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The Least Inspiring Sports Movies

Updated September 23, 2019 5.5k votes 465 voters 42.3k views52 items

List RulesVote up for the LEAST inspiring movie; vote down for movies you did find inspiring

The least inspiring sports movies might entertain, but they don't necessarily inspire. Sure, watching a cute movie about a golden retriever that can shoot hoops is fun - but does that mean everyone's suddenly going to hit the park for a pick up game? No. Unless you're a golden retriever. Maybe then. From 'Air Bud' to 'Rocky V,' this is a list of football, baseball, hockey and other sports-related movies that, for whatever reason, just don't push the right buttons. If you see a sports film listed that you did, in fact, find inspirational, vote it down. But if you agree that a particular sports movie on this list is ridiculously uninspiring, vote it up. And if you know of a really uninspiring sports movie that isn't on the list, add it!

The most inspirational sports movies of all-time can make sports fans (or almost anyone for that matter) feel energized and motivated. We're talking films like the original 'Rocky' and 'Hoosiers.' They can make us shed tears, too ("Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!") Sadly, this list doesn't include those kinds of movies. No, this list includes some serious stinkers. Did anyone honestly think the football movie 'Johnny Be Good' was, in fact, good? Yes, many loved 'The Bad News Bears' but what about 'The Bad News Bears Go to Japan?' Forgettable, not inspirational in the least - and downright pointless, really.

Among the least inspirational sports films: remakes and sequels. The first two 'Mighty Ducks' movies were pretty great, but 'D3: The Mighty Ducks' fell far short. Same with the remakes of 'The Longest Yard' and 'Rollerball.' Sometimes it's best to leave a good thing alone. Also, if you want to watch a movie about a kangaroo that can box (1978's 'Matilda') or a mule that can kick a football (1976's 'Gus'), fine. Just don't expect it to inspire.

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Major League: Back to the Minors
Dennis Haysbert, Walton Goggins
Released: 1998
Directed by: John Warren
Major League: Back to the Minors is a 1998 film, distributed by Warner Bros., directed and... more on Wikipedia
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Juwanna Mann
Lil' Kim, Vivica A. Fox
Released: 2002
Directed by: Jesse Vaughan
Juwanna Mann is a 2002 American sports romantic comedy film directed by Jesse Vaughan. The... more on Wikipedia
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Ed
Jim Caviezel, Matt LeBlanc
Released: 1996
Directed by: Bill Couturié
Ed is a 1996 American sports comedy film about a talented baseball pitcher and his friendly... more on Wikipedia
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Little Big League
Jason Robards Jr., Jeff Garlin
Released: 1994
Directed by: Andrew Scheinman
Little Big League is a 1994 family sports film about a 12 year-old who suddenly becomes the... more on Wikipedia
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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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Rookie of the Year
Gary Busey, John Candy
Released: 1993
Directed by: Daniel Stern
Rookie of the Year is a 1993 American sports comedy film starring Thomas Ian Nicholas and Gary... more on Wikipedia
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The Benchwarmers
James Earl Jones, David Spade
Released: 2006
Directed by: Dennis Dugan
The Benchwarmers is a 2006 American sports-comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan. It stars Rob... more on Wikipedia

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Backfield in Motion
Ilona Staller
Released: 1990
Directed by: Jim Reynolds
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The Longest Yard
Adam Sandler, Courteney Cox
Released: 2005
Directed by: Peter Segal
The Longest Yard is a 2005 American sports comedy film, a remake of the 1974 film of the same... more on Wikipedia
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Kicking & Screaming
Will Ferrell, Robert Duvall
Released: 2005
Directed by: Jesse Dylan
Kicking & Screaming is a 2005 American comedy film directed by Jesse Dylan starring Will... more on Wikipedia
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55
Here Come the Tigers
Kevin Moore, Noel John Cunningham
Released: 1978
Directed by: Sean S. Cunningham
Here Come the Tigers is a 1979 film directed by Sean S. Cunningham. Cunningham said in Crystal... more on Wikipedia
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Slap Shot 3: The Junior League
Leslie Nielsen, Mark Messier
Released: 2008
Directed by: Richard Martin
Slap Shot 3: The Junior League is a 2008 sports film starring Greyston Holt and Lynda Boyd and... more on Wikipedia
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Rollerball
P!nk, Rebecca Romijn
Released: 2002
Directed by: John McTiernan
Rollerball is a 2002 remake of the 1975 science-fiction film of the same name. This updated... more on Wikipedia
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Quarterback Princess
Helen Hunt, Tim Robbins
Released: 1983
Directed by: Noel Black
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Slam Dunk Ernest
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jim Varney
Released: 1995
Directed by: John R. Cherry III
Slam Dunk Ernest is a 1995 sports comedy film, and the eighth full-length feature film... more on Wikipedia
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Artie Lange's Beer League
Tina Fey, Artie Lange
Released: 2006
Directed by: Frank Sebastiano
Artie Lange's Beer League is a 2006 film written, produced, and starring Artie Lange. It was... more on Wikipedia
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Major League II
Charlie Sheen, Jay Leno
Released: 1994
Directed by: David S. Ward
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Air Bud
Mark Jackson, Kevin Zegers
Released: 1997
Directed by: Charles Martin Smith
Air Bud is a 1997 American family comedy film that sparked the franchise centered on the... more on Wikipedia
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Like Mike
Brenda Song, Jimmy Kimmel
Released: 2002
Directed by: John Schultz
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The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold
Christine Lakin, Oksana Baiul
Released: 2006
Directed by: Sean McNamara
The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold is a 2006 American romantic drama film that follows the... more on Wikipedia
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Racing Stripes
Hayden Panettiere, Snoop Dogg
Released: 2005
Directed by: Frederik Du Chau
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Gus
Johnny Unitas, Dick Butkus
Released: 1976
Directed by: Vincent McEveety
Gus is a 1976 American film by Walt Disney Productions. Its center character is Gus, a... more on Wikipedia
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Eddie
Donald Trump, Dennis Rodman
Released: 1996
Directed by: Steve Rash
Eddie is a 1996 comedy film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Frank Langella. The film barely broke... more on Wikipedia
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The Air Up There
Kevin Bacon, Charles Gitonga Maina
Released: 1994
Directed by: Paul Michael Glaser
The Air Up There is a 1994 comedy film directed by Paul Michael Glaser and starring Kevin... more on Wikipedia
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Angels in the Endzone
Christopher Lloyd, Matthew Lawrence
Released: 1997
Directed by: Gary Nadeau
Angels in the Endzone is a 1997 American film directed by Gary Nadeau and starring Christopher... more on Wikipedia

The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold