There have been so many incredible sports movies that have come out over the past fifty or so years. Some of these films have gone on to win awards and many of them are considered to be timeless classics that people enjoy to this day. Take a look at six of the best sports movies of all time. You might know most of these because of how culturally important they are but there are so many great sports movies that some of your favorites might not have made the list.
- Rocky
Rocky is undeniably one of the all-time great movies and it’s considered to be the movie that turned Sylvester Stallone into a megastar. Rocky Balboa is a down-on-his-luck boxer in Philadelphia who gets the chance of a lifetime when he’s chosen to fight the world heavyweight boxing champion Apollo Creed. This film is about boxing but it’s also just an incredible underdog story about someone who chooses to give it his all. There are few films in cinematic history that are as inspirational as Rocky.
- Rudy
Rudy is another film that many people feel inspired by because it shows that dreams can come true. It has gone down in history as a truly great American football movie. This is also a very entertaining film that can be enjoyed by people who don’t necessarily know that much about the sport.
- The Wrestler
The Wrestler is a modern classic about professional wrestling and the broken lives of those who have fallen on hard times once leaving the big leagues. The film stars Mickey Rourke as Randy “The Ram” Robinson, and he is an older gentleman who is still wrestling despite his days of fame being long behind him. You really feel for the struggle of this character as he tries to rekindle a bond with his daughter and make ends meet while still wrestling.
- A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own is a unique film on this list because it stars actresses such as Penny Marshall, Madonna, and Geena Davis. It’s about women’s professional baseball during World War II and Tom Hanks plays the coach of the team. This endearing film is just as much about the relationship between the people on the team as it is about baseball.
- Raging Bull
Raging Bull is another classic boxing movie that you must see if you love the sport. Even if you aren’t a boxing aficionado, the story of Jake LaMotta is going to resonate with you. This is a film about the pain and emotional turmoil that this boxer experienced and you’re going to love every minute of it. It’s another Martin Scorsese classic that some feel rivals Rocky as the best boxing movie ever made.
- Hoop Dreams
Finally, Hoop Dreams is a 1994 film about two young men from Chicago who pursue their dreams of becoming NBA stars. This is about the love of basketball but it’s also about poverty, racism, and so much more. It’s a poignant tale that will make you think about life in Chicago and what so many families in America have to go through.