The best sports movies do a great job of keeping audiences entertained throughout the film even if they aren’t a huge fan of the sport that’s featured. Over the years there have been a lot of great sports movies that have made their way onto the big screen, but there’s also been a lot of duds as well.
Capturing some great realistic “in-game” shots is a key component to a good sports movie, but the most realistic “in-game” shots mean nothing if the story doesn’t inspire the audience or teach them any life lessons. The list of sports movies released over the years is never-ending, but the list of great sports movies currently on Netflix is not.
Here’s the 10 Must Watch Sports movies on Netflix right now (in no particular order).
Miracle (2004)
Miracle is a true story based on Herb Brooks, a hockey player-turned-coach who led the 1980 United States men’s hockey team to a gold medal victory at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Entering the game, the Soviets were the most feared nation on the ice as they had won every gold medal in hockey since 1964. However, that all came to an end after they lost to the US in the game best known as the “Miracle on Ice”. The movie also features the final 10 seconds of the original broadcast, as well as Al Michaels’ famous “Do you believe in miracles? YES!” call.
Rush (2013)
Like most sports movies, Rush is based off a true story. The movie showcases the rivalry between Formula 1 drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the 1976 season. Directed by Ron Howard and Ringo Lam, the duo does a great job showing the different lifestyles of both champions, as they went head-to-head in one of the most dramatic Formula 1 seasons of all-time.
Eddie the Eagle (2016)
One of the greatest things about sports movies is that they leave you with a feeling that anything in life is possible as long as you put your mind to it and put in the work and that’s exactly what Eddie the Eagle does. Based on the true story of Eddie Edwards, the movie tells the story of how Edwards went from a British underdog ski jumper to an unlikely hero at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
The Fighter (2010)
Mark Wahlberg both produced and starred in The Fighter, which is based on the early years of boxer Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him to become a professional despite fighting his own demons. This is one of the most realistic sports movies you will ever see, as Wahlberg refused to use a stunt double and took the shots in the fighting scenes. Wahlberg is friends with Micky and his brother and did a fantastic job telling their stories in this movie.
Moneyball (2011)
Moneyball was a hit once it theatres in 2011, but if you still haven’t seen perhaps you’ll consider it the next time you’re looking for a movie to watch on Netflix. Based on Michael Lewis’ 2003 nonfiction book of the same name, the movie focuses on the Oakland Athletics’ 2002 season and general manager Billy Beane’s attempt to put together a competitive team despite having limited funds to sign players and losing his top free agents to big markets like New York and Boston.
Coach Carter (2005)
Coach Carter is based on the true story of the Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter, who is portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson. In 1999, Carter benched his undefeated basketball team due to their poor academic results and received a lot of backlash from the community members. The movie does a good job of teaching student athletes about what their priorities should be and also reminds viewers how important it is to stay on top of things at school.
Slap Shot (1977)
There will never be another movie that comes close to Slap Shot. Based on a failing hockey team in the small New England town of Charlestown, the team somehow finds success by turning to constant fighting and violence during their games. The team acquires the Hanson Brothers, who become fan favourites thanks to their violent style of play. If you want to have a good laugh during a sports movie, then Slap Shot might be the way to go.
Happy Gilmore (1996)
It’s nearly impossible to find someone who doesn’t enjoy Happy Gilmore. It might not be the most realistic sports movie, but even professional golfers get a kick out of the film and are still doing their best Happy Gilmore impressions more than 20 years after the movie’s original release in 1996. In case you haven’t seen it yet, Adam Sandler plays the role of a rejected hockey player who puts his skills together on the golf course in hopes of saving his grandmother’s house from the bank.
Goon (2011)
The role of team goon doesn’t really exist anymore, but there was once a time where players had one job and one job only and that was to fight anyone on the other team who started problems throughout the game. Seann William Scott plays the role of Doug Glatt, a bouncer turned professional hockey player thanks to his grit and ability to knock anyone out on the ice.
The Mighty Ducks (1992)
The Mighty Ducks is a classic. Gordon Bombay, played by Emilio Estevez, is a former hockey phenom turned lawyer who is forced to coach a kids hockey team as his community service after he was arrested for drunk driving. The movie does a good job showing the importance of teamwork and how working together helps teams come together.
There’s plenty of sports movies available to watch on Netflix and everyone has different preferences based on the types of movies they like, sports they enjoy and actors they prefer, but these are ten sports movies on Netflix you don’t want to miss out on.
