Here is the ultimate list of the best sports movies ever made. Most guys, even some girls can't resist a tale about mostly make believe athletes. Sports may be the overarching theme in these movies, but that doesn't mean that there's anything deeper beneath the surface. These movies allow us guys to connect with our inner emotions through hidden love stories, tales of adversity, humor and ultimately the triumph of the human spirit.
At the heart of the best sports movies is relationships between the characters. Some of the best sports films like Rocky, Raging Bull and the Blind Side have either been nominated and/or won multiple Academy Awards. Others like Brian's Song, Hoosiers and Field of Dreams often times will cause viewers to feel triumphant with the characters, if they don't shed a tear as well.
But people can't resist an amazingly funny sports film. You can point to classics like Major League, Caddyshack, Bad News Bears and White Men Can't Jump as the best sports comedies.
Anyone can contribute to this list of the best sports movies, which makes this ranking an accurate, real-time reflection of the crowd's collective opinion. Rank your favorites or add whatever sports movie you see missing.
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1,537660A League of Their Own
Madonna, Tom HanksReleased: 1992
Directed by: Penny Marshall
A League of Their Own is a 1992 American comedy-drama film that tells a fictionalized account... more on Wikipedia - 2
1,921780The Sandlot
James Earl Jones, Denis LearyReleased: 1993
Directed by: David M. Evans
The Sandlot, also known as The Sandlot Kids, is a 1993 American coming-of-age film Comedy... more on Wikipedia - 31,9571,113
Rocky
Sylvester Stallone, Joe FrazierReleased: 1976
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
Rocky is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen. A small-time boxer... more on Wikipedia - 4
![Major League is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best Sports Movies Ever Made]()
1,8481,012Major League
Charlie Sheen, Tom BerengerReleased: 1989
Directed by: David S. Ward
Major League is a 1989 American sports comedy film written and directed by David S. Ward,... more on Wikipedia - 5
![Rudy is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best Sports Movies Ever Made]()
1,699980Rudy
Vince Vaughn, Sean AstinReleased: 1993
Directed by: David Anspaugh
Rudy is a 1993 American sports film directed by David Anspaugh. It is an account of the life... more on Wikipedia - 61,732985
Field of Dreams
Ben Affleck, Matt DamonReleased: 1989
Directed by: Phil Alden Robinson
Field of Dreams is a 1989 American fantasy-drama film directed by Phil Alden Robinson, who... more on Wikipedia - 71,688969
Hoosiers
Gene Hackman, Dennis HopperReleased: 1986
Directed by: David Anspaugh
Hoosiers is a 1986 sports film directed by David Anspaugh. A coach with a checkered past (Gene... more on Wikipedia - 81,547875
Caddyshack
Bill Murray, Chevy ChaseReleased: 1980
Directed by: Harold Ramis
Caddyshack is a 1980 American sports comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and written by Brian... more on Wikipedia - 9
![Miracle is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best Sports Movies Ever Made]()
1,401784Miracle
Kurt Russell, Patricia ClarksonReleased: 2004
Directed by: Gavin O'Connor
Miracle is a 2004 American sports docudrama about the United States men's hockey team, led by... more on Wikipedia - 101,308737
Moneyball
Brad Pitt, Jonah HillReleased: 2011
Directed by: Bennett Miller
Moneyball is an American 2011 biographical sports drama film directed by Bennett Miller from a... more on Wikipedia - 11
![Bull Durham is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best Sports Movies Ever Made]()
1,234709Bull Durham
Kevin Costner, Susan SarandonReleased: 1988
Directed by: Ron Shelton
Bull Durham is a 1988 American romantic comedy sports film. It is partly based upon the minor... more on Wikipedia - 12
![The Natural is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best Sports Movies Ever Made]()
1,264717The Natural
Kim Basinger, Robert RedfordReleased: 1984
Directed by: Barry Levinson
The Natural is a 1984 sports drama. It is a film adaptation of Bernard Malamud's 1952 baseball... more on Wikipedia - 13
![Slap Shot is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best Sports Movies Ever Made]()
1,048596Slap Shot
Paul Newman, M. Emmet WalshReleased: 1977
Directed by: George Roy Hill
Slap Shot is a 1977 comedy film directed by George Roy Hill, written by Nancy Dowd and... more on Wikipedia - 14
![Remember the Titans is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best Sports Movies Ever Made]()
1,8681,146Remember the Titans
Hayden Panettiere, Ryan GoslingReleased: 2000
Directed by: Boaz Yakin
Remember the Titans is a 2000 American sports drama film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and... more on Wikipedia - 15
![The Karate Kid is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best Sports Movies Ever Made]()
855477The Karate Kid
Elisabeth Shue, Ralph MacchioReleased: 1984
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
The Karate Kid is a 1984 American martial arts romantic drama film directed by John G.... more on Wikipedia - 16
![The Longest Yard is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best Sports Movies Ever Made]()
945535The Longest Yard
Burt Reynolds, Bernadette PetersReleased: 1974
Directed by: Robert Aldrich
The Longest Yard is a 1974 American sports comedy film directed by Robert Aldrich. Written by... more on Wikipedia - 17837487
Friday Night Lights
Amber Heard, Connie BrittonReleased: 2004
Directed by: Peter Berg
Friday Night Lights is a 2004 sports drama film, directed by Peter Berg, which documents the... more on Wikipedia - 18
![Brian's Song is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Sports Movies Ever Made]()
797478Brian's Song
Dick Butkus, James CaanReleased: 1971
Directed by: Buzz Kulik
Brian's Song is a 1971 ABC Movie of the Week that recounts the details of the life of Brian... more on Wikipedia - 191,055666
Rocky II
Sylvester Stallone, Burgess MeredithReleased: 1979
Directed by: Sylvester Stallone
Rocky II is a 1979 American sports drama film directed by Sylvester Stallone, and the second... more on Wikipedia - 20
![We Are Marshall is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best Sports Movies Ever Made]()
817486We Are Marshall
Matthew McConaughey, Kate MaraReleased: 2006
Directed by: Joseph McGinty Nichol
We Are Marshall is a 2006 American historical drama biopic film directed by McG. It depicts... more on Wikipedia - 21628388
The Rookie
Dennis Quaid, Brian CoxReleased: 2002
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
The Rookie is a 2002 sports drama film directed by John Lee Hancock and produced by Walt... more on Wikipedia - 22
![The Bad News Bears is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best Sports Movies Ever Made]()
514271The Bad News Bears
Tatum O'Neal, Jackie Earle HaleyReleased: 1976
Directed by: Michael Ritchie
The Bad News Bears is a 1976 comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie. It stars Walter Matthau... more on Wikipedia - 23354113
Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks, Sally FieldReleased: 1994
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic romantic-comedy-drama film based on the 1986 novel of the... more on Wikipedia - 241,253851
Happy Gilmore
Adam Sandler, Ben StillerReleased: 1996
Directed by: Dennis Dugan
Happy Gilmore is a 1996 sports comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan and produced by Robert... more on Wikipedia - 25
![The Mighty Ducks is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best Sports Movies Ever Made]()
742469The Mighty Ducks
Emilio Estevez, Joss AcklandReleased: 1992
Directed by: Stephen Herek
The Mighty Ducks is a 1992 American sports comedy film directed by Stephen Herek, starring... more on Wikipedia
