When it comes to discussing the best sports movies of all time, everyone’s mind tends to go to the classics, leaving some great underrated films out of the equation. However, those movies deserve more praise and acclaim as some of the best sports projects.
Among those most iconic and popular sports films are the Rocky series, Moneyball, Remember the тιтans, and Bull Durham. These are critically acclaimed films that have withstood the test of time and still get rewatched often by sports fans everywhere.
That said, with so many memorable sports films, it’s easy for some of the best to fly under the radar. Some were released to little fanfare yet are worth a watch, others were strong hits upon release only to be forgotten over time.
Mr. 3000 (2004)
The concept of Mr. 3000 is an interesting one as it focuses on the тιтular number of hits that a player amᴀsses in their career. 3,000 is said to be the number that guarantees a player entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame, as it did for the likes of Derek Jeter and Ichiro Suzuki.
In Mr. 3000, Bernie Mac plays Stan Ross, a legendary hitter for the Milwaukee Brewers who reached 3,000 hits and immediately retired, rather than stay on to help the team. The selfish act did make him money as he used “Mr. 3000” for branding opportunities.
However, a scoring error reveals he’s actually at 2,997 hits, so he returns to the game to get the three hits needed. While there, he learns humility and teamwork with his new ballclub in a touching baseball tale boosted by Mac’s strong performance.
High Flying Bird (2019)
Most sports movies obviously focus on the action that takes place on the field or court, so when you find one that does something different, it stands out. That’s what High Flying Bird does, a Netflix original from acclaimed filmmaker Steven Soderbergh.
SH๏τ entirely on an iPhone (Soderbergh’s second movie filmed that way), High Flying Bird focuses on a sports agent who pitches a controversial plan to his rookie client during the pro basketball league’s lockout. It makes for a unique look at the sport.
Since this was released straight to Netflix and because it doesn’t follow the on-court aspects of basketball, this was overlooked by many. However, High Flying Bird is worth checking out to see a different side of the game and Soderbergh’s direction makes everything feel a bit more intimate.
Goon (2011)
The most iconic hockey movies are the fictional The Mighty Ducks series aimed at children and Miracle, the true story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. Most hockey films outside of those have been less famous, though one was mildly successful enough to spawn a sequel, which was Goon.
Goon tells a story of the often unsung hero on a hockey team, which is the enforcer. The guy who is there to protect his teammates and get into fights. In Goon, that player is Doug Glatt, played by Sean William Scott. What makes the film work is how likable Doug is.
Despite being out there to fight, he’s a sweet guy at heart and he always means well. He earns the favor of his teammates through his willingness to put his body on the line for them. From epic fights with Liev Schreiber’s Ross Rhea to a warm romance with Alison Pill’s Eva, Goon is a hidden gem.
Safety (2020)
A lot of movies released during the COVID-19 pandemic went straight to streaming services and because of that, many people simply pᴀssed them up. That was seemingly the case for Safety, which arrived at the tail end of 2020 and tells a true story about the Clemson football team.
Based on the life of Ray McElrathbey, Safety follows Ray (Jay Reeves), a promising Clemson football player who secretly had his little brother live on campus with him when their home life became problematic. That allows Safety to be a heartwarming sports story.
Despite arriving with little fanfare on Disney+, the movie was a critical success, sitting at 80% on Rotten Tomatoes. It doesn’t do anything new with this sports formula but it’s a formula because it works and this is an uplifting drama that’s among the best.
Eephus (2024)
Most sports movies either look at an underdog or a top star/team in the pros, college level, or amongst children. Eephus goes a totally different route, putting the focus on guys from a recreational baseball league who play their final game before their home stadium is demolished.
The amateur emphasis of Eephus brings the comedy, with many of the guys involved being the opposite of who you’d typically see on a baseball field. Guys who are past their prime, out of shape, and just out there for the love of the game.
The added bit about this being their final game together is where the heart comes into things. It’s endearing to watch these guys, who are going home to their regular lives after, try so hard to take in every last minute of this game they hold so close to their hearts.
Whip It (2009)
Roller derby isn’t a sport that gets a lot of shine, yet it’s popular around the world and especially in the United States. Whip It is the rare film to center on the sport, following a teen named Bliss (Elliot Page) who finds herself among an all-female roller derby team.
Based on the novel Derby Girl, the film was very well received, holding an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it was a box office flop that barely grossed back its $15 million budget. That positive reception shows why it’s worth checking out though.
Page gives a great performance as Bliss but it’s the supporting cast that really make this stand out. The team members are played by Kristen Wiig, Juliette Lewis, and Drew Barrymore (who also directed the film), bringing some great comedic bits to the sports action.
Little Big League (1994)
The ’90s were a time when every sport had a movie or two with kids at the center. The Mighty Ducks, Rookie of the Year, Little Giants, and more were all over the place, yet Little Big League is one that doesn’t have the long-term fanbase that those others do.
Little Big League is a unique take on the formula, with the child protagonist becoming the owner and manager of the Minnesota Twins, rather than being a player on the field himself. That might be why this wasn’t as iconic since kids wanted to see themselves as a player, not a manager.
That said, Little Big League still has the delights that you want from this genre. While reviews weren’t strong, it holds up surprisingly well all these years later. As an added bonus, Ashley Crow plays Jenny, the mother of the protagonist, and she is the real life mother of current MLB star Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
Acclaimed director Richard Linklater has been behind some fantastic movies from the Before trilogy to Boyhood to Dazed and Confused to School of Rock. In 2016, he tackled a sports comedy and did so in Linklater fashion.
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A lot of his movies are well written and focus more on character dynamics than the typical emotional highs of a lot of sports films. Everybody Wants Some!! does just that, centering on a group of college baseball players in Texas during the 1980s.
There isn’t a lot when it comes to scenes on the actual field, yet the relationships forged by these characters are what carry the film. It also helps that the cast is tremendous, featuring future breakout stars like Glen Powell, Wyatt Russell, and Zoey Deutch.
Mystery, Alaska (1999)
Another hockey movie that flew under the radar like Goon is Mystery, Alaska. It’s surprising that this wasn’t a bigger hit considering it has some major talents involved, as well as the appearance of one of the most popular NHL teams.
Mystery, Alaska tells the story of a fictional hockey team from the тιтular town, known for their speed and skills on an open pond. Their popularity leads them to play an exhibition game against the New York Rangers, which ends up dominating the town’s conversation for weeks.
As noted, the cast is stellar, led by Russell Crowe, Hank Azaria, and Burt Reynolds. There are also some great cameos from Mike Myers, Barry Melrose, and Little Richard, among others. Reviews weren’t overly strong but hockey fans all around the world should find something to like here.
Fighting With My Family (2019)
In the eyes of a lot of people, pro wrestling is more of an entertainment TV show than a true sport but there’s no denying the work those athletes put in. That was evident in Fighting with My Family, one of the best movies about wrestling ever made.
Based on the 2012 documentary The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family, the film depicts the life of Saraya Knight and how she rose to fame as Paige in WWE. Produced by Dwayne Johnson and featuring him in a cameo as himself, the film was met with widespread acclaim.
Fighting with My Family has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was a moderate box office success, yet it still deserves more appreciation than it got. The film is also notable for starring Florence Pugh in the same year that she broke out with Little Women and Midsommar.
