My Top 15 Sports-themed Movies
I'm sure I've forgotten some good ones. Some popular ones like Bull Durham fail to mke my list.
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15 titles
- DirectorDavid AnspaughStarsGene HackmanBarbara HersheyDennis HopperA 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.Absolutely the best film with a sports theme ever made! This is a tremendous film and may be Hackman's best work ...which would really be saying something!
- DirectorPenny MarshallStarsTom HanksGeena DavisLori PettyTwo sisters join the first female professional baseball league and struggle to help it succeed amid their own growing rivalry.Whether or not you like every single cast member, this one is a charmer. It makes me wonder why Penny Marshall hasn't become one of today's tip-top directors.
- DirectorPeter BergStarsBilly Bob ThorntonJay HernandezDerek LukeBased on H.G. Bissinger's book, which profiled the economically depressed town of Odessa, Texas and their heroic high school football team, The Permian High Panthers.The ultimate high school football movie. Texas high school football is what indiana high school basketball is: an obsession. This captures the good & the bad, though it tones down the racism which was a major theme of the book.
- DirectorBoaz YakinStarsDenzel WashingtonWill PattonWood HarrisIn 1971 Virginia high school football was everything to the people of Alexandria. But when the school board was forced to integrate an all-black school with an all-white one, the very foundation of football's tradition was put to the test.My vote as the second-best football movie. They took a few liberties with the true story, but still an awesome film.
- DirectorJohn G. AvildsenStarsSylvester StalloneTalia ShireBurt YoungA 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.Such an inspirational film! It's still tremendous.
- DirectorBilly CrystalStarsBarry PepperThomas JaneAnthony Michael HallRoger Maris and Mickey Mantle race to break Babe Ruth's single-season home run record.Sadly, few have seen this Billy Crystal made-for-TV film. Telling the story of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle's chase of Babe Ruth's season home run record, it totally rocks. Most realistic baseball action I've seen in a movie.
- DirectorJohn SaylesStarsJohn CusackClifton JamesJace AlexanderA dramatization of the Black Sox scandal when the underpaid Chicago White Sox accepted bribes to deliberately lose the 1919 World Series.Another great baseball film. The fact that the book it was based on has been largely discredited does not take away much, if any, luster. Other than Eddie Collins batting righthanded, it's quite realistic in its game action.
- DirectorPhil Alden RobinsonStarsKevin CostnerJames Earl JonesRay LiottaIowa farmer Ray Kinsella is inspired by a voice he can't ignore to pursue a dream he can hardly believe. Supported by his wife, Ray begins the quest by turning his ordinary cornfield into a place where dreams can come true.This one really touched me. Other than Joe Jackson batting righthanded, it rocks.
- DirectorJames GartnerStarsJosh LucasDerek LukeAustin NicholsIn 1966, Texas Western coach Don Haskins led the first all-black starting line-up for a college basketball team to the NCAA national championship.A nice look at the integration of college basketball. Although it truncates about four or five seasons into one, it is still an outstanding film.
- DirectorSylvester StalloneStarsSylvester StalloneTalia ShireBurt YoungRocky struggles in family life after his bout with Apollo Creed, while the embarrassed champ insistently goads him to accept a challenge for a rematch.I hate lists with 4-5 sequels on it...but I couldn't help including this one. It stands up well to the original.
- DirectorGavin O'ConnorStarsKurt RussellPatricia ClarksonNathan WestThe true story of Herb Brooks, the player-turned-coach who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the seemingly invincible Soviet squad.This was another very inspirational film.
- DirectorThomas CarterStarsSamuel L. JacksonRick GonzalezRobert Ri'chardControversy surrounds high school basketball coach Ken Carter after he benches his entire team for breaking their academic contract with him.Samuel L. Jackson is outstanding.
- DirectorRon HowardStarsRussell CroweRenée ZellwegerCraig BierkoThe true story of James J. Braddock, a supposedly washed-up boxer, who returned to the spotlight to win the heavyweight championship of the world.Outstanding story of Depression era boxing champion Jim Braddock and his great comeback.
- DirectorHugh HudsonStarsBen CrossIan CharlesonNicholas FarrellTwo 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.This is a wonderful story of faith and principle.
- DirectorBarry LevinsonStarsRobert RedfordRobert DuvallGlenn CloseA middle-aged unknown comes seemingly out of nowhere to become a legendary baseball player with almost supernatural talent.Despite a plot with some rather weird features, this is a great sports story with a classic ending.