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: Any Given Sunday (1999)
Sports movies: Offside (2006)
Sports movies: Breaking Away (1979)
Sports movies: Chariots of Fire (1981)
Sports movies: Fat City (1972)
Sports movies: Miracle (2004)
Sports movies: North Dallas Forty (1979)
Sports movies: The Bad News Bears (1976)
Sports movies: Hoosiers (1986)
Sports movies: The Pride of the Yankees (1942)

Sports movies: Any Given Sunday (1999)

Any Given Sunday (1999)

Leave it to Oliver Stone to make you enjoy feeling like a tossed-around pigskin. His absorbing look at a fictional pro-football team and the veteran coach trying to lead them to victory (Al Pacino at full bellow) packs a testosterone-filled blitz into two-and-a-half thrillingly steroidal hours.—Keith Uhlich

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Offside (2006)

What if you can’t cheer on your favorite team because of your gender? That’s the reality in Iran, providing the basis for Jafar Panahi’s buoyant, brazenly political drama about a group of female soccer fans sneaking into a World Cup match.—Keith Uhlich

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Breaking Away (1979)

Dennis Christopher refuses to be just another Indiana nobody…so why not pretend to be a champion Italian cyclist? Peter Yates’s feel-good sports drama says a lot about the allure of competitive biking, but this is really a movie about relying on your teammates—the friends who’ll always get you across the finish line.—David Fear

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Chariots of Fire (1981)

Even if all you remember is that shot of Olympians running on the beach to Vangelis’s pounding synth score, it’s fine. Sometimes a great sports movie only needs sweat and exhilaration. Return to the story, though, and you’ll be beguiled by a real-life tale of British resolve, imperial hauteur and religious tolerance.—Joshua Rothkopf

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Fat City (1972)

In John Huston’s engrossing drama, Stacy Keach plays a past-his-prime boxer who acts as both mentor and rival to cocky up-and-comer Jeff Bridges. The ensemble is stellar—especially Susan Tyrrell as a belligerent barfly—and ace cinematographer Conrad L. Hall brings out the seedy poetry of the back-alley California setting.—Keith Uhlich

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Miracle (2004)

This uplifting drama about the U.S. hockey team’s “Miracle on Ice” at the 1980 Olympics is a fabulous paean to coaching. Kurt Russell fully transforms himself body and soul into impassioned trainer Herb Brooks, never shying away from his character’s family-neglecting obsessiveness, even while delivering spirited speeches that would have amateurs entering the rink.—Keith Uhlich

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North Dallas Forty (1979)

The mightiest of football movies enters the world of pro athletics through the beer-and-drug-laced locker room, the debauched lifestyle and endless partying. Intended as a satirical comedy, the darker truth of the circus surrounding the game lingers, as does a terrific Nick Nolte performance as a hero past his prime.—Joshua Rothkopf

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The Bad News Bears (1976)

Not a small number of film lovers—those who see themselves in these foulmouthed little-leaguers—would call this one of the key movies of the ’70s. They wouldn’t be wrong: Subversively, it’s a comedy that revels in the dirty nature of American competition, criticizing it as well as celebrating it to the operatic strains of Carmen.—Joshua Rothkopf

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Hoosiers (1986)

Small-town athletes make good in this enthralling underdog drama about a gruff coach with a checkered past (a terrific Gene Hackman) who leads his high-school basketball team to the state championships. Dennis Hopper is especially memorable as an alcoholic father given a redemptive second chance to get on the winning side.—Keith Uhlich

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The Pride of the Yankees (1942)

Fans were still mourning the death of legendary pinstriper Lou Gehrig when Sam Wood’s film about the first baseman hit screens, barely a year after his passing. This tip of the cap was the perfect salve to their grief. Gary Cooper’s “luckiest man on the face of the earth” speech captures the dignity, grace and resolve of one of the game’s true MVPs.—David Fear

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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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