Nothing strengthens the spirit and will to win like sports. This is where real passions and intense conflicts reign. What could be more exciting than seeing a hero's victories and struggles, sharing their tough losses, and watching them rise to incredible heights? Sports films aren’t just stories you forget the next day — they’re messages that can stay with you for a long time. We have put together a list of the 7 best sports films that are sure to make your movie night unforgettable.
Content
- Dangal
- Million Dollar Baby
- The Wrestler
- The World’s Fastest Indian
- Remember the Titans
- The Blind Side
- Moneyball
Dangal
IMDb: 8.3/10
2016, Action, Biography, Drama, Sport
India, Not rated
Director: Nitesh Tiwari
Top cast: Aamir Khan, Sakshi Tanwar, Fatima Sana
Shaikh Dangal is a popular Indian movie that narrates the story of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat. Due to poverty, he had to give up his wrestling career. However, life had other plans, and he and his wife ended up with four daughters. Initially discouraged, Mahavir soon noticed that his daughters were tough enough to handle their classmates in fights, and decided to train them as athletes. He turned out to be an exceptional coach. Fun fact: To portray Mahavir at 60, Aamir Khan gained 30 kg, then later shed the weight to play him at 20. The actor also learned the Haryanvi language for the role.
Million Dollar Baby
IMDb: 8.1/10
2004, Drama, Sport
USA, PG-13
Director: Clint Eastwood
Top cast: Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman
Frank Dunn is having a tough time. His gym in Los Angeles rarely sees much action, his daughter ignores his letters, his best fighter signed with another manager, and he’s never managed to train a champion. Then, out of nowhere, Maggie Fitzgerald, a 31-year-old waitress with dreams of becoming a boxer, enters his life. At first, Frank refuses to train a woman, but Maggie’s persistence changes his mind. Together, they face the biggest fight of their lives, one that will demand all their strength and courage. The film’s original title comes from a phrase Sonny Liston used before his fight with Muhammad Ali. Hilary Swank took her training for the role seriously, gaining about 9 kg of muscle over several months without the use of steroids.
The Wrestler
IMDb: 7.9/10
2008, Drama, Sport
USA, France, R
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Top cast: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
In the 1980s, Randy “The Ram” Robinson rose to fame as a prominent trained wrestler. Two decades later, he makes a living wrestling for smaller audiences in school gyms and neighborhood spots throughout New Jersey. Now older, Randy starts to think about his life. He seeks to rebuild his relationship with his daughter while embarking on a romance with an aging stripper. Yet, nothing matches the appeal of the wrestling ring. Mickey Rourke trained under the guidance of Afa Anoa’i, a renowned Samoan-American wrestler.
The World’s Fastest Indian
IMDb: 7.8/10
2005, Biography, Drama, Sport
USA, New Zealand, Japan, PG-13
Director: Roger Donaldson
Top cast: Anthony Hopkins, Diane Ladd, Iain Rea
The World’s Fastest Indian is about Burt Munro, a famous New Zealander who dedicated years to turning his 1920 Indian motorcycle into a high-speed powerhouse. At first, the bike topped out at 58 mph, but Munro had his heart set on breaking a land-speed record with it. This biopic follows Burt Munro, a retired New Zealander, as he embarks on an adventurous journey to Bonneville with one goal in mind — breaking a world speed record. Along the way, he encounters challenges and fascinating people. But the big question remains: can he set the record in this dangerous race?
Remember the Titans
IMDb: 7.8/10
2000, Biography, Comedy, Drama, Sport
USA, PG
Director: Boaz Yakin
Top cast: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris
Herman Boone is appointed as the new coach of a high school football squad. As a Black man, he encounters opposition, with many of the white players refusing to participate in games and practices until their previous coach agrees to serve as Boone’s assistant. This is just one of the many hurdles the coach and the team need to face in order to come together and win the state championship. The original script had a lot of profanity, but Walt Disney Pictures asked Jerry Bruckheimer to remove it, making the film more suitable for a family audience.
The Blind Side
IMDb: 7.6/10
2009, Biography, Drama, Sport
USA, PG-13
Director: John Lee Hancock
Top cast: Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw
The Blind Side explores a similar theme. A wealthy family takes in an illiterate, homeless Black teenager and helps him become a sports star and get into college. The film is based on Michael Lewis’s book The Blind Side: Evolution of the Game, which tells the true story of Michael Oher, a promising football player. Once a homeless teen, Oher was taken in by a kind, affluent family who nurtured him into becoming a future NFL star.
Moneyball
IMDb: 7.6/10
2011, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sport
USA, PG-13
Director: Bennett Miller
Top cast: Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill
The events of Moneyball take place in 2001. The team loses a crucial match to a strong opponent, the New York Yankees. Billy Beane, the manager of the Oakland Athletics baseball team, wants to completely change the player selection system. To do this, he implements a method of evaluating players based on their individual statistical performance. The film is based on Michael Lewis’s book, published in 2003, which explores how statistical analysis can revolutionize traditional approaches to building a winning team in professional sports.
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