A Movie For Every Sport
by live710 | created - 25 Sep 2011 | updated - 17 Oct 2011 | PublicI only picked 1 movie for every sport because this list would be too long for all the baseball, football and boxing movies. These are not necessarily the best or my favorite sports movies for each category, but certainly some of the most memorable. Let me know what some of your favorites are.
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1. Rocky (1976)
PG | 120 min | Drama, Sport
A small-time Philadelphia boxer gets a supremely rare chance to fight the world heavyweight champion in a bout in which he strives to go the distance for his self-respect.
Director: John G. Avildsen | Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers
Votes: 628,609 | Gross: $117.24M
Boxing - The best underdog sports movie. This is a tie with Raging Bull for my favorite boxing movie.
2. North Dallas Forty (1979)
R | 119 min | Comedy, Drama, Sport
A satire of American professional football in which a veteran pass-catcher's individuality and refusal to become part of the team family are bitterly resented by his disciplinarian coaches.
Director: Ted Kotcheff | Stars: Nick Nolte, Charles Durning, Mac Davis, Dayle Haddon
Votes: 5,995 | Gross: $26.08M
Football - This movies showed the impact the sport has on a player's personal life and is still true today.
3. Bull Durham (1988)
R | 108 min | Comedy, Romance, Sport
A fan who has an affair with one minor-league baseball player each season meets an up-and-coming pitcher and the experienced catcher assigned to him.
Director: Ron Shelton | Stars: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Trey Wilson
Votes: 59,405 | Gross: $50.89M
Baseball - Just an overall great movie.
4. Hoosiers (1986)
PG | 114 min | Drama, Sport
A coach with a checkered past and a local drunk train a small-town high school basketball team to become a top contender for the state championship in 1950s Indiana.
Director: David Anspaugh | Stars: Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper, Sheb Wooley
Votes: 51,089 | Gross: $28.61M
Basketball - One of my most favorite sports movies ever.
5. Victory (1981)
PG | 116 min | Drama, Sport, War
As allied P.O.W.s prepare for a soccer game against the German National Team to be played in Nazi-occupied Paris, the French Resistance and British officers are making plans for the team's escape.
Director: John Huston | Stars: Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone, Pelé, Bobby Moore
Votes: 33,275 | Gross: $10.85M
Soccer (or Football depending on where you are from) - The cast consists mostly of the best soccer players from around the world. And Sylvester Stallone.
6. Slap Shot (1977)
R | 123 min | Comedy, Drama, Sport
A failing ice hockey team finds success with outrageously violent hockey goonery.
Director: George Roy Hill | Stars: Paul Newman, Michael Ontkean, Strother Martin, Jennifer Warren
Votes: 41,249 | Gross: $28.00M
Hockey - Not my favorite hockey movie but certainly the funniest thanks to the Hanson Bros.
7. Caddyshack (1980)
R | 98 min | Comedy, Sport
An exclusive golf course has to deal with a flatulent new member and a destructive dancing gopher.
Director: Harold Ramis | Stars: Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray, Ted Knight
Votes: 127,204 | Gross: $39.85M
Golf - One of THE funniest movies ever made. I bet every golfer has quoted this movie at least once on the golf course.
8. Jocks (1986)
R | 91 min | Comedy, Sport
The coach of a college tennis team is given an ultimatum: put together a winning team, or else.
Director: Steve Carver | Stars: Scott Strader, Perry Lang, Mariska Hargitay, Richard Roundtree
Votes: 890
Tennis - One of those cheesy comedies from the 80's that stuck with me over the years.
9. The Hustler (1961)
Not Rated | 134 min | Drama, Sport
An up-and-coming pool player plays a long-time champion in a single high-stakes match.
Director: Robert Rossen | Stars: Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott
Votes: 86,806 | Gross: $8.28M
Pool - Another one of my most favorite sports movies.
10. Kingpin (1996)
PG-13 | 114 min | Comedy, Sport
A star bowler whose career was prematurely "cut off" hopes to ride a new prodigy to success and riches.
Directors: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly | Stars: Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, Bill Murray, Vanessa Angel
Votes: 91,089 | Gross: $24.94M
Bowling - One of the funniest movies to come out in the past 15 years.
11. Days of Thunder (1990)
PG-13 | 107 min | Action, Drama, Sport
A young hot-shot stock car driver gets his chance to compete at the top level.
Director: Tony Scott | Stars: Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid
Votes: 96,433 | Gross: $82.67M
Auto Racing - A little corny by today's standards but still has some great racing sequences.
12. Seabiscuit (2003)
PG-13 | 140 min | Drama, History, Sport
True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of the team behind it but also those of their nation.
Director: Gary Ross | Stars: Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Elizabeth Banks, Chris Cooper
Votes: 76,797 | Gross: $120.28M
Horse Racing - My opinion the acting makes this movie the best of it's kind.
13. The Karate Kid (1984)
PG | 126 min | Action, Drama, Family
A martial arts master agrees to teach karate to a bullied teenager.
Director: John G. Avildsen | Stars: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, Martin Kove
Votes: 244,559 | Gross: $90.82M
Martial Arts - I could have seperate categories for kickboxing, MMA, etc... but it's easier this way. And Mr. Miyagi is one of my most favorite characters ever.
14. Pumping Iron (1977)
PG | 86 min | Documentary, Sport
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno face off in a no-holds-barred competition for the title of Mr. Olympia in this critically-acclaimed film that made Schwarzenegger a household name.
Directors: George Butler, Robert Fiore | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Matty Ferrigno, Victoria Ferrigno
Votes: 24,941
Bodybuilding - Arnold Schwarzenegger, meet the World. The World, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
15. Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001)
PG-13 | 91 min | Documentary, Sport
Documentary about the pioneering 1970s Zephyr skating team.
Director: Stacy Peralta | Stars: Sean Penn, Jay Adams, Tony Alva, Jeff Ament
Votes: 13,361 | Gross: $1.29M
Skateboarding - Extreme sports would be no where close to what it is today if not for these kids.
16. The Endless Summer (1966)
Not Rated | 95 min | Documentary, Sport
The crown jewel to ten years of Bruce Brown surfing documentaries. Brown follows two young surfers around the world in search of the perfect wave, and ends up finding quite a few in addition to some colorful local characters.
Director: Bruce Brown | Stars: Robert August, Michael Hynson, Lord James Blears, Bruce Brown
Votes: 6,217
Surfing - I just love the geography of this movie.
17. 8 Seconds (1994)
PG-13 | 105 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
This movie chronicles the life of Lane Frost, 1987 PRCA Bull Riding World Champion, his marriage and his friendships with Tuff Hedeman (three-time World Champion) and Cody Lambert.
Director: John G. Avildsen | Stars: Luke Perry, Stephen Baldwin, James Rebhorn, Cameron Finley
Votes: 5,759 | Gross: $19.60M
Rodeo - My opinion of the sport was completely changed after I saw this movie.
18. The Wrestler (2008)
R | 109 min | Drama, Sport
A faded professional wrestler must retire, but finds his quest for a new life outside the ring a dispiriting struggle.
Director: Darren Aronofsky | Stars: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Mark Margolis
Votes: 319,989 | Gross: $26.24M
Professional Wrestling - You get a whole different perspective of what wrestlers are put through. The action may be choreographed but the pain is real. You should also see the documentary Beyond The Mat. I was thinking of using the Hulk Hogan movie No Holds Barred, but nah.
19. Vision Quest (1985)
R | 107 min | Drama, Romance, Sport
A high school wrestler in Spokane, Washington has trouble focusing on his training regimen when a beautiful young drifter takes up temporary residence at his home.
Director: Harold Becker | Stars: Matthew Modine, Linda Fiorentino, Michael Schoeffling, Ronny Cox
Votes: 10,255 | Gross: $12.90M
Amateur Wrestling - A little bit like Rocky but it still strikes a chord with me.
20. Over the Top (1987)
PG | 93 min | Action, Drama, Sport
Tough trucker Lincoln Hawk is determined to win back his son and triumph at the world arm wrestling championships.
Director: Menahem Golan | Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Robert Loggia, Susan Blakely, Rick Zumwalt
Votes: 59,400 | Gross: $16.06M
Arm Wrestling - A really bad movie with nothing more than an excuse for Stallone to flex his biceps. I loved it as a kid though.
21. American Flyers (1985)
PG-13 | 113 min | Drama, Sport
Marcus takes his kid brother, David, with him for a physical test and a brain scan, suspecting cerebral aneurysm like their dad died of. They head off on bikes for the big Rockies bike race with Marcus' Sarah driving the van.
Director: John Badham | Stars: Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong, Alexandra Paul
Votes: 6,650 | Gross: $1.40M
Cycling - Most people like Breaking Away, but this one stands out for me. Maybe because my brother used to watch it all the time when we were younger.
22. Hot Dog... The Movie (1983)
R | 96 min | Comedy, Romance, Sport
Harkin Banks heads to skiing championships in California. A teen runaway tags along as he parties and competes with friends and foes.
Director: Peter Markle | Stars: David Naughton, Patrick Houser, Tracy Smith, John Patrick Reger
Votes: 3,969 | Gross: $20.31M
Skiing - Another one of those cheesy 80's movies.
23. Side Out (1990)
PG-13 | 100 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A law student comes to California for the summer and ends up playing professional volleyball.
Director: Peter Israelson | Stars: C. Thomas Howell, Peter Horton, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Harley Jane Kozak
Votes: 2,389 | Gross: $0.45M
Volleyball - I played a lot of beach volleyball as a teenager and I watched this movie all the time.
24. Chariots of Fire (1981)
PG | 125 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
Two British track athletes, one a determined Jew and the other a devout Christian, are driven to win in the 1924 Olympics as they wrestle with issues of pride and conscience.
Director: Hugh Hudson | Stars: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nicholas Farrell, Nigel Havers
Votes: 65,909 | Gross: $58.97M
Running - I think it's the music that makes this more memorable for me.
25. Rollerball (1975)
Approved | 125 min | Action, Sci-Fi, Sport
In a corporate-controlled future, an ultra-violent sport known as Rollerball represents the world, and one of its powerful athletes is out to defy those who want him out of the game.
Director: Norman Jewison | Stars: James Caan, John Houseman, Maud Adams, John Beck
Votes: 29,307 | Gross: $30.00M
Roller Derby - Brutal movie. Roller Derby is recently making a little bit of a comeback.
26. Oxford Blues (1984)
PG-13 | 97 min | Comedy, Drama, Sport
A young American hustler pursues the girl of his dreams to Oxford, where he must enroll to obtain her.
Director: Robert Boris | Stars: Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, Amanda Pays, Julian Sands
Votes: 3,452 | Gross: $8.79M
Rowing - This was one of my most favorite movies when I was growing up.
27. Wind (I) (1992)
PG-13 | 126 min | Action, Drama, Sport
Romance and adventure happen during the America's Cup series of yachting races.
Director: Carroll Ballard | Stars: Matthew Modine, Jennifer Grey, Cliff Robertson, Jack Thompson
Votes: 3,104 | Gross: $5.52M
Sailing - A pretty stupid movie but I couldn't think of any other movie about sailing. One Crazy Summer or Summer Rental might fit this category.
28. Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)
PG | 109 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
A prepubescent chess prodigy is encouraged to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer.
Director: Steven Zaillian | Stars: Joe Mantegna, Ben Kingsley, Max Pomeranc, Joan Allen
Votes: 42,415 | Gross: $7.27M
Chess - Some people actually consider chess a sport.
29. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
PG-13 | 92 min | Comedy, Sport
A group of misfits enter a Las Vegas dodgeball tournament in order to save their cherished local gym from the onslaught of a corporate health fitness chain.
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber | Stars: Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, Vince Vaughn, Rip Torn
Votes: 267,284 | Gross: $114.33M
Dodgeball - Ok, this is not really a "sport" but believe it or not there are actual dodgeball leagues. And I think Spike TV used to air competitions after this movie came out. Very funny movie also. F'in Chuck Norris!"
30. Blades of Glory (2007)
PG-13 | 93 min | Comedy, Sport
In 2002, two rival Olympic ice skaters were stripped of their gold medals and permanently banned from men's single competition. Presently, however, they've found a loophole that will allow them to qualify as a pairs team.
Directors: Josh Gordon, Will Speck | Stars: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett
Votes: 177,751 | Gross: $118.59M
Figure Skating - I was thinking of using Ice Castles instead of this movie. Both are pretty bad movies but this one is more memorable.
31. Bring It On (2000)
PG-13 | 98 min | Comedy, Romance, Sport
A champion high school cheerleading squad discovers its previous captain stole all their best routines from an inner-city school and must scramble to compete at this year's championships.
Director: Peyton Reed | Stars: Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford, Gabrielle Union
Votes: 105,780 | Gross: $68.38M
Cheerleading - Young girls in cheerleading outfits jumping up and down. Does it get any better?? How about Debbie Does Dallas for a cheerleading movie?
32. Balls of Fury (2007)
PG-13 | 90 min | Comedy, Crime, Sport
Down-and-out former professional ping-pong phenom, Randy Daytona, is sucked into a maelstrom when FBI Agent Ernie Rodriguez recruits him for a secret mission. Randy is determined to bounce back and win, and to smoke out his father's killer -- arch-fiend Feng.
Director: Robert Ben Garant | Stars: Dan Fogler, Christopher Walken, George Lopez, Maggie Q
Votes: 44,890 | Gross: $32.84M
Ping Pong - I'm a fan of the Reno 911 series but this is just an all around bad movie. What was Christopher Walken thinking??
33. Gymkata (1985)
R | 90 min | Action, Thriller
An American gymnast travels to a foreign country to compete in a deadly game not won by anyone other than a native in more than 900 years.
Director: Robert Clouse | Stars: Kurt Thomas, Tetchie Agbayani, Richard Norton, Edward Michael Bell
Votes: 4,573 | Gross: $5.73M
Gymnastics - OK, maybe this is more of an action movie than a sports movie, but I have it listed simply for laughs. Anyone who has seen this movie is laughing right now.
34. Jim Thorpe -- All-American (1951)
Approved | 107 min | Biography, Drama, Family
The triumph and tragedy of Native American Jim Thorpe, who, after winning both the pentathlon and decathlon in the same Olympics, is stripped of his medals on a technicality.
Director: Michael Curtiz | Stars: Burt Lancaster, Charles Bickford, Steve Cochran, Phyllis Thaxter
Votes: 2,301
Olympics - Considered one of the greatest american athletes ever. Sometimes it's a shame how we treat out heroes.
35. Cool Runnings (1993)
PG | 98 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
When a Jamaican sprinter is disqualified from the Olympic Games, he enlists the help of a dishonored coach to start the first Jamaican Bobsled Team.
Director: Jon Turteltaub | Stars: John Candy, Leon, Doug E. Doug, Rawle D. Lewis
Votes: 113,787 | Gross: $68.86M
Bobsledding - Thanks to jefaud for reminding me of this one. I have loved every John Candy movie. One of the funniest actors of all time. R.I.P.
36. Snowboard Academy (1997 Video)
PG | 88 min | Comedy, Sport
A wacky free-for-all comedy about the riotous rivalry between snobby skiers and knuckle-dragging snowboarders.
Director: John Shepphird | Stars: Jim Varney, Corey Haim, Brigitte Nielsen, Joe Flaherty
Votes: 2,476
Snowboarding - Watched this late one night when there was nothing else on. Just a god-awful movie.
37. Beer League (2006)
R | 86 min | Comedy, Sport
An unemployed slacker inspires his softball teammates to improve their game so they won't get kicked out of the local league.
Director: Frank Sebastiano | Stars: Artie Lange, Ralph Macchio, Anthony DeSando, Cara Buono
Votes: 8,468 | Gross: $0.48M
Softball - Saw part of this on Comedy Central. So bad I had to turn it off.
38. Invictus (2009)
PG-13 | 134 min | Biography, Drama, History
Nelson Mandela, in his first term as President of South Africa, initiates a unique venture to unite the Apartheid-torn land: enlist the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng
Votes: 167,913 | Gross: $37.49M
Rugby - Haven't seen it yet.
39. Diving In (1990)
PG-13 | 93 min | Comedy, Drama, Sport
A high school diver fights his fear of heights and diving to get onto the team. He gets onto the team, only to find that he must dive the high platform in order to compete. His problems are... See full summary »
Director: Strathford Hamilton | Stars: Matt Adler, Kristy Swanson, Burt Young, Yolanda Jilot
Votes: 352
Diving - Haven't seen it yet.
40. Pride (2007)
PG | 104 min | Drama, Sport
The determined Jim Ellis starts a swim team for troubled teens at the Philadelphia Department of Recreation.
Director: Sunu Gonera | Stars: Terrence Howard, Bernie Mac, Kimberly Elise, Tom Arnold
Votes: 6,902 | Gross: $7.04M
Swimming - Haven't seen it yet.
41. Patiala House (2011)
Not Rated | 140 min | Drama, Sport
A talented young Indian cricket player must defy his father's wishes to play for the side of England, a rebellion his siblings quietly cheer.
Director: Nikkhil Advani | Stars: Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma
Votes: 9,561
Cricket - Haven't seen it yet.
42. Men with Brooms (2002)
R | 102 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Four men take time from their personal problems to reunite as a curling team and compete in a bonspiel that will restore their honour.
Director: Paul Gross | Stars: Paul Gross, Leslie Nielsen, James B. Douglas, Molly Parker
Votes: 4,713 | Gross: $4.24M
Curling - Haven't seen it yet. R.I.P. Leslie Nielsen.
43. Strictly Ballroom (1992)
PG | 94 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
A maverick dancer risks his career by performing an unusual routine and sets out to succeed with a new partner.
Director: Baz Luhrmann | Stars: Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter, Pat Thomson
Votes: 29,412 | Gross: $11.74M
Ballroom Dancing - Haven't seen it yet.
44. By the Sword (1991)
R | 91 min | Adventure, Drama, Sport
An elderly man named Max comes to the famous fencing coach Villar and asks to take him on as a coach. But the coach does not like his weapon technique, and he only takes Max as a cleaner.
Director: Jeremy Kagan | Stars: F. Murray Abraham, Eric Roberts, Mia Sara, Christopher Rydell
Votes: 1,722
Fencing - Haven't seen it yet.
45. Supercross (2005)
PG-13 | 80 min | Action, Drama, Romance
Faced with the suspicious death of their father, two brothers must motivate one another to get back on their bikes and take the Las Vegas Motocross Championships by storm.
Director: Steve Boyum | Stars: Steve Howey, Mike Vogel, Sophia Bush, Cameron Richardson
Votes: 4,859 | Gross: $3.10M
Motocross - Haven't seen it yet.
46. Thunder Over Reno (2008)
93 min | Adventure
Torn between big dreams and family loyalties, Butch joins Pete after an argument about his plans with his father. Now in Reno, Butch has his hands full with payoffs and various love ... See full summary »
Director: Mitch Carley | Stars: Bobby Aronofsky, Mike Borg, Rob Challans, Aaron Crownover
Votes: 346
Air Racing - Haven't seen it yet.
47. Chak De! India (2007)
Not Rated | 153 min | Drama, Family, Sport
Kabir Khan, the coach of the Indian Women's National Hockey Team, dreams of making his all-girls team emerge victorious against all odds.
Director: Shimit Amin | Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Vidya Malvade, Sagarika Ghatge, Shilpa Shukla
Votes: 84,976 | Gross: $1.11M
Field Hockey - Haven't seen it yet.
48. Madison (2001)
PG | 99 min | Drama, Sport
A story about a man's personal struggle to victory in the 1971 Madison, Indiana hydro-plane regatta.
Director: William Bindley | Stars: Jim Caviezel, Mary McCormack, Jake Lloyd, Bruce Dern
Votes: 1,566 | Gross: $0.51M
Powerboat Racing - Haven't seen it yet.
49. Spirit of the Wind (1979)
PG | 98 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
True life story of George Attla - famous Alaskan dog sled driver. The film shows the life of Attla as a young Athabaskan trapper living in the bush in Alaska and then in a TB sanitarium in ... See full summary »
Director: Ralph Liddle | Stars: Pius Savage, George Clutesi, Slim Pickens, Chief Dan George
Votes: 136
Dogsled Racing - Haven't seen it yet.
50. Sumo Do, Sumo Don't (1992)
105 min | Comedy, Drama, Sport
Chronicling the turmoil and pandemonium that ensues at a derelict university sumo club, and the rise of some unlikely heroes.
Director: Masayuki Suô | Stars: Masahiro Motoki, Misa Shimizu, Naoto Takenaka, Akira Emoto
Votes: 1,005
Sumo Wrestling - Haven't seen it yet.
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