Our team compiled the best sports movies and here is what they came up with
Netflix caters as much to kids as it does to adults. It may surprise the youthful crowd or their parents that the kid category and profiles that there are more present beyond preschool diversions. There’s a surprising amount of quality films to appease the little ones who want to enjoy the streaming service for themselves. For the kids out there, here are ten best kids movies on Netflix.
Here are the 20 best sports movies to check out on the streaming service.
1. Rocky (1976)
Rated PG, grossed $225 million. This classic sports drama tells the story of Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a small-time boxer who gets a shot at the heavyweight championship. The movie is appreciated for its underdog story, its performances, particularly Stallone, and its themes of perseverance and determination.
2. Raging Bull (1980)
Rated R, grossed $23 million. This biographical drama tells the story of Jake LaMotta (Robert De Niro), a boxer who rises to fame in the 1940s and 1950s, but self-destructs outside the ring. The movie is appreciated for its performances, particularly De Niro, and its portrayal of the psychological and physical tolls of the sport.
3. The Mighty Ducks (1992)
Rated PG, grossed $50.8 million. This comedy-drama follows a lawyer (Emilio Estevez) who is sentenced to coach a youth hockey team as community service. The movie is appreciated for its comedy and its themes of friendship and teamwork.
4. Remember the Titans (2000)
Rated PG, grossed $115.6 million. This drama tells the true story of a newly appointed African-American coach (Denzel Washington) who leads a high school football team in the early 1970s, as the school and community become desegregated. The movie is appreciated for its performances, particularly Washington, and its representation of racial integration and the Civil Rights Movement.
5. The Karate Kid (1984)
Rated PG, grossed $90 million. This coming-of-age drama tells the story of Daniel (Ralph Macchio), a teenager who learns karate from a wise old master (Pat Morita) to defend himself against bullies. The movie is appreciated for its themes of perseverance and determination, as well as its strong performances.
6. Chariots of Fire (1981)
Rated PG, grossed $59 million. This drama tells the true story of two British runners (Ben Cross and Ian Charleson) who compete in the 1924 Olympics, one as a devout Christian and the other as a Jew. The movie is appreciated for its performances, particularly Charleson, and its representation of the Olympics and the struggles of minorities.
7. The Blind Side (2009)
Rated PG-13, grossed $309 million. This drama tells the true story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a homeless African-American student who is taken in by a wealthy white family (led by Sandra Bullock) and becomes a football star. The movie is appreciated for its performances, particularly Bullock, and its themes of family and perseverance.
8. McFarland, USA (2015)
Rated PG, grossed $44.9 million. This drama tells the true story of a high school cross-country team from a predominantly Latino farm-worker community in California. Kevin Costner stars as the coach who helps the students to overcome difficult challenges and to excel in the sport. The movie is appreciated for its inspiring story, its representation of underprivileged communities and Costner’s performance.
9. Miracle (2004)
Rated PG, grossed $64 million. This drama tells the true story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, led by coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) who pulls off a major upset and defeat the Soviet team. The movie is appreciated for its representation of the historical moment and the incredible performances of the team, as well as Russell.
10. Rocky II (1979)
Rated PG, grossed $200 million. The sequel to “Rocky” continues the story of Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) as he fights to defend his heavyweight title. The movie is appreciated for its continuation of the story, its themes of perseverance and determination and the strong performances, particularly of Stallone.
11. The Fighter (2010)
Rated R, grossed $93 million. This biographical drama tells the story of boxer Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) and his rise to the top of the boxing world with the help of his trainer-brother Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale). The movie is appreciated for its performances, particularly Bale, and its representation of the sport and the Ward family.
12. The Replacements (2000)
Rated PG-13, grossed $48.1 million. This comedy-drama follows a group of misfit replacement players who help lead a professional American football team to the playoffs. The movie is appreciated for its comedy and its representation of the sport and its themes of perseverance and determination.
13. Cinderella Man (2005)
Rated PG-13, grossed $108.1 million. This drama tells the true story of boxer James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe) who rises from a poor and unemployed boxer to become a heavyweight champion during the Great Depression. The movie is appreciated for its performances, particularly Crowe, and its representation of the sport and the historical moment.
14. The Longest Yard (1974)
Rated R, grossed $40 million. This comedy-drama follows a former pro quarterback (Burt Reynolds) who is imprisoned and must put together a team of inmates to play against the guards. The movie is appreciated for its comedy and its representation of the sport and its themes of teamwork and determination.
15. Field of Dreams (1989)
Rated PG, grossed $84.4 million. This fantasy-drama tells the story of an Iowa farmer (Kevin Costner) who hears a voice telling him to build a baseball field on his land, where the ghosts of baseball players come to play. The movie is appreciated for its magical story, its performances and its themes of family and forgiveness.
16. The Fast and the Furious (2001)
Rated PG-13, grossed $207.3 million. This action-thriller is the first installment in a franchise and follows an undercover police officer (Paul Walker) who infiltrates the street racing world in Los Angeles to bust a hijacking ring. The movie is appreciated for its high-octane action sequences and its representation of the culture of street racing.
17. The Damned United (2009)
Rated R, grossed $4.3 million. This biographical drama tells the story of Brian Clough’s tumultuous tenure as the coach of Leeds United in the 1970s. The movie is appreciated for its performances, particularly Michael Sheen, and its representation of the sport of football and the personality of Clough
18. The Bucket List (2007)
Rated PG-13, grossed $175.5 million. This comedy-drama stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as terminally ill men who escape from a cancer ward and go on a road trip to fulfill their lifelong dreams. One of them is to see a great college football game and attend it. The movie is appreciated for its performances, particularly Nicholson and Freeman, and its themes of friendship and making the most out of life.
19. Rudy (1993)
Rated PG, grossed $22.6 million. This biographical sports film tells the story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger (Sean Astin) who overcomes numerous obstacles to become a player for the Notre Dame football team. The movie is appreciated for its performances, particularly Astin, and its themes of perseverance and determination.
20. Hoop Dreams (1994)
Rated PG-13, grossed $11.3 million. This documentary film follows the lives of two high school basketball players from inner-city Chicago and their dreams of playing in the NBA. The movie is appreciated for its representation of the sport and its themes of perseverance and determination.
These movies represent just a small sample of the many great sports movies that have been made over the years. They offer something for every fan of sports, from drama to comedy, true stories to fictional accounts. Each one captures the spirit and excitement of sports in its own unique way, making them must-see films for anyone interested in the world of sports.