It is great to have sports back, and I think back to a time, not so long ago, where all we had was highlights, re-runs, and a sports documentary about Michael Jordan to get us through the days. Now that we have all the sports back we could ever want and more, it is hard to think about anything else. But today, we are going to go outside the realm of non-fiction and break down the best sports movies ever to be made.
10. Hoosiers (1986)
Every March Madness, I throw on Hoosiers and bask in its glory. This is an all-time classic and the ultimate feel-good movie. Many people can relate to a high school coach pumping up a bunch of kids that aren’t supposed to be great. High school hoops in Indiana were no joke back then, and this film depicts it all so well. I love Hoosiers, and it is a movie that can be re-watched over and over again. When I think of all-time classic sports movies, it is hard not to have Hoosiers right at the top of the list.
9. Miracle (2004)
Miracle is such a popular movie that I sometimes wonder if people are in love with the moment when the US beat the Soviet Union in the Olympics or if they really love the movie. This is an epic role from Kurt Russell, and they did a great job of bringing together a rag-tag cast to depict the most famous hockey team in American history. The Herb Brooks speech is done just so perfectly, and the way they intertwine real footage with movie footage is perfect, in my opinion. This movie has the speech repeated every single year and for good measure.
8. Moneyball (2011)
I genuinely believe that Moneyball is one of the top sports movies produced since 2000. It does a great job of showing how the Oakland A’s have built consistent winners with no money, no budget, and no willingness to spend big. Even better, it takes you into the mind and the emotions of Billy Beane, who was one of baseball’s greatest general managers for years. The soundtrack is great, the cast is fantastic, I mean, hey, I’ll watch anything with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, and ultimately, they do a great job of breaking down sabermetrics and advanced analytics.
7. Rudy (1993)
This movie gets a lot of hate, which I didn’t realize until an older age. But as a kid, I loved this movie. I still get goosebumps every time I hear the crowd chanting “Rudy.” Since the film gained such popularity, people have said that the actual Rudy isn’t the nicest guy in the world, but I still think this movie is a blast to watch. Few scenes in movie history are as recognizable or as famous as the crowd chanting Rudy’s name. Notre Dame is a historic institution, and this movie is part of their fabric.
6. Creed (2015)
Franchise reboots very rarely work out, but Creed hit the nail on the head, and it was an awesome film. They were able to get Sylvester Stallone back for this franchise, and they had another A-lister in Michael B. Jordan, who starred in the film. There are so many great things about this movie, from the plot, training, realism, soundtrack, and drama. You feel very attached to the characters by the end of this film. This could have gone very wrong and torched the Rocky name, but they ultimately got it right.
5. Field of Dreams (1989)
Speaking of extremely famous sports lines, “If you build it, they will come” is eight up there with the greatest of all time. This movie is so popular that the MLB hosts its first-ever “Field of Dreams” game this year. I love everything down to the cornrows and the fakeness of the players walking out of it. The film does a great job explaining the 1919 White Sox and Shoeless Joe Jackson and letting the older generation reminisce about a different form of baseball.
4. Raging Bull (1980)
Martin Scorcese and Robert De Niro doing a sports movie. What else is there to know about this one. Raging Bull is a masterpiece, and with so many great boxing movies out there, this one really separates itself from one of the greatest. This is more of a mental movie that shows exactly what it takes for a fighter to get inside the ropes and box in the ring. This movie rightfully won two Academy Awards and is one of the greatest of all time.
3. Caddyshack (1980)
This came out the same year as Raging Bull, but boy, these two couldn’t be more different. Caddyshack now has a massive cult following and is still truly hilarious to this day. This cast had so many great comedians with Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, Cindy Morgan, and Chevy Chase. The movie is the ultimate golf movie out there and does everything great in a slapstick comedy. There is a little bit of fun for everyone in a movie like this, and it is a must-watch if you haven’t seen it.
2. Bull Durham (1988)
There is no story like Crash Davis’s story. This movie acts as a bit of sports movie, a bit of a comedy, a bit of a drama, and even somewhat of a rom-com. Kevin Costner is the ultimate baseball movie guy, and he absolutely kills it in this role. It is about mentorship, getting older, and is honestly just a feel-good movie that is good to throw on at any time.
1. Rocky (1976)
You had to see this one coming. Rocky is the ultimate sports movie and the perfect combination of action and drama. Sylvester Stallone is no longer just Stallone but is also known as Rocky. Climbing up the steps in Philly, jumping up and down, and eating horrible protein shakes acts as the greatest movie montage of all time and is literally recreated every single day on society on social media. Rocky was so good that it created a boxing film franchise that now lives on through Creed. The OG Rocky is the greatest sports movie of all time, and there is just no arguing that one with me.
