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September 12, 2011
The Sports-Movie Hall of Fame
Our favorite movies about baseball, basketball, football, and more.
By Andrew Osborne
Last week, mixed martial arts got the Hollywood treatment with the release of Gavin O'Connor's Warrior (starring Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton). Herein, we crown the all-time champs in other cinematic sporting events.
The all-time best movie about boxing is... Rocky (1976)
The simple primal drama of two men strategically beating the crap out of each other has inspired classics from Raging Bull to When We Were Kings. But Sly Stallone's endlessly quotable tale about a palooka's shot at the big time was a much-needed boost for an on-the-ropes nation. Thirty-five years and five sequels later, Rocky remains guaranteed to leave you in a good mood.
Runners-up: Raging Bull, When We Were Kings, The Fighter, The Champ
The all-time best movie about baseball is... Bull Durham (1988)
America's pastime is second only to boxing in terms of generating a deep bench of beloved films, from The Pride of the Yankees to A League of Their Own. And while baseball fans can argue over any aspect of their sport, including favorite movies, Ron Shelton's love triangle about an aging catcher, an eccentric fan, and the egocentric young pitcher they mentor is an undeniable classic.
Runners-up: The Bad News Bears, A League of Their Own, Field of Dreams
The all-time best movie about basketball is... Hoop Dreams (1994)
Some may prefer the wholesome corn of Hoosiers, but this gritty chronicle of the divergent paths of two inner-city teens is the better film. Not only does Steve James' non-fiction masterpiece provide an affecting study of aspiration, but its failure to score a Best Documentary nomination stirred a controversy that eventually transformed the Oscars.
Runners-up: Hoosiers, White Men Can't Jump, The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh
The all-time best movie about football is... Rudy (1993)
Varsity Blues features a whipped-cream bikini and James Van Der Beek's questionable Texas accent. And Brian's Song makes grown men cry just thinking about it. But I'd probably get tackled by legions of passionate Rudy fans if I didn't choose this story of a big-hearted hobbit (Sean Astin) determined to play for the Notre Dame varsity. (Plus, the movie earns bonus points for bringing Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn together for the first time.)
Runners-up: Brian's Song, Jerry Maguire, The Longest Yard, Lucas
The all-time best movie about soccer is... Gregory's Girl (1981)
Americans care about soccer movies about as much as they care about soccer. In other words, not so much. So the winner in this category is a shaggy-dog import from across the pond — Scotland, to be specific — about a teenage girl who wins a spot on her school's "football" team (along with the heart of a sweet-natured teammate).
Runners-up: Bend It Like Beckham, Victory, The Damned United, Once in a Lifetime
The all-time best movie about hockey is... Slap Shot (1977)
Believe it or not, a few decent hockey films actually do exist. But Slap Shot is clearly a high stick above the rest. The Paul Newman vehicle gets the rowdy, brawling spirit of the sport exactly right.
Runners-up: Miracle, The Rocket, and, okay, fine, The Mighty Ducks
The all-time best movie about golf is... Caddyshack (1980)
The individual parts may be greater than the whole of this raucous ensemble comedy, but any one of those bits — the gopher dance, Bill Murray's summit meeting with Chevy Chase, every Rodney Dangerfield one-liner, even the Baby Ruth in the swimming pool — is still way better than The Legend of Bagger Vance.
Runners-up: Happy Gilmore, The Caddy, Pat and Mike, Animal House
Commentarium (72 Comments)
I love that Scott Pilgrim is included for best competitive gaming movie. <3
I really liked this article, but what about The Natural? In my opinion one of the best sports films period.
You've got to be kidding. The Natural was an abomination. You realize they changed the ending from the book, right? Roy strikes out in the book, and the message is, you can fail in the big game, and still be a decent human being if you want. The whole message of the book was lost. It was changed in the film to give the aged Robert Redford one last hero-hurrah. It was sickening.
Hey, peen for brains, just because they changed the book ending in the natural doesn't make it an abomination. And the message is failing in the big game but still being a decent human being ? Read it again, moron. Not even close.
Chariots of Fire, The Fighter and Jerry Maguire should be the best in their categories. Plus, you forgot the all-time greatest basketball movie He Got Game. Denzel and a kid named Jesus. How can you beat that?!
i agree with all of them except shaolin soccer (best soccer movie other right above bilb)
best martial arts movie the big boss or way of the dragon
football - brian's song
boxing-the champ ( easily outdoes rocky)
How is it possible that Dogtown and Z-boys, a documentary about actual skateboarders and their joyful pursuits in the 70s ranks lower than Lords of Dogtown, a fictional account of the abovementioned?
I go with The Natural for baseball and Semi-Tough for football
Yes! Replace Jerry McGuire and Lucas with Semi-Tough and North Dallas Forty. Then swipe the trophy from that corny catholic fest Rudy and give it to Semi-Tough. That's my 2 cents.
Remember Remember the Titans?
I try desperately not to.
"Ladybugs" didn't even earn a Runner's Up nod in soccer?
For shame!
To be frank, you got it wrong....a lot. Rudy is not even in the same class of movie as Remember the Titans OR Friday Night Lights, and you mentioned neither. Shit, Any Given Sunday is a better movie. Raging Bull is a better movie than Rocky. Rocky has the Oscar, it has the nostalgia, but come on....Scorsese and Dinero at the height of their powers can't ever lose. He Got Game suffers from the Spike Lee Overlook Curse, unfortunately, but it is, in fact, an extremely well-made film. The second page (aside from Cool Runnings, I fucking LOVE that movie) is just not cutting it.
Yeah, Friday Night Lights...best football movie hands effing down.
Is a great martial arts performer, to be sure, but Enter the Dragon is not the best martial arts movie on that list. That goes to the original Karate Kid. Enter the Dragon is about Bruce Lee kicking ass, where as Karate Kid is about a boy who learns confidence, courage and how to wax a car from a wise old man, ultimately defeating his enemies and becoming the hero. It's what martial arts is about, hard work and standing up for yourself, not entering international fighting tournaments.
Insulting Better Off Dead (by far the best movie listed in this entire article) is like kicking a puppy.
Also, Rudy was terrible and I can think of a dozen better football movies. This list seems to only draw upon what the author has personally seen, and could happen to remember why quickly dashing this thing off.
Breaking Away! Breaking Away! Best movie about cycling (yes, there are American movies about bicycles, Kevin Costner was even in one... and so was Kevin Bacon now that I think of it, but Breaking Away is classic).
totally agree, and the fact it missed being noted in 'best coming of age' films just adds on to the miscarriage of justice.
Best movie about cycling is "The Flying Scotsman" with Jonny Lee Miller and Brian Cox.
A real oversight that the Natural wasn't included in baseball films.
Sugar and Spice is an excellent movie about cheerleaders.
Not even a peep of Without Limits? For shame.
I KNOW. "Prefontaine" sucked balls. "Without Limits" kills it, and makes me cry every time.
Holy balls, I haven't seen Without Limits in ages. The best part is when Dr. Manhattan nails the pink ranger before the Drake Relays.
The Wizard gets no mention in the video game category? He got 50,000 points on double dragon, nobody gets 50,000 points on double dragon
I love the Power Glove. It's so... bad.
You completely left out the best movie about curling: Men with Brooms!
The Sandlot!!!!
YES! I used to LOVE that movie!
"For...ev...er! For...ev...er!"
As much as I love Miracle (very underrated from a technical standpoint, and boasts one of the cutest casts in history) and Slap Shot, people really need to see 2005's The Rocket: The Legend of Rocket Richard. This biopic from Quebec does an amazing job illustrating the social issues that drove the Canadiens' fans love of their hero, and boasts a remarkable performance by Roy Dupuis. Several real-life hockey players do well in small roles, especially Mike Ricci as Elmer Lach. (You'll also see Vincent Lecavalier as Jean Beliveau and Sean Avery as the goonish Bob Dill.)
I saw a chunk of it on TV recently and keep hoping it'll come back so I can see the whole thing (and I'm neither Canadian nor a hockey fan -- it was that good).
So you widen the category enough to include cheerleading, but then leave our cycling, and "Breaking Away"? Yikes! Or the yummy Rae Dawn Chong and Kevin Costner in "American Flyers"?
Aagh, typos. See, that's what happens when I start talking about hockey. Apologies all around...
I'm not sure why you picked "Without Limits" over "Prefontaine," unless you have a thing for Jared Leto. Ninety percent of the people who've seen both (admittedly not too many folks) think "Without Limits" is better.
Good call on "Personal Best," though.
I think you meant it the other way around.
Yeah I did...my bad
Major League? Love Tom Bergeron and Renee Russo, a young Charlie Sheen as Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn, and Wesley Snipes as Willie Mays Hayes. An Pedro Cerrano's immortal appeal to personal self-sufficiency: "I'm pissed off now, Jobu. Look, I go to you. I stick up for you. You no help me now. So I say "Fuck you," Jobu. I do it myself. "
Thank you for bringing that up. Kevin Costner? don't need him. Tom Hanks? forgetaboutit. All I need is the wacky ensemble cast of Major League . . . .it's juuust a bit outside!
Another great golf movie is "The greatest game ever played" with Shia Lebouef before he became a dick.
Terrible (but great) movies left out: Tin Cup in the best golf category, and The Wizard for best competitive video game movie. Also.... no bowling category? Seriously?
Oh, you just know if bowling had been included everyone would have screamed for "The Big Lebowski" to win, even though it has sweet FA to do with bowling.
I don't know...Kingpin was pretty damn awesome. I mean, it wasn't as good of a comedy as Lebowski, but it was a better bowling movie.
If there were a wrestling category, I'd hope Vision Quest would've won.
I just saw "Pride of the Yankees" on again yesterday, on cable. It has some corny elements you'd expect of the times, but it's genuinely affecting, and seeing the real Babe Ruth and Bill Dickey was a plus.
Geebee, I just got "The Flying Scotsman" from Netflix, so I'll be checking it out this week, but Breaking Away is a tough one to beat
And in a mirror move, I just put "Breaking Away" in my Netflix queue!
Flying Scotsman is terrific. Nicely made. Sad. Good illustration of how people can get obsessive about two-wheelers.
While not necessarily warranting a mention on this list I did recently watch a movie about girls basketball on Netflix Instant that starred Sam Rockwell and Emma Roberts and it was far better than I expected -- "A Winning Season" -- also features Margo Martindale and Rooney Mara.
Worst sports movie? Space Jam hands down.
What about Over The Top for best arm wrestling movie?
And what about the all-time best movie about curling: "Men with Brooms"?
Explain to me how Kill Bill 1 wasn't considered a martial arts movie.
I think it means martial arts as a sport, not just a style of movie. Enter The Dragon is about a fighting tournament. Though I certainly would not call Enter The Dragon the greatest movie featuring martial arts, it is definitely a contender for best movie about martial arts.
No love for cricket? Bollywood classic Lagaan is the best 3 1/2 hour musical about cricket you will ever see. I guarantee it.
Mystery, Alaska was a damn good hockey movie. And oddly, I have a spot in my heart for Youngblood. To include the (ugh) Mighty Ducks but not either of these... for shame.
Also tip my hat to Remember the Titans, Friday Night Lights, and Any Given Sunday. All terrific football movies, but I understand - the "Rudy" crew is practically rabid for that movie...
Major League is a great baseball movie, but certainly I'm on board with Bull Durham and Field of Dreams. Costner can't do much else, but in baseball movies, at least he stirs passion.
Golf - Tin Cup, Happy Gilmore? c'mon...
The Natural? not even a mention?
You are wrong in almost every category. You got the Best Hockey movie right, but that is about it. The best golf movie is The Tin Cup with Kevin Costner. The best basketball movie is Hoosiers, and nothing else is even close. The best baseball movie is The Natural, your selection shows a complete lack of baseball lore. The movie you chose is a farce is every way. Redford's "The Natural" captures the grace and elegance and nuance of the sport. The best boxing movie is last year's "The Fighter," and Stallone's movie is a distant second. Who cares about soccer.
How bout wrestling and the Matthew Modine flick Vision Quest. classic for the sport.
Animal House. Golfing?
There is there one scene where Otter and Pinto drive golfballs that eventually hit Neidermeyer's house (with him on it), but a golf movie?
I mean "horse."
Hchgchgjgvugvjgvgv
Or how about the best movie about Gaming (Video or Pinball) and that is Tommy. How can they miss the rock opera Tommy. If A James Bond movie can categorize as a ski movie, then surely Tommy is competitive gaming.
Other honorable mentions in other sports not mention.. gymnastic (Gymkata, ha! and Stick it), ice skating (Ice Castle and Blades of Glory), bowling (King Pin 2nd place, Big Lebowski), volleyball movies (California Dreaming and Side Out)
"The Cutting Edge" for ice skating! (AND hockey! [Technically]) Toe-pick!
what about gymnastics???
Gymkata
How could you leave out The Natural?!
Perhaps Janey does not understand how film works.
I've tried several time to watch "Rudy" and nothing about it was the least bit interesting to me
Where's Eight Men Out? I'd put that in place of Field of Dreams simply because FoD had Joe Jackson batting right handed -- just ruined it for me.
If you're going to give that little bit in Animal House grounds for inclusion on the golf list, how about My Life as a Dog for soccer? The soccer there was a lot less tangential than the golf in Animal House.
Best baseball movie EVER, for me, is "61*". Such a great show. I have let so many of my friends who are into sports borrow it and every single one of them has come back saying they loved it. "The Natural"? Hated the book, didn't like the movie.
Can't believe you didn't even mention "Remember the Titans". It is one of the better football movies I've seen.
Also, how about horseracing? "Seabiscuit" was one hell of a movie, and it now has "competition" in "Secretariat" (which doesn't even compare, but both are about great horses, lol)
What?!!! Now "Rookie of the Year" for baseball?
What about the best movie about dodgeball--Dodgeball?
Now you say something