People like us, who like sports movies more than any other movies, don’t like watching some unenergetic boring movies at all. And it’s also important that we watch only the best ones of all.
That’s why I’m going to enlist the best sports movies that exist. Along with listing some of these sports movies, I’m going to talk about the plots of these movies in a short and subtle way so that you can get the knowledge of why these movies are the best ones yet.
I’m also going to give you vital pieces of information about these movies, like the cast, director, and genre.
Sports movies are a way to motivate yourself. Because in a full-pack sports movie, we see how players of any sports earn their success by giving their blood and sweat. For this particular reason, we should watch more and more sports movies. So take a look at my list, take an idea from here and watch the best sports movies anytime you want.
Overview Of Best Sports Movies
| Name | Release Date | IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes |
| Jersey | April 19, 2019 | 8.5/10 | 63% |
| Dangal | December 23, 2016 | 8.3/10 | 88% |
| Rush | September 13, 2013 | 8.1/10 | 88% |
| M.S Dhoni: The Untold Story | September 30, 2016 | 7.9/10 | 75% |
| The Blind Side | November 20, 2009 | 7.6/10 | 66% |
| King Richard | November 19, 2021 | 7.5/10 | 90% |
| The Swimmers | November 10, 2022 | 7.4/10 | 81% |
| The Basketball Diaries | April 21, 1995 | 7.3/10 | 47% |
| American Underdog | December 25, 2021 | 7.1/10 | 75% |
| Death Race | August 22, 2008 | 6.4/10 | 42% |
1. Jersey
Genre: Sports Drama
Cast: Ram Charan, Shraddha Srinath
Director: Gowtam Tinnanuri
Official Trailer:
Plot:
A great cricket journey started for a father when his son asked him for a jersey as a gift. How’s this possible?
Well, the father’s name is Arjun, who was once a great cricket player and had great ambitions in life in this field. But despite having all the talents of being a national team player, he didn’t get selected for the Indian team because of the dirty games played by the authorities.
Later he was appointed as a coach, but his luck didn’t support him this time either. He got framed in a case of taking bribes. After that, he lost hope in his athletic career.
But then, one day, his son, who is a big cricket fan, asks him for a jersey as a gift. Which became an inspiration for Arjun to fight back and get the success in the cricket field that he truly deserves. This is a story of a failed father who eventually succeeded.
It’s a Tamil film. A Hindi remake of this movie came out in 2022, starring Shahid Kapoor.
2. Dangal
Genre: Action, Sports
Cast: Aamir Khan, Zaira Wasim
Director: Nitesh Tiwari
Official Trailer:
Plot:
When in a village in India, every father is hoping to get their daughter married in a fine house at a young age; Mahavir Phogat wants his daughters to shine in the boxing field.
Mahavir is a proud father of great boxers Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari. These girls were lucky to have a father like him who wasn’t worried about their marriage like other fathers, he was worried about their boxing career instead.
He trained his daughters from a very young age when they had beaten a boy in their village for teasing them. After this incident, Mahavir saw a way of fulfilling his incomplete dream through his daughters.
He, as a boxer, couldn’t win the gold medal for his country, but he took a second chance with his daughters. And this time, he wasn’t willing to leave any room for any regrets.
This film is one of the best sports movies as it projects girls as strong and dauntless.
3. Rush
Genre: Sports, Adventure
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl
Director: Ron Howard
Official Trailer:
Plot:
This movie is about an adrenaline-kicking sport, Formula 1 racing—and two highly competitive players James Hunt and Niki Lauda.
Rush is based on a true story of the rivalry between two strong and dauntless players, James and Niki. James is a dynamic cool, self-confident dude, and on the contrary, Niki is a very calculative person who takes every step by thinking logically.
Their rivalry started with a car spin of both their cars just before James won the race. After that, Niki did everything he could to get into the BRM Formula One team. And the team James for which James drives, entered Formula One.
James and Niki push themselves to the point of physical and mental tolerance through the intense rivalry between them, and the rage that’s hidden in them gets visualized when they’re on track.
They run their car without caring about anything or anyone. Meanwhile, women in their lives are worried but can’t do anything and watch them risk their lives with every lap.
4. M.S Dhoni: The Untold Story
Genre: Biographical, Sports
Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Disha Patani, Kiara Advani
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Official Trailer:
Plot:
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a renowned Indian cricket player. India is a nation where cricket players are celebrated by a huge number of people. Dhoni is also an adored cricket player in India.
This film portrays the struggling life of an adept cricket player. He didn’t get his successful life served on a platter. He had to go through many ups and downs throughout his life.
But until this film was made, nobody knew the behind story of this successful player. They only saw his shimmering bright success, but nobody saw what he had to pass to come to this part of life.
After watching this film, you’ll start to respect this man more than you did before. Moreover, this is a great motivational film that will teach you no matter how hard your present time may be if you are dedicated enough, you’ll reach your destination soon.
5. The Blind Side
Genre: Sports, Drama
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Tim McGraw
Director: John Lee Hancock
Official Trailer:
Plot:
This film narrates the story of a hapless homeless teen Michael Oher played by Quinton Aaron, who later got new amazing parents along with a new glorious chapter of his life.
This is a biographical film about the football player Michael Oher. His life was never so easy. After a generous couple, Leigh and Sean, adopted him, he started getting a normal life.
He was a very talented student, along with an adept footballer. Michael realized his passion and potential when his new family and devoted tutor made him understand it. They wouldn’t let a bright footballer go to waste.
Because of this movie’s emotional but also very inspirational story, this is one of the best sports movies.
6. King Richard
Genre: Sports, Family Film
Cast: Will Smith, Saniyya Sydney
Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green
Official Trailer:
Plot:
This Oscar-nominated film portrays the story of Venus and Serena Williams, two legendary women’s tennis players.
Venus and Serena’s father Richard William were very optimistic about both his daughter’s career as a tennis player. He has given his daughter proper training on Tennis courts in Crampton shaping them as eminent Tennis Players.
Richard was very determined about his daughters growing to be professional and proficient tennis players. He is the reason Venus and Serene Williams became renowned American tennis players.
This is a story of a father who did not let his daughter’s talent go to waste. He inspired them to write their own names in history. Because of all the great lessons you can learn from this film, this is one of the best sports movies.
7. The Swimmers
Genre: Biographical, Sports
Cast: Nathalie Issa, James Floyd
Director: Sally Al Hossaini
Official Trailer:
Plot:
This story is about a Syrian swimmer who had fled her war-torn home with her sister. But her past wasn’t going to let her make her dream come true.
This is a real-life tragic story of two sisters Yusra and Sara Mardini. They swam through long seas to reach Greece as refugees. After coming to Greece Yusra was determined to make her career as a swimmer.
With great ambitions, they moved forward through their lives. Indeed their life was very troubling, but they survived all of it and shined like a bright star in the sky.
This story is very excruciating and tragic. But also very motivational and inspiring. This film teaches us no matter how big of a misery you’re facing right now, you can always leave them in your past.
8. The Basketball Diaries
Genre: Sports, Crime Fiction
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg
Director: Scott Kalvert
Official Trailer:
Plot:
This film is about a promising school basketball player Jim Carroll who unfortunately gets driven into an unjust and dangerous path along with his friends.
Jim Carroll lived in Manhattan with his mother. He escaped from reality by playing basketball and was also very passionate about it. But his addiction to basketball was replaced by the addiction to substances which made his life turn into misery.
Jim and his friends stoop very low to score drugs. They steal, loot, and even prostitute themselves for drugs. Getting tangled with so many crimes, Jim is on the verge of destroying his career as a basketball player.
But his neighbor Reggie might be his only chance to escape this life. As Reggie is a very stringent companion and also Jim’s friend.
9. American Underdog
Genre: Biography, Sports
Cast: Zachery Levi, Anna Paquin
Director: Andrew Erwin
Official Trailer:
Plot:
The story of this film is a true example of the saying, “ There’s always a woman behind a successful man.”
Kurt Warner’s wife was the woman in his life for whom he could gather the strength to become a champion. Kurt always wanted to be an NFL quarterback. He started playing football with the ambition of becoming a super bowl and NFL quarterback.
But life took unpleasant turns. Everything seemed impossible and out of reach. Just when Kurt was about to lose all his hope of being a quarterback, his wife came as an angel and supported him and inspired him until he fulfilled his longtime commitment to be a quarterback.
This is a very inspirational story of NFL MVP and Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner who went from working in a supermarket to being a quarterback. This movie is on the list of best sports movies because of its exhilarating true story.
10. Death Race
Genre: Sports, Science Fiction
Cast: Jason Statham, Natalie Martinez
Director: Paul W.S Anderson
Official Trailer:
Plot:
This story is about a three-time speedway champion Jensen who had to compete in a Death Race to earn his freedom.
After Jensen got framed for a murder that he didn’t commit, Jensen found himself at Terminal Island, which was the toughest prison in his country. He lost hope of getting freedom ever again.
Until the warden offers him a way of getting out of this prison which was nothing less than hell. The offer was to compete in a race where his life could be in great danger and had to compete as a mythical driver called Frankenstein.
If Jensen refuses to compete in the death race, he will lose the only chance of getting out of prison. And if he accepts the offer, he has to ride a car which had flamethrowers and grenade launchers equipped in it and has to win the race competing with obnoxious, dangerous criminals.
Conclusion
Watching sports movies along with your friends can be really fun. So invite your friends and watch all the best sports movies that I’ve talked about.
A bad sports movie can really make you disappointed. Because we watch sports movies in the hope of having fun and experiencing a great suspenseful story. Also, we hope to get motivated by all those amazing stories.
But finding a good and perfect sports movie with all these elements can be time-consuming sometimes.
That’s why I’ve enlisted the best sports movies for you in one place for you to enjoy them in your home with your friends. Never waste your time watching disappointing sports movies.
