Top 10 Sports Movies of All Time
Sports films are as old as the sports themselves. From the 1921 release ‘Two Minutes to go’ to more recent releases like the 2018 release ‘Uncle Drew’. They even span every sport imaginable such as figures skatings I Tonya to Mountain Climbings ‘Everest’. Choosing a top 10 sports films is an arduous endeavour, one person can see ‘Field of Dreams’ as a cinematic masterpiece, and another might see it as a film about a man speaking to ghosts. The following list has been compiled at The Puttdown through personal opinion. You may not agree with the list, but it just shows how different movies connect to us through our love of sports and our experiences within them. None of the movies mentioned above cracked the top 10, so let us begin.
10. Mike Bassett: England Manager
Sports movies have always suffered in trying to recreate the sport on the big screen. Mike Bassett: England Manager does a good job avoiding that as it follows helpless new England Manager as he attempts to lead England to world cup glory. His inability to be up to the job shines throughout the film including announcing a squad selection off the back of a pack of ‘Benson and Hedges’ cigarettes resulting in a pair of players from the third division getting called up the England squad. And who can forget the great one-liner ‘ladies and gentleman, England will be playing four-four fucking two.
9. Cool Runnings
It’s a very cool movie (yeah I said it). A country that’s national sport is sprinting, Cool Runnings was inspired by the true story of the first Jamaican bobsled team. The movie did more than just inspire a nation; it inspired many questionable choices when it came to fancy dress costumes.
8. The Big Lebowski
People might deny that this is a sports film, but to them, I say it is. Just remember, not only do they go bowling during the film, ‘the dude’ enlists the help of his bowling buddy to seek restitution for his ruined rug. A real tale of how sports can bond us to seek vengeance for crimes committed against us.
7. Rocky
This might come in at number one on many other lists, but at 7 we have ‘Rocky’. What it has in storytelling it certainly lacks in accurate sporting depiction. Wild fights with more punches landed in a round than most professional bouts. However, not only did it win an Oscar for best movie, it’s the perfect underdog story, that gave us characters we would care for decades later. “Yo Adrian, I did it!”
6. Moneyball
You could be mistaken into thinking a film about a sports team that used statistical analysis to compile a competitive team on a strict budget could have been a train wreck waiting to happen. However, the film does a magnificent job of conveying the emotional ups and downs of being a GM in baseball who is trying to go against traditions. Not only does he do that, but he also changes baseball forever.
5. Happy Gilmore
Hockey crosses golf, what could possibly go wrong. You only have to go down the driving range to see the impact Happy Gilmore has had on society. If you haven’t tried the Happy Gilmore swing have you ever really played golf?
4. The Waterboy
Adam Sandler again showing his acting range as far as sports are concerned. The Waterboy gave hope to all team employees, that if they work hard enough, and learn to tackle people 3 times their size, they too will go on to be a star college player. Just like ‘Happy Gilmore’, ‘The Waterboy’ is an unbelievably quotable film, which brings me to my next point. Don’t smoke crack.
3. 42
’42’ is the powerful true story about Jackie Robinson becoming the first African American to play Major League Baseball. The film pulls at the heartstrings throughout as he faces considerable amounts of Racism in the process. Robinson paved the way for more African Americans to play in the MLB, remembered to this day with the retirement of the number 42 throughout baseball and Jackie Robinson day.
2. Dodgeball: A true underdog story
Who knew a film about people throwing balls at each other could be so enjoyable. Not only are the main characters fantastic, but even the smaller roles give memorable performances, such as colour commentator Jason Bateman's “Bold strategy, Cotton” quote. Don’t forget Lance Armstrong’s performance as himself. Pre doping it was inspirational, post; it just makes you laugh.
1. Coach Carter
It’s based on a true story, another underdog story but takes it a step further. Not only in play is the sport of basketball, its not just about winning the season, but also life itself, and who cant take inspiration from that. What is even more spectacular is in a film made by Disney (spoiler alert); the team itself doesn’t go onto win the title itself, a not so true Disney ending.
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