Black sports movies combine the thrill of competition with athletes' desire to fight against oppression. The top Black sports movies range from completely fictitious comedies to compelling real-life documentaries. This is a list of the top Black sports films featuring everything from When We Were Kings to Love & Basketball to The Hurricane.
What movies will you find on this list of the best Black sports films? You might vote Hoop Dreams to the top. Documentarian Steve James followed two African American high school basketball stars as they set out on their quest to join the NBA. The movie examined all of the factors that contribute to the future of these young men including race, social class, education, and skills. White Men Can't Jump bridged the racial divide as Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes played a pair of b-ball hustlers who are out to make a quick buck. Other good movies featured on this top Black sports movies list include Ali, He Got Game, and Drumline.
Which Black athlete movies deserves the top spots on this list? Help us decide by giving your favorites a thumbs up. And be sure to check out our list of the best movies about racism.
1
18236Remember 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 directed by Boaz Yakin. The screenplay, written by Gregory Allen Howard, is based on the true story of... more2
14427Coach Carter
Samuel L. Jackson, Channing TatumReleased: 2005
Directed by: Thomas Carter
Coach Carter is a 2005 American biographical teen sports drama film directed by Thomas Carter, based on the true story of the Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter. Controversy surrounds... more- 313726
42
Chadwick Boseman, Nicole BeharieReleased: 2013
Directed by: Brian Helgeland
42 is a 2013 American biographical sports film directed by Brian Helgeland. The powerful story of Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman), the legendary baseball player who broke Major League Baseball’s... more - 411424
The Blind Side
Sandra Bullock, Lily CollinsReleased: 2009
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
The Blind Side is a 2009 American semi-biographical sports drama film. It was written and directed by John Lee Hancock, and based on the 2006 book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael... more - 58119
Above the Rim
Tupac Shakur, Bernie MacReleased: 1994
Directed by: Jeff Pollack
Above the Rim is a 1994 American drama directed by Jeff Pollack. The screenplay was written by Pollack and screenwriter Barry Michael Cooper, from a story by Pollack and Benny Medina. Starring Duane... more - 610437
Love & Basketball
Tyra Banks, Gabrielle UnionReleased: 2000
Directed by: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Love & Basketball is a 2000 American romantic drama film starring Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan. The film tells the story of Quincy McCall and Monica Wright, two next-door neighbors in Los Angeles,... more - 76917
He Got Game
Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'NealReleased: 1998
Directed by: Spike Lee
He Got Game is a 1998 American sports-drama film written and directed by Spike Lee. It stars Denzel Washington as Jake Shuttlesworth, a prison inmate convicted for an act against his wife. He is also... more - 87522
Glory Road
Emily Deschanel, Jon VoightReleased: 2006
Directed by: James Gartner
Glory Road is a 2006 American drama sports film directed by James Gartner, based on a true story surrounding the events leading to the 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. Don Haskins... more - 97926
White Men Can't Jump
Woody Harrelson, Wesley SnipesReleased: 1992
Directed by: Ron Shelton
White Men Can't Jump is a 1992 American sports buddy comedy film written and directed by Ron Shelton, starring Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson as streetball hustlers. The film was released in the... more - 105311
Ali
Will Smith, Jamie FoxxReleased: 2001
Directed by: Michael Mann
Ali is a 2001 American biographical film directed by Michael Mann. The film tells the story of the boxer Muhammad Ali, played by Will Smith, from 1964-74 featuring his capture of the heavyweight... more - 116826
The Express
Dennis Quaid, Nicole BeharieReleased: 2008
Directed by: Gary Fleder
The Express is a 2008 American sports film produced by John Davis and directed by Gary Fleder. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by Charles Leavitt from a book titled Ernie Davis:... more - 124712
The Hurricane
Denzel Washington, Liev SchreiberReleased: 1999
Directed by: Norman Jewison
The Hurricane is a 1999 biographical film directed by Norman Jewison, and starring Denzel Washington. The script was adapted by Armyan Bernstein and Dan Gordon from the books Lazarus and the... more - 135520
Cool Runnings
John Candy, Malik YobaReleased: 1993
Directed by: Jon Turteltaub
Cool Runnings is a 1993 American sports film directed by Jon Turteltaub, and starring Leon, Doug E. Doug, Rawle D. Lewis, Malik Yoba and John Candy. The film was released in the United States on... more - 146937
Space Jam
Michael Jordan, Bill MurrayReleased: 1996
Directed by: Joe Pytka
Space Jam is a 1996 American live-action/animated sports family/comedy film starring basketball player Michael Jordan and featuring the Looney Tunes characters. The film was produced by Ivan Reitman,... more - 155323
Drumline
Zoe Saldana, Nick CannonReleased: 2002
Directed by: Charles Stone III
Drumline is a 2002 American drama film directed by Charles Stone III. The screenplay, a fictional story about a historically black college and university marching band, was written by Tina Gordon... more - 163715
Pride
Terrence Howard, Bernie MacReleased: 2007
Directed by: Sunu Gonera
Pride is a 2007 biopic drama feature film released by Lionsgate Entertainment on March 23, 2007. Loosely based upon the true story of Philadelphia swim coach James "Jim" Ellis, Pride stars Terrence... more - 173012
The Jesse Owens Story
LeVar Burton, Norman FellReleased: 1984
Directed by: Richard Irving
The Jesse Owens Story is a 1984 biographical film about the black athlete Jesse Owens. Dorian Harewood plays the Olympic gold-winning athlete. The drama won a 1985 Primetime Emmy Award and was... more - 183518
Rebound
Martin Lawrence, Megan MullallyReleased: 2005
Directed by: Steve Carr
Rebound is a 2005 comedy film directed by Steve Carr and starring Martin Lawrence as a disgraced college basketball coach who returns to his old middle school to coach the boys' basketball team. This... more - 193013
Hoop Dreams
William Gates, Arthur AgeeReleased: 1994
Directed by: Steve James
Hoop Dreams is a 1994 American documentary film directed by Steve James and written by James and Frederick Marx, with Kartemquin Films. It follows the story of two African-American high school... more - 203419
Sunset Park
Terrence Howard, Carol KaneReleased: 1996
Directed by: Steve Gomer
Sunset Park is a 1996 basketball film. It stars Rhea Perlman as the head coach of a high school boys' basketball team from the Sunset Park neighborhood in New York City. The film also stars rapper... more - 212510
When We Were Kings
George Foreman, B.B. KingReleased: 1996
Directed by: Leon Gast
When We Were Kings is a 1996 documentary film directed by Leon Gast about the famous "Rumble in the Jungle" heavyweight championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The fight was held... more - 22162
Creed
Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. JordanReleased: 2015
Directed by: Ryan Coogler
Creed is a 2015 American sports drama film directed by Ryan Coogler. The former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson (Michael... more - 232211
The Greatest
Robert Duvall, James Earl JonesReleased: 1977
Directed by: Tom Gries, Monte Hellman
The Greatest is a 1977 film about the life of boxer Muhammad Ali, in which Ali plays himself. It was directed by Tom Gries and Monte Hellman. The film follows Ali's life from the 1960 Olympics to his... more - 242515
Men of Honor
Charlize Theron, Robert De NiroReleased: 2000
Directed by: George Tillman, Jr.
Men of Honor is a 2000 drama film, starring Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. The film was directed by George Tillman, Jr. It is inspired by the true story of Master chief petty officer Carl... more - 2520
The Karate Kid
Jackie Chan, Taraji P. HensonReleased: 2010
Directed by: Harald Zwart
The Karate Kid is a 2010 Chinese-American martial arts drama film directed by Harald Zwart. It stars Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, and it was produced by Jaden's parents Will and Jada. It is a remake... more
