No other genre beats that of a sports genre. With the FIFA World Cup in its full glory, people are pumped up with the adrenaline rush, which may be termed “sports fever.”
Seeing other people face challenges makes us believe that massive efforts are required to reach the ‘hilltop,’ and only those willing to put their blood, sweat, and tears into training will succeed.
Whether it is a movie based on the actual events of an athlete’s life or an excellent work of fiction, it is safe to conclude that people enjoy watching a good sports movie.
Whether you are a professional player or would never turn on an ongoing game, these movies provide thrilling and life-altering lessons.
With that thought in mind, here we have collected the 10 best exciting sports movies that would make you feel like you are watching those legendary matches live.
Senna (2010)
Director: Asif Kapadia
Genre: Documentary
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime, Youtube
Starring Brazilian Formula One champion Ayrton Senna in archived footage, Senna follows the legend’s life from debuting in the 1984 Grand Prix to his struggles on and off track.
The movie carefully shows the arch rivalry between Senna and his all-time nemesis, Alain Prost, and Senna’s constant struggles while dealing with the politics within the sport.
Viewers would surely be amazed at how calm and ruthless Senna could be on tracks and how he conquered millions of hearts to become a global star.
Senna contains no new footage of its own and relies solely on the archival videos of Formula One, with voiceovers by Senna, his family, Alain Prost, and way too many television commentators.
The race footage is thrilling, including the one from his final crash in 1994, where he was declared dead at 34.
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Genre: Sports Drama
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime, Youtube
Million Dollar Baby is a powerful yet sensitive drama revolving around a female boxer, Maggie Fitzgerald (played by Hillary Swank), her trainer, Frankie Dunn (played by Clint Eastwood), who was once the most sought trainer, and the circumstances that bind them together.
Frankie, betrayed by his best fighter, who left him and signed some other manager, finds passion in Maggie, although he waits till she is ready to choose a manager.
Using the narrative of Eddie ‘Scrap Iron’ Dupris (played by Morgan Freeman), the film is based on “Rope Burns: Stories From The Corner” by Jerry Boyd, the renowned fight manager.
Million Dollar Baby explores the themes of love, redemption, and strong willpower and would inspire you.
Remember The Titans (2000)
Director: Boaz Yakin
Genre: Sports, Drama
Where To Watch: Disney+ Hotstar
Based on events in the life of high school football team coach Herman Boone (played by Denzel Washington) dating back to 1971.
Boone, the newly appointed African-American coach, attempts to pull the players out of racial bigotry and hatred and promote integration amongst the team with the help of his assistant, Bill Yoast (played by Will Patton), who was rumored to be a Hall Of Fame candidate.
The film skillfully shows us how the team members – black and white – learn to respect each other as humans and as a sportsperson, and the game of football becomes much more than winning or losing.
Remember The Titans ponders over themes like racial harmony imbibed in a sports movie and how a mere high school sports team can change the thinking of the entire society and create a more unified community.
Chariots Of Fire (1981)
Director: Hugh Hudson
Genre: Drama
Where To Watch: Disney+ Hotstar
Set against the backdrop of a religiously divided United Kingdom in the 1920s, Chariots Of Fire is a movie based on actual events.
It revolves around two British athletes – one a devout Christian, another an English Jew – who runs for what they believe in.
Harold Abrahams (played by Ben Cross) is a Jew who takes part in the 1924 Olympics to overcome the prejudice he is faced with. The other main character, Eric Liddell (played by Ian Charleson), is a Scottish Christian who views running as God’s glory.
The movie highlights the main issue faced in the 1924 Olympics – religious discrimination. It effectively stirs spiritual and patriotic feelings.
Chariots Of Fire was supposed to show us how outstandingly moral these men were, and it did precisely that. It shows how different these men were – both outsiders – and how they were united by one thing – running for their dignity.
The Swimmers (2022)
Director: Sally El Hosaini
Genre: Biography, Drama
Where To Watch: Netflix
Based on actual events, The Swimmers recounts the story of two sisters Yusra Mardini (played by Nathalie Issa) and Sarah Mardini (played by Manal Issa), who get on a perilous journey to escape the War infested Syria in 2015.
They were stranded in the Aegean Sea when their boat’s engine was destroyed due to overcrowding.
The movie shows how the sisters helped save all the other refugees in that situation and led Yusra to follow her dreams and compete in the swimming events at the Rio Olympics of 2016.
The Swimmers is a compelling tale of two regular teenagers who fight for their survival and achieve the impossible.
It not only focuses on the sister’s hardships but also widens its scope on the emotional vulnerability immigrants face to this day.
I, Tonya (2017)
Director: Craig Gillespie
Genre: Biography, Drama
Where To Watch: Netflix, Hulu
Based on actual events, I, Tonya, is a tragically compelling tale that follows US Figure Skating Champion Tonya Harding (played by Margot Robbie).
Even though she had an abusive childhood, she was a child prodigy who became the first American female skater to complete a triple axle in a competition.
The film also captures the infamous 1994 scandal where her ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, orchestrated a poorly executed attack on Nancy Kerrigan, Tonya’s competitor in the Olympics.
This scandal led to Tonya’s disqualification from the Olympics, and she was subjected to public defamation because of inhuman sportsmanship.
I, Tonya, is a funny and equally depressing interpretation of the bizarre scandal. Cleverly well crafted, the movie looks beyond the raging scandals and provides an insight into humanity.
Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Where To Watch: Disney+ Hotstar, Hulu
Set in London, Bend It Like Beckham follows the ambitions of two young girls, Jasminder Bhamra and Juliette Paxton.
They want to play football but are held back by certain constraints, namely Jasminder’s conservative Indian family, who is hell-bent on her marriage.
While Bend It Like Beckham focuses mainly on the girls’ struggles while playing football, it also subtly highlights the silent oppression most Indian children feel from their parents regarding following their dreams while highlighting the cultural clashes between India and England.
It also focuses on healthy relationships with parents, friends, or a romantically involved partner.
The movie’s name references David Beckham’s style of kicking the soccer ball, which can also be used as a metaphor – Jasminder bends all rules and constraints by following her football dreams.
The Karate Kid (2010)
Director: Harald Zwart
Genre: Action, Drama
Where To Watch: Zee5
A remake of the original Karate Kid released in 1984, The Karate Kid revolves around twelve-year-old Dre Parker, who moves to Beijing with his mother.
When he gets bullied by some neighborhood kids, he seeks help from Mr. Han and learns Kung Fu to compete with the bullies in the Kung Fu Tournament.
Similar to the original movie, The Karate Kid makes specific changes that stand out – such as changing the martial art style from Karate to Kung Fu. Mr. Han’s character is much more intimidating, and Jackie Chan deserves all the credit he gets.
The movie is very inspiring as it tackles themes such as bravery and struggles of fitting into a new environment. It also highlights the discipline one can attain by indulging in martial arts.
The movie shows that martial arts aren’t just about fighting and beating up others but about imbibing the virtues in our lifestyles.
Ali (2001)
Director: Michael Mann
Genre: Historical Drama
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime, Youtube
Based on the life of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, Ali focuses on the time between 1964-1974, when the boxer, fresh from his Olympic victory, cuts out an entirely new and fascinating image for the African American people in the sports world.
Starring Will Smith in the titular role, the movie shows Muhammad Ali’s conversion to Islam while giving up his slave name, his controversial friendship with Malcolm X, his refusal of drafting in the Vietnam War, and his subsequent exile from legal boxing.
Muhammad Ali, a wise man with high public self-confidence, unapologetic beliefs, and quirky humor, is a legend who has seen and experienced a lot in life. You would love to watch excerpts from his life woven into a movie.
Rocky (1976)
Director: John G. Avilsden
Genre: Action, Drama
Where To Watch: Disney+ Hotstar
The franchise’s first installment, Rocky, revolves around a small-time Philadelphia street fighter, Rocky Balboa, and his ‘inability’ to lose.
He ultimately succeeds when he fights against the heavyweight boxing world champion Apollo Creed.
A carefully structured, rags-to-rich story of an underdog boxer trying to live his ‘American Dream,’ Rocky wins hearts.
The film highlights specific, powerful lessons, such as persistence and self-confidence; it is about fighting inner demons to rise to success. As the fans know, the Oscar-winning saga was never about boxing but about fighting.
Featured Image Source: Britannica