Last week, we compiled a list of the top five sports movies and now, we have more to offer! That's because there's nothing like a great sports movie to make you shed some tears and feel like you could conquer the world. We're here to remind you of some of the best sports movies that you need to watch to be reminded of the most magical moments in athletics and why they mean so much to us.
Bend It Like Beckham
One of the best feel-good movies released in 2002, Bend it Like Beckham follows Jess, an Indian-British soccer player who is discouraged from following her soccer dreams just like her idol, David Beckham. It shows the cultural difficulties Jess had to face, while also inspiring the true meaning behind sports and the liberation they can bring to athletes, no matter their background.
Based on a true story, Cinderella Man is about James J. Braddock and his professional boxing career. As the Great Depression hits in the United States, Braddock quits the sport to support his family with laborer work and is soon enticed to jump back into the world of boxing after being promised a huge purse for one fight. We get invested in Braddock's struggle to let go of his love for boxing in order to support those he truly cares for.
Related: Self Development Podcast for Athletes
Love and Basketball
A true 2000s classic, Love and Basketball pulls at our heartstrings with the story of two extremely talented basketball players looking to further their career while managing a romantic relationship with one another. The movie takes us along as it shows how dedication and hard work can lead to the results you set out for, while also giving us heartbreaking realities of how things might not always end the way you want them to.
The Sandlot
A 1993 film, The Sandlot is considered a favorite in many circles for its comedy and undeniable likeability. We follow a boy, new to the neighborhood, that gets dragged into playing baseball with a big group of friends. As they ensue in madness around the town, the movie shows how important friendship is and what being a part of a team that plays on The Sandlot truly means.
Related: 5 Ways to Make Friends Outside of Your Sport
Foxcatcher
A darker look into the world of professional athletics, 2015 Foxcatcher tells the story of world-renowned athletic sponsor for men's wrestling, John du Pont, helps re-establish the U.S. dominance in the global wrestling competitions. It is a haunting story as things quickly go awry, but it shows how twisted the world of athletics can truly get.
The long awaited Rocky reboot, Creed, is released in 2015 and follows the prodigal son of Apollo Creed, Adonis, as he looks to make his own mark on the professional boxing world. Adonis maintains a hard work ethic and discipline that can inspire anybody, even Rocky Balboa himself. Creed's unwavering trust in the process inspires us all to push past our own limits and to never give up, no matter how hard it might get.
Related: 5 Sports Quotes to Get You Pumped
Stick It
2006 cult classic, Stick It, follows rebellious teen, Haley, as she struggles to find her place in competitive gymnastics and in her own life. As she is challenged to follow the rules with one of the toughest coaches out there, Haley refuses to dull her shine and her rebellious spirit, finding her own unique way to compete at her high level without compromising her own morals.
Here Comes the Boom
A turn in the other direction, Here Comes the Boom is about a retired collegiate wrestler who gets back in the fighting world to raise money for the school he now works at and puts his life on the line to save the struggling music program in his school. As we follow this story we are reminded of how an athlete can push them beyond their own boundaries for a greater cause.
Related: Rutgers University Wrestler, Nick Suriano, on Persistence to Become a Champion
The Karate Kid
Released in 1984, The Karate Kid is the perfect classic to watch with the family. It starts with the new kid in town who already gets a target on his back. In order to defend himself, he seeks the aid of a martial arts master to train him. Instead of learning the quickest and aggressive way of karate, he is shown the true power of discipline and the trust of a mentor. The film is lighthearted and drives us to take things simply one step at a time.
She's the Man
Another soccer classic, released in 2006, follows a girl looking to continue playing the sport she loves despite all the obstacles in her way. She pretends to be her brother in order to get a spot on the men's soccer team as her own team gets cut. What we get to see is her drive to what truly matters: her freedom and expression in the sport she plays.
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* Originally published on May 25, 2022, by Catherine Light
