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.
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17237Remember 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... more2
14227Coach 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,... more3
1372742
Chadwick Boseman, Nicole BeharieReleased: 2013
Directed by: Brian Helgeland
42 is a 2013 American biographical sports film directed by Brian Helgeland. The powerful story... more4
11224The 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... more5
10636Love & 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.... more6
7919Above 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... more7
7016Space Jam
Michael Jordan, Bill MurrayReleased: 1996
Directed by: Joe Pytka
Space Jam is a 1996 American live-action/animated sports family/comedy film starring... more8
7824White 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... more9
7323Glory 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... more10
6518He 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... more11
7127The 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.... more12
5012Ali
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... more13
4813The Hurricane
Denzel Washington, Liev SchreiberReleased: 1999
Directed by: Norman Jewison
The Hurricane is a 1999 biographical film directed by Norman Jewison, and starring Denzel... more14
5320Cool 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,... more15
5323Drumline
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... more16
3816Pride
Terrence Howard, Bernie MacReleased: 2007
Directed by: Sunu Gonera
Pride is a 2007 biopic drama feature film released by Lionsgate Entertainment on March 23,... more17
3820Rebound
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... more18
3317Sunset 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... more19
2812The 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... more20
2711When 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... more21
2914Hoop 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... more22
2311The 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.... more23
2615Men 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... more24
2312Blue Chips
Shaquille O'Neal, Larry BirdReleased: 1994
Directed by: William Friedkin
Blue Chips is a 1994 basketball drama film, directed by William Friedkin, written by Ron... more25
122Creed
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... more
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