The 25 Best Sports Movies of All Time
Filed under: Sports, Hold the 'Fone
When it comes to sports movies, it's nearly impossible to compare, say, Caddyshack and Rocky. One's a comedy about a golf tournament featuring a demented groundskeeper who talks to gophers; the other's a stirring boxing drama about the triumph of the scrappy underdog. Apples and oranges, right? Golf balls and boxing gloves -- Bill Murray vs. Sylvester Stallone. (I'm pretty sure I know who would win that fight.)
But we at Moviefone are nothing if not courageous (or stupid), so we threw caution to the wind and picked -- and then ranked -- the 25 best sports movies of all time. This was not, I assure you, an easy task. Things were said. Gauntlets were thrown. Heartfelt arguments were offered up as to why Major League is an honest-to-God classic. At one point I thought my colleague Kevin was going to go all Russell Crowe on my ass if we didn't include Cinderella Man on our list ... and don't get me started on our Raging Bull vs. Rocky showdown.
When the dust had settled, we had a list of 25 sports movies we felt were truly great. Of course, there's many a terrific movie we had to leave off -- but that's where the fun begins. Take a look and then let us know: How do you feel about our No. 1 choice? Which of our picks do you agree with, and which ones are you outraged we didn't include? So let the games begin, and remember: Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes ... it rains.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
3-26-2007 @ 10:32AM
Frank Marinaro said...
How is it possible that "Cinderella Man" is not on this list? Not only is it an excellent sports movie, it is also an excellent period movie and drama in general.
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3-24-2007 @ 10:00AM
GARRY said...
Hard to believe you missed "Tin Cup", "Varsity Blues" and the way way underrated "Long Gone" with the unforgettable Dixie Lee Boxx (Virginia Madsen in her prime). These movies should replace Hoop Dreams, When we were Kings & some other one. Believe me watch Long Gone.
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3-24-2007 @ 9:53PM
Chris said...
Miracle is way too low on the list..how does a great movie about our country's finest sporting moment rank so low.Agree also about Cinderella Man.Caddyshack is a great comedy,not sports movie.Vision Quest was a great one from the early 80,s..Right also about Tin Cup.Great movie.For Love of The Game with kevin Costner was also one of the greatest.
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3-26-2007 @ 10:27AM
Ben said...
"The Bingo Long Traveling All Stars & Motor Kings", a baseball movie about the Negro Leagues and barnstorming, has some great baseball and a cast of stars ... James Earl Jones, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor etc. It's one of my favorites.
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3-25-2007 @ 2:29PM
windowwasher36 said...
This is all about the person's taste and opinion....nothing to do with what's REALLY good. Tin Cup? Varsity Blues?....White Men can't jump????
How about Hardball? Has anyone seen it??????? How about Glory Road, Coach Carter??? Invincible? Ice Castle? Hey...you forgot Personal Best!!?? Mighty Ducks?? C'mon!!!!
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3-25-2007 @ 2:29PM
windowwasher36 said...
The Little Giants? Angels in the Outfield? Sandlot?
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3-25-2007 @ 4:01PM
Dex said...
What about "Any Given Sunday" or "Brian's Song"? Who came up with this list? Sounds like top 25 sports movies for Lifetime viewers.
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4-01-2007 @ 1:24PM
Ramon said...
What about "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh" Dr. J ballin' in dress slacks is memorable.
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3-26-2007 @ 5:40AM
Pacrat said...
Thnx .. some very good films I hadn't remembered but what about "Victory" w/the great Pele, F.Beckinbower thnx/again Pacrat
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3-27-2007 @ 12:20AM
TODD S. said...
WHAT HAPPENED TO WE ARE MARSHALL AND GLORY ROAD?....THESE TWO STORIES ARE TRUE STORIES AND FILLED WITH EMOTIONS.....C'MON!!!!!
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3-27-2007 @ 10:20AM
Word said...
Vision Quest for sure (Lowden Swain), and what about Hot Dog?? Harken Banks was the man. I had sunny side all the way around!
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3-27-2007 @ 12:55PM
Jcin13 said...
All these posts and no one even mentioned "The Program"? So sad, that movie defines the Student-Athlete in College. Why is Caddyshack there? Dont get me wrong this movie's a classic but it's a comedy with a sport sprinkled in the plot. Plus if there gonna put a movie about billiards on this list then "Rounders" should have also made this list. This was a great movie about Texas Hold 'Em way before the whole Hold 'Em craze.
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3-27-2007 @ 11:46PM
Karin said...
Cinderella Man in, Caddyshack out.
League of their Own, Breaking Away and Chariot's of Fire are waaaay too low on the list.
Dump White Men can't Jump that's another comedy, so is Bad News Bears. If you're going to put comedies in there then what about Major League???
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3-28-2007 @ 6:19AM
Zelig said...
How can you leave out North Dallas Forty? It was one of the best hard edged looks at pro football ever committed to film. And of course, Tin Cup. as well.
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4-23-2007 @ 1:16AM
Denise said...
I just wanted to congratulate you on picking the right movie for your #1 pick!
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3-28-2007 @ 3:47PM
Bob said...
No "Million Dollar Baby" -- which won four Oscars including Best Picture?????
No "Eight Men Out" -- probably the most lucid and historically accurate sports film of all-time?????
No "Rollerball" -- a superb treatment of a star athlete swept up in a monstrously-corporatized sports world.?????
Who did your listings -- or did you just pick the first 25 movies you could think of?
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3-28-2007 @ 6:02PM
Sam said...
"Vision Quest" is definetly won of the best sport movies ever made and should be on the list.
Also, "Prefontaine" should definetly be on there as it is about one of, if not the, greatest and most tragic American track star of all-time.
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3-29-2007 @ 2:10PM
Joel said...
I just looked through your comments and the only person who said anything about The Program was Jcin13. I fully agree that should be in the top 10 not just in the top 25 and so should Major League. I don't know if I missed it but what about the Longest Yard.
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3-29-2007 @ 2:44PM
deb said...
ROCKY IS THE BEST BY FAR...I COULD WATCH IT OVER AND OVER...ROCKY DA MAN!!!!!
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3-29-2007 @ 2:09PM
Rudyker said...
CHARIOTS OF FIRE STANDS ALONE.
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