Top Sports Related Movies

by dippyblue | created - 13 Jan 2014 | updated - 21 Jan 2014 | Public

My top drama movies (i.e. not documentaries) with storylines relating to sport, both based on real events and completely fictional. Some I like because they are so well made and well performed, others partly because the real story on which they are based is just so inspiring (and the movie is also well made and performed).

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1. Miracle (2004)

PG | 135 min | Biography, Drama, History

68 Metascore

The true story of Herb Brooks, the player-turned-coach who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the seemingly invincible Soviet squad.

Director: Gavin O'Connor | Stars: Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Nathan West, Noah Emmerich

Votes: 58,893 | Gross: $64.38M

2. Hoosiers (1986)

PG | 114 min | Drama, Sport

77 Metascore

A coach with a checkered past and a local drunk train a small-town high school basketball team to become a top contender for the state championship in 1950s Indiana.

Director: David Anspaugh | Stars: Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper, Sheb Wooley

Votes: 51,061 | Gross: $28.61M

3. Rudy (1993)

PG | 114 min | Biography, Drama, Sport

71 Metascore

Rudy has always been told that he was too small to play college football. But he is determined to overcome the odds and fulfill his dream of playing for Notre Dame.

Director: David Anspaugh | Stars: Sean Astin, Jon Favreau, Ned Beatty, Greta Lind

Votes: 69,062 | Gross: $22.75M

4. Win Win (2011)

R | 106 min | Comedy, Drama, Sport

75 Metascore

A struggling lawyer and volunteer wrestling coach's chicanery comes back to haunt him when the teenage grandson of the client he has double-crossed comes into his life.

Director: Tom McCarthy | Stars: Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Jeffrey Tambor, Bobby Cannavale

Votes: 55,259 | Gross: $10.18M

5. Remember the Titans (2000)

PG | 113 min | Biography, Drama, Sport

48 Metascore

In 1971 Virginia high school football was everything to the people of Alexandria. But when the school board was forced to integrate an all-black school with an all-white one, the very foundation of football's tradition was put to the test.

Director: Boaz Yakin | Stars: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst

Votes: 231,855 | Gross: $115.65M

6. Moneyball (2011)

PG-13 | 133 min | Biography, Drama, Sport

87 Metascore

Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to assemble a baseball team on a lean budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire new players.

Director: Bennett Miller | Stars: Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Votes: 464,398 | Gross: $75.61M

7. Secretariat (2010)

PG | 123 min | Biography, Drama, Family

61 Metascore

Penny Chenery Tweedy and colleagues guide her long-shot but precocious stallion to set, in 1973, the unbeaten record for winning the Triple Crown.

Director: Randall Wallace | Stars: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Margo Martindale, Nelsan Ellis

Votes: 30,558 | Gross: $59.71M

8. Champions (1984)

PG | 106 min | Biography, Drama, Romance

A British steeple chase jockey who, in the late 1970s, was diagnosed with cancer. Rather than succumb to the disease, however, Bob stages a miraculous recovery and goes on to win the 1981 Grand National steeplechase on the horse Aldaniti.

Director: John Irvin | Stars: John Hurt, Gregory Jones, Mick Dillon, Ann Bell

Votes: 748 | Gross: $0.17M

9. Any Given Sunday (1999)

R | 162 min | Drama, Sport

52 Metascore

A behind-the-scenes look at the life-and-death struggles of modern-day gladiators and those who lead them.

Director: Oliver Stone | Stars: Al Pacino, Dennis Quaid, Cameron Diaz, James Woods

Votes: 125,882 | Gross: $75.53M

10. Coach Carter (2005)

PG-13 | 136 min | Biography, Drama, Sport

57 Metascore

Controversy surrounds high school basketball coach Ken Carter after he benches his entire team for breaking their academic contract with him.

Director: Thomas Carter | Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Rick Gonzalez, Robert Ri'chard, Rob Brown

Votes: 171,902 | Gross: $67.26M

11. The Blind Side (2009)

PG-13 | 129 min | Biography, Drama, Sport

53 Metascore

The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All-American football player and first-round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family.

Director: John Lee Hancock | Stars: Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Jae Head

Votes: 360,399 | Gross: $255.96M

12. Rocky (1976)

PG | 120 min | Drama, Sport

70 Metascore

A small-time Philadelphia boxer gets a supremely rare chance to fight the world heavyweight champion in a bout in which he strives to go the distance for his self-respect.

Director: John G. Avildsen | Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers

Votes: 628,231 | Gross: $117.24M

13. Invincible (2006)

PG | 105 min | Biography, Drama, Sport

63 Metascore

Based on the story of Vince Papale, a 30-year-old bartender from South Philadelphia who overcame long odds to play for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles in 1976.

Director: Ericson Core | Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Conway

Votes: 75,313 | Gross: $57.81M

14. The Express (2008)

PG | 130 min | Biography, Drama, Sport

58 Metascore

A drama based on the life of college football hero Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.

Director: Gary Fleder | Stars: Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid, Clancy Brown, Darrin Dewitt Henson

Votes: 22,866 | Gross: $9.59M

15. The Fighter (I) (2010)

R | 116 min | Action, Biography, Drama

79 Metascore

Based on the story of Micky Ward, a fledgling boxer who tries to escape the shadow of his more famous but troubled older boxing brother and get his own shot at greatness.

Director: David O. Russell | Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo

Votes: 388,811 | Gross: $93.62M

16. Field of Dreams (1989)

PG | 107 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy

57 Metascore

Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella is inspired by a voice he can't ignore to pursue a dream he can hardly believe. Supported by his wife, Ray begins the quest by turning his ordinary cornfield into a place where dreams can come true.

Director: Phil Alden Robinson | Stars: Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, Amy Madigan

Votes: 128,037 | Gross: $64.43M

17. The Rookie (2002)

G | 127 min | Drama, Family, Sport

72 Metascore

A Texas baseball coach makes the major league after agreeing to try out if his high school team made the playoffs.

Director: John Lee Hancock | Stars: Dennis Quaid, JD Evermore, Rachel Griffiths, Jay Hernandez

Votes: 37,156 | Gross: $75.60M

18. Radio (2003)

PG | 109 min | Biography, Drama, Sport

38 Metascore

The story of a high school coach and the developmentally challenged man who he took under his wing.

Director: Michael Tollin | Stars: Cuba Gooding Jr., Ed Harris, Debra Winger, S. Epatha Merkerson

Votes: 43,986 | Gross: $52.33M

19. The Damned United (2009)

R | 98 min | Biography, Drama, Sport

81 Metascore

The story of the controversial Brian Clough's 44-day reign as the coach of the English football club Leeds United.

Director: Tom Hooper | Stars: Colm Meaney, Henry Goodman, David Roper, Jimmy Reddington

Votes: 45,915 | Gross: $0.45M

20. Glory Road (2006)

PG | 118 min | Biography, Drama, Sport

58 Metascore

In 1966, Texas Western coach Don Haskins led the first all-black starting line-up for a college basketball team to the NCAA national championship.

Director: James Gartner | Stars: Josh Lucas, Derek Luke, Austin Nichols, Jon Voight

Votes: 48,816 | Gross: $42.64M

21. We Are Marshall (2006)

PG | 131 min | Drama, Sport

53 Metascore

When a plane crash claims the lives of members of the Marshall University football team and some of its fans, the team's new coach and his surviving players try to keep the football program alive.

Director: McG | Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, Anthony Mackie, David Strathairn

Votes: 64,819 | Gross: $43.55M

22. Million Dollar Baby (2004)

PG-13 | 132 min | Drama, Sport

86 Metascore

Frankie, an ill-tempered old coach, reluctantly agrees to train aspiring boxer Maggie. Impressed with her determination and talent, he helps her become the best and the two soon form a close bond.

Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Jay Baruchel

Votes: 721,585 | Gross: $100.49M

23. The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005)

PG | 120 min | Biography, Drama, Sport

55 Metascore

In the 1913 U.S. Open, twenty-year-old Francis Ouimet played golf against his idol, 1900 U.S. Open champion, Englishman Harry Vardon.

Director: Bill Paxton | Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Stephen Dillane, Elias Koteas, James Paxton

Votes: 33,461 | Gross: $15.33M

24. The Natural (1984)

PG | 138 min | Drama, Sport

61 Metascore

A middle-aged unknown comes seemingly out of nowhere to become a legendary baseball player with almost supernatural talent.

Director: Barry Levinson | Stars: Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger

Votes: 52,437 | Gross: $47.95M

25. A League of Their Own (1992)

PG | 128 min | Comedy, Drama, Sport

69 Metascore

Two sisters join the first female professional baseball league and struggle to help it succeed amid their own growing rivalry.

Director: Penny Marshall | Stars: Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Madonna

Votes: 120,995 | Gross: $107.53M

26. Cinderella Man (2005)

PG-13 | 144 min | Biography, Drama, Romance

69 Metascore

The true story of James J. Braddock, a supposedly washed-up boxer, who returned to the spotlight to win the heavyweight championship of the world.

Director: Ron Howard | Stars: Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Craig Bierko, Paul Giamatti

Votes: 198,290 | Gross: $61.65M

27. Bull Durham (1988)

R | 108 min | Comedy, Romance, Sport

73 Metascore

A fan who has an affair with one minor-league baseball player each season meets an up-and-coming pitcher and the experienced catcher assigned to him.

Director: Ron Shelton | Stars: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Trey Wilson

Votes: 59,332 | Gross: $50.89M

28. Cool Runnings (1993)

PG | 98 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family

60 Metascore

When a Jamaican sprinter is disqualified from the Olympic Games, he enlists the help of a dishonored coach to start the first Jamaican Bobsled Team.

Director: Jon Turteltaub | Stars: John Candy, Leon, Doug E. Doug, Rawle D. Lewis

Votes: 113,728 | Gross: $68.86M

29. Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

PG-13 | 112 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

66 Metascore

Two ambitious girls, despite their parents' wishes, have their hearts set on careers in professional football.

Director: Gurinder Chadha | Stars: Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anupam Kher

Votes: 116,466 | Gross: $32.54M

30. Tin Cup (1996)

R | 135 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

60 Metascore

A washed-up golf pro working at a driving range tries to qualify for the U.S. Open in order to win the heart of his successful rival's girlfriend.

Director: Ron Shelton | Stars: Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, Don Johnson, Cheech Marin

Votes: 53,248 | Gross: $53.85M

31. Goal! The Dream Begins (2005)

PG | 118 min | Drama, Romance, Sport

53 Metascore

The extremely talented Santiago Muñez is spotted by a Newcastle United scout and given a chance at professional football.

Director: Danny Cannon | Stars: Kuno Becker, Alessandro Nivola, Anna Friel, Leonardo Guerra

Votes: 65,997 | Gross: $4.28M

32. Victory (1981)

PG | 116 min | Drama, Sport, War

57 Metascore

As allied P.O.W.s prepare for a soccer game against the German National Team to be played in Nazi-occupied Paris, the French Resistance and British officers are making plans for the team's escape.

Director: John Huston | Stars: Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone, Pelé, Bobby Moore

Votes: 33,265 | Gross: $10.85M



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