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The Best Sports Movies Ever Made

Originally by Ranker Community

Updated May 12, 2020 129.5k votes 7.5k voters 128.0k views172 items

List RulesMovies about sports teams or athletes

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
1,930
713
A League of Their Own
Madonna, Tom Hanks
Released: 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
2,008
1,497
Rocky
Sylvester Stallone, Joe Frazier
Released: 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
3
1,720
1,285
Hoosiers
Gene Hackman, Dennis Hopper
Released: 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
4
1,959
1,172
The Sandlot
James Earl Jones, Denis Leary
Released: 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
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5
1,769
1,312
Field of Dreams
Ben Affleck, Matt Damon
Released: 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
6
1,878
1,406
Major League
Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger
Released: 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
7
1,729
1,309
Rudy
Vince Vaughn, Sean Astin
Released: 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
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8
1,904
1,461
Remember the Titans
Hayden Panettiere, Ryan Gosling
Released: 2000
Directed by: Boaz Yakin
Remember the Titans is a 2000 American sports drama film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and... more on Wikipedia
9
1,578
1,191
Caddyshack
Bill Murray, Chevy Chase
Released: 1980
Directed by: Harold Ramis
Caddyshack is a 1980 American sports comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and written by Brian... more on Wikipedia
10
1,434
1,098
Miracle
Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson
Released: 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
11
1,263
1,003
Bull Durham
Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon
Released: 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
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12
1,343
1,055
Moneyball
Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill
Released: 2011
Directed by: Bennett Miller
Moneyball is an American 2011 biographical sports drama film directed by Bennett Miller from a... more on Wikipedia
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13
817
642
Brian's Song
Dick Butkus, James Caan
Released: 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
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14
1,076
850
Rocky II
Sylvester Stallone, Burgess Meredith
Released: 1979
Directed by: Sylvester Stallone
Rocky II is a 1979 American sports drama film directed by Sylvester Stallone, and the second... more on Wikipedia
15
961
749
The Longest Yard
Burt Reynolds, Bernadette Peters
Released: 1974
Directed by: Robert Aldrich
The Longest Yard is a 1974 American sports comedy film directed by Robert Aldrich. Written by... more on Wikipedia
16
1,273
1,017
Happy Gilmore
Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller
Released: 1996
Directed by: Dennis Dugan
Happy Gilmore is a 1996 sports comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan and produced by Robert... more on Wikipedia
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17
871
684
The Karate Kid
Elisabeth Shue, Ralph Macchio
Released: 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
18
1,287
1,019
The Natural
Kim Basinger, Robert Redford
Released: 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
19
1,189
941
The Blind Side
Sandra Bullock, Lily Collins
Released: 2009
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
The Blind Side is a 2009 American semi-biographical sports drama film. It was written and... more on Wikipedia
20
1,069
855
Slap Shot
Paul Newman, M. Emmet Walsh
Released: 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
21
638
498
The Rookie
Dennis Quaid, Brian Cox
Released: 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
855
667
Friday Night Lights
Amber Heard, Connie Britton
Released: 2004
Directed by: Peter Berg
Friday Night Lights is a 2004 sports drama film, directed by Peter Berg, which documents the... more on Wikipedia
23
537
396
The Bad News Bears
Tatum O'Neal, Jackie Earle Haley
Released: 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
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24
737
145
Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks, Sally Field
Released: 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
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879
698
Rocky III
Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire
Released: 1982
Directed by: Sylvester Stallone
Rocky III is a 1982 American sports drama film directed by Sylvester Stallone, and the third... more on Wikipedia
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