to dismiss this as a superficial comedy, or as a historically incorrect story of the Jamaican bobsled team, but the movie is so entertaining, and does capture the spirit and dedication it takes to make it to the Olympics.

Boys in the Boat – 2023 – Biographical drama of the Washington rowing team in the 1936 Olympics.  Again, the core themes of dedication and perseverance are featured.  Fine performances and photography.

Downhill Racer – 1969 – Pure fiction, but Robert Redford is fantastic as a talented but self absorbed  downhill ski racer.  Gene Hackman as the coach.  For the time, excellent photography and effects, and realistic story.

Race – 2016 – Stephan James as Jesse Owens, showing the lead up years and the 1936 Berlin Olympics.  The movie is not nearly as amazing as what Owens did, and the script is not exactly thrilling, though it does illustrate the racial issues of the time. But the subject matter is so good, and it never gets old seeing a Black American stick it to the Nazis.

Seabiscuit –  2003 – This movie is based on true events and characters (and horses) and chronicles the life and times of jockey Red Pollard, owner Charles Howard, trainer Tom Smith, and of course Seabiscuit, the thoroughbred that captured the heart of the country in the 30’s.  Another period piece that does a beautiful job portraying a country recovering from a terrible depression, and the way sports can uplift people.  The movie is based on a wonderful non-fiction book by Laura Hillenbrand, and does take a few historical shortcuts, but captures the spirit of the book exceedingly well.  

Invictus – 2009 – Based on actual events leading up to the 1995 Rugby World Cup. It’s about the South African National Rugby team, the Springboks, and newly elected president Nelson Mandela.  Based on the 2008 book by John Carlin, it’s an excellent example of sports bringing people together, and a testament to the challenges overcome by Nelson Mandela.

That’s my list, I know I left out someone’s favorite sport or movie out.   Nevertheless, I will take the plunge and pick my number 1, favorite, all time best sports movie.  I’m going with what I consider the greatest upset in the history of sports, and perhaps the best filmed action scenes of all time: Miracle.  It truly was a miracle, and another miracle Hollywood pulled it off.