93 Most Inspiring Sports Movies

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: 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: 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 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: Hustle doesn't have any fancy moves, but it doesn't need them -- Adam Sandler's everyman charm makes this easy layup fun to watch.

Synopsis: Stanley Sugerman's (Adam Sandler) love for basketball is unparalleled, but the travel weary Philadelphia 76ers scout who has higher ambitions of being a coach remains... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Adam Sandler, Juancho Hernangomez, Queen Latifah, Ben Foster

Directed By: Jeremiah Zagar

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: King Richard transcends sport biopic formulas with refreshingly nuanced storytelling -- and a towering performance from Will Smith in the title role.

Synopsis: Armed with a clear vision and a brazen 78-page plan, Richard Williams is determined to write his daughters, Venus and Serena, into history. Training on... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, Saniyya Sidney

Directed By: Reinaldo Marcus Green

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: 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 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: 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: The Beautiful Game has an undeniable warmth that further elevates an already irresistible true story, helping this inspirational drama score despite a reliance on well-worn clichés.

Synopsis: Mal (Bill Nighy, Living, About Time) is the manager of England's homeless football team, taking his players to Rome with the hope of being crowned... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bill Nighy, Susan Wokoma, Callum Scott Howells, Kit Young

Directed By: Thea Sharrock

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: 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: Nyad is an uplifting sports biopic strictly on the merits of its story, but it's the outstanding performances from Annette Bening and Jodie Foster that really keep this picture afloat.

Synopsis: A remarkable true story of tenacity, friendship and the triumph of the human spirit, NYAD recounts a riveting chapter in the life of world-class athlete... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, Rhys Ifans, Garland Scott

Directed By: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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: American Underdog sticks to the standard inspirational sports drama playbook -- and proves once again that it can be very effective in the right hands.

Synopsis: American Underdog tells the inspirational true story of Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi), who went from a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Zachary Levi, Anna Paquin, Dennis Quaid, Ser'Darius Blain

Directed By: Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin

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: 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: 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: Essential viewing for baseball fans and just as captivating for the uninitiated, Facing Nolan pays persuasive tribute to one of the sport's greatest characters.

Synopsis: Nolan Ryan's numbers tell a story, but numbers alone do not capture his essence. Certain flash-points have emblazoned him onto our sub-conscience: like pitching with... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nolan Ryan, George W. Bush, Iván Rodríguez, Randy Johnson

Directed By: Bradley Jackson

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: "Chang Can Dunk" follows Chang, a 16-year-old, Asian American high school student in the marching band, who bets the school basketball star that he can... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bloom Li, Dexter Darden, Ben Wang, Zoe Renee

Directed By: Jingyi Shao

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: 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: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: The career and the legacy of Jamaican runner Usain Bolt.

Starring: Usain Bolt, Pelé, Neymar, Serena Williams

Directed By: Benjamin Turner, Gabe Turner

Critics Consensus: Buoyed by standout performances from James Caan and Billy Dee Williams, Brian's Song is a touching tale of friendship whose central relationship transcends its standard sports movie moments.

Synopsis: Brian Piccolo (James Caan) and Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) are teammates on the mid-1960s Chicago Bears. At a time when professional football still bears... View Full Synopsis

Starring: James Caan, Billy Dee Williams, Jack Warden, Shelley Fabares

Directed By: Buzz Kulik

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: 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: 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: 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 the spirited performances of a talented cast - particularly Will Ferrell and Jon Heder as rivals-turned-teammates -- Blades of Glory successfully spoofs inspirational sports dramas with inspired abandon.

Synopsis: Figure skaters Chazz Michael Michaels and Jimmy MacElroy take their intense rivalry too far during the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City; both are... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler

Directed By: Will Speck, Josh Gordon

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

Critics Consensus: Mamet's mixed marital arts morality play weaves between action and intellect but doesn't always hit its target.

Synopsis: Martial artist Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor) lives by a strict code of no competitions, for he feels that such contests weaken fighters. After saving a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen, Emily Mortimer, Ricky Jay

Directed By: David Mamet

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: 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: 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: 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: Gran Turismo's brisk action and feel-good underdog drama are undermined by its loose telling of the fact-based story, but this is still a generally solid racing movie.

Synopsis: Based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, the film is the ultimate wish fulfillment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills... View Full Synopsis

Starring: David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Darren Barnet

Directed By: Neill Blomkamp

Critics Consensus: Despite the formulaic, fluffy storyline, this movie is surprisingly fun to watch, mostly due to its high energy and how it humorously spoofs cheerleading instead of taking itself too seriously.

Synopsis: The Toro cheerleading squad from Rancho Carne High School in San Diego has got spirit, spunk, sass and a killer routine that's sure to land... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford, Gabrielle Union

Directed By: Peyton Reed

Critics Consensus: Those who enjoy Adam Sandler's schtick will find plenty to love in this gleefully juvenile take on professional golf; those who don't, however, will find it unfunny and forgettable.

Synopsis: All Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) has ever wanted is to be a professional hockey player. But he soon discovers he may actually have a talent... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Adam Sandler, Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen, Frances Bay

Directed By: Dennis Dugan

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: Even though it's based on a true story, Coach Carter is pretty formulaic stuff, but it's effective and energetic, thanks to a strong central performance from Samuel L. Jackson.

Synopsis: In 1999, Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) returns to his old high school in Richmond, California, to get the basketball team into shape. With tough... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Ri'chard, Rob Brown, Ashanti

Directed By: Thomas Carter

Critics Consensus: With Adam Sandler and company clearly having a good time, Happy Gilmore 2 thwacks hard with nostalgia when it should've putted but will still put fans of the original back in their happy place.

Synopsis: Happy Gilmore was at the top of his game — until a stroke of bad luck changed everything. Can golf's onetime bad boy make a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Ben Stiller

Directed By: Kyle Newacheck

Critics Consensus: Despite all the underdog sports movie conventions, the likable cast and lush production values make The Greatest Game Ever Played a solid and uplifting tale.

Synopsis: Blue-collar Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf) fights class prejudice while mastering golf, a game guarded by the upper crust. Employed as a caddy at the exclusive... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Stephen Dillane, Josh Flitter, Peyton List

Directed By: Bill Paxton

Critics Consensus: Gracie can be rousing and touching in spots, but is ultimately undone by its predictable story arc and a lack of nuance.

Synopsis: Gracie Bowen (Carly Schroeder) is the only girl among her parents' four children. Her brothers and father (Dermot Mulroney) eat, breathe and sleep soccer, and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dermot Mulroney, Elisabeth Shue, Carly Schroeder, Andrew Shue

Directed By: Davis Guggenheim

Critics Consensus: All the Right Moves is an uncommonly grim coming-of-age drama that overcomes numerous clichés with its realistic approach to its characters and setting.

Synopsis: Stefan Djordjevic (Tom Cruise), the star player of his high school football team, is desperately hoping that his football talents will earn him a scholarship... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Cruise, Craig T. Nelson, Lea Thompson, Charles Cioffi

Directed By: Michael Chapman

Critics Consensus: Although its apparent attempts to be uplifting can often come across as patronizing, Champions is an amiable enough comedy with some seriously talented stars.

Synopsis: Woody Harrelson stars in the hilarious and heartwarming story of a former minor-league basketball coach who, after a series of missteps, is ordered by the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, Ernie Hudson, Cheech Marin

Directed By: Robert Farrelly

Critics Consensus: Leaning heavily on the nostalgic appeal of Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio's return to the Karate Kid franchise, Legends could be more disciplined with its technique but still lands some crowd pleasing strikes.

Synopsis: Karate Kid: Legends unites the iconic martial arts masters of one of the most beloved film franchises of all time to tell a completely new... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ralph Macchio, Jackie Chan, Ben Wang, Joshua Jackson

Directed By: Jonathan Entwistle

Critics Consensus: The Boys in the Boat tells its inspirational true story with heart and solid craftsmanship, but director George Clooney's stolidly traditional approach prevents it from leaving much of an impact.

Synopsis: The Boys in the Boat is a sports drama based on the #1 New York Times bestselling non-fiction novel written by Daniel James Brown. The... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joel Edgerton, Chris Diamantopoulos, Callum Turner, Jack Mulhern

Directed By: George Clooney

Critics Consensus: Part contrived romance, part hackneyed sports drama, The Cutting Edge shows how difficult it can be to figure skate through cheese.

Synopsis: Stuck-up figure skating whiz Kate Moseley (Moira Kelly) is denied a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics after a fall. As Kate drives off partner... View Full Synopsis

Starring: D.B. Sweeney, Moira Kelly, Roy Dotrice, Terry O'Quinn

Directed By: Paul Michael Glaser

Critics Consensus: Lords of Dogtown, while slickly made and edited, lacks the depth and entertaining value of the far superior documentary on the same subject, Dogtown and Z-Boys.

Synopsis: A drought in the 1970s Southern California has an unexpected side effect: as people empty their swimming pools, a group of teen surfers from the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk, John Robinson, Michael Angarano

Directed By: Catherine Hardwicke

Critics Consensus: Although Shooting Stars isn't without its engaging moments, this dramatized look back at LeBron James' early years is less entertaining than simply watching him play.

Synopsis: Shooting Stars is set in the 1990s, where a young LeBron James (Marquis "Mookie" Cook) and his three best friends -- Lil Dru (Caleb McLaughlin,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Wood Harris, Marquis Mookie Cook, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalie Paul

Directed By: Chris Robinson

Critics Consensus: Unbroken is undoubtedly well-intentioned, but it hits a few too many of the expected prestige-pic beats to register as strongly as it should.

Synopsis: As a boy, Louis "Louie" Zamperini is always in trouble, but with the help of his older brother, he turns his life around and channels... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jack O'Connell, Domhnall Gleeson, Garrett Hedlund, Miyavi

Directed By: Angelina Jolie

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: This docudrama focuses on the life and accomplishments of Ethiopian runner Haile Gebrselassie, who won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. The revered... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Haile Gebrselassie, Shawananness Gebrselassie, Yonas Zergaw, Tedesse Haile

Directed By: Bud Greenspan, Leslie Woodhead

Critics Consensus: Pride features a typically stellar performance from Terrence Howard, but ultimately falls victim to its over usage of sports movie clichés.

Synopsis: In the 1970s Philadelphia, Jim Ellis, who is driven by a love of competitive swimming, fixes up an abandoned pool building with the help of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Terrence Howard, Bernie Mac, Kevin Phillips, Evan Ross

Directed By: Sunu Gonera

Critics Consensus: Next Goal Wins finds director/co-writer Taika Waititi with his heart in the right place, even if his crowd-pleasing aim has noticeably strayed from its target.

Synopsis: Directed by Academy Award Winner Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok), NEXT GOAL WINS follows the American Samoa soccer team, infamous for their brutal 31-0... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Oscar Kightley, Kaimana, David Fane

Directed By: Taika Waititi

Critics Consensus: Though Michael J. Fox is as charismatic as ever, Teen Wolf's coming-of-age themes can't help but feel a little stale and formulaic.

Synopsis: When high school nerd Scott Howard (Michael J. Fox) learns from his father, Harold (James Hampton), that being a werewolf runs in the family, he... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael J. Fox, James Hampton, Scott Paulin, Susan Ursitti

Directed By: Rod Daniel

Critics Consensus: The role of probation officer Sean Porter fits Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson like a glove; however, the execution is so cliched, the youths' stories (based on real events), fail to inspire.

Synopsis: A counselor (The Rock) at a juvenile detention facility decides to turn the young inmates in his charge into a football team to give them... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, Jade Yorker, Vanessa Ferlito

Directed By: Phil Joanou

Critics Consensus: While it's no slam dunk, Space Jam's silly, Looney Toons-laden slapstick and vivid animation will leave younger viewers satisfied -- though accompanying adults may be more annoyed than entertained.

Synopsis: Swackhammer (Danny DeVito), an evil alien theme park owner, needs a new attraction at Moron Mountain. When his gang, the Nerdlucks, heads to Earth to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight, Theresa Randle, Larry Bird

Directed By: Joe Pytka

Critics Consensus: Although Hardball contains some touching moments, they are not enough to transcend the sports formula.

Synopsis: Conor (Keanu Reeves) is a ticket scalper, gambler and, now, Little League coach for a rag-tag team of kids in one of the toughest part... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Diane Lane, John Hawkes, Bryan Hearne

Directed By: Brian Robbins

Critics Consensus: Big George Foreman had a classic sports story to work with; unfortunately, the sluggishly ordinary way it's told here is more Tomato Can than Heavyweight Champion.

Synopsis: Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World is based on the remarkable true story of one... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Khris Davis, Forest Whitaker, Jasmine Mathews, Sullivan Jones

Directed By: George Tillman Jr.

Critics Consensus: Enthusiastically unpleasant and mostly unfunny, The Bronze fails to stick the landing -- or much else along the way.

Synopsis: A spoiled and largely forgotten Olympic medalist (Melissa Rauch) takes action when a promising young gymnast (Haley Lu Richardson) threatens her status as a local... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Melissa Rauch, Gary Cole, Haley Lu Richardson, Thomas Middleditch

Directed By: Bryan Buckley

Critics Consensus: The story is heavy on syrupy uplift and turns Radio into a saint/cuddly pet.

Synopsis: In a racially divided town, coach Jones (Ed Harris) spots a mentally disabled African-American student named Radio (Cuba Gooding Jr.) near his practice field and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr., Ed Harris, Alfre Woodard, S. Epatha Merkerson

Directed By: Michael Tollin

Critics Consensus: Director Jessica Bendinger is unable to transfer her winning Bring It On formula to the world of gymnastics, despite Missy Peregrym's strong lead performance.

Synopsis: Haley (Missy Peregrym) is a naturally gifted athlete but, with her social behavior, the teen seems intent on squandering her abilities. After a final brush... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Missy Peregrym, Vanessa Lengies, John Patrick Amedori

Directed By: Jessica Bendinger

Critics Consensus: Though not without its pleasures, Never Back Down faithfully adheres to every imaginable fight movie cliché.

Synopsis: Jake (Sean Faris) moves to Orlando, Fla., with his mother (Leslie Hope) and brother (Wyatt Smith). He feels like an outsider in his new school... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Djimon Hounsou, Sean Faris, Amber Heard, Cam Gigandet

Directed By: Jeff Wadlow

Critics Consensus: The tropes of both football and evangelical movies are gracelessly on parade in this banal, insipid drama.

Synopsis: Grant Taylor, a Christian high-school football coach (Alex Kendrick), gets some very bad news. Besides his and his wife's (Shannen Fields) infertility problems, he faces... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Alex Kendrick, Shannen Fields, Steve Williams, Bailey Cave

Directed By: Alex Kendrick