Top 10 Sports Movies that will Make You Laugh, Cry, or Maybe Both
Sports are powerful, they call to us like a supernatural force. At least that is what happened to Ray (Kevin Costner) in Field of Dreams (1989), an honorable mention that just missed it’s spot on the top ten list of great sports movies.
With drama, fear, and defeat, to victory, sacrifice, and personal triumph, sports films have it all. Chances are high that anyone can find a sports movie with a story that they can connect with.
Here are the top 10 sports movies of all time. If you’re looking for an emotional story, a plot that will make you cry from laughter, or a documentary of one of the most incredible human achievements, it’s here.
10. Southpaw (2015)
Boxing, one winner and one loser. Winning in the ring is not the only thing though. For Billy “The Great” Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal), his fights in the ring bleed into his personal life.
After losing his wife, Billy must find a way to make ends meet so he can regain custody of his daughter. This story of struggle and the hard facts of life make this an easy choice for a place in the top ten.
9. Caddyshack (1980)
Caddyshack was an instant classic the minute it hit the big screen. Most people remember their first summer job, trying to find any way to bring in some spending money. Danny Noonan (Michael O’Keefe) is a young caddy at Bushwood Country Club who runs into some interesting characters on the links.
This comedic take on country club living is sure to make you laugh.
8. Invictus (2009)
Nelson Mandela and the apartheid in South Africa already combine to create a dramatic story. Add rugby into the mix and you have an intense film that displays the power of sport in a country that is divided by race, but united by love for the game.
7. Bull Durham (1988)
Sometimes in life you feel stuck, but that is nothing compared to the Bulls minor league baseball team. Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) has been stuck for some time, but as a veteran catcher and new addition to the Bulls, he understands how to make an impact.
Davis adds a critical element to a team that really couldn’t care less about winning or losing. Sometimes you need to realize your potential if you want to move up.
6. Remember the Titans (2000)
High school football in Virginia is no joke. Losing is not an option. Team chemistry is key to success and divisive opinions on how the team is built can break a season.
Remember the Titans is an emotional story of a team that faces adversity head on as they embrace desegregation of schools in their town of Alexandria in 1971. Football and the courage to stand up collide in this hard hitting film.
5. Free Solo (2018)
Alex Honnold is a professional rock climber. El Capitan in Yosemite National Park is a world famous, 900 meter granite rock face. What do they have in common? They battled each other for three hours and fifty-six minutes as Honnold became the first climber to free solo the mammoth face in one of the most incredible athletic performances of our time.
4. Goon (2011)
Who doesn’t love a good hockey fight? No one! Doug Glatt (Seann William Scott) is the meanest man on the ice, but off the ice is a completely different story. Goon follows a minor league hockey team through their season of struggle, but their troubles are aided by the hard hitting fists of their new enforcer.
3. Rudy (1993)
Everyone can appreciate a classic underdog story. Rudy tugs at the heart strings and has a clear message: if you want it, work for it. Just like Rudy Ruettiger’s (Sean Astin) dream to play football at Notre Dame, you too can do anything you set your mind to.
2. Miracle (2004)
The 1980 U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team had no chance to win gold, at least that is what everyone but coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) thought. Relentless pressure and practice builds great teams, but Brooks also knew that he wasn’t looking for great players, he was searching for the right ones. You cannot expect to be successful if you don’t put in the work.
- Major League (1989)
New pitching acquisition Rick Vaughn (Charlie Sheen) is nearly blind which just about sums up the Cleveland Indians luck. New ownership wants to move the team to Miami but the team has other plans. Resistance to the location change sparks a new energy as the team switches roles from losers to winners.
Major League brings a style of humor like no other to America’s pastime.
