The science fiction genre is known for expanding on familiar aspects of modern life by crafting some of the weirdest, most innovative pieces of technology and fictional sports in movies. The latter are often bold, reimagined versions of popular sports like rollerblading, football, and boxing. Most of the futuristic sports serve a purpose and are meant to reflect the structure of society in films like Starship Troopers, Real Steel, and Rollerball. In a movie like Death Race 2000, the sport at the film’s center is violent and unforgiving.

However, the danger of the sport is obscured by wacky compeтιтors and is presented to spectators as a valuable form of entertainment. Most of the fun sports introduced in sci-fi movies are beloved by fans of the genre, but some have taken on a life of their own outside their respective films, turning into theme park rides and real-life compeтιтive sports. The intensity and level of danger vary with each fictional sport, but audiences can always rely on the sci-fi genre for a creative and entertaining compeтιтive game.

10

Deathsport (1978)

Criminals That Are Sentenced To Death Compete In Deathsport

In the late 1970s sci-fi B-movie Deathsport, the тιтular sport replaces the standard death penalty. In the film, the city-state of Helix prepares for a war with another city-state, Tritan, and they must test out their new weapons, which are ordinary dirt bikes rigged with powerful lasers. The weapons, known as Death Machines, combined with a hazardous terrain, make for a risky and entertaining sport.

Helix’s competing criminals are rewarded with the prize of freedom, so long as they successfully kill each of their compeтιтors in Deathsport. The movie didn’t perform well in 1978, and its public reception has remained largely the same. Unlike other popular fictional sports in films, Deathsport didn’t manage to catch on —either as a film or as a sport. Still, there’s lots of fun to be had with the B-movie and its barbaric game.

9

Ender’s Game (2013)

A Series Of Training Games Prepare Young Fighters For A Future Invasion

Based on Orson Scott Card’s 1985 novel, Ender’s Game is set in the future, where humanity is preparing for an attack on the alien race known as the Formics. The film is centered around skilled cadet Ender Wiggin (Asa ʙuттerfield) as he enters the Battle School to begin training for said attack. While Ender’s Game does differ from Card’s novel in a few ways, much of the film is still focused on young fighters’ training.

The zero-gravity Battle Rooms within the school are where much of the action takes place, as the cadets perform in various training games meant to prepare them for the anticipated battle in space. Throughout the film, Ender proves to be a natural and is highly strategic, which earns him special treatment by those higher up and mistreatment by fellow cadets.

8

Real Steel (2011)

The Film Shows The Possibility Of Robot Boxing

Though the popularity of robot fights has increased over the years, the futuristic boxing seen in Real Steel is unlike anything that currently exists. The film is based on Richard Matheson’s short story and takes place in a world where robots have replaced human boxers. Instead, humans, including Hugh Jackman’s Charlie, take on the responsibility of training the robots, meaning their techniques are a unique combination of human strategy and mechanical power.

The strength and personality of the robots in the ring reflect the people training them, ensuring the various matches remain fresh and unpredictable for audiences. The boxing matches are dangerous, and there are high stakes throughout the film that complement Real Steel‘s emotional storyline well, which revolves around Charlie’s connection with his son. The film earned mixed critical reviews but earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects.

7

Starship Troopers (1997)

Jump Ball Is A Lighthearted Sport Resembling American Football

Though the film wasn’t positively received by audiences or critics upon its initial release, Starship Troopers is now considered a cult classic, as modern viewers are more receptive and understanding of its satire of fascism. The film is based on Robert A. Heinlein’s sci-fi novel of the same name and follows young recruits who battle in an interstellar war with alien bugs. The physical requirements of the futuristic sport of jump ball partially helped these young soldiers train.

Jump ball incorporates techniques seen in gymnastics and football and has its players decked out in padded outfits and helmets, much like modern-day football teams. The sport isn’t nearly as aggressive as the other sci-fi sports mentioned and isn’t the main subject of the film. Still, the scene in which jump ball is introduced to audiences for the first time remains a highlight of the film without diminishing its political and cultural critiques.

6

The Blood Of Heroes (1989)

The Game Of Jugger Is Popular In Real Life

The game of jugger, first created for the film The Blood of Heroes, also known as The Salute of the Jugger, has become a popular game in real life, with tournaments taking place all around the world. In the film, the sport sees two teams playing against one another, with one player on each team being allowed to carry a dog’s skull to the goal post at the other end of the field.

The remaining players are equipped with armor and a variety of weapons and fight off their opponents to make room for their teammate to move across the field with the dog’s skull. In real life, the game isn’t nearly as aggressive and is played with a ball instead. Though The Blood of Heroes certainly isn’t the best sci-fi film of the ’80s, its impact on fans is undeniable. Within recent years, more leagues have been established with the goal of popularizing the sport and creating community.

5

Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

The Game Of Motorball Is Inspired By An Earlier Sci-Fi Movie

Based on a manga series by Yukito Kishiro, Alita: Battle Angel features the violent, futuristic game of motorball. The sport is popular in the Iron City and provides the cyborgs with the chance to enter the thriving city of Zalem. The structure of the game is inspired by the 1975 sci-fi film Rollerball and its eponymous futuristic sport. The ᴅᴇᴀᴅly game requires its players to move around in an arena, carrying a heavy metal ball.

Players must avoid attacks from their opponents, meaning the game of motorball gets brutal fairly quickly. There’s a strong emphasis in the game on physical combat, which, as opposed to getting the metal ball over the finish line, is often preferred by its players. In the film, motorball not only provides some truly captivating action sequences, but the sport also supports the journey of the film’s main cyborg, Alita (Rosa Salazar). Throughout the film, Alita transforms into a powerful motorball star.

4

Death Race 2000 (1975)

Transcontinental Road Racing Is A Violent Sport Presented As Entertainment

Death Race 2000 has earned a cult following over the years, with audiences growing to appreciate its political satire. The film is set in the 2000s, where the United States is operating under a totalitarian regime, and the Transcontinental Road Race has been created to entertain the population. The race has drivers traveling across the country in high-powered vehicles designed to be killing machines.

The race is celebrated by spectators for its violence and gore and its infamous killing of innocent pedestrians, which provides drivers with bonus points. The brutal nature of the race is obscured by the wacky personas drivers adhere to, much like that of professional wrestlers. Still, a resistance group in the film can see through the race’s facade, and they’re determined to sabotage it. Death Race 2000 has its flaws and hasn’t been universally praised by critics, but it is still admired for its unique world-building and fascinating sport.

3

Tron (1982)

Light Cycle Racing Resembles The Snake Gameplay

Evolving into a cult film and spawning a beloved multimedia franchise, 1982’s Tron also introduced the futuristic Light Cycle racing. The film revolves around Jeff Bridges’ Kevin Flynn, a computer programmer who is transported into the digital world and must compete in a series of ᴅᴇᴀᴅly games before he can escape. Conducted by the Master Control Program, Light Cycle racing is one of the virtual games that’s gained the most attention as the franchise has grown.

Light Cycle racing sees its players ride around an arena on futuristic, pod-like motorcycles. The players’ motorcycles can only turn at sharp right angles, creating colorful strips in their trail. The goal of the game is to avoid crashing into other players or the blocks of color created by their motorcycles, much like the popular game Snake. Disney parks around the world have since created roller coasters based on the film’s game, known as Tron Lightcycle Power Run.

2

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)

Introduces The Intense Sport Of Podracing

The fictional sport of podracing was first introduced in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, where Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) proved to be highly proficient in the futuristic sport. The appearance of podracing resembles car racing but is much more intense. The one-man crafts are propelled by mᴀssive engines and glide at significantly high speeds. The sport is extremely dangerous due to the speed of podracers, meaning it certainly isn’t for everyone.

Podracing requires a participant to be focused and have a fast reaction time. The sport is extremely entertaining for audiences to watch, and it’s a crucial part of Anakin’s story in The Phantom Menace. Following the film’s release and the introduction of podracing, the sport was featured in Star Wars video games in the early 2000s, such as Star Wars: Racer Arcade and Star Wars Racer Revenge.

1

Rollerball (1975)

The Game Of Rollerball Quickly Turns Violent

The objective of Rollerball‘s sport is similar to that of jugger in The Blood of Heroes. Players race around a track to get a small ball into the opposing team’s goal, all whilst trying to avoid brutal attacks from their opponents. Much like Death Race 2000, Rollerball‘s тιтular sport is created to entertain and control audiences, and when James Caan’s Jonathan threatens the power of an energy corporation that governs society and controls the game, rollerball becomes increasingly violent.

Rollerball turns 50 later this year, and in the decades since its release, the film has gained a larger audience who have grown to embrace its social commentary and action sequences. The final game in Rollerball is especially riveting as the feud between Jonathan and the chairman of the energy corporation reaches a boiling point, and all previously established rules in the sport are thrown out the window.