150 Best Sports Movies of All Time

Critics Consensus: Led by strong work from Margot Robbie and Alison Janney, I, Tonya finds the humor in its real-life story without losing sight of its more tragic -- and emotionally resonant -- elements.

Synopsis: In 1991, talented figure skater Tonya Harding becomes the first American woman to complete a triple axel during a competition. In 1994, her world comes... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Julianne Nicholson

Directed By: Craig Gillespie

Critics Consensus: Ford v Ferrari delivers all the polished auto action audiences will expect -- and balances it with enough gripping human drama to satisfy non-racing enthusiasts.

Synopsis: American automotive designer Carroll Shelby and fearless British race car driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe

Directed By: James Mangold

Critics Consensus: Creed brings the Rocky franchise off the mat for a surprisingly effective seventh round that extends the boxer's saga in interesting new directions while staying true to its classic predecessors' roots.

Synopsis: Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, boxing champion Apollo Creed, who died before Adonis was born. However, boxing is in his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad

Directed By: Ryan Coogler

Critics Consensus: Arguably Martin Scorsese's and Robert De Niro's finest film, Raging Bull is often painful to watch, but it's a searing, powerful work about an unsympathetic hero.

Synopsis: The story of a middleweight boxer as he rises through ranks to earn his first shot at the middleweight crown. He falls in love with... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent

Directed By: Martin Scorsese

Critics Consensus: Mickey Rourke gives a performance for the ages in The Wrestler, a richly affecting, heart-wrenching yet ultimately rewarding drama.

Synopsis: Aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke) is long past his prime but still ready and rarin' to go on the pro-wrestling circuit. After... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Mark Margolis

Directed By: Darren Aronofsky

Critics Consensus: National Velvet makes the most of a breakout performance from Elizabeth Taylor, delivering a timeless family-friendly tearjerker that avoids straying into the sentimental.

Synopsis: When Velvet Brown (Elizabeth Taylor), an equine-loving 12-year-old living in rural Sussex, becomes the owner of a rambunctious horse, she decides to train it for... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mickey Rooney, Elizabeth Taylor, Donald Crisp, Anne Revere

Directed By: Clarence Brown

Critics Consensus: Much like the sport it celebrates, Fighting with My Family muscles past clichés with a potent blend of energy and committed acting that should leave audiences cheering.

Synopsis: Born into a tight-knit wrestling family, Paige and her brother Zak are ecstatic when they get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to try out for the WWE.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Florence Pugh, Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Jack Lowden

Directed By: Stephen Merchant

Critics Consensus: Free Solo depicts athletic feats that many viewers will find beyond reason - and grounds the attempts in passions that are all but universal.

Synopsis: Alex Honnold completes the first free solo climb of famed El Capitan's 3,000-foot vertical rock face at Yosemite National Park.

Starring: Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Sanni McCandless, Jimmy Chin

Directed By: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin

Critics Consensus: Director Bennett Miller, along with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, take a niche subject and turn it into a sharp, funny, and touching portrait worthy of baseball lore.

Synopsis: Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), general manager of the Oakland A's, one day has an epiphany: Baseball's conventional wisdom is all wrong. Faced with a tight... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright

Directed By: Bennett Miller

Critics Consensus: Driven by Brad Pitt's laidback magnetism and sporting a souped-up engine courtesy of Joseph Kosinski's kinetic direction, F1 The Movie brings vintage cool across the finish line.

Synopsis: Dubbed "the greatest that never was," Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was FORMULA 1's most promising phenom of the 1990s until an accident on the track... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon

Directed By: Joseph Kosinski

Critics Consensus: Serving up Timothée Chalamet at his most infectiously charismatic, Marty Supreme is a propulsive epic that realizes its sky-high aspirations even while it critiques its indelible hero's toxic ambition.

Synopsis: Marty Mauser, a young man with a dream no one respects, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness.

Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary

Directed By: Josh Safdie

Critics Consensus: Enthralling viewing even for audiences with little to no knowledge of or interest in sailing, Maiden pays powerful tribute to a true pioneer.

Synopsis: In 1989 Tracy Edwards leads the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Race, a grueling yachting competition that covers 33,000 miles and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tracy Edwards, Nancy Harris, John Chittenden, Bruno De Bois

Directed By: Alex Holmes

Critics Consensus: Kevin Costner is at his funniest and most charismatic in Bull Durham, a film that's as wise about relationships as it is about minor league baseball.

Synopsis: In Durham, N.C., the Bulls minor league baseball team has one asset no other can claim: a poetry-loving groupie named Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon). As... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Trey Wilson

Directed By: Ron Shelton

Critics Consensus: An engrossing documentary that's as much about a time and a place as it is about a fight.

Synopsis: On October 30, 1974, perhaps the most famous heavyweight championship boxing match of all time took place in Kinshasa, Zaire: the "Rumble in the Jungle"... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Don King, B.B. King

Directed By: Leon Gast

Critics Consensus: An entertaining and gripping documentary that shows being confined to a wheelchair doesn't mean the fun has to end.

Synopsis: This documentary introduces the U.S. quad rugby team -- a team composed entirely of young paraplegic men. Using special wheelchairs and very little protection, the... View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Henry Alex Rubin, Dana Adam Shapiro

Critics Consensus: This story of a down-on-his-luck boxer is thoroughly predictable, but Sylvester Stallone's script and stunning performance in the title role brush aside complaints.

Synopsis: Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a small-time boxer from working-class Philadelphia, is arbitrarily chosen to take on the reigning world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers),... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith, Burt Young

Directed By: John G. Avildsen

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Documentary filmmaker Bruce Brown, himself a competition-level surfer, follows surfers Michael Hynson and Robert August on an around-the-world surfing adventure. With Brown's wry, sardonic narration... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bruce Brown

Directed By: Bruce Brown

Critics Consensus: One of the most critically acclaimed documentaries of all time, Hoop Dreams is a rich, complex, heartbreaking, and ultimately deeply rewarding film that uses high school hoops as a jumping-off point to explore issues of race, class, and education in modern America.

Synopsis: Every school day, African-American teenagers William Gates and Arthur Agee travel 90 minutes each way from inner-city Chicago to St. Joseph High School in Westchester,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steve James, William Gates, Arthur Agee, Sheila Agee

Directed By: Steve James

Critics Consensus: Rich, wonderful characters and strong performances populate Win Win, with writer/director Thomas McCarthy continuing to emerge as a great American humanist.

Synopsis: Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) is a struggling, though not overly ambitious, lawyer. As the court-appointed attorney of Leo Poplar (Burt Young), an old man afflicted... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale, Jeffrey Tambor

Directed By: Tom McCarthy

Critics Consensus: Horse Feathers finds the Marx Brothers in fine madcap form, taking aim at an array of timely targets while serving up classic set pieces.

Synopsis: The Marx Brothers take on higher education and football in this riotous comedy. The newly minted president of Huxley University, Quincy Adams Wagstaff (Groucho Marx),... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx

Directed By: Norman Z. McLeod

Critics Consensus: Led by a trio of captivating performances from Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, and Amy Adams, The Fighter is a solidly entertaining, albeit predictable, entry in the boxing drama genre.

Synopsis: For Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), boxing is a family affair. His tough-as-nails mother is his manager. His half-brother, Dicky (Christian Bale), once a promising boxer... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo

Directed By: David O. Russell

Critics Consensus: Urgent and empathetic, Changing the Game takes an affecting and admirably nuanced look at young transgender athletes.

Synopsis: This intimate story takes us into the lives of three high school athletes from across the US -- all at different stages of their athletic... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mack Beggs, Sarah Rose Huckman, Andraya Yearwood

Directed By: Michael Barnett

Critics Consensus: The Bad News Bears is rude, profane, and cynical, but shot through with honest, unforced humor, and held together by a deft, understated performance from Walter Matthau.

Synopsis: Hard-drinking, ex-minor-league hopeful Morris Buttermaker grumpily agrees to coach a Little League team at the behest of lawyer-councilman Bob Whitewood, who has a vendetta against... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Walter Matthau, Tatum O'Neal, Vic Morrow, Joyce Van Patten

Directed By: Michael Ritchie

Critics Consensus: Finding beauty in sports beyond the mere satisfaction of winning, Next Goal Wins is a moving documentary filled with a lovable array of underdogs.

Synopsis: Dutch coach Thomas Rongen attempts the nearly impossible task of turning the American Samoa soccer team from perennial losers into winners.

Starring: Thomas Rongen, Jaiyah Saelua, Nicky Salapu, Gene Ne'emia

Directed By: Mike Brett, Steve Jamison

Critics Consensus: The King of Kong is funny and compelling with more than a few poignant insights into human behavior. Director Seth Gordon presents the dueling King Kong players in all their obsessive complexity and with perfectly al dente observations.

Synopsis: Named "Video Game Player of the Century" in 1999, Billy Mitchell sets a record score in "Donkey Kong" that many felt would never be broken.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steve Wiebe, Mark Alpiger, Walter Day, Steve Sanders

Directed By: Seth Gordon

Critics Consensus: Creed II's adherence to franchise formula adds up to a sequel with few true surprises, but its time-tested generational themes still pack a solid punch.

Synopsis: In 1985, Russian boxer Ivan Drago killed former U.S. champion Apollo Creed in a tragic match that stunned the world. Against the wishes of trainer... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad

Directed By: Steven Caple Jr.

Critics Consensus: Racing Dreams offers an absorbing peek at the lives of young NASCAR hopefuls that should resonate with racing enthusiasts as well as viewers with no connection to the sport.

Synopsis: Marshall Curry goes behind the scenes of the World Karting Association, a youth racing league that often serves as a springboard to NASCAR. Curry documents... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Annabeth Barnes

Directed By: Marshall Curry

Critics Consensus: A chilling true crime drama, Foxcatcher offers Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, and Channing Tatum a chance to shine -- and all three of them rise to the challenge.

Synopsis: When wealthy John du Pont (Steve Carell) invites Olympic wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) to move to his estate and help form a wrestling team... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Vanessa Redgrave

Directed By: Bennett Miller

Critics Consensus: Equal measures inspiring, and enraging, this typical sports drama knows how to take a hit and dole them out with enough emotion and vigor to stoke The Fire Inside.

Synopsis: THE FIRE INSIDE is the inspirational true story of Claressa Shields, arguably the greatest female boxer of all time. Claressa, a high school Junior from... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ryan Destiny, Brian Tyree Henry, Olunike Adeliyi, De'Adre Aziza

Directed By: Rachel Morrison

Critics Consensus: A sleek, slick, well-oiled machine, Rush is a finely crafted sports drama with exhilarating race sequences and strong performances from Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl.

Synopsis: In the mid-1970s, charismatic English playboy James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Austrian perfectionist Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) share an intense rivalry in Formula 1 racing.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara

Directed By: Ron Howard

Critics Consensus: The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki sidesteps sports biopic clichés with a beautifully filmed, well-acted look at the balance between career fulfillment and personal happiness.

Synopsis: Olli Mäki loses a fight for the world championship in the second round by knockout in front of a packed stadium.

Starring: Jarkko Lahti, Eero Milonoff, Oona Airola, Joonas Saartamo

Directed By: Juho Kuosmanen

Critics Consensus: The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg is an affectionate, often very funny portrait of a baseball pioneer.

Synopsis: "The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg" is a humorous and nostalgic documentary about an extraordinary baseball player who transcended religious prejudice to become an... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hank Greenberg, Alan Dershowitz, Bob Feller, Charlie Gehringer

Directed By: Aviva Kempner

Critics Consensus: It covers familiar sports documentary territory, but Undefeated proves there are still powerful stories to be told on the high school gridiron.

Synopsis: Since its founding in 1899, Manassas High School in North Memphis has never had a football team win a playoff game. In 2004, former high-school... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bill Courtney

Directed By: Dan Lindsay, T.J. Martin

Critics Consensus: Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason give iconic performances in this dark, morally complex tale of redemption.

Synopsis: Story Fast Eddie Felsen (Paul Newman) and his adventures in the world of professional pool. Fast Eddie is a young hopeful on his way to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott, Piper Laurie

Directed By: Robert Rossen

Critics Consensus: Clint Eastwood's assured direction - combined with knockout performances from Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman - help Million Dollar Baby to transcend its clichés, and the result is deeply heartfelt and moving.

Synopsis: Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) is a veteran Los Angeles boxing trainer who keeps almost everyone at arm's length, except his old friend and associate Eddie... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Anthony Mackie

Directed By: Clint Eastwood

Critics Consensus: At once a touching, funny coming-of-age story and a compelling sports film, Breaking Away is a delightful treat.

Synopsis: Dave (Dennis Christopher) and his working-class friends Cyril (Daniel Stern), Moocher (Jackie Earle Haley) and Mike (Dennis Quaid) spend their post-high school days in Bloomington,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley

Directed By: Peter Yates

Critics Consensus: Bigger, Stronger, Faster* is a fascinating, informative, entertaining and especially introspective account of the American 'enhancement' culture.

Synopsis: This documentary presents the pervasive use of steroids in sports as an indication of the American obsession with winning at all costs. The Bell brothers... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Bell

Directed By: Chris Bell

Critics Consensus: Sugar is an exceptionally-crafted film -- part sports flick, part immigrant tale -- with touching and poignant drama highlighted by splendid performances.

Synopsis: Like many young men in the Dominican Republic, 19-year-old Miguel "Sugar" Santos (Algenis Perez Soto) dreams of winning a slot on an American baseball team.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Algenis Perez Soto, Rayniel Rufino, André Holland, Michael Gaston

Directed By: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Critics Consensus: The equally tragic and heroic story of Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig is eloquently told here with an iconic star turn by Gary Cooper.

Synopsis: This moving biographical drama follows the life of revered baseball player Lou Gehrig (Gary Cooper). Championed by sportswriter Sam Blake (Walter Brennan), Gehrig eventually gets... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Babe Ruth, Walter Brennan

Directed By: Sam Wood

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: "One Day in September" is a new kind of thriller - one where real lives are at stake and every event is true. They were... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Douglas, Ankie Spitzer, Jamal Al-Gashey, Gerald Seymour

Directed By: Kevin Macdonald

Critics Consensus: While taking full advantage of its subject's colorful baseball career, No No: A Dockumentary also imparts broader, thought-provoking messages that should resonate with viewers who aren't sports fans.

Synopsis: Baseball pitcher Dock Ellis had a controversial life and career, once pitching a no-hitter while high on LSD.

Starring: Larry Demery, Dock Ellis, Ron Howard

Directed By: Jeff Radice

Critics Consensus: Equal parts mystery and biography, Deep Water is both an engrossing documentary and an affecting treatise on human folly and obsession.

Synopsis: In 1968, Donald Crowhurst, an inexperienced British sailor, puts up his home as collateral, gains financial backing and enters the Golden Globe, the first nonstop... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tilda Swinton

Directed By: Louise Osmond, Jerry Rothwell

Critics Consensus: Even for filmgoers who aren't racing fans, Senna offers heart-pounding thrills -- and heartbreaking emotion.

Synopsis: Ayrton Senna becomes a three-time Formula One racing champion and Brazil's national hero before his untimely death at age 34.

Starring: Alain Prost, Sir Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, Viviane Senna

Directed By: Asif Kapadia

Critics Consensus: Gripping even though the outcome is known.

Synopsis: In 1985, two young climbers, Joe Simpson (Brendan Mackey) and Simon Yates (Nicholas Aaron), set out to be the first to reach the summit of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brendan Mackey, Nicholas Aaron, Richard Hawking, Joe Simpson

Directed By: Kevin Macdonald

Critics Consensus: Smart, compassionate, and moving, The Crash Reel uses the familiar sport-doc formula to subvert expectations and ask challenging questions about ambition and achievement.

Synopsis: Snowboarder Kevin Pearce suffers a traumatic brain injury while training for the 2010 Winter Olympics. His family stands by his side as he struggles through... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kevin Pearce, Shaun White, Mason Aguirre, Dr. Daniel Amen

Directed By: Lucy Walker

Critics Consensus: The Way Back's occasionally frustrating treatment of a formulaic story is often outweighed by Ben Affleck's outstanding work in the central role.

Synopsis: Jack Cunningham was a high school basketball superstar who suddenly walked away from the game for unknown reasons. Years later, he's now stuck in a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Affleck, Al Madrigal, Janina Gavankar, Jeremy Radin

Directed By: Gavin O'Connor

Critics Consensus: The Way Back's occasionally frustrating treatment of a formulaic story is often outweighed by Ben Affleck's outstanding work in the central role.

Synopsis: Jack Cunningham was a high school basketball superstar who suddenly walked away from the game for unknown reasons. Years later, he's now stuck in a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Affleck, Al Madrigal, Janina Gavankar, Jeremy Radin

Directed By: Gavin O'Connor

Critics Consensus: Better than your average football pic, Damned United is carried by another star turn from Michael Sheen as Brian Clough.

Synopsis: The story of Brian Clough's 44 day stint as manager of Leeds United Football Club takes place in 1974 England. When Don Revie quits Leeds... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Jim Broadbent, Stephen Graham

Directed By: Tom Hooper

Critics Consensus: A spirited film that explores gender politics with comedy, intelligence, and a variety of interesting characters.

Synopsis: Since women are banned from soccer matches, Iranian females masquerade as males so they can slip into Tehran's stadium to see the game between Iran... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sima Mobarakshai, Safar Samandar, Shayesteh Irani, Mohamad Kheirabadi

Directed By: Jafar Panahi

Critics Consensus: Lagaan is lavish, rousing entertainment in the old-fashioned tradition of Hollywood musicals.

Synopsis: The year is 1893 and India is under British occupation. In a small village, the tyrannical Captain Russell (Paul Blackthorne) has imposed an unprecedented land... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley, Paul Blackthorne

Directed By: Ashutosh Gowariker

Critics Consensus: Fun and fascinating, Red Army delivers absorbing documentary drama for hockey fans and sports novices alike.

Synopsis: Hockey captain Slava Fetisov and four other players form a nearly unbeatable unit known as the "Russian Five," but their coach's brutal regimen leads Fetisov... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Scotty Bowman, Viacheslav Fetisov, Anatoli Karpov, Alexei Kasatonov

Directed By: Gabe Polsky

Critics Consensus: It may adhere to the sports underdog formula, but Hoosiers has been made with such loving craft, and features such excellent performances, that it's hard to resist.

Synopsis: Failed college coach Norman Dale gets a chance at redemption when he is hired to direct the basketball program at a high school in a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper, Sheb Wooley

Directed By: David Anspaugh

Critics Consensus: Decidedly slower and less limber than the Olympic runners at the center of its story, Chariots of Fire nevertheless makes effectively stirring use of its spiritual and patriotic themes.

Synopsis: In the class-obsessed and religiously divided United Kingdom of the early 1920s, two determined young runners train for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell (Ian... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, John Gielgud, Nigel Havers

Directed By: Hugh Hudson

Critics Consensus: A great addition to the existing surfing documentaries.

Synopsis: Part sports history, part thrill ride, skateboarder Stacy Peralta's documentary pays homage to the brave, foolish surfers who dare ride the world's biggest waves. Peralta... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Darrick Doerner, Laird Hamilton, Dave Kalama, Brian L. Keaulana

Directed By: Stacy Peralta

Critics Consensus: In addition to offering an enlightening early look into the world of future star/politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pumping Iron provides a witty and insightful overview of competitive bodybuilding.

Synopsis: This partly real and partly scripted film documents what many consider to be the golden age of bodybuilding that occurred in the 1970s. It depicts... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Roger Callard, Franco Columbu

Directed By: George Butler, Robert Fiore

Critics Consensus: Spurred on by an excellent Toni Collette, Dream Horse has a comfortably crowd-pleasing gait that makes the most of the story's familiar formula.

Synopsis: The film tells the inspiring true story of Dream Alliance, an unlikely race horse bred by small town bartender, Jan Vokes (Academy Award® nominee Toni... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Toni Collette, Damian Lewis, Owen Teale, Joanna Page

Directed By: Euros Lyn

Critics Consensus: Dogtown and Z-Boys is a colorful, exhilarating look at the skateboarding subculture.

Synopsis: "Dogtown and Z-Boys," directed and co-written by skateboard legend-turned-filmmaker Stacy Peralta, is the story of a group of accidental revolutionaries, gifted kids who inadvertently changed... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sean Penn, Jay Adams, Tony Alva, Bob Biniak

Directed By: Stacy Peralta

Critics Consensus: Diego Maradona traces the arc of a standard sports documentary, but illuminates its subject with uncommon clarity and depth.

Starring: Diego Maradona

Directed By: Asif Kapadia

Critics Consensus: A Prayer Before Dawn is far from an easy watch, but this harrowing prison odyssey delivers rich rewards -- led by an outstanding central performance from Joe Cole.

Synopsis: The amazing true story of Billy Moore, an English boxer incarcerated in Thailand's most notorious prison. Thrown into a world of drugs and violence, he... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joe Cole, Billy Moore, Pornchanok Mabklang, Panya Yimmumphai

Directed By: Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire

Critics Consensus: Bang the Drum Slowly is a touching melodrama that explores the inner workings of a baseball club and its players' personalities with remarkable depth.

Synopsis: When hotshot pitcher Henry Wiggen (Michael Moriarty) is signed to the New York Mammoths, his confident ways quickly win over his teammates. He's quite the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Robert De Niro, Michael Moriarty, Vincent Gardenia, Phil Foster

Directed By: John D. Hancock

Critics Consensus: You don't have to be a baseball fan to be entertained by the absurdities, obsessions, and greed on display in this documentary.

Synopsis: During the final leg of Major League Baseball's 2001 season, Giants batter Barry Bonds scores a historic 73rd home run at San Francisco's Pac Bell... View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Michael Wranovics

Critics Consensus: While made from overly familiar ingredients, Drew Barrymore's directorial debut has enough charm, energy, and good-natured humor to transcend its many cliches.

Synopsis: Bliss Cavendar lives in small-town Texas and yearns to break free of her mother's world of beauty pageants and conformity. She sees her chance when... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Elliot Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Kristen Wiig, Drew Barrymore

Directed By: Drew Barrymore

Critics Consensus: Field of Dreams is sentimental, but in the best way; it's a mix of fairy tale, baseball, and family togetherness.

Synopsis: When Iowa farmer Ray hears a mysterious voice one night in his cornfield saying "If you build it, he will come," he feels the need... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Gaby Hoffmann

Directed By: Phil Alden Robinson

Critics Consensus: Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 is compelling viewing even though it spoils the score of the titular college football matchup - and even if you aren't a fan of the sport.

Synopsis: In November 1968, undefeated Ivy League football teams from Harvard and Yale square off in a historic game in which Yale led 29-13 with 42... View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Kevin Rafferty

Critics Consensus: Michelle Rodriguez gives a compelling performance, despite lack of a boxing background; Karyn Kusama packs a punch with this directorial debut.

Synopsis: Newcomer Michelle Rodriguez in an astounding performance alongside Jaime Tirelli, Paul Calderon and Santiago Douglas. Nothing comes easy for Diana Guzman, a troubled girl on... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michelle Rodriguez, Jaime Tirelli, Paul Calderone, Santiago Douglas

Directed By: Karyn Kusama

Critics Consensus: John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection offers a compelling analysis of what made its subject special - and gives audiences a courtside seat to a pivotal match.

Synopsis: Archival footage showcases top-ranked tennis player John McEnroe competing in the 1984 French Open at Roland Garros Stadium in France.

Starring: Mathieu Amalric, John McEnroe

Directed By: Julien Faraut

Critics Consensus: The plot is utterly ridiculous, and the soccer in the movie is unlike any ever played anywhere on Earth, but watching Shaolin Soccer, you will probably find it impossible to care.

Synopsis: All his life, an ordinary young man (Stephen Chow) has been treated like dirt. Still, he's never given up believing that all the world's problems... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Stephen Chow, Wei Zhao, Yin Tse, Cecilia Cheung

Directed By: Stephen Chow, Lee Lik-Chi

Critics Consensus: Warrior relies on many of the clichés that critics of the genre love to mock -- and it transcends them with gripping action, powerful acting, and heart.

Synopsis: An estranged family finds redemption in the unlikeliest of places: the MMA ring. Tommy (Tom Hardy), an ex-Marine with a tragic past, returns home and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison

Directed By: Gavin O'Connor

Critics Consensus: Eddie the Eagle's amiable sweetness can't disguise its story's many inspirational clichés -- but for many viewers, it will be more than enough to make up for them.

Synopsis: Cut from the Olympic ski team, British athlete Michael "Eddie" Edwards travels to Germany to test his skills at ski jumping. Fate leads him to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman, Jo Hartley, Tom Costello

Directed By: Dexter Fletcher

Critics Consensus: Perhaps less than absorbing for non-baseball fans, but nevertheless underpinned by strong performances from the cast and John Sayles' solid direction.

Synopsis: The Chicago White Sox, who are set to play the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series of 1919, are at odds with their team's owner,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Cusack, Clifton James, Michael Lerner, Christopher Lloyd

Directed By: John Sayles

Critics Consensus: Gripping visually as well as narratively, Meru is the rare documentary that proves thought-provoking while offering thrilling wide-screen vistas.

Synopsis: Three elite climbers fight through obsession and loss as they struggle to climb Mount Meru.

Starring: Jon Krakauer, Jimmy Chin, Renan Ozturk, Grace Chin

Directed By: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Capt. Clive Lloyd transforms his 1970s-era West Indies cricket team into champions who dominate the sport for many years afterward.

Starring: Colin Croft, Joel Garner, Tony Greig, Desmond Haynes

Directed By: Stevan Riley

Critics Consensus: That it's inferior to the original goes without saying, but Paul Newman and Tom Cruise are a joy to watch, and Martin Scorsese's direction is typically superb.

Synopsis: Former pool hustler "Fast Eddie" Felson (Paul Newman) decides he wants to return to the game by taking a pupil. He meets talented but green... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver

Directed By: Martin Scorsese

Critics Consensus: Raunchy, violent, and very funny, Slap Shot is ultimately set apart by a wonderful comic performance by Paul Newman.

Synopsis: In the small New England town of Charlestown, the local mill is about to lay off 10,000 workers. The town's minor league hockey team, the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Paul Newman, Michael Ontkean, Lindsay Crouse, Strother Martin

Directed By: George Roy Hill

Critics Consensus: A fascinating, emotional, and frank confessional from Iron Mike that sheds a sympathetic light on one of boxing's most controversial icons.

Synopsis: Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson reflects on his tumultuous life both in and out of the ring. Filmmaker James Toback offers up a complex... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mike Tyson

Directed By: James Toback

Critics Consensus: Confident directing and acting deliver an insightful look at young athletes.

Synopsis: Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) are two childhood friends who both aspire to be professional basketball players. Quincy, whose father, Zeke (Dennis Haysbert),... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Alfre Woodard, Dennis Haysbert

Directed By: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Critics Consensus: This group of high school girls and their eccentric basketball coach easily win your heart with their unusual humanity and dynamism.

Synopsis: Filmed over a period of seven years, director Ward Serrill profiles Bill Resler, a university professor who coaches a basketball team comprised of high-school girls.... View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Ward Serrill

Critics Consensus: Inspiring, compassionate, and with a sly undercurrent of social commentary, Bend It Like Beckham is a lively feel-good movie that genuinely charms.

Synopsis: Jess Bhamra (Parminder Nagra), the daughter of a strict Indian couple (Anupam Kher, Shaheen Khan) in London, is not permitted to play organized soccer, even... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Anupam Kher, Archie Panjabi

Directed By: Gurinder Chadha

Critics Consensus: Anchored by dazzling performances from Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Renée Zellweger, as well as Cameron Crowe's tender direction, Jerry Maguire meshes romance and sports with panache.

Synopsis: When slick sports agent Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) has a crisis of conscience, he pens a heartfelt company-wide memo that promptly gets him fired. Desperate... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renée Zellweger, Kelly Preston

Directed By: Cameron Crowe

Critics Consensus: Sober, even-handed, and quietly devastating, Happy Valley illuminates the wreckage of a tragedy while leaving viewers room to draw their own conclusions.

Synopsis: In 2011, longtime Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky is charged with multiple counts of child sex abuse, rocking the small town of State... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joe Posnanski

Directed By: Amir Bar-Lev

Critics Consensus: Sentimental and light, but still thoroughly charming, A League of Their Own is buoyed by solid performances from a wonderful cast.

Synopsis: As America's stock of athletic young men is depleted during World War II, a professional all-female baseball league springs up in the Midwest, funded by... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Lori Petty

Directed By: Penny Marshall

Critics Consensus: Early Man isn't quite as evolved as Aardman's best work, but still retains the unique visuals and sweet humor that have made the studio a favorite among animation enthusiasts.

Synopsis: A plucky cave man named Dug, his sidekick Hognob and the rest of their tribe face a grave threat to their simple existence. Lord Nooth... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, Maisie Williams, Miriam Margolyes

Directed By: Nick Park

Critics Consensus: A heart-warming sports flick, The Rookie greatly benefits from understated direction and the emotional honesty Dennis Quaid brings to the role of Jim Morris.

Synopsis: A true story about a coach who discovers that it's never too late for dreams to come true. Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid) never made it... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Rachel Griffiths, Jay Hernandez, Beth Grant

Directed By: John Lee Hancock

Critics Consensus: Utterly predictable and wholly of its time, but warm, sincere, and difficult to resist, due in large part to Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio's relaxed chemistry.

Synopsis: Daniel (Ralph Macchio) moves to Southern California with his mother, Lucille (Randee Heller), but quickly finds himself the target of a group of bullies who... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, Randee Heller

Directed By: John G. Avildsen

Critics Consensus: 42 is an earnest, inspirational, and respectfully told biography of an influential American sports icon, though it might be a little too safe and old-fashioned for some.

Synopsis: In 1946, Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), legendary manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, defies major league baseball's notorious color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman)... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni

Directed By: Brian Helgeland

Critics Consensus: A throwback to the high-gloss screwball comedies of the 1940s, Heaven Can Wait beguiles with seamless production values and great comic relief from Charles Grodin and Dianne Cannon.

Synopsis: Joe Pendleton (Warren Beatty), quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, is killed in an auto accident. In the afterlife, Joe discovers that his guardian angel... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Jack Warden, James Mason

Directed By: Warren Beatty, Buck Henry

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: The story of Lithuania's 1992 Olympic basketball team whose athletes won the bronze medal.

Directed By: Marius A. Markevicius

Critics Consensus: Dwayne Johnson goes the distance with his transformative turn as Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, a gritty biopic that sidesteps cliché even at the expense of narrative satisfaction while still landing the dramatic body blows that count.

Synopsis: The true story of mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr, whose obsession with greatness made him a legend -- and nearly cost him... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten

Directed By: Benny Safdie

Critics Consensus: Downhill Racer plunges the viewer thrillingly into the action of the sport -- and continues to hold the attention as a thoughtful drama.

Synopsis: A smug and overly self-assured downhill skier, David Chappellet (Robert Redford), joins the American ski team and quickly makes waves with his arrogant behavior and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Robert Redford, Gene Hackman, Camilla Sparv, Karl Michael Vogler

Directed By: Michael Ritchie

Critics Consensus: Featuring Patton Oswalt's sympathetic portrayal, Big Fan humorously and effectively captures the dark and lonely world of a sports fanatic.

Synopsis: Paul Aufiero, a parking-garage employee, is a huge fan of the New York Giants. He lives at home with his mother and spends much of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Patton Oswalt, Kevin Corrigan, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Michael Rapaport

Directed By: Robert D. Siegel

Critics Consensus: Overcomes its formulaic storyline thanks to Anthony Hopkins' warm and endearing portrayal of an age-defying thrill seeker.

Synopsis: New Zealander Burt Munro spent years perfecting his classic Indian motorcycle. The year is 1967, and Burt takes his machine to Utah's salt flats, where... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Diane Ladd, Paul Rodriguez, Bruce Greenwood

Directed By: Roger Donaldson

Critics Consensus: With grittiness and an evocative sense of time and place, Cinderella Man is a powerful underdog story. And Ron Howard and Russell Crowe prove to be a solid combination.

Synopsis: During the Great Depression, ex-boxer James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe) works as a day laborer until his former manager Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti) offers him... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, Craig Bierko

Directed By: Ron Howard

Critics Consensus: Ken Loach's latest is an uplifting, entertaining and amusing socio-drama featuring a match-winning performance from Eric Cantona.

Synopsis: Ever since his wife (Stephanie Bishop) left him, Eric Bishop's (Steve Evets) life has fallen apart. His two teen sons (Lucy-Jo Hudson, Gerard Kearns) have... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steve Evets, Éric Cantona, Stephanie Bishop, Lucy-Jo Hudson

Directed By: Ken Loach

Critics Consensus: An acute survey of the football-obsessed heartland that succeeds as both a stirring drama and a rousing sports movie.

Synopsis: A small, turbulent town in Texas obsesses over their high school football team to an unhealthy degree. When the star tailback, Boobie Miles (Derek Luke),... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Derek Luke, Jay Hernandez, Lucas Black

Directed By: Peter Berg

Critics Consensus: Thanks in large part to one of Denzel Washington's most powerful on-screen performances, The Hurricane is a moving, inspirational sports drama, even if it takes few risks in telling its story.

Synopsis: Denzel Washington is Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a man whose dreams of winning the middleweight boxing title were destroyed when he was arrested along with another... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Denzel Washington, Vicellous Reon Shannon, Deborah Kara Unger, Liev Schreiber

Directed By: Norman Jewison

Critics Consensus: Smartly constructed and scathingly sharp, The Armstrong Lie presents an effective indictment of its unscrupulous subject -- as well as the sports culture that spawned him.

Synopsis: Filmmaker Alex Gibney chronicles Lance Armstrong's attempt to return to cycling, his admission of doping and subsequent fall from grace.

Starring: Alex Gibney, Lance Armstrong, Reed Albergotti, Daniel Coyle

Directed By: Alex Gibney

Critics Consensus: Muddled overall, but perceptive and brutally realistic, North Dallas Forty also benefits from strong performances by Nick Nolte and Charles Durning. Football fans will likely find it fascinating.

Synopsis: A brutal satire of American professional football in which a veteran pass-catcher's individuality and refusal to become part of the team family is bitterly resented... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nick Nolte, Mac Davis, Charles Durning, Dayle Haddon

Directed By: Ted Kotcheff

Critics Consensus: Though heavy with sentiment, The Natural is an irresistible classic, and a sincere testament to America's national pastime.

Synopsis: On the way to a tryout with the Chicago Cubs, young baseball phenom Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) is shot by the unstable Harriet Bird (Barbara... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger

Directed By: Barry Levinson

Critics Consensus: Gripping and surprisingly nuanced, Ballplayer: Pelotero is a frank exploration of the nature of corruption in baseball recruitment.

Synopsis: Two Dominican baseball players face challenges as they try to make it to the Major Leagues.

Starring: John Leguizamo

Directed By: Ross Finkel, Trevor Martin, Jonathan Paley

Critics Consensus: Major League may be predictable and formulaic, but buoyed by the script's light, silly humor -- not to mention the well-built sports action sequences and funny performances.

Synopsis: The new owner of the Cleveland Indians, former showgirl Rachel Phelps (Margaret Whitton), has a sweetheart deal to move the team to Miami. But to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Margaret Whitton

Directed By: David S. Ward

Critics Consensus: Disney's inspirational sports drama formula might be old hat, but McFarland, USA proves it still works -- especially with a talented director and eminently likable star in the mix.

Synopsis: Track coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) is a newcomer to a predominantly Latino high-school in California's Central Valley. Coach White and his new students find... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Morgan Saylor, Michael Aguero

Directed By: Niki Caro

Critics Consensus: Delivered with typically stately precision by director Clint Eastwood, Invictus may not be rousing enough for some viewers, but Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman inhabit their real-life characters with admirable conviction.

Synopsis: Following the fall of apartheid, newly elected President Nelson Mandela faces a South Africa that is racially and economically divided. Believing he can unite his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng

Directed By: Clint Eastwood

Critics Consensus: Though not without its flaws, He Got Game finds Spike Lee near the top of his game, combining trenchant commentary with his signature visuals and a strong performance from Denzel Washington.

Synopsis: Jake Shuttleworth (Denzel Washington) has spent the last six years in prison after accidentally killing his wife during a violent domestic dispute, leaving his son,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Denzel Washington, Ray Allen, Milla Jovovich, Rosario Dawson

Directed By: Spike Lee

Critics Consensus: Implausible but entertaining and poignant, Rocky Balboa finds the champ in fighting form for the first time in years.

Synopsis: Now long-retired, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) runs a Philadelphia eatery and mourns the loss of his beloved wife, Adrian. Yearning to recapture a bit of his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Burt Young, Antonio Tarver, Geraldine Hughes

Directed By: Sylvester Stallone

Critics Consensus: Kurt Russell's performance guides this cliche-ridden tale into the realm of inspirational, nostalgic goodness.

Synopsis: When college coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) is hired to helm the 1980 U.S. men's Olympic hockey team, he brings a unique and brash style... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Noah Emmerich, Sean McCann

Directed By: Gavin O'Connor

Critics Consensus: Even if you aren't a fan, Beyond the Mat provides a riveting, perceptive look into the world of professional wrestling by taking a closer look at the people beneath the personas.

Synopsis: "Beyond the Mat," Barry Blaustein's honest, intimate, revealing, highly entertaining, and critically acclaimed behind-the-scenes look at wrestling, takes viewers beyond the ring and into the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Terry Funk, Mick Foley, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Vince McMahon

Directed By: Barry W. Blaustein

Critics Consensus: Goon is a crude slapstick comedy with well-formed characters and a surprising amount of heart.

Synopsis: Though a misfit among his brainy family members, Massachusetts bouncer Doug Glatt has a knockout punch that lands him a spot on a minor-league Canadian... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill, Marc-André Grondin

Directed By: Michael Dowse

Critics Consensus: You don't have to be a soccer fan to enjoy this stylish, breezy slice of 1970s sports history.

Synopsis: This documentary looks back on a time when soccer briefly captured America's attention. The film profiles the North American Soccer League franchise the New York... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Matt Dillon

Directed By: Paul Crowder, John Dower

Critics Consensus: White Men Can't Jump provides a fresh take on the sports comedy genre, with a clever script and a charismatic trio of leads.

Synopsis: Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson) is a white basketball hustler who banks on black players underestimating his skills on the court. When he pulls one over... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Rosie Perez, Tyra Ferrell

Directed By: Ron Shelton

Critics Consensus: The Boxer is a standard drama that packs a true emotional wallop thanks to the highly tuned central performances.

Synopsis: Rising teen boxer and Belfast native Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis) was imprisoned for 14 years after getting involved with the Irish Republican Army. Newly freed... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Emily Watson, Brian Cox, Ken Stott

Directed By: Jim Sheridan

Critics Consensus: A life-affirming, if saccharine, epic treatment of a spirit-lifting figure in sports history.

Synopsis: In the midst of the Great Depression, a businessman (Jeff Bridges) coping with the tragic death of his son, a jockey with a history of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Banks

Directed By: Gary Ross

Critics Consensus: Though undeniably sentimental and predictable, Rudy succeeds with an uplifting spirit and determination.

Synopsis: Rudy Ruettiger (Sean Astin) wants to play football at the University of Notre Dame, but has neither the money for tuition nor the grades to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sean Astin, Ned Beatty, Charles S. Dutton, Robert Prosky

Directed By: David Anspaugh

Critics Consensus: A perfect companion piece to The Endless Summer.

Synopsis: In a documentary shot in waters all over the globe, director Dana Brown takes on tall waves and surfers who live to challenge them. The... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dana Brown

Directed By: Dana Brown

Critics Consensus: The Hammer perseveres as both an above-average sports comedy and a perfect starring vehicle for Carolla.

Synopsis: On his 40th birthday, chronic underachiever Jerry Ferro (Adam Carolla) loses his carpentry job and his girlfriend. However, all is not lost; a famous boxing... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Adam Carolla, Heather Juergensen, Oswaldo Castillo, Tom Quinn

Directed By: Charles Herman-Wurmfeld

Critics Consensus: With the magnetic Jharrel Jerome as its champion, Unstoppable is an inspirational sports story that honestly earns audiences' cheers.

Synopsis: Unstoppable is the inspiring true story of Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome) who was born with one leg but whose indomitable spirit and unbreakable resolve empowered... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jharrel Jerome, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Don Cheadle

Directed By: William Goldenberg

Critics Consensus: A coming of age drama with a surfing twist, Breath navigates seemingly familiar waters -- but has surprising depth below the surface.

Synopsis: In the 1970s, in a remote corner of the Western Australian coast, two teenage boys, Pikelet and Loonie, are hungry for discovery. The pair form... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Simon Baker, Samson Coulter, Ben Spence, Elizabeth Debicki

Directed By: Simon Baker

Critics Consensus: The harder they come, the harder they fall -- this film shows, in raw, gripping detail, that even skater dudes can't resist the life of the rich and famous. It's more poignant than hard-core, and gives us a portrait of a life run over by the whims of the entertainment industry.

Synopsis: This documentary film explores the life of former skateboarding pro Mark "Gator" Rogowski, who, in 1991, was sentenced to 31 years in jail after raping... View Full Synopsis

Directed By: Helen Stickler

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: The world's best 7-year-old golfers travel to Pinehurst, N.C., to compete in the World Championships of Junior Golf.

Starring: Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Annika Sörenstam

Directed By: Josh Greenbaum

Critics Consensus: This drama about American track star and hero Steve Prefontaine intelligently looks at the character of this oft mythologized athlete and features a fantastic performance by Donald Sutherland as Prefontaine's trainer.

Synopsis: Before Steve Prefontaine (Billy Crudup) makes it to the 1972 Olympics in Munich, he is an unlikely track star at the University of Oregon. At... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Billy Crudup, Donald Sutherland, Monica Potter, Jeremy Sisto

Directed By: Robert Towne

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: At 59, Mike Flynt may be too old to be on a college football field, but not too old to feel the weight of unfinished... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mary Stuart Masterson, Michael Chiklis, Rob Corddry, Brandon Flynn

Directed By: Rod Lurie

Critics Consensus: Though it occasionally stalls, Talladega Nights' mix of satire, clever gags, and excellent ensemble performances put it squarely in the winner's circle.

Synopsis: NASCAR superstar Ricky Bobby is at the top of his game; adored by fans, a trophy wife by his side, and incredible wealth. But Ricky... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Gary Cole

Directed By: Adam McKay

Critics Consensus: Equal parts tough and funny, and led by a perfectly cast Burt Reynolds, The Longest Yard has an interesting political subtext and an excellent climax -- even if it takes too long to get there.

Synopsis: An ex-football star doing time is forced by the warden to organize a team of inmates to play against his own line-up of guards. The... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert, Ed Lauter, Michael Conrad

Directed By: Robert Aldrich

Critics Consensus: Fans of uplifting sports dramas will find Safety in this skillfully told fact-based story about an athlete overcoming adversity.

Synopsis: “Safety” is a drama inspired by the empowering story of former Clemson University football safety Ray McElrathbey (Jay Reeves), a young man facing a series... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jay Reeves, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Corinne Foxx, Matthew Glave

Directed By: Reginald Hudlin

Critics Consensus: Powerfully acted and emotionally affecting, The Phenom proves a baseball movie can step away from the mound and still deliver a heater down the middle.

Synopsis: A sports therapist (Paul Giamatti) tries to help a troubled rookie pitcher (Johnny Simmons) who grew up with an abusive father (Ethan Hawke).

Starring: Johnny Simmons, Ethan Hawke, Paul Giamatti, Sophie Kennedy Clark

Directed By: Noah Buschel

Critics Consensus: Though unabashedly crude and juvenile, Caddyshack nevertheless scores with its classic slapstick, unforgettable characters, and endlessly quotable dialogue.

Synopsis: Danny Noonan (Michael O'Keefe), a teen down on his luck, works as a caddy at the snob-infested Bushwood Country Club to raise money for his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray, Ted Knight

Directed By: Harold Ramis

Critics Consensus: Cool Runnings rises above its formulaic sports-movie themes with charming performances, light humor, and uplifting tone.

Synopsis: Four Jamaican bobsledders dream of competing in the Winter Olympics, despite never having seen snow. With the help of a disgraced former champion desperate to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Leon, Doug E. Doug, Malik Yoba, John Candy

Directed By: Jon Turteltaub

Critics Consensus: Proudly profane and splendidly silly, Dodgeball is a worthy spiritual successor to the goofball comedies of the 1980s.

Synopsis: Average Joe's Gym and its owner, Peter La Fleur (Vince Vaughn), are both down on their luck. A fancy competing gym called Globo-Gym, run by... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Christine Taylor, Ben Stiller, Rip Torn

Directed By: Rawson Marshall Thurber

Critics Consensus: An inspirational crowd-pleaser with a healthy dose of social commentary, Remember the Titans may be predictable, but it's also well-crafted and features terrific performances.

Synopsis: In Virginia, high school football is a way of life, an institution revered, each game celebrated more lavishly than Christmas, each playoff distinguished more grandly... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Donald Faison, Wood Harris

Directed By: Boaz Yakin

Critics Consensus: Thanks to muscular work from director/co-writer Max Winkler and his stars, Jungleland punches above its weight in a crowded genre.

Synopsis: When a devastating loss in the ring leaves Lion and his manager/brother Stan in debt to a local crime boss, they are forced to risk... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Jack O'Connell, Jessica Barden, Jonathan Majors

Directed By: Max Winkler

Critics Consensus: Mariel Hemingway has a career-making star turn in this highly physical drama about two Olympic athletes who find each other during competitive training.

Synopsis: Young sprinter Chris Cahill (Mariel Hemingway) is having difficulty reaching her potential as an athlete, until she meets established track star Tory Skinner (Patrice Donnelly).... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mariel Hemingway, Patrice Donnelly, Scott Glenn, Kenny Moore

Directed By: Robert Towne

Critics Consensus: While Christy falters in tonal cohesion and emotional impact, it remains a compelling showcase for Sydney Sweeney's transformative performance, grounding a mythic genre in raw, personal storytelling.

Synopsis: Christy Martin (Sydney Sweeney) never imagined life beyond her small-town roots in West Virginia--until she discovered a knack for punching people. Fueled by grit, raw... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Ben Foster, Jess Gabor, Merritt Wever

Directed By: David Michôd

Critics Consensus: As simple and authentic as the gritty South Philly invirons in which it's set in, Invincible sends a uplifting and heartfelt message packed with an athletic enthusiasm that shouldn't be missed.

Synopsis: Lifelong football fan Vince Papale sees his wildest dreams come true when he becomes a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. While teaching at his high-school... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Conway

Directed By: Ericson Core

Critics Consensus: Emily Bett Rickards is terrific in this straightforward sports biopic, which puts on a good show even if it only glancingly grapples with the surface of its true story.

Synopsis: An extraordinary, true-life tale that follows Mildred Burke, the legendary professional wrestler and single mom who defied incredible odds to become the first million-dollar female... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Emily Bett Rickards, Josh Lucas, Walton Goggins, Gavin Casalegno

Directed By: Ash Avildsen

Critics Consensus: Breezy and predictable, Tin Cup is a likeable sports comedy that benefits greatly from Kevin Costner's amiable lead performance.

Synopsis: Roy McAvoy was a golf pro with a bright future, but his rebellious nature and bad attitude cost him everything. Now working as a golf... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, Cheech Marin, Linda Hart

Directed By: Ron Shelton

Critics Consensus: It may not be as powerful as the 1984 edition, but the 2010 Karate Kid delivers a surprisingly satisfying update on the original.

Synopsis: When his mother's career results in a move to China, 12-year-old Dre Parker finds that he is a stranger in a strange land. Though he... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Taraji P. Henson, Wenwen Han

Directed By: Harald Zwart

Critics Consensus: Though perhaps no film could fully do justice to the fascinating life and personality of Muhammad Ali, Mann's direction and Smith's performance combine to pack a solid punch.

Synopsis: With wit and athletic genius, with defiant rage and inner grace, Muhammad Ali forever changed the American landscape. Fighting all comers, Ali took on the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight, Mario Van Peebles

Directed By: Michael Mann

Critics Consensus: It might strike some viewers as a little too pat, but The Blind Side has the benefit of strong source material and a strong performance from Sandra Bullock.

Synopsis: Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a homeless black teen, has drifted in and out of the school system for years. Then Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock)... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Jae Head

Directed By: John Lee Hancock

Critics Consensus: Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable is far more risk-averse than its thrill-seeking subject, but still provides a reasonably inspiring introduction to her story.

Synopsis: One of the most accomplished athletes of her generation, Bethany Hamilton, became a surfing wunderkind when she returned to the sport following a devastating shark... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bethany Hamilton

Directed By: Aaron Lieber

Critics Consensus: While not a home run, Fever Pitch has enough charm and on-screen chemistry between the two leads to make it a solid hit.

Synopsis: When Ben Wrightman (Jimmy Fallon), a young teacher, begins dating pretty businesswoman Lindsey Meeks (Drew Barrymore), the two don't seem to have a lot of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, James B. Sikking, JoBeth Williams

Directed By: Robert Farrelly, Peter Farrelly

Critics Consensus: Taking full advantage of the large IMAX screen, Ultimate X is a thrill ride for extreme sports junkies and novices alike.

Synopsis: Bruce Hendricks highlights events of the 2001 Summer X Games, including skateboarding, BMX biking and the street luge.

Starring: Bob Burnquist, Brian Deegan, Carey Hart, Mat Hoffman

Directed By: Bruce Hendricks

Critics Consensus: Beastie Boy Adam Yauch proves his worth as a director with Gunnin' for That #1 Spot, a fun-filled chronicle of the top high school hoopsters of 2006.

Synopsis: Rucker Park in New York City's Harlem has been host to many legends, such as Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Now, the top high-school basketball... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Beasley, Tyreke Evans, Bobbito Garcia, Brandon Jennings

Directed By: Adam Yauch

Critics Consensus: Rocky II is a movie that dares you to root again for the ultimate underdog -- and succeeds due to an infectiously powerful climax.

Synopsis: Although working-class Philadelphia boxer Rocky Balboa lost his high-profile bout with the cocky world champion Apollo Creed, his Cinderella story has caught the national sports... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith, Burt Young

Directed By: Sylvester Stallone

Critics Consensus: It may be shamelessly derivative and overly nostalgic, but The Sandlot is nevertheless a genuinely sweet and funny coming-of-age adventure.

Synopsis: When Scottie Smalls (Thomas Guiry) moves to a new neighborhood, he manages to make friends with a group of kids who play baseball at the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Chauncey Leopardi

Directed By: David M. Evans

Critics Consensus: Pleasant to a fault, Million Dollar Arm is a middle-of-the-plate pitch that coasts on Jon Hamm's considerable charm without adding any truly original curves to Disney's inspirational sports formula.

Synopsis: In a last-ditch effort to save his career, sports agent J.B. Bernstein (Jon Hamm) plans to find baseball's next star pitcher. He heads to India... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jon Hamm, Aasif Mandvi, Bill Paxton, Suraj Sharma

Directed By: Craig Gillespie

Critics Consensus: Even if it's mainly distinguished by its unique setting, Olympic Dreams remains a rom-com with a heartfelt story and likable leads.

Synopsis: A young cross-country skier bonds with a volunteer doctor in the Olympic athletes village.

Starring: Nick Kroll, Alexi Pappas, Gus Kenworthy, Morgan Schild

Directed By: Jeremy Teicher

Critics Consensus: Though the film may not delve as deep as some would prefer, More Than a Game is an inspiring documentary featuring likable youngsters, a positive message, and some exciting in-game footage.

Synopsis: Filmmaker Kristopher Belman chronicles the early career of basketball superstar LeBron James. James and four other talented teammates were a powerhouse combination at St. Vincent-St.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: LeBron James, Dru Joyce, Romeo Travis, Sian Cotton

Directed By: Kristopher Belman

Critics Consensus: Race is nowhere near as thrillingly fleet or agile as its subject, but the story -- and a winning central performance from Stephan James -- are enough to carry it over the finish line.

Synopsis: Overcoming racism at home and abroad, track and field superstar Jesse Owens competes for Olympic glory in 1936 Berlin.

Starring: Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis, Eli Goree, Shanice Banton

Directed By: Stephen Hopkins

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: After a career-ending defeat, a former champion trains for redemption -- but as obsession takes hold and reality unravels, he may be spiraling into something... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Orlando Bloom, Caitriona Balfe, John Turturro, Clare Dunne

Directed By: Sean Ellis

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: The head of a German POW camp, soccer enthusiast Karl von Steiner (Max von Sydow) organizes a match between Nazi players and their Allied captives.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Pelé, Bobby Moore

Directed By: John Huston