A Definitive Ranking of the Best Sports Movies*
*Written by someone who doesn’t watch movies about sport
Well if there’s one thing I’ve accomplished in 2020 it’s watch a LOT of movies. This might come as a shock to some of you, but I don’t know much about sport. But do you know what I do know a lot about? Movies. I’m a big film & TV buff and I am here to give you a Definitive Ranking of the Best Ever movies about sport*
*by someone who doesn’t watch movies about sports
1. Bend it Like Beckham
OBVIOUSLY! Young Keira Knightly! Parminda Nagra as the most fierce WOC protagonist! Banging soundtrack! Obvious homoerotic undertones! And I guess there’s some soccer too. This film made 10 year old Alice want to play soccer even though I had no idea what it was (that might just have been so I could meet the love of my life a gal pal).
2. The Social Network
I had to get clearance from my boss to include this one. It’s my all time favourite movie that stays more relevant even as scandal after scandal rocks Facebook and other social media sites. Guess what? It also has olympians. Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss went on to compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. They finished sixth, btw. No wonder they needed that Facebook money...
3. Space Jam
It wouldn’t be a list without Space Jam. Who hasn’t played basketball against a cartoon rabbit? From memory the Looney Tunes might actually be the bad guys? I’ll have to double check.
4. Cool Runnings
A classic film for any classroom of primary school kids that are stuck inside on a rainy day. Alternatively, a classic film to watch at literally any time. No joke - this is one of the best underdog movies of all time and never gets old. Makes me laugh, makes me cry, what more do you want from an absolute gem of a sports movie?
5. The Blind Side
Of course we have to include this one - and why wouldn’t we?! Quinton Aaron & Sandy Bullock smashed it out of the park in this film. If you haven’t seen it, see it. That’s final.
6. She’s The Man
If Bend it Like Beckham wasn’t enough to make me want to play soccer, this movie definitely hammered it home that you’ll find love on the soccer pitch. Although that might just be if you’re in a teen movie, I’ll get back to you on that…
7. Blades of Glory
The classic! Nothing tops Amy Poehler and Will Arnett. I guess I always thought that the Olympics would feature Will Arnett chasing Will Ferrell up an escalator in ice skates. Also, embarrassingly I was 25 years old when I realised that I recognised Jon Heder from Napoleon Dynamite…
8. Battle of the Sexes
Emma Stone and Steve Carell as Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. This movie has an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Need I say more?
9. Mighty Ducks
I’ll be honest, I thought this movie was about actual ducks. A cartoon Hewey, Dewey and Lewey maybe? I think I got this in my head because I was introduced to the series by Sharon Strezlecki wanting to watch it for Kim’s bachelorette party in Kath & Kim. But it turns out it’s actually a really good movie (about human people!)
10. Cars
I know most people wouldn’t consider this a strictly sports movie, but it's literally about a race car figuring out his priorities - so it counts. Kachowwww.
Notable mentions:
11. Planes
See above (but planes)
12. Stick It
Filed under: Should have been lesbians
13. Moneyball
None of us have seen it but we’ve heard a lot about it… Baseball, analytics, money (I’m assuming??). Great stuff.
14. Like Mike
This is Tom’s favourite movie so I got bullied into including it…
15. Switching Goals
A CLASSIC Mary-Kate & Ashley film 👌
What are your absolute go-tos? Let me know! I’m running out of Netflix here…
In the interest of transparency, this article was written by Alice & Jaimee. So in all fairness, here are our team’s actual favourite sport movies:
Tom: Like Mike
David: Point Break
Mohit: Chak De! India
Charlee: The Longest Yard
Alice: The Social Network (David: “If you ask 10 people if the Social Network is a sports movie at least 9 will say NO!”)
Jaimee: Cool Runnings
