# Greatest sports movies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 6, 2010, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871 "2010-01-06T05:27:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/21 "2010-01-06T10:52:15Z")
> [@caligulathegod](#): > > Pride of the Yankees. Makes me cry every time. Cooper might have been a bit too old, but he still nails the part. Plus, I love how ballsy Hollywood was at the time. Lou Gehrig’s speech is one of the most famous speeches in American sports history and they STILL changed it. It’s like making a movie about Lincoln and changing the Gettysburg Address. Balls. Of course one of the ironies is no sportswriter thought to transcribe the complete speech as it was spoken and only about four lines were filmed. I would list “Slapshot” as the best sports film (every time a fight breaks out in an NHL game, I yell “Old Time Hockey! Eddie Shore! Dit Clapper! Toe Blake”). For sheer sports action, the racing scenes in John Frankenheimer’s “Grand Prix” are to die for, plot is kind of soggy. An under appreciated film is “Heart like a Wheel” about female drag racer Shirley Muldoowney." Best sports comedy is “Pat and Mike” with one of the greatest final lines in any film. ---
**Author:** ![Lethal\_Babydoll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3be4f8/32.png) [@Lethal\_Babydoll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lethal_Babydoll)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/22 "2010-01-06T10:57:30Z")
**Rudy** had a dream. Even though he was 5 feet nothing, weighed a hundred and nothing and had hardly a speck of athletic ability, he hung in with the best football team in the land for 2 years and he also walked out of there with a degree from the university of Notre Dame. My all-time favorite movie. Another one not yet mentioned is **Vision Quest,** which is many ways is like **Rudy.** Only about wrestling (not rasslin’) ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/23 "2010-01-06T11:38:29Z")
Because they haven’t been mentioned and are quality movies that people may not know about: [The Rocket (Maurice Richard)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460505/) another great ice hockey movie. Ice hockey means nothing to me except in sports movies and this is as good as _Miracle_, or _Slapshot_ and is full of real ice hockey players so it looks good. [61\*](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250934/) a Billy Crystal directed telemovie about Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle racing each other to break Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record. Barry Pepper is excellent again but all the cast are superb. Never knew it existed until I saw it on the shelf at my DVD store. [Sugar](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0990413/) about a Dominican baseballer who dreams of winning game 7 of the World Series but reality is a little harsher. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/24 "2010-01-06T14:00:53Z")
> [@tr0psn4j](#): > > Karate Kid is the best sports movie. Mighty Ducks movies are awesome as well. > > And, yes, I’m serious. Bring It On. I’m serious too. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/25 "2010-01-06T14:06:33Z")
I’m a big fan of **[Mystery, Alaska](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134618/)**. It’s no **Slapshot** , but it’s an underrated little movie about hockey. SpouseO and I are always quoting this one, back and forth. (Lately, especially during the NFL playoffs as the time is running out. “That time is your time. You own that time.”) Stars Russel Crowe, Burt Reynolds, Hank Azaria, Mary McCormack, Colm Meaney, and a bunch of other actors you’ll recognize. It’s top notch. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/26 "2010-01-06T14:09:29Z")
_Pumping Iron_ is the definitive bodybuilding movie. Granted, it is mostly about Ahnuld, but as iconic as he is/was, that is appropriate. There is a line in the book that is perfectly expressed in the movie, although never actually quoted - > [@](#): > > One man, ir he is big enough, can give this feeling. Arnold’s ego is as big as his biceps. And he gives the whole movie that feeling, just as he did in bodybuilding. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/27 "2010-01-06T14:29:35Z")
Baseball: 1. The Rookie (2002) 2. The Sandlot 3. Bad News Bears (1976) 4. Bull Durham Football: 1. Rudy 2. North Dallas Forty 3. Remember the Titans Basketball: 1. Hoosiers 2. Glory Road Hockey: 1. Slapshot 2. Miracle 3. Mystery, Alaska Miscellaneous: 1. The Wrestler (great call - definitely not on my radar as a sports movie yet) 2. Breaking Away 3. Rocky ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/28 "2010-01-06T16:09:06Z")
I’m glad someone mentioned _61_\*, because it perfectly captures how baseball was in that timeframe. I also liked _Cobb_, but it is a movie that can’t help being biased and less indicative of reality. Ditto _The Babe_, with John Goodman in the title role. And, yes, _The Rocket_ was also a fantastically done movie. The filmakers captured the era perfectly. Another one worth seeking out which did receive a DVD release is the CBC production of _Canada/Russia '72_, which shows the Russians as even more calculating and dirty than they were ever portrayed in _Miracle_. One real bomb was Youngblood, which really missed the mark. Patrick Swayze as a hockey player just isn’t all that convincing. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/29 "2010-01-06T16:22:54Z")
[The Bronx is Burning](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0790477/), a [six-hour miniseries](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R7HY46). ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/30 "2010-01-06T16:30:17Z")
> [@valleyofthedolls](#): > > And of course the best example in the large field of blind figure skating movies: Ice Castles. My favourite ‘sport’ is figure skating – I’m not a big fan of _Ice Castles_, but there’s not a lot of competition for singles figure skating. There are two Disney movies though which I like for various reasons, _Ice Princess_ because of the characters and _Go Figure_ because I think it got closer to the spirit of the sport (even though most of the movie was dedicated to women’s hockey, go figure…heh). But there is actually an anime series that I can’t remember the name of right now that was the best in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/31 "2010-01-06T16:43:54Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > Not quite in the same league (ha!) but worthy of mention are _Chariots of Fire, Miracle, Lagaan_ (cricket) and _Friday Night Lights_. You know, I don’t know crap about cricket, but **Lagaan** was a seriously awesome movie that made me care deeply about it. It’s a big time investment, but it’s worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Raisin\_Danish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Sweet\_Raisin\_Danish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Raisin_Danish)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/32 "2010-01-06T17:23:54Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Has there been a movie about dominoes? What about synchronised swimming? Not a movie, but there was that SNL skit with Harry Shearer and Martin Short … ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Raisin\_Danish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Sweet\_Raisin\_Danish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Raisin_Danish)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/33 "2010-01-06T17:28:00Z")
Haven’t noticed anyone posting a soccer movie. I’ll suggest Victory (originally called Escape to Victory) about WWII prisoners of war who play against the Germans. Stars Pele, Bobby Moore … and that well known soccer wizard, Sylvester Stallone … ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/34 "2010-01-06T17:33:23Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Has there been a movie about dominoes? What about synchronised swimming? The french film _Water Lilies_ takes place in the world of high school synchronized swimming, but it’s more of a coming-of-age drama than a competition film. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/35 "2010-01-06T17:41:00Z")
> [@infinitii](#): > > One of my favourite movies of all time is _Any Given Sunday_. You know how when people say such-and-such movie is about “more than football (or whatever the subject happens to be)”? Well, _Any Given Sunday_ is ONLY about football, but covering every aspect it touches on. Oliver Stone likens it to Balzac, and while I understand that I don’t think it necessarily touches on what is great about that movie. I’ve always called that movie “Any Given Cliche.” All of the characters, the settings, and the situations are so cliched. And yet, I find it an enjoyable movie. Another football movie that I like is _Necessary Roughness_. Yeah, of course the underdog team is going to win in the end and yes it does have Sinbad, Rob Schneider, and Kathy Ireland’s voice but it’s pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/36 "2010-01-06T17:45:04Z")
> [@Sweet\_Raisin\_Danish](#): > > Haven’t noticed anyone posting a soccer movie. Hazel mentioned _Bend it Like Beckham_. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/37 "2010-01-06T17:45:47Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > [Sugar](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0990413/) about a Dominican baseballer who dreams of winning game 7 of the World Series but reality is a little harsher. I’m glad I’m not the only one who caught this. I’d be willing to say it’s the best baseball movie since _Durham_, though _The Rookie_ does make an honorable contender. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/38 "2010-01-06T17:59:29Z")
The Damned United is another football (soccer) one. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/39 "2010-01-06T18:04:32Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Hazel mentioned _Bend it Like Beckham_. And \*\*Equipoise \*\*mentioned _Victory_. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871/40 "2010-01-06T18:05:14Z")
Most of my favorites have already been mentioned. I’ll add the excellent 1963 movie [This Sporting Life](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057578/), starring Richard Harris. It’s about the life of a tough rugby league player in a working-class northern England town. Harris is excellent, and the movie is very dark and gritty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-sports-movies/523871.md?page=3)