Sports / Athletes make great subjects for films. I think this is due to sporting events generating drama due to the outcome (most of the time) not being predetermined. Also, the audience has no control over the finale.
Since this is Super Bowl weekend and we’re also in the middle of film award season, I created a little list of some of the most entertaining (not necessarily the best) sport movies I’ve seen.
No one makes me bleed my own blood!
This list is hard to put in order. I kept shifting movies around until I finally decided to just put it down, with the comedies at the end. Therefore, this list is not in true rank – it’s too hard to pick! But it was fun jogging my memory a bit.
So, in no particular order, here we go:
- Rocky (I & II). I’m a big fight fan so this was an easy pick. I lumped these 2 together because it feels like one long “good” film. “Yo, Adrian!”
- Foxcatcher. Sad, sad story. The wrestling scenes are great.
- Raging Bull. DeNiro is amazing in this.
- Million Dollar Baby. I know, another boxing film. However, the ending transcends simple sports.
- The Wrestler. Sure, it’s about fake wrestling, but the damage these guys do to their body is very real.
- Warrior. Probably the only good MMA movie so far.
- Rocky Balboa. The last fight was lame. However, the lead up to it was good. To me, the main subject was aging and dealing with loss. Am I the only one who liked this?
- The Hurricane. What a tragic story. As always, Denzel knocks it out of the park.
- The Fighter. The fight scenes weren’t really well done – but the story holds up. Batman, I mean, Christian Bale steals the show.
- The Replacements. Gene Hackman is great in this.
- Any Given Sunday. Another great coaching film. Al Pacino’s locker room speech has become a YouTube inspiration video. Plus, one of my favorite player’s, Lawrence Taylor, basically plays himself. See it below.
- Jerry Maguire. Show me the money!
- Vision Quest. A bit cheese now, but it’s a good story. Cutting weight sucks!
- Big Fan. I know people like this! Put sports in perspective, people.
- Moneyball. Nice look into the role analytics now play in sports.
- Field of Dreams. A little slow but entertaining. The ghosts are a little hoke, but the overall story is good.
- Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. I’m not a racing fan, but this movie is hilarious. Sweet baby Jesus!
- DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story. I had to throw this in. Funny ass hell and a nice little Lance Armstrong cameo – pre-PED confession. He’s still a 7X TDF Champ to me.
- Kingpin. Amish and bowling? Perfect combo! Bill Murray steals the show.
- Major League. Charlie is great in this.
- White Men Can’t Jump. Woody’s 2nd best performance – behind Kingpin. Rosie was great in this.
- Semi-Pro. Not as funny as Talladega Nights, but Will Farrell is funny.
- The Waterboy. Good mindless fun. Also shows the importance of hydration. As Bobby Boucher would say, “purified water, right out of the old canteen” is best.
- Karate Kid. This still holds up. Maybe not the fights themselves, but it’s still fun to watch.
- Bloodsport (and to some extent, Kickboxer – almost the same movie!). I know, it really doesn’t hold up and the acting is terrible. However, this movie was monumental when I was young. It predates the UFC so it was well ahead of its time, content wise. It’s not supposed to be a comedy, but it’s damn funny now. KUMITE!
Is there a film that you really enjoyed and think I should have included? Any that you hate and think I’m crazy for adding? Let me know below.
Here are some random clips from some of the movies I listed:
I'll tell you this: In any fight, it is the guy who is willing to die who is going to win that inch. And I know if I am going to have any life anymore it is because, I am still willing to fight, and die for that inch because that is what LIVING is. ... That's a team, gentlemen. And either we heal now, as a team, or we will die as individuals. That's football guys. That's all it is. Now, whattaya gonna do?– Al Pacino, from Any Given Sunday.
See what I mean? Some of these aren’t great, they’re just classic!
