Sports movies: The top 50 sports films of all time

Get into the game with our definitive list of the best sports movies: inspirational dramas, rude comedies and classic documentaries celebrating the real thing.

By David Fear, Joshua Rothkopf and Keith Uhlich Mon Sep 17 2012

Sports movies

Ahh, sports movies. Victory, defeat, comebacks and a whole lot of ass slapping. To get in shape for ranking the 50 best sports movies of all time, we pounded the heavy bag, swore off sweets and drank plenty of raw eggs—by which we mean we watched a lot of DVDs. (Also, we stuck to traditional athletics—please, chess and billiards fans, save the fury for another comments board.) Surely there are titles we’ve missed. Raise a penalty flag if that’s the case. And remember, it’s not about winning—unless you’re counting backward in a ranked list. What are the mightiest sports movies of all time? Dive in and find out.

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(5 ratings)

do we read this list as higher numbers are better? perhaps the list maker is trying to judge a sports movie by the usual parameters of movie making for "good". you don't do that. a good movie tells a sports story well by emphasizing the elements that make sports so interesting and entertaining, and often meaningful. i also note no effort to change the list when obvious omissions like remember the titans are pointed out (and don't tell me titans is "formula".. yes, it pushes all the correct buttons and manipulates its audience to no end.. but it is a good story well told and denzel washington and the rest of the cast, with just a few exceptions, ring true. anyways, thanx for this, now i don't have to check out any more of your "lists"

don marks Tue Oct 23 2012
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no rudy, sandlot, remember the titans, or he got game .. major league? the program?

guy Tue Oct 23 2012
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Good movies, good list. The order will always by negotiable because people have different tastes, but I was really struck when I couldn't find Remember the Titans.

Wilmar Tue Oct 23 2012
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Overall a good list but I feel as though it hit the right movies just wrong order. Without Limits wasn't even on this list and honestly that hidden gem could make top 10, and Any Given Sunday deserves better than #20.

Gage Tue Oct 23 2012
Rated as: 3/5
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Are you kidding me?! Rudy isn't on the list wtf is wrong with you. . .

Reece Tue Oct 23 2012
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This list has some significant omissions, such as: Jim Thorpe All American It Happens Every Spring Band the Drum Slowly Angels in the Outfield (original) just to name a few.

Craig Lumpkins Sat Oct 20 2012
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Stick It and Cool Runnings missing... And really? Bend it like Beckham is LAST!?

Molly Sat Oct 20 2012
Rated as: 1/5
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What a joke of a list. Do you even watch sports? Terrible...just terrible.

Shane Fri Oct 19 2012
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terrible list # 1 Rudy, # 2 Sandlot # 3 Remember the titans.... go crawl in a hole and never come out

your mom Fri Oct 19 2012
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And although it's kinda new, the movie Goon is a really good sports flick. This list needs trimming and have better more beloved movies in there. The whole, "it's old so it's good" thing has run it's course.

Silly Fri Oct 19 2012
Rated as: 2/5
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