The Best Sports Movies for Kids

Ranker Film
Updated September 16, 2023 4.6K votes 458 voters
Over 400 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Sports Movies for Kids

There's nothing more exciting than an underdog team fighting to win the big game, especially when kids are involved. The top kids sports movies are typically about overcoming differences and working together to reach the same goal. This is a list of sports movies for children featuring everything from The Karate Kid to Cool Runnings to Ladybugs.

What family-favorite movies will you find on this list of the best children's sports films? Baseball fanatics might vote The Sandlot to the top of the collection. This movie has all of the elements of a classic kids' sports film, including teamwork, friendship, and one big, terrifying, slobbering dog. The Bad News Bears is another classic kids sports movie for the whole family. Although Rudy is about a college football team, the title character's relentless spirit is inspiring for sports fans of all ages. Other good films featured on this roundup of top sports movies for kids include The Mighty Ducks, Cars, and Kicking and Screaming.

Do you have a favorite kids' sports movie? Give the best films a thumbs up and please add any good movies that are missing.

Looking for more family friends sports movies? Check out this list of the best Disney sports movies.

Most divisive: The Karate Kid
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  • The Sandlot
    1

    The Sandlot

    Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna
    240 votes
    • Released: 1993
    • Directed by: David M. Evans
    In the heart of summer 1962, a group of boys gather at The Sandlot, a local baseball diamond. The movie follows Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry), who recently moved to the neighborhood and struggles to fit in. Benny Rodriguez (Mike Vitar), the team's star player, takes him under his wing. Together they embark on a series of adventures involving a monstrous dog nicknamed The Beast, and a coveted Babe Ruth baseball. This coming-of-age film, directed by David Mickey Evans, blends comedy with drama as it explores friendship, courage, and the joyous days of youth.
  • The Mighty Ducks Franchise
    2

    The Mighty Ducks Franchise

    Emilio Estevez, Joshua Jackson, Kenan Thompson
    193 votes
    • Released: 1992 - 1996
    • Directed by: Stephen Herek, Sam Weisman, Robert Lieberman
    The Mighty Ducks is a series of three live-action films released in the 1990s by Walt Disney Pictures. The movies revolve around a Twin Cities ice hockey team, composed of young players that stick together throughout various challenges. Despite its negative reviews by movie critics, the trilogy's commercial success paved the way for the creation of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (now the Anaheim Ducks) NHL team as well as a related animated series called Mighty Ducks.
  • Little Giants
    3

    Little Giants

    Rick Moranis, Ed O'Neill, Shawna Waldron
    168 votes
    • Released: 1994
    • Directed by: Duwayne Dunham
    In Little Giants, a comedy-sports film, sibling rivalry takes center stage. When Danny O'Shea (Rick Moranis) is consistently overshadowed by his athletic brother Kevin (Ed O'Neill), he forms his own ragtag youth football team to challenge Kevin's unbeatable squad. The plot thickens when both brothers vie for the town's coveted Pee-Wee Football championship. Aided by a motley crew of underdogs, including the pint-sized hotshot Icebox (Shawna Waldron), Danny fights to prove that heart and determination can rival raw talent in this lighthearted, family-friendly tale of small-town football and big-time dreams.

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  • Remember the Titans
    4

    Remember the Titans

    Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Donald Faison
    84 votes
    • Released: 2000
    • Directed by: Boaz Yakin
    Based on a true story, Remember the Titans is a compelling sports drama. Set in 1971, it tells the tale of a newly integrated high school football team in Virginia. The African American coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) and his assistant Bill Yoast (Will Patton), who is white, must work together to unite their racially divided team. As they battle prejudice and adversity both on and off the pitch, their struggles culminate in a high-stakes championship game. This inspiring film won the Black Reel Award for Network/Cable - Best Film in 2001.

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  • Rudy
    5

    Rudy

    Sean Astin, Ned Beatty, Charles S. Dutton
    153 votes
    • Released: 1993
    • Directed by: David Anspaugh
    Rudy is an inspiring sports drama that centers around the life of Rudy Ruettiger (Sean Astin), a young man from a blue-collar family who dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame. Despite his small size and lack of athletic prowess, Rudy's relentless determination leads him to overcome numerous obstacles. Charles S. Dutton plays Fortune, a custodian at Notre Dame who becomes Rudy's mentor, while Jon Favreau stars as D-Bob, Rudy's humorous and supportive friend. The film, directed by David Anspaugh, was nominated for multiple awards and is recognized as one of the top football movies of all time.

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  • Cool Runnings
    6

    Cool Runnings

    Leon, Doug E. Doug, Malik Yoba
    169 votes
    • Released: 1993
    • Directed by: Jon Turteltaub
    Cool Runnings is a unique blend of sports and comedy, centered around the unlikely story of Jamaica's first bobsled team. Derice Bannock (Leon), a sprinter failed to qualify for the Olympics, forms an unusual alliance with three other athletes, Sanka Coffie (Doug E. Doug), Junior Bevil (Rawle D. Lewis), and Yul Brenner (Malik Yoba). This ragtag group enlists the help of disgraced former Olympian Irv Blitzer (John Candy) who reluctantly agrees to coach them. Despite their tropical roots and lack of experience on ice, they defy all odds and stereotypes in a quest for Olympic glory. The film, though comedic in nature, carries an underlying message about perseverance and challenging societal norms.

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