MENU

6 Epic Sports Movies That Will Have You Feeling All The Feels

Sports Movies

Good sports movies have the makings of modern day Greek tragedies. Rich on drama they always have major conflict, life lessons, and some serious heartbreak. In fact, truly good sports movies cover a lot of bases when it comes to feelings. And sometimes, what you really need on a girl’s night in is a chance to choke back some tears while cheering for the underdog.

So next time you’re home with nothing to watch, check out these epic sports movies. Just don’t blame us for the lump in your throat. Good news is if you watch with friends you won’t be the only one crying while yelling, “Yo, Adrian!”

Epic Sports Movies

ROCKY

While the Rocky franchise still lives on thanks to Michael B. Jordan’s abs, the original made in 1976 still stands the test of time.  The making of the movie is just about as emotional a story as the film itself. The original script was famously written by Sylvester Stallone in just three days after he watched the the 1975 championship match between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner.

Stallone had already starred in Lords Of Flatbush, but his career had stalled and he even risked having to sell his dogs to make ends meet. Stallone wanted to tell the story of man who was taking his shot at greatness, just like he was doing in real life.

It’s impossible not to root for Stallone as Rocky Balboa. And his chemistry with Talia Shire helped make Rocky and Adrian one of the great cinematic love stories of all time.

MILLION DOLLAR BABY

The best thing about Clint Eastwood’s boxing movie is it doesn’t feel like your typical boxing film. That’s because it’s not.  Paul Haggis (Crash) wrote the script that is as much a father/daughter story as it is a boxing movie. Hilary Swank’s tough performance as Maggie earned her an Oscar and the tearjerker ultimately won four Oscars, including Best Picture.

And since director/star Clint Eastwood displayed real heart by crying on screen for the first time in his storied career, audiences are left with no choice but to root for Maggie while simultaneously asking friends to pass the tissues.

Speaking of which, pass the tissues.

Bull Durham

Susan Sarandon and Kevin Costner have next level chemistry.  And Sarandon, Costner and Tim Robbins are all at their best here.  What’s also at its best in Bull Durham, is minor league baseball and the dream of making it big.  This movie is all heart with a lot of laughs including a very memorable scene between the players on the mound.  Turns out, baseball players aren’t always talking about baseball.  And Bull Durham’s deep dive into ball players’ superstitions and traditions will have you thinking twice about what your fave MLB players are wearing.

HOOP DREAMS

Hoop Dreams isn’t just sports. It’s a coming-of-age commentary on a failed education system and a look at the inherent racism that urban youth face on a daily basis.  The documentary follows two Chicago high school students through their pursuit of making it to the N.B.A.  Steve James’s three-hour film will have you relating to the boy’s dreams and their parent’s sacrifice.  If you watch one sports movie, watch Hoop Dreams. You won’t be sorry.

FIELD OF DREAMS

Cornfields have never been the same since Ray Liotta and company popped out of the shadows to play ball with Kevin Costner’s Ray Kinsella.  Field Of Dreams is emotional to the point of being occasionally schmaltzy, but it’s tough to resist the charm of a man mending his relationship with his father through a game of baseball that only he can see.  Or, can he?

THE BLIND SIDE

Don’t @ us for putting The Blind Side in the same category as some serious sports movies.  It was even hard for us to admit how much we love this film, but we do.

Based on the book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis, the film tells the story of real-life former Ravens lineman Michael Oher, who was adopted by a wealthy white family and given an opportunity to play football for a elite private school and eventually play for the NFL.  Sandra Bullock is a tour de fabulous as Leigh Anne Tuohy. And despite the occasional sitcom-like moments in this Oscar winning sports movie, Quinten Aaron’s sweet portrayal of Oher will have you watching this movie over and over again.

 

Want more content? Cool. Let’s talk about all the cool stuff the NHL is doing to get more female coaches in the game. Read here. 

share:

We think you'll like

content + lifestyle for the modern sports fan

Sign up for our newsletter

Sportify It Daily keeps you connected to the world of sports five days a week in five minutes or less. Go for it!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

The Best in Sports, Delivered to You Daily

Stay on top of the biggest moments in sports with our free daily newsletter.  Your inbox will thank you.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.