List of sports films
This compilation of films covers all sports activities.Sports filmshave been made since the era ofsilent films,such as the 1915 filmThe ChampionstarringCharlie Chaplin.Films in this genre can range from serious (Raging Bull) to silly (Horse Feathers). A classic theme for sports films is the triumph of an individual or team who prevail despite the difficulties, standard elements ofmelodrama.[1]
Team sport[edit]
Association football[edit]
Australian rules football[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The Great Macarthy | 1975 | Comedy | |
The Club | 1980 | Comedy/Drama | Boardroom and dressing room intrigues spill onto the field for an Australian rules football club. |
Australian Rules | 2002 | Drama | |
Blinder | 2013 | Drama | |
Aussie Rules the World | 2014 | Documentary |
Baseball[edit]
Basketball[edit]
Cheerleading and dance[edit]
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Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Debbie Does Dallas | 1978 | Adult | Pornographic film, no connection to theDallas Cowboysortheir cheerleaders. |
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders | 1979 | Drama | Made-for-TV dramaaboutthe famous NFL cheerleading squad. |
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders II | 1980 | Drama | TVsequelto the 1979 movie. |
Laker Girls | 1990 | Drama | Television film aboutthe Los Angeles basketball dance team. |
Willing to Kill: The Texas Cheerleader Story | 1992 | Drama | TV film based onWanda Holloway's 1991 attempt to hire a hit man to kill the mother of her daughter's cheerleading rival. WithLesley Ann Warrenas Holloway. |
The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom | 1993 | Comedy | A more light-hearted TV movie also based on the Wanda Holloway story, withEmmy-winning performances byHolly HunterandBeau Bridges. |
A Friend to Die For | 1994 | Drama | Tori SpellingandKellie Martinin a TV film based on a California cheerleader's murder. |
But I'm a Cheerleader | 1999 | Romance | Natasha Lyonneas a cheerleader whose parents disapprove of her personal life. |
Bring It On | 2000 | Comedy | A clash between rival cheerleading squads, starringKirsten Dunst. |
Sugar & Spice | 2001 | Comedy | Minnesota high school girls rob a bank. WithMena SuvariandJames Marsden. |
All Cheerleaders Die | 2001 | Horror comedy | |
Gotta Kick It Up! | 2002 | Family comedy | Television film based on true story about middle schoolers. |
Cheerleader Queens | 2003 | Comedy | Thai film |
Bring It On Again | 2004 | Comedy | Sequel to the 2000 film. |
Bring It On: All or Nothing | 2006 | Comedy | Second sequel to the 2000 film. |
Bring It On: In It to Win It | 2007 | Comedy | Third sequel to the 2000 film. |
Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal | 2008 | Drama | Based on controversial true events involving five girls from Texas. |
Bring It On: Fight to the Finish | 2009 | Comedy | Fourth sequel to the 2000 film. |
Fired Up! | 2009 | Comedy | Football players con their way into a cheerleading camp. |
Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader | 2012 | Comedy | An experimental drug makes a cheerleader grow 10 times her normal size. |
All Cheerleaders Die | 2013 | Horror comedy | Remake of the 2001 film. |
Daughters of the Sexual Revolution | 2018 | Documentary | Documentaryabout theDallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. |
Cricket[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Badger's Green | 1934 | Comedy | |
Badger's Green | 1949 | Comedy | |
It's Not Cricket | 1949 | Comedy | British army officers inPost-World War II Germanytry to track down a wanted war criminal, who unbeknownst to them is on their cricket team. |
The Final Test | 1953 | Drama | A famed cricketer wants his rebellious son to attend his last match. |
Playing Away | 1987 | Comedy | TV film |
Awwal Number | 1990 | Action | |
Lagaan | 2001 | Drama | In the 1890s, a group of Indian cricket novices must defeat a well-trained team of British officers to avoid punitive taxes on their village. Receivednumerous awards and nominations,including a nomination for theAcademy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. |
Wondrous Oblivion | 2003 | Comedy, drama | |
Iqbal | 2005 | Drama | |
Hit for Six | 2007 | Drama | |
Chennai 600028 | 2007 | Comedy, drama | Tamil film |
Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii | 2007 | Comedy, drama | |
Say Salaam India | 2007 | Drama | |
Hattrick | 2007 | Comedy, drama | |
Meerabai Not Out | 2008 | Drama | |
Hansie | 2008 | Drama | Tells the story of South African cricketerHansie Cronje. |
I Know How Many Runs You Scored Last Summer | 2008 | Horror comedy | |
Victory | 2009 | Drama | |
Dil Bole Hadippa! | 2009 | Comedy, drama | |
Tournament – Play & Replay | 2010 | Road movie | |
Patiala House | 2011 | Family drama | |
Fire in Babylon | 2011 | Documentary | Covers the record-breakingWest Indies cricket teamof the 1970s and 1980s. |
Golconda High School | 2011 | Drama | Telugu film |
Ferrari Ki Sawaari | 2012 | Comedy, drama | |
Main Hoon Shahid Afridi | 2013 | Drama | A boy who dreams to becomeShahid Afridifinds himself down on luck when the only club he ever knew goes bankrupt. |
Dhoni | 2013 | Drama | An IndianTamil-Telugu bilingual filmhighlighting the conflict between a middle class widower and his son, who is very good at cricket but poor at academics. |
Save Your Legs! | 2013 | Comedy | |
1983 | 2014 | Comedy, drama | Ten-year-old Rameshan (Nivin Pauly) is hooked to the game of cricket whenIndia wins the World Cup in 1983.The film shows his life from that point on until the present. |
Jeeva | 2014 | Drama | An IndianTamil filmdepicting the struggles of young man in his quest to become a leading cricketer. |
The Little Master | 2015 | Documentary | Made for TV as part of theESPN Films Presentsseries, part of the network's30 for 30project. The life and impact ofSachin Tendulkar,set against the backdrop ofIndia'squest to win the2011 Cricket World Cup. |
Azhar | 2016 | Biographical | The life of former Indian international cricketerMohammad Azharuddin. |
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story | 2016 | Biographical | The life of Indian ODI captainMahendra Singh Dhoni. |
Sachin: A Billion Dreams | 2016 | Biographical | The life of former Indian international cricketerSachin Tendulkar. |
Chennai 600028 II: Second Innings | 2016 | Comedy, drama | Sequel toChennai 600028. |
Kanaa | 2018 | Drama | |
83 | 2021 | Drama | Based on theIndia national cricket teamthat won the1983 Cricket World Cup. |
Kaun Pravin Tambe? | 2022 | Biographical | Based on the Life of Pravin Tambewho becomes the oldest cricketer to debut at the age of 40 proving"Age Is Just A Number" |
Shabaash Mithu | 2022 | Biographical | The life of formerIndian women's cricketcaptainMithali Raj. |
Curling[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Men with Brooms | 2002 | Romantic comedy | |
Kong Curling | 2011 | Comedy | |
Gerri Curls | 2021 | Comedy |
Dandi biyo (Gillidanda)[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Damaru Ko Dandibiyo | 2018 | Romantic comedy | A Nepali film starringKhagendra Lamichhaneabout a dandi biyo (gillidanda) league in the hills ofNepal. |
Handball[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Szansa | 1979 | Drama | |
Bulggot shoot tonki | 1993 | Family drama | |
Forever the Moment | 2008 | Drama | South Korean film abouthandball at the 2004 Summer Olympics. |
Projekt Gold | 2007 | Documentary | Film about theGerman national handball teamat the2007 World Men's Handball Championship. |
Hockey (Field hockey)[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Chak De! India | 2007 | Drama | A disgraced former field hockey player (Shahrukh Khan) seeks redemption by coaching theIndia women's national field hockey team.Wonnumerous Indian film awards. |
Prithipal Singh... A Story | 2015 | Documentary | Recounts the life of Indian field hockey legendPrithipal Singh. |
Khido Khundi | 2017 | Drama | A young man decides to play field hockey and beat overseas players as he knows about the rich history of the village ofSansarpurinPunjab,which has produced over 15 hockey legends who represented not only India but other countries as well. |
Gold | 2018 | Drama | A newly independent India competes infield hockey at the 1948 Summer Olympics.Film has fictional characters based onBalbir Singh Sr.,Dhyan Chandand others. |
Harjeeta | 2018 | Biographical | Film based on the life of Harjeet Singh Tuli, captain of the Indian junior hockey team of India that won a World Cup in field hockey. |
Soorma | 2018 | Drama | Biopic based on the life of hockey playerSandeep Singh,starringDiljit DosanjhandTaapsee Pannu. |
Hockey (Ice hockey)[edit]
Kabaddi[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Okkadu | 2003 | Drama | Telugu | |
Ghilli | 2004 | Drama | Tamil | A remake ofOkkadu. |
Ajay | 2006 | Drama | Kannada | A remake ofOkkadu. |
Kabbadi | 2009 | Drama | Kannada | |
Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu | 2009 | Drama | Tamil | Also remade asBheemili Kabaddi Jattu. |
Kabaddi Ik Mohabbat | 2010 | Drama | Punjabi | |
Kabaddi Once Again | 2012 | Drama | Punjabi | Film set in England. |
Aryan | 2014 | Drama | Kannada | |
Panga | 2020 | Drama | Hindi | A female kabaddi player comes back to the sport after marriage and having a kid. |
Lacrosse[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Wild Child | 2008 | Drama | A California girl (Emma Roberts) moves to England, where she develops a skill for lacrosse. |
A Warrior's Heart | 2011 | Drama | A teen lacrosse star (Kellan Lutz) is instructed by a former wartime friend of his father. |
Crooked Arrows | 2012 | Drama | ANative Americanhigh school lacrosse team rediscovers its heritage in a New York league. |
Fantastic Lies | 2016 | Documentary | Made for TV as a part of ESPN's30 for 30series. A 10-year retrospective of theDuke lacrosse case. |
Keepers of the Game | 2016 | Documentary | An all-Mohawkgirls' high school team in New York face opposition from within their tribe and struggle to keep their funding. |
The Grizzlies | 2018 | Drama | Based on the true story of a youth lacrosse team set up to combat youth suicide in the community ofKugluktuk,Nunavut. |
Rugby[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Code | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
This Sporting Life | 1963 | Drama | Rugby league | Richard Harrisstars in an Oscar-nominated performance as a coal miner recruited to play rugby. |
Grand Slam | 1978 | Comedy | Rugby union | Old friends includingHugh Griffithare eager to attendWales'match with France. |
The First Kangaroos | 1988 | Comedy, drama | Rugby league | Dennis Watermanstars in a story of an Australian team on a tour of Great Britain. |
Old Scores | 1991 | Comedy, drama | Rugby union | A controversial match between New Zealand and Wales is replayed 25 years later with the original teams. StarringWindsor Davies,Martyn Sanderson,andJohn Bach. |
Up 'n' Under | 1998 | Comedy | Rugby league | Story of an inept pub team, based on aJohn Godberplay. |
School Wars: Hero | 2004 | Rugby union | ||
Sye | 2004 | Rugby union | Story of a students' challenge to win a rugby game to retain their college. | |
Murderball | 2005 | Documentary | Wheelchair rugby | Oscar-nominated documentary about rivalquadraplegicathletes aiming for the Paralympic Games. |
Freetime Machos | 2005 | Documentary | Rugby union | |
Footy Legends | 2006 | Comedy | Rugby league | Story of a young Vietnamese-Australian's obsession with rugby. |
Number 10 | 2006 | Rugby union | ||
The Final Winter | 2007 | Drama | Rugby league | Story of an Australian's fight to keep commercialism from ruining the game. |
Forever Strong | 2008 | Drama | Rugby union | Based on an amalgam of true stories from the rugby program ofHighland High SchoolinSalt Lake City. |
Invictus | 2009 | Drama | Rugby union | Based on the1995 Rugby World Cupand the ultimately victorious host team,South Africa.Morgan FreemanasNelson MandelaandMatt Damonas Springboks captainFrançois Pienaar. |
The 16th Man | 2010 | Documentary | Rugby union | Made for TV as part of ESPN's30 for 30series. Also chronicles the 1995 Rugby World Cup, but focuses more on Mandela's support of the Springboks and its effect on post-apartheid South Africa. |
A Giant Awakens: the Rise of American Rugby | 2010 | Documentary | Rugby union | |
Getroud Met Rugby: Die Onvertelde Stori | 2011 | Drama | Rugby union | A struggling rugby union player fights to regain his place in his former team by coaching a troubled ex-convict to be a star player himself. StarringIzak DavelandAltus Theart.A tie-in to Season 4 of the Afrikaans TV seriesGetroud Met Rugby. |
The Kick | 2014 | Drama | Rugby union | NZ made-for-TV film dramatizing howStephen Donaldwent from afterthought in theAll Blacksfly-half pool to scoring what proved to be the winning points in the2011 Rugby World Cup final. |
Prep School | 2015 | Drama | Rugby union | When the star player of an elite prep school rugby team suffers an emotional collapse, his friends and teammates respond in their own ways, ranging from heroic to horrifying. StarringCarly SchroederandClayton Rohner. |
Chasing Great | 2016 | Documentary | Rugby union | New Zealand film exploring the life and career ofAll BlackslegendRichie McCawagainst the backdrop of his final playing season leading up to the2015 Rugby World Cup. |
Mercenary | 2016 | Drama | Rugby union | French film focusing on the journey of a young man from the French possession ofWallis and Futunato play inMetropolitan France.Lead character portrayed by real-life professional playerToki Pilioko. |
Volleyball[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Spiker | 1986 | Drama | A strict coach (Michael Parks) trains candidates for U.S. men's volleyball team. |
Side Out | 1990 | Comedy | California beach volleyball story starringC. Thomas Howell. |
The Iron Ladies | 2000 | Comedy | Thai filmabout a men's (and transgender) volleyball team. |
The Iron Ladies 2 | 2003 | Comedy | Sequel to the surprise hit about a gay volleyball team having troubles with their success and fame, and how they reunite after they split because of creative differences. |
Air Bud: Spikes Back | 2003 | Family comedy | Direct-to-video film in theAir Budseries. |
All You've Got | 2006 | Drama | MTVstory of rival girls volleyball players. |
Cloud 9 | 2006 | Comedy | Burt Reynoldscoaches volleyball-playing Malibu strippers at the beach. |
Impact Point | 2008 | Thriller | Beach volleyball player might have a murderer after her. |
Green Flash | 2008 | Drama | Frustrated basketball player tries his hand at volleyball. |
Beach Spike | 2010 | Drama | Hong Kong film combining martial arts and beach volleyball. |
The Miracle Season | 2018 | Drama | Based on the 2011 girls' season ofIowa City West High School,attempting to defend astate titleafter the death of its star setter in a moped accident. |
Water polo[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Red Wood Pigeon | 1989 | Comedy, drama | |
Freedom's Fury | 2006 | Documentary | A look back at the1956Blood in the Water matchbetweenHungaryand theUSSR. |
Children of Glory | 2006 | Drama | A dramatization of the Hungarian team's experience at the1956 Summer Olympics. |
Triathlon[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Sport | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
100 metros | 2016 | Triathlon | Spanish film that chronicles a man withmultiple sclerosisattempting theIronman Triathlondespite doctors advice that he cannot manage 100 meters. | |
Luca | 2021 | Fantasy | Triathlon | Set on theItalian Riviera,the film centers on Luca Paguro, asea monsterboy with the ability to assume human form while on land, who explores the town of Portorosso with his new best friend Alberto Scorfano, experiencing a life-changing summer.[2] |
Racing sports[edit]
Auto racing[edit]
Aviation sport[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Going Wild | 1930 | Comedy | Pretending to be a pilot, Rollo Smith (Joe E. Brown) enters a $25,000 air race. |
Flying Devils | 1933 | Romance | "Speed" Hardy (Ralph Bellamy) and a crew of air daredevils perform dangerous stunts. |
The King's Cup | 1933 | Drama | A girl helps a pilot regain his nerve before entering Cup endurance race. |
Women in the Wind | 1939 | Drama | Aviatrix Janet Steele (Kay Francis) enters a derby from California to Cleveland. |
The Sound Barrier | 1952 | Drama | Story of brave test pilots, directed byDavid Lean. |
Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines | 1965 | Comedy | A lighthearted tale of a London-to-Paris air race in 1910. |
The Great Waldo Pepper | 1975 | Drama | Depicts 1920sbarnstormingand its consequences.Robert Redfordstars as the title character. |
Thunder Over Reno | 2008 | Drama | |
Planes | 2013 | Comedy | A crop duster competes in a national championship race. |
Cycling[edit]
Motorboat racing[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Top Speed | 1930 | Comedy | Speedboat | Farce about a faker who enters a race, then is bribed to lose it on purpose. |
Speed Demon | 1933 | Drama | Motorboat | The disgraced Speed Morrow attempts to win a race and rescue a kidnapped child. |
Motor Madness | 1937 | Drama | Speedboat | Gamblers try to coax a guy to deliberately lose a big motorboat race inSanta Monica, California. |
Madison | 2001 | Drama | Hydroplane | Loosely based onMiss Madison,a boat raced by a community-owned team fromMadison, Indiana,and especially on the boat's 1971 victory in the town'sMadison Regatta. |
Motorcycle racing[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Money for Speed | 1933 | Drama | Motorcycle | Motorcycle racers vie at speedway and over love ofIda Lupino. |
No Limit | 1935 | Comedy | Road racing | AGeorge Formbyfarce set at anIsle of Manrace. |
Once a Jolly Swagman | 1949 | Drama | Motorcycle speedway | British film starringDirk Bogarde. |
The Pace That Thrills | 1952 | Drama | Motorcycle | Two bike racers complete for a reporter's affection. |
The Sidehackers | 1969 | Drama | Sidecar cycles | A racer seeks revenge after being assaulted by outlaw bikers. |
Little Fauss and Big Halsy | 1970 | Drama | Motorcycle | Robert Redfordstars as a ladies' man who betrays his best friend. |
On Any Sunday | 1971 | Documentary | Motorcycle | Steve McQueenand others discuss racing inBruce Brownfilm. |
Silver Dream Racer | 1980 | Drama | Road racing | David Essexstars as an aspiring motorcycle racer. |
Spetters | 1980 | Drama | Motorcycle | Erotic film byPaul Verhoevenon Dutch motorcycle racers. |
Take It to the Limit | 1980 | Documentary | Motorcycle | Covers speedway, desert racing, hill climb and more from 1970s. |
The Last Hero | 1982 | Drama | Road racing | |
Motocrossed | 2001 | Comedy | Motocross | A young girl poses as twin brother to win motocross race after he breaks a leg. |
Biker Boyz | 2003 | Drama | Motorcycle | Laurence Fishburnestars in a tale of underground drag races. |
Faster | 2003 | Documentary | Motorcycle | Behind the scenes at theMotoGPworld championship. |
The World's Fastest Indian | 2005 | Biographical | Land speed record | Burt Munro(Anthony Hopkins) pursues a land speed record on hisIndian Scoutmotorcycle. |
Rowing[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Freshman Love | 1936 | Musical | A coach's daughter recruits crew members for the school's rowing team. |
A Yank at Oxford | 1938 | Drama | An arrogant American (Robert Taylor) tries to earn respect by rowing forOxford. |
Let's Go Collegiate | 1941 | Comedy | When a rowing teammate gets drafted, Frankie Monahan (Frankie Darro) recruits a new crew member to impersonate him. |
Oxford Blues | 1984 | Comedy, drama | Nick Di Angelo (Rob Lowe) leaves Las Vegas to pursue an Englishwoman and ends up rowing for Oxford. |
The Boy in Blue | 1986 | Drama | Nicolas Cagestars as a Canadiansculler. |
True Blue | 1996 | Drama | A fact-based story involving a 1987Oxford vs. Cambridge race. |
Give It All | 1998 | Drama | Japanese film about an all-girls rowing team. |
Queen of the Night | 2001 | Drama | Croatian film. |
Summer Storm | 2004 | Drama | German film about young boys rowing in a regatta. |
Backwards | 2012 | Drama | A high-level female rower becomes a high-school coach. |
Bert and Dickie | 2012 | Biographical | Two men up in sculls for the1948 Summer Olympics. |
The Boys in the Boat | 2023 | Biographical | About the US rowing team at the1936 Summer Olympics. |
Sailing[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The Lipton Cup | 1913 | Drama | A drama of a sailboat race and the ship-builder who builds the yacht that wins the Lipton Cup. |
Kon-Tiki | 1950 | Documentary | Oscar-winning film onThor Heyerdahl's 1947 adventure. |
Windjammer | 1958 | Documentary | Following a Norwegian vessel's 17,500-nautical-mile voyage. |
The Dove | 1974 | Drama | Based on the true story of a 16-year-old's five-year sail around the world. |
The Sea Gypsies | 1978 | Family | Two girls and their father embark on an around-the-world sail. |
The Riddle of the Sands | 1979 | Drama | A pair of 1901 yachtsmen discover a sinister plot. |
Summer Rental | 1985 | Comedy | Jack Chester (John Candy) challenges an obnoxious sailing champ to a race while on a family vacation. |
One Crazy Summer | 1986 | Comedy | A romance on Nantucket develops between Hoops McCann (John Cusack) and Cassandra Eldridge (Demi Moore). |
Wind | 1992 | Drama | Matthew Modinestars as the skipper of an America's Cup yacht. |
White Squall | 1996 | Drama | A young crew is taught to sail by Captain Christopher "Skipper" Sheldon (Jeff Bridges) during a harrowing voyage. |
Morning Light | 2008 | Drama | Disney film about aTranspacific Yacht Race. |
Charlie St. Cloud | 2010 | Romantic Drama | A teenager (Zac Efron) who sails must cope with a family tragedy. |
Kon-Tiki | 2012 | Historical drama | New dramatization ofThor Heyerdahl's 1947 adventure. |
All Is Lost | 2013 | Adventure | Robert Redfordstars as an unnamed man, lost at sea. |
Maidentrip | 2014 | Documentary | FollowingLaura Dekker's controversial around the world solo voyage. |
Individual sport[edit]
Athletics[edit]
Bowling[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Strikes and Spares | 1934 | Short film | Ten-pin | An Oscar-nominated short subject. |
Dreamer | 1979 | Drama | Ten-pin | Tim Mathesonstars as a young man whose dream is to become a pro bowler. |
Greedy | 1994 | Comedy | Ten-pin | A struggling PBA Tour bowler (Michael J. Fox) wants his wealthy uncle's money. |
Kingpin | 1996 | Comedy | Ten-pin | Woody Harrelsonstars as a bowler with a prosthetic hand who takes anAmishman on the road. |
The Big Lebowski | 1998 | Comedy | Ten-pin | "The Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it. |
Alley Cats Strike | 2000 | Family | Ten-pin | Disney Channel Original Movieabout junior high school students. |
Crackerjack | 2002 | Comedy | Bowls | When reluctant bowler Jack Simpson is forced to play to save the club he is a member of it turns out Jack is a natural. |
Blackball | 2003 | Comedy | Bowls | Comedy about a rebellious bowler inspired by Griff Sanders. |
A League of Ordinary Gentlemen | 2006 | Documentary | Ten-pin | Behind-the-scenes look at bowlers at aPBA Tour. |
Split | 2016 | Comedy | Ten-pin | An over-achieving woman with a thing for bowlers decides to marry the man of her dreams in just under a month. |
Bo xing[edit]
Caving[edit]
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Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The Descent | 2005 | Horror | A caving expedition goes horribly wrong as the explorers become trapped and pursued by predators. |
The Cave | 2005 | Horror | Bloodthirsty creatures await a pack of divers who become trapped in an underwater cave network. |
The Descent Part 2 | 2009 | Horror | Sequel to the 2005 film. |
Sanctum | 2011 | Adventure | An underwater team experiences a crisis during an expedition to unexplored cave system. |
Darts[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Darts | 2024 | Documentary | Upcoming; focuses on theProfessional Darts Corporationand its players. |
Fencing[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
By the Sword | 1991 | Drama | A man running a fencing school (Eric Roberts) crosses swords with an ex-convict (F. Murray Abraham). |
The Fencing Master | 1992 | Drama | Spanish film starringJoaquim de Almeida. |
The Fencer | 2015 | Drama | A young Estonian fencer named Endel is forced to return to his homeland, where he begins to train a group of young children in the art of fencing. |
Figure skating[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
One in a Million | 1936 | Drama | Innkeeper's daughter (Sonja Henie) skates at the1936 Winter Olympics. |
Thin Ice | 1937 | Romance | Sonja Henie is a ski instructor and skater who falls for a prince. |
Happy Landing | 1938 | Romance | A Norwegian girl meets anNew York bandleader and becomes a skating star. |
My Lucky Star | 1938 | Comedy | A skating star is implicated in a divorce and kicked out of college. |
The Ice Follies of 1939 | 1939 | Romance | Careers clash for Ice Follies producer Larry Hall (James Stewart) and actress wife Mary McKay (Joan Crawford). |
Everything's on Ice | 1939 | Drama | A skater's uncle manages her career, then steals her money. |
Ice-Capades | 1941 | Comedy | A promoter (Phil Silvers) passes off the wrong skater as his new star. |
Ice-Capades Revue | 1942 | Comedy | After a woman (Ellen Drew) inherits a skating troupe, a gangster tries to ruin her. |
Iceland | 1942 | Musical | A skater fromIcelandfalls for a U.S. Marine (John Payne). |
Wintertime | 1943 | Comedy | A Norwegian girl (Henie) must wed an American to skate in New York. |
Lady, Let's Dance | 1944 | Musical | Figure skaterBelitajoins a California dancing act. |
Lake Placid Serenade | 1944 | Drama | After the invasion of her homeland, a Czech skater (Vera Ralston) comes to the U.S. |
It's a Pleasure! | 1945 | Comedy | A suspended hockey player becomes a comedy act for an ice revue. |
Suspense | 1946 | Film noir | An ice-skating revue's star (Belita) is torn between two men. |
Spring on Ice | 1951 | Musical | Austrian film featuring1948 Winter Olympicsrunner-upEva Pawlik. |
Ice Castles | 1978 | Romance | Lynn-Holly Johnsonstars as a figure skater who is left blind after a serious injury. |
Champions: A Love Story | 1979 | Romance | TV movie about two teens who become romantically involved as they train for a skating championship. |
Ice Pawn | 1989 | Drama | Dan Haggerty's favorite champion of ice skating. |
On Thin Ice: The Tai Babilonia Story | 1990 | Biographical | Fact-based TV film onchampion skater's career focusing on her drug abuse and depression. |
Carmen on Ice | 1990 | Performance | Skaters includingKatarina Wittare featured performing toCarmen. |
The Cutting Edge | 1992 | Romantic comedy | A hockey player (D.B. Sweeney) becomes an Olympic pairs skater. |
Tonya and Nancy: The Inside Story | 1994 | Biographical | TV film about theTonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigansaga that happened earlier in the year. |
A Promise Kept: The Oksana Baiul Story | 1994 | Biographical | TV film aboutOksana Baiul's rise from orphan to Olympic champion. |
Ice Angel | 2000 | Fantasy | TV film about hockey-playing boy who dies and is reincarnated as a girl figure skater. |
On Edge | 2004 | Mockumentary, comedy | Fake documentary following a local skating competition. |
Ice Princess | 2005 | Family comedy | Michelle Trachtenbergstars as a 17-year-old who spurnsHarvardto try figure skating. |
Go Figure | 2005 | Family comedy | TV film of a would-be figure skater who finds she prefers hockey. |
The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold | 2006 | Romantic drama | Made-for-TV sequel about the offspring of skaters from the 1992 film. |
Blades of Glory | 2007 | Comedy | Rival figure skaters (Will FerrellandJon Heder) compete together as the first-ever same-sex skating pair. |
The Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream | 2008 | Romantic drama | Second sequel to the 1992 film. |
Ice Castles | 2010 | Romantic drama | A remake of the 1978 film. |
The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice | 2010 | Romantic drama | Third sequel to the 1992 film. |
The Diplomat | 2013 | Documentary | Made for TV as part ofESPN'sNine for IXseries. The story of figure skaterKatarina Witt,two-time Olympic gold medalist and reluctant pawn of theCold War. |
The Price of Gold | 2014 | Documentary | Made for TV as part of ESPN's30 for 30series. A 20-year retrospective of the1994 attackonNancy Kerriganby associates ofTonya Harding. |
I, Tonya | 2017 | Biographical | Margot Robbieportrays controversial figure skaterTonya Harding. |
Golf[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Golf Mad | 1915 | Comedy | Silent film about a man who gets the golfing craze and wreaks havoc with clubs. |
Golf | 1922 | Comedy | A golfer digs holes in his floor and plays indoors, smashing mirrors and vases. |
West of Broadway | 1926 | Comedy | Silent film aboutWyomingrancher who sets out to attract tourists to his golf club/resort. |
Spring Fever | 1927 | Comedy | Silent film about a golfer who hopes to marry a rich girl (Joan Crawford). |
Love in the Rough | 1930 | Musical | A sound remake ofSpring Fever,withRobert Montgomeryand songs. |
The Golf Specialist | 1930 | Comedy | W. C. Fieldsshort subject in which he gives lessons on the game. |
Part Time Wife | 1930 | Romance | A man who loses his golf-loving spouse learns the game so he can play her. |
Follow Thru | 1930 | Musical | A club champion competes with her rival over their handsome instructor. |
Follow the Sun | 1951 | Biographical | Story of success and adversity ofBen Hogan(Glenn Ford). |
Pat and Mike | 1952 | Comedy | Spencer Tracystars as the new trainer of a great female athlete (Katharine Hepburn). |
The Caddy | 1953 | Comedy | Martin and Lewisgolf comedy. |
Banning | 1967 | Drama | APGApro (Robert Wagner) banned for cheating gets into debt and a dangerous match. |
Once You Kiss a Stranger | 1970 | Thriller | A pro golfer is menaced by a deranged woman who murders his rival. |
Babe | 1975 | Biographical | TV film on life ofBabe Didrikson Zaharias,starringSusan ClarkandAlex Karras. |
Caddyshack | 1980 | Comedy | Manic antics at Bushwood Country Club, starringBill Murray,Chevy ChaseandRodney Dangerfield. |
Dorf on Golf | 1987 | Comedy | Direct-to-video short film. First entry inDorfseries withTim Conway. |
Caddyshack II | 1988 | Comedy | Sequel to 1980 hit, withJackie Masonas an insulted guest who decides to buy Bushwood. |
Dead Solid Perfect | 1988 | Drama | Made for TV, based onDan Jenkinsnovel. |
Dorf's Golf Bible | 1988 | Comedy | Direct-to-video short film; second in theDorfseries. |
Den ofrivillige golfaren | 1991 | Comedy | Swedish film |
The Man with the Perfect Swing | 1995 | Comedy, drama | A man tries to get investors to back his concept for a can't-miss golf swing. |
Happy Gilmore | 1996 | Comedy | Adam Sandleras a hockey player who takes up golf. |
Tin Cup | 1996 | Romantic comedy | A driving-range owner (Kevin Costner) qualifies for the U.S. Open. |
The Tiger Woods Story | 1998 | Biography | Tiger Woods' meteoric rise to the pinnacle of the golfing world |
National Lampoon's Golf Punks | 1998 | Comedy | A washed-up formerPGA Tourgolfer is given the task of teaching golf to a group of teenaged underachievers. |
Miracle on the 17th Green | 1999 | Drama | A fired middle-aged advertising executive (Robert Urich) tries professional golf. |
The Legend of Bagger Vance | 2000 | Drama | Period piece about a golfer (Matt Damon) in a match againstBobby JonesandWalter Hagen. |
A Gentleman's Game | 2002 | Drama | A young man (Mason Gamble) gets golf and life lessons at a country club. |
Par 6 | 2002 | Comedy, drama | Family members construct a golf course, fulfilling their deceased father's dream. |
Birdie & Bogey | 2004 | Drama | Janine Turnerportrays a doomed girl who caddies for her dad. |
Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius | 2004 | Biographical | Life and career ofBobby Jones,starringJames Caviezel. |
The Greatest Game Ever Played | 2005 | Biographical | Story of youngFrancis Ouimet,played byShia LaBeouf,and his victory in1913 U.S. Open,which led to major golf boom in U.S. |
Who's Your Caddy? | 2007 | Comedy | Big Boi,Lil Wayneand friends at the golf course. |
Fairway to Heaven | 2007 | Comedy | A former hot-shot junior golfer still dreams of becoming famous. |
The Back Nine | 2009 | Documentary | True story of a man's dream to become a professional golfer. |
Hole in One | 2010 | Comedy | Farce about a young man who joins women's golf tour. |
Golf in the Kingdom | 2011 | Drama | A mystical figure from India teaches a golfer spirituality. |
Seven Days in Utopia | 2011 | Drama | Christian-themed story of young golfer (Lucas Black) and the many lessons he learns. |
From the Rough | 2011 | Biographical | Taraji P. Hensonstars as Catana Starks, the first woman to coach a men's college team—ata historically black schoolwith no tradition in the sport. |
Arthur Newman | 2012 | Drama | A failed pro golfer (Colin Firth) fakes his own death, starts a new life. |
Becoming Redwood | 2012 | Drama | A man fantasizes of beating Jack Nicklaus in the 1975 Masters. |
The Short Game | 2013 | Documentary | Profiles eight entrants in a 2012 U.S. golf competition for 7- and 8-year-olds. |
Seve | 2014 | Biographical | Spanish film charting the life ofSeve Ballesteros. |
Hit It Hard | 2016 | Documentary | Made for TV as a part of ESPN's30 for 30series. Examines the rise ofJohn Dalyfrom obscurity to win twomajorchampionshipsand his fall back to mediocrity. |
Tommy's Honour | 2016 | Biographical | Examines the lives and careers of father-and-son golf pioneersOld TomandYoung Tom Morris. |
Freaky Ali | 2016 | Comedy, drama | Based on the 1996 American comedy film,Happy Gilmore.In this movie main actor isNawazuddin Siddiqui |
The Phantom of the Open | 2021 | Biographical, comedy, drama | Amateur golferMaurice Flifcroftposes as a professional to compete in the1976 Open Championshipqualification round. |
Gymnastics[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Nadia | 1984 | Drama | Biographical film onNadia Comăneci. |
American Anthem | 1986 | Drama | Starring former OlympianMitch Gaylord. |
Flying | 1986 | Drama | After a car crash, a gymnast attempts a comeback. FeaturingKeanu Reeves. |
Perfect Body | 1997 | Drama | A young female gymnast develops an eating disorder. |
Stick It | 2006 | Comedy, drama | Jeff Bridgesas a girls' gym coach. |
Peaceful Warrior | 2006 | Drama | A mysterious spiritual guide (Nick Nolte) advises a college gymnast. |
An American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars | 2012 | Family drama | Young schoolgirl McKenna Brooks aims for the2016 Summer Olympics. |
Full Out | 2015 | Biographical | TV family film about the gymnastAriana Berlin. |
The Bronze | 2015 | Comedy | A has-been Olympian turns to drugs, theft and desperation. |
Chalk It Up | 2016 | Comedy | Lovestruck college girl becomes a gymnast to impress a rugby player. |
Hiking[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Gerry | 2002 | Drama | Fictional story of hikers (Matt Damon,Casey Affleck) who become hopelessly lost. |
127 Hours | 2010 | Biographical drama | Aron Ralston(portrayed byJames Franco) gets trapped by a boulder whilecanyoneering. |
Wild | 2014 | Biographical drama | Depicting a lone woman's (Reese Witherspoon) 1,000-mile trek throughPacific Crest Trail. |
Martial arts[edit]
Note:Films should not be listed here unless the sporting aspects of martial arts play a major part in the plot.
Title | Year | Genre | Style | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sanshiro Sugata | 1943 | Action | Jujutsu Judo |
|
Sanshiro Sugata Part II | 1943 | Action | Judo | |
Enter the Dragon | 1973 | Action | Jeet Kune Do Kung Fu |
Bruce Lee's final screen appearance before his death. |
Cordão de Ouro | 1977 | Action | Capoeira | |
Knightriders | 1981 | Drama | ||
The Karate Kid | 1984 | Family | Karate | Retired karate masterMr. Miyagi(Pat Morita) instructs a newcomer (Ralph Macchio). |
The Karate Kid Part II | 1986 | Family | Karate | Sequel to the 1984 hit. |
No Retreat, No Surrender | 1986 | Action, drama | MMA | A Seattle boy ends up fighting a Russian martial-arts star (Jean-Claude Van Damme). |
Bloodsport | 1988 | Action | MMA | Frank Dux(played by Van Damme), a Canadian, enters a competition in Hong Kong. |
The Karate Kid Part III | 1989 | Family | Karate | Second sequel to the 1984 film. |
Best of the Best | 1989 | Action | Tae Kwon Do | Americans take on Koreans in a tae kwon do tournament.Eric Robertsstars. |
Kickboxer | 1989 | Action | Kickbo xingMuay Thai | An American and his brother end up in a life-or-death competition in Asia. |
Hard to Kill | 1990 | Action | Aikido | |
Out For Justice | 1991 | Action | Aikido | |
Sidekicks | 1992 | Action | Karate | A boy with asthma fantasizes about being taught byChuck Norris,and gets to compete alongside him in a tournament. |
3 Ninjas | 1992 | Family | Ninjutsu | Three boys learnninjutsufrom their Japanese grandfather. |
Only the Strong | 1993 | Action | Capoeira | An ex-Green Beretuses martial arts against Miami drug dealers. |
The Next Karate Kid | 1994 | Family | Karate | Another sequel, this time with a girl (Hilary Swank) as Mr. Miyagi's apt pupil. |
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie | 1994 | Action | Various | |
Street Fighter | 1994 | Action | Various | |
Mortal Kombat | 1995 | Action | Various | Based on thevideo game. |
The Quest | 1996 | Action | MMA | In 1925, a pickpocket flees America and ends up fighting for his life nearSiam. |
A Fighter's Blues | 2000 | Drama | Muay Thai | Andy Lau's 100th film role. |
Undisputed | 2002 | Action | Bo xing | Television film about a bo xing match inside a prison. |
Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior | 2003 | Action | Muay Thai | |
Johnny | 2003 | Drama | Muay Thai | |
Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi | 2003 | Drama | Muay Thai | |
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing | 2006 | Action | MMA | Sequel to 2002 prison fight film, with a different cast. |
DOA: Dead or Alive | 2006 | Action | Various | Four females enter a tournament. |
Fearless | 2006 | Biography | Various | Biography of Chinese Martial Arts MasterHuo Yuanjia,who is the founder and spiritual guru of the Jin Wu Sports Federation. |
Redbelt | 2007 | Drama | MMA | An instructor reluctantly enters a tournament. Written and directed byDavid Mamet. |
Never Back Down | 2008 | Action, drama | MMA | AnOrlando,Floridahigh school boy discovers martial arts. |
Champions | 2008 | Action | Wushu | |
Ip Man | 2008 | Action, drama | Wing Chun | |
Besouro | 2009 | Action | Capoeira | |
Blood and Bone | 2009 | Action | MMA | |
Fighting | 2009 | Action, drama | MMA | A New York street hustler (Channing Tatum) reneges on a guarantee to lose a big fight. |
Tekken | 2009 | Action | MMA | |
Ip Man 2 | 2010 | Action, drama | Wing Chun | |
The Karate Kid | 2010 | Family | Kung Fu | Remake of the 1984 film withJackie ChanandJaden Smith.Unlike original film, and despite title, this version involves kung fu instead of karate. |
The King of Fighters | 2010 | Action | Various | Science-fiction story involving a thief. |
Knucklehead | 2010 | Comedy | MMA | An amateur wrestler (Big Show) enters a $100,000 tournament in New Orleans. |
Ong Bak 3 | 2010 | Action | Muay Thai | |
Undisputed III: Redemption | 2010 | Action | MMA | A convict is taken to Russia for a fight behind bars. |
Warrior | 2011 | Action, drama | MMA | Brothers fight for an MMA championship, one trained by their dad (Nick Nolte). |
Never Back Down 2 | 2011 | Action | MMA | Sequel to the 2008 film. |
Here Comes the Boom | 2012 | Comedy | MMA | Kevin Jamesstars as a teacher who moonlights as a UFC competitor. |
Unbeatable | 2013 | Drama | MMA | Hong Kong film |
A Grande Vitória | 2014 | Drama | Judo | Brazilian film |
Brothers | 2015 | Drama | MMA | Bollywood film and official remake ofWarrior. |
Ip Man 3 | 2015 | Action drama | Wing Chun | |
Chuck & Tito | 2019 | Documentary | MMA | Made for TV as a part of ESPN's30 for 30series. Chronicles the up-and-down relationship between two of the major figures in MMA history,Chuck LiddellandTito Ortiz. |
Be Water | 2020 | Documentary | Various | Made for TV as a part of ESPN's30 for 30series. Examination of the life and legacy ofBruce Leeas an icon of both film and martial arts as the 80th anniversary of his birth approaches. |
Cagefighter: Worlds Collide | 2020 | Drama | MMA | Made for TV. A successful MMA champion agrees to defend his title against a pro wrestler (Jonathan Good, akaJon Moxley), only to find himself in the toughest fight of his life. |
Mountaineering and climbing[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Discipline | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gateway of the Caucasus | 1931 | Documentary | Mountain climbing | An intrepid band of climbers make it their goal in life to scale the lofty Kazbak and return from it safely. |
The White Tower | 1950 | Drama | Mountain climbing | In the Swiss Alps, a woman is determined to make a climb where her father was killed. |
Third Man on the Mountain | 1959 | Drama | Mountain climbing | AWalt Disneytale of a Swiss man's perilous experience on the Citadel. |
The Eiger Sanction | 1975 | Drama | Mountain climbing | A fictional thriller about a paid assassin (Clint Eastwood) on a treacherous Eiger climb. |
K2 | 1991 | Biographical, drama | Mountain climbing | Loosely based on real events, a pair of weekend-climber Americans join a team scaling the second-highest peak on Earth. |
Vertical Limit | 2000 | Drama | Mountain climbing | A retired climber's sister makes an attempt to reach the top ofK2. |
Touching the Void | 2003 | Documentary | Mountain climbing | True story about a harrowing 1985 expedition in the Andes. |
To the Limit | 2007 | Documentary | Rock climbing | A German-made documentary chronicling an adventure inYosemite National Park. |
The Climb | 2007 | Documentary | Mountain climbing | A Canadian returns toMount Everest25 years after a life-altering experience there. |
North Face | 2008 | Drama | Mountain climbing | Based on a 1936 climb up the Eiger's north face that ended disastrously. |
The Wildest Dream | 2010 | Documentary | Mountain climbing | The famedGeorge Mallory's 1924 disappearance fromMount Everestis recounted. |
The Summit | 2012 | Documentary | Mountain climbing | An account of the lives impacted by the2008 K2 disaster. |
Everest | 2015 | Drama | Mountain climbing | Story of the1996 Mount Everest disaster. |
Meru | 2015 | Documentary | Mountain climbing | Chronicles the first ascent of "The Shark's Fin", a famously difficult route to the summit ofMeru Peakin the Indian Himalayas. |
Poorna: Courage Has No Limit | 2017 | Biographical | Mountain climbing | Hindi-language film aboutMalavath Purna,a girl from a tribal background in South India who became the youngest girl to reach the summit of Mount Everest. |
Free Solo | 2018 | Documentary | Rock climbing | A chronicle ofAlex Honnold's 2017 ascent ofEl Capitan,the first ever accomplished as afree solo.Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. |
Rollerblading[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Airborne | 1993 | Comedy | ACincinnatikid becomes a star ininline skating. |
Brink! | 1998 | Family | Disney Channel Original Moviestory about rivalCaliforniaskaters. |
Roller skating[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The Rink | 1916 | Comedy | A 24-minute silent film starringCharlie Chaplinas a waiter who becomes a skater. |
The Fireball | 1950 | Drama | Mickey Rooneybecomes a sensational skater, only to be stricken with polio. |
Derby | 1971 | Documentary | An inside look at professionals likeCharlie O'ConnellandAnn Calvello. |
Kansas City Bomber | 1972 | Drama | Roller derby story starringRaquel Welchthat ends in a one-on-one race versus her nemesis. |
Unholy Rollers | 1972 | Drama | A girl quits her job in a cannery to become a roller derby skater. |
Skatetown, U.S.A. | 1979 | Drama | L.A. skaters including Ace Johnson (Patrick Swayze) compete in a contest for prize money. |
Roller Boogie | 1979 | Romance | Terry Barkley (Linda Blair) skates in a California disco while her boyfriend aims for the Olympics. |
Roll Bounce | 2005 | Family | A group of disadvantaged youths in 1970s Chicago enter aroller discocompetition at the ritzy uptown rink. |
Hell on Wheels | 2007 | Documentary | Austin, Texaswomen try to revive roller derby for the 21st century. |
Whip It | 2009 | Comedy, drama | A young woman (Elliot Page) tries her luck at Roller Derby. |
Hawaa Hawaai | 2014 | Drama | StarringPartho GupteandSaqib Saleem. |
Shooting[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Double Tap | 2000 | Action | |
Triple Tap | 2010 | Action |
Skateboarding[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Skaterdater | 1965 | Drama | Palme d'Or for Best Short Film,1966 Cannes Film Festival. |
Skateboard: The Movie | 1978 | Drama | Features world champion skateboarderTony Alva. |
Skateboard Madness | 1980 | Comedy | A reporter too laid-back for his own good is told his last chance is a story on skateboarding |
Thrashin' | 1986 | Drama | Josh Brolinclashes with a punk skateboard gang. |
The Search for Animal Chin | 1987 | Documentary, drama | |
Gleaming the Cube | 1989 | Action, drama | FeaturesTony Hawkin a small role. |
Dogtown and Z-Boys | 2001 | Documentary | Directed byStacy Peralta,one of the original Z-Boys featured in the film. |
Grind | 2003 | Comedy | Four school friends try to impress a skateboard pro. |
Stoked | 2003 | Documentary | Mark "Gator" Rogowskigoes from skateboard legend to rapist and murderer. |
Lords of Dogtown | 2005 | Drama | A fictionalized version of many of the events that occurred inDogtown and Z-Boys. |
Under the Influence | 2005 | Documentary | 21st-century pool skateboarding in Southern California. |
A Badlands Adventure | 2009 | Documentary | More about pool skateboarding. |
Welcome to Ridiculous | 2009 | Documentary | More about pool skateboarding. |
Street Dreams | 2009 | Drama | Chicagostreet kid (Paul Rodriguez) becomes a skateboard star. |
Skate Kitchen | 2018 | Drama | A teenage girl befriends a group of female skateboarders in New York City. |
Mid90s | 2018 | Drama | A coming-of-age story set in 1990s Los Angeles. |
Skiing[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The White Ecstasy | 1931 | Drama | Leni Riefenstahlportrays a young woman learning how to ski. |
Ski Patrol | 1940 | Drama | Rivals from the1936 Winter Olympicsend up at odds in time of war. |
Sun Valley Serenade | 1941 | Romance | Sonja Heniefalls in love on the ski slopes ofIdaho. |
Two-Faced Woman | 1941 | Romance | Ski instructor (Greta Garbo) and twin sister pursue a fashion magazine editor. |
Water Trix | 1948 | Short film | Oscar-nominated short byPete Smithon water ski champ Preston Peterson. |
Ski Party | 1965 | Comedy | Todd Armstrong (Frankie Avalon) and Craig Gamble (Dwayne Hickman) go to Idaho lodge disguised as women. |
Ski Fever | 1966 | Romance | Brian Davis (Martin Milner) competes on skis and for a girl (Claudia Martin). |
Downhill Racer | 1969 | Drama | A self-involved skier (Robert Redford) qualifies for the U.S. Olympic team. |
Snow Job | 1972 | Action | Jean-Claude Killystars as a thief who robs a ski resort. |
The Other Side of the Mountain | 1975 | Biographical | An accident leaves Olympic-bound slalom skierJill Kinmontparalyzed. |
Copper Mountain | 1983 | Comedy | Bobby Todd (Jim Carrey) and Jackson Reach (Alan Thicke) go after fun and women in Colorado. |
Hot Dog…The Movie | 1984 | Comedy | Romance and hijinks at a freestyle competition inSquaw Valley. |
Going for the Gold: The Bill Johnson Story | 1985 | Biographical | TV film withAnthony Edwardsas 1984 Olympic downhill gold medalistBill Johnson. |
Better Off Dead | 1985 | Comedy | A teen skier has to deal with his girlfriend dumping him and family issues. |
Fire and Ice | 1986 | Action | German film, narrated in English byJohn Denver. |
Ski School | 1990 | Comedy | Pals play pranks on one another at a ski school. |
Aspen Extreme | 1993 | Action, drama | Two friends from Michigan move to Colorado to become ski instructors. |
Ski School 2 | 1994 | Comedy | When a ski instructor learns his ex-girlfriend is getting married, he returns to ski school to stop it. |
Steep | 2007 | Documentary | A behind-the-scenes look at extreme skiing. |
Frozen | 2010 | Thriller | Horror story set at a New England ski resort. |
Truth in Motion | 2010 | Documentary | Contenders prepare for the2010 Winter Olympicsin Vancouver. |
Molly's Game | 2018 | Drama | Former skier becomes an illegal gambling mogul. |
Ski jumping[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner | 1974 | Documentary | German film made by acclaimed directorWerner Herzog. |
Matti | 2006 | Drama | Biographical film based on the life and career ofMatti Nykänen. |
Eddie the Eagle | 2016 | Biographical | Story ofa hapless British ski jumperfrom 1988 Calgary Olympics. |
Snowboarding[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Snowboard Academy | 1996 | Comedy | A slapstick farce starringJim VarneyandCorey Haim. |
Johnny Tsunami | 1999 | Comedy | TV film |
Out Cold | 2001 | Comedy | Mountain misadventures of mischievous boys inAlaska. |
MXP: Most Xtreme Primate | 2003 | Comedy | A direct-to-video sequel toMVP: Most Valuable Primate,with the title chimpanzee now snowboarding in Colorado. |
The White Album | 2004 | Documentary | Behind-the-scenes look at Olympic gold medalistShaun White. |
First Descent | 2005 | Documentary | A look at the sport's origins, filmed mainly inAlaska. |
White Air | 2007 | Drama | |
Switch | 2007 | Drama | Norwegian film |
Shred | 2008 | Comedy | Two washed up snowboarders go up against a sleazy corporate snowboard rep. |
Snow Summit Showdown | 2009 | Comedy | |
Chalet Girl | 2011 | Romantic Comedy | A British girl (Felicity Jones) goes to the Alps and discovers snowboarding. |
The Art of Flight | 2011 | Documentary | Footage of top snowboarders includingTravis Rice. |
The Crash Reel | 2013 | Documentary | Documents the epic rivalry betweenhalf-pipelegendsShaun WhiteandKevin Pearce. |
Sumo wrestling[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Wakanohana monogatari dohyou no oni | 1956 | ||
Wakanohana monogatari dohyou no oni | 1992 | ||
Sumo Do, Sumo Don't | 1992 | Comedy | |
Sumo Bruno | 2000 | Comedy, drama | |
Sumolah | 2007 | Comedy | |
A Matter of Size | 2009 | Comedy |
Surfing[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Gidget | 1959 | Romantic comedy | A 17-year-old California girl (Sandra Dee) is introduced to surfing and the guys who do it. |
Beach Party | 1963 | Comedy | Surfer Frankie (Frankie Avalon) tries to succeed on his board and withAnnette Funicello,too. |
The Endless Summer | 1966 | Documentary | Follows Mike Hynson andRobert Auguston a trip around the world, plus other prominent surfers. |
Big Wednesday | 1978 | Drama | Leroy (Gary Busey) and Matt (Jan-Michael Vincent) as California surfers during the Vietnam War years. |
North Shore | 1987 | Action | Arizona boy moves to Hawaii in attempt to become a pro surfer. |
Back to the Beach | 1987 | Comedy | Annette (Annette Funicello) and Frankie (Frankie Avalon) reunited for one more beach movie. |
Surf Nazis Must Die | 1987 | Comedy | Nonsense about rival surf gangs feuding in earthquake-struck California. |
A Scene at the Sea | 1991 | Drama | Japanese film about a trash collector learning how to surf. |
Point Break | 1991 | Action | Crime caper about FBI agent (Keanu Reeves) and bank-robbing surfer (Patrick Swayze). |
Surf Ninjas | 1993 | Comedy | Teen surfers from L.A. discover they are actually Asian princes at war with Colonel Chi (Leslie Nielsen). |
The Endless Summer II | 1994 | Documentary | Pat O'ConnellandRobert "Wingnut" Weaverretrace steps of Hynson and August fromEndless Summer. |
Blue Juice | 1995 | Drama | Romance withSean Pertwee,Ewan McGregor,Catherine Zeta-Jones. |
In God's Hands | 1998 | Action drama | Teen boys travel thousands of miles seeking the ultimate wave. |
7 Girls | 2001 | Documentary | Focuses on the surfing lives of seven prominent female surfers. |
Blue Crush | 2002 | Drama | A young woman surfs Oahu's North Shore, meets aPro Bowlfootball player. |
Step into Liquid | 2003 | Documentary | DirectorDana Brownexplores sport's evolution since his dad'sEndless Summer II,includingtow-in surfing. |
Riding Giants | 2004 | Documentary | A historical overview of the sport, focusing primarily onbig wave surfing. |
Surf's Up | 2007 | Comedy | Animated mockumentary |
Shelter | 2007 | Drama | Gay men meet, surf and hope to live together as a family. |
Surfwise | 2008 | Documentary | Life of thePaskowitzfamily. |
Surfer, Dude | 2009 | Comedy | Steve Addington (Matthew McConaughey) impatiently waits for a big wave to come along. |
Blue Crush 2 | 2010 | Drama | Sequel to 2002 film with all-new cast surfing inSouth Africa. |
Soul Surfer | 2011 | Drama | Biographical film on the life ofBethany Hamilton. |
Chasing Mavericks | 2012 | Drama | Biographical film on the life ofJay Moriarity. |
Hawaiian: Legend of Eddie Aikau | 2013 | Documentary | Made for TV as part of ESPN's30 for 30series. Biographical film on big-wave surferEddie Aikau,whose death inspired a spiritual movement. |
Drift | 2013 | Drama | Australian film about 1970s surfing innovators, starringSam Worthington. |
Surf's Up 2: WaveMania | 2017 | Comedy | Sequel toSurf's Up,where Codey and friends team up with the stars ofWWEto surf on Palisade. |
Unstoppable | 2018 | Documentary | A more recent examination of Bethany Hamilton's life, from childhood to shark attack victim, professional surfer, wife, and mother. |
Swimming and diving[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Swim Girl, Swim | 1927 | Comedy | A timid miss (Bebe Daniels) swimsEnglish Channeland meetsGertrude Ederle. |
You Said a Mouthful | 1932 | Comedy | An "unsinkable" swimsuit inventor enters a race to impress a girl (Ginger Rogers). |
Bathing Beauty | 1944 | Comedy | A college swim coach (Esther Williams) finds out her husband-to-be is already married. |
This Time for Keeps | 1947 | Romance | Aquacade performer falls for a young soldier returning from the war. |
Million Dollar Mermaid | 1952 | Musical | Based on the true story of Australia swimmerAnnette Kellerman. |
Dangerous When Wet | 1953 | Musical | A dairy farmer's daughter (Esther Williams) tries to swim theEnglish Channel. |
Star Spangled Girl | 1971 | Romance | A swimmer training for the Olympics (Sandy Duncan) reluctantly falls in love. |
Vsyo reshayet mgnoveniye | 1978 | Drama | |
Dawn! | 1979 | Biographical | Biopic of Australian swimmerDawn Fraser,a 3-time Olympic gold medalist. |
Popcorn und Paprika | 1984 | Drama | |
Koni | 1984 | Drama | Bengali film based onMoti Nandi's novel. |
Back to School | 1986 | Comedy | A diver's rich dad (Rodney Dangerfield) returns to college and ends up competing himself. |
Campus Man | 1987 | Comedy | A college business major convinces a diver to pose for a beefcake calendar. |
Diving In | 1990 | Drama | Olympic coach (Kristy Swanson) trains teen diver who's afraid of heights. |
Sarahsarà | 1994 | Drama | |
Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story | 1997 | Biographical | Story of Olympic gold-medal diverGreg Louganis,played byMario Lopez. |
The Princess & the Barrio Boy | 2000 | Drama | |
Waterboys | 2001 | Comedy | A Japanese film aboutsynchronised swimming. |
Heart: The Marilyn Bell Story | 2001 | Biographical | Story of 16-year-old Marilyn Bell's world-record swim across Lake Ontario (50.5 km) from New York, USA to Ontario, Canada |
Swimfan | 2002 | Thriller | A swimmer's lover (Erika Christensen) feels rejected, begins to stalk him. |
Swimming Upstream | 2003 | Drama | Fact-based story ofTony Fingleton,an Australian who skipped the1964 Summer Olympicsto attendHarvard.Screenplay by Fingleton. |
On a Clear Day | 2005 | Drama | A shipyard worker attempts to swim the English Channel. |
The Big Bad Swim | 2006 | Comedy | Connecticut grown-ups go to a beginner's swim class. |
Einfache Leute | 2007 | Drama | |
Pride | 2007 | Drama | A swim coach (Terence Howard) confronts racism in 1970s Philadelphia. |
Undead Pool | 2007 | Horror | A Japanese zombie story. |
Floating Skyscrapers | 2013 | Drama | An aspiring professional swimmer falls in love with another man. |
Touch the Wall | 2014 | Documentary | How teenagerMissy Franklintook four gold medals at the2012 Summer Olympics. |
Vindication Swim | 2022 | Drama | Biopic ofMercedes Gleitze,who became the first British woman to swim theEnglish Channelin 1927. |
Table tennis[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Ping Pong | 2002 | Comedy, drama | Japanese film about a pair of high school competitors. |
Balls of Fury | 2007 | Comedy | A 12-year-old Olympic hopeful faces criminal mastermind Feng (Christopher Walken). |
Ping Pong Playa | 2007 | Comedy | |
As One | 2012 | Comedy, drama | South Korean film about 1991 championship tournament in Japan. |
Top Spin | 2014 | Documentary | Follows road to 2012 Olympics of American teens Ariel Hsing, Michael Landers and Lily Zhang. |
Ping Pong Summer | 2014 | Comedy | A 13-year-old boy inMarylandfinds a mentor to teach him the game. |
Tennis[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Love, Honor and Behave | 1938 | Drama | A college tennis player prefers sportsmanship to winning at all costs. |
Strangers on a Train | 1950 | Suspense | A pro tries to play in the U.S. Open while being framed for murder. Directed byAlfred Hitchcock. |
Hard, Fast and Beautiful | 1951 | Drama | A young tennis prodigy can't live up to her mother's expectations. |
The Christian Licorice Store | 1971 | Drama | Beau Bridgesstars as a tennis pro who can't handle success. |
Players | 1979 | Drama | A love story involvingAli MacGrawand Wimbledon contenderDean Paul Martin. |
Racquet | 1979 | Comedy | A former tennis champ (Bert Convy) sets his sites on owning a tennis court. |
Spring Fever | 1982 | Drama | Las Vegas showgirl's daughter (Carling Bassett) enters a tournament. |
Second Serve | 1986 | Biographical | A television film withVanessa Redgraveas transgender tennis proRenée Richards. |
Nobody's Perfect | 1990 | Comedy | A college freshman (Chad Lowe) hot for a female player masquerades as a woman. |
The Break | 1995 | Drama | Vincent Van Pattenas a former player turned coach. |
When Billie Beat Bobby | 2001 | Biographical | Docudrama of 1973Billie Jean Kingvs.Bobby Riggsmatch, withHolly HunterandRon Silver. |
Wimbledon | 2004 | Romantic comedy | Two players (Kirsten DunstandPaul Bettany) pursue romance during theWimbledon Championships. |
Tennis no Ōjisama – Futari no Samurai | 2005 | Action | Japanese film |
The Prince of Tennis | 2006 | Action | Japanese film about a tennis prodigy. |
Jelenin Svet | 2008 | Documentary | A look at career ofSerbianpro starJelena Janković. |
Somay Ku: A Uganda Tennis Story | 2008 | Documentary | |
Balls Out: Gary the Tennis Coach | 2009 | Comedy | Direct-to-video spoof starringSeann William Scott. |
Unmatched | 2010 | Documentary | Made for TV as part of ESPN's30 for 30series. Focuses on theChris Evert–Martina Navratilovarivalry,and on the long-term friendship between the two women. |
Renée | 2011 | Documentary | Made for TV as a follow-up to ESPN's30 for 30series. Explores the life of transsexual tennis playerRenée Richardsand the impact of her entry in the1977 US Open. |
Venus and Serena | 2013 | Documentary | A behind-the-scenes look at the Williams sisters. |
Venus Vs. | 2013 | Documentary | Made for TV as part of ESPN'sNine for IXseries. Examines the fightVenus Williamsled to gain prize money equality for women. |
Andy Murray: The Man Behind The Racquet | 2013 | Documentary | A behind-the-scenes BBC look atAndy Murray.[citation needed] |
This Is What They Want | 2013 | Documentary | Made for TV as part of ESPN's30 for 30series. A look back at the run of then 39-year-oldJimmy Connorsto the semifinals of the1991 US Open. |
Break Point | 2015 | Comedy | Estranged brothers begin entering pro tournaments in doubles. |
7 Days in Hell | 2016 | Comedy | AmockumentaryfeaturingAndy Sambergin a match that won't end. |
Borg vs McEnroe | 2017 | Biographical | Tennis championBjörn Borg(Sverrir Gudnason) faces off against brash newcomerJohn McEnroe(Shia LaBeouf) at the1980 Wimbledon Championships. |
Battle of the Sexes | 2017 | Comedy | Steve CarellandEmma Stonerecreate the 1973Riggs-Kingmatch. |
King Richard | 2021 | Biographical | Richard Williams (Will Smith) is father and coach of famed tennis players Venus and Serena Williams. |
Underwater diving[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The Frogmen | 1951 | War | Scuba diving experts includingRichard Widmarkoperate as military commandos. |
Beneath the 12-Mile Reef | 1953 | Adventure | Story of sponge divers off the Florida Keys, starringRobert Wagner. |
The Silent World | 1956 | Documentary | Directed byJacques-Yves CousteauandLouis Malle. |
World Without Sun | 1964 | Documentary | Directed by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, chroniclesConshelf Two,the first attempt to create an underwater habitat for humans to live on the sea floor. |
Voyage to the Edge of the World | 1976 | Documentary | Directed by Jacques-Yves Cousteau,Philippe CousteauandMarshall Flaum,chronicles a four months expedition by Cousteau toAntarctica. |
The Deep | 1977 | Adventure | Dangerous men go after scuba diversNick NolteandJacqueline Bissetnear Bermuda. |
The Big Blue | 1988 | Drama | French directorLuc Besson's story of free divers, starringJean RenoandRosanna Arquette. |
Ghosts of the Abyss | 2003 | Documentary | DirectorJames Cameronand crew submerge to explore remains ofTitanic. |
Open Water | 2003 | Drama | Director Chris Kentis. The story of the disappearance of scuba diversTom and Eileen Lonerganin 1998. |
The Cave | 2005 | Horror | Off coast of Romania,spelunkersand divers discover terrifying parasites. |
Into the Blue | 2005 | Adventure | DiversJessica AlbaandPaul Walkerfind crashed plane transporting cocaine. |
Fool's Gold | 2008 | Adventure | Treasure hunterMatthew McConaugheydives searching for Spanish galleon. |
Sanctum | 2011 | Adventure | An underwater cave diving team experiences a life-threatening crisis during an expedition to the unexplored and least accessible cave system in the world. |
No Limits | 2013 | Documentary | Made for TV as part of ESPN'sNine for IXseries. Explores the life ofAudrey Mestre,a world-classfreediver,and the events leading up to the dive that ultimately took her life. |
Wrestling[edit]
Note:Lucha filmsare not included in this list. Although they featureluchadores(Mexican professional wrestlers) as the lead characters, theluchadorestypically portray heroes (often superheroes) within non-wrestling stories (such as action, horror, or sci-fi).
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Rikidozan_monogatari_doto_no_otoko_poster_2.jpg)
Title | Year | Genre | Discipline | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Take Down | 1979 | Comedy, drama | Scholastic wrestling | Lorenzo Lamasstars as a high school wrestler. |
Lurich | 1984 | Drama | Greco-Roman | Biographical film on the career ofGeorg Lurich. |
Vision Quest | 1985 | Drama | Scholastic | Matthew Modinestars as a high school wrestler. |
Over the Top | 1987 | Drama | Arm wrestling | Truck driver Lincoln "Linc" Hawk (Sylvester Stallone) enters an arm-wrestling competition. |
Spooner | 1989 | Drama | Scholastic | Made for TV, premiered on theDisney Channel,starsRobert Urich.[3][4][5] |
Reversal | 2001 | Romantic drama | Scholastic | Story of a Pennsylvania high school athlete. |
The Backyard | 2002 | Documentary | Backyard wrestling | Documentary film examining backyard wrestling. |
Going to the Mat | 2004 | Family comedy | Scholastic | Made for TV, premiered on theDisney Channel,starsAndrew Lawrence.[6] |
Personal Effects | 2008 | Drama | Wrestling | StarsAshton KutcherandMichelle Pfeiffer. |
The Streak | 2008 | Documentary | Scholastic | Made-for-TV movie that was included inESPN's30 for 30series. The story of the wrestling program atBrandon High Schoolin Florida and their 439-match winning streak that spanned 3 decades |
Legendary | 2010 | Drama | Scholastic | Oklahoma teen is coached by his older brother (John Cena). |
The Hammer | 2010 | Drama | Collegiate wrestling | Biographical film about a deaf college wrestler. |
Win Win | 2011 | Comedy, drama | Scholastic | Broke lawyer Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) becomes a boy's coach and guardian. |
Foxcatcher | 2014 | Drama | Freestyle wrestling | Channing Tatumin a true story about Olympic wrestlerMark Schultz,his brotherDave,and the events leading up to Dave's murder by their benefactor,John du Pont. |
Lost in Wrestling | 2015 | Drama | [7][8] | |
The Prince of Pennsylvania | 2015 | Documentary | Freestyle | Made for TV as part of ESPN's30 for 30series. Another look at the Schultz–du Pont case. |
Dangal | 2016 | Drama | Freestyle | StarringAamir KhanasMahavir Singh Phogat,who taught wrestling to his daughtersGeeta PhogatandBabita Kumari. |
American Wrestler: The Wizard | 2016 | Drama | Scholastic | In 1980, a teenage Iranian immigrant moves to a California town and joins a high school wrestling team. |
Godha | 2017 | Drama | Freestyle | StarringRenji Panickeras Captain andWamiqa Gabbias Aditi Singh. |
Animals in sports[edit]
Fishing[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The Silver Horde | 1930 | Drama | Boyd Emerson (Joel McCrea), a salmon fisherman, tries to open a cannery. |
Tiger Shark | 1932 | Drama | Fisherman Mike Mascarenhas (Edward G. Robinson) loses a hand saving a man's life. |
Riffraff | 1936 | Romance | Tuna cannery worker Hattie Tuttle (Jean Harlow) falls for fisherman Dutch Muller (Spencer Tracy). |
Captains Courageous | 1937 | Adventure | A spoiled brat ends up with the crew of a fishing schooner. |
Spawn of the North | 1938 | Drama | A seal hunter (George Raft) betrays a pal (Henry Fonda), poaching fish. |
Johnny Frenchman | 1945 | Drama | British film about rival Cornwall fishing families. |
Tuna Clipper | 1949 | Drama | Alec MacLennan (Roddy McDowall) takes a job with a crew of tuna fishermen. |
Alaska Seas | 1954 | Drama | A remake ofSpawn of the NorthwithRobert RyanandBrian Keith. |
The Old Man and the Sea | 1958 | Adventure | After 84 days without a catch, a Cuban fisherman (Spencer Tracy) lands a marlin. |
Man's Favorite Sport? | 1964 | Comedy | A phony fishing expert (Rock Hudson) ends up entered in a big tournament. |
Blue Fin | 1978 | Family | Australian film about a boy who learns tuna fishing. |
A River Runs Through It | 1992 | Drama | Story ofMontanabrothers hooked on fly-fishing, directed byRobert Redford. |
Gone Fishin' | 1997 | Comedy | Inept anglers Joe Waters (Joe Pesci) and Gus Green (Danny Glover) have an adventure in theEverglades. |
Bait Shop | 2008 | Comedy | A bait shop owner enters a pro fishing tournament to save his store. |
The Lost World of Mr. Hardy | 2008 | Documentary | British film about a family firm that manufactures fishing tackle. |
Ondine | 2009 | Drama | An Irish fisherman (Colin Farrell) catches a woman in his net. |
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen | 2011 | Comedy | A Brit (Ewan McGregor) helps a sheikh introduce salmon fishing to his country. |
Greyhound racing[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Wild Boy | 1934 | Comedy | Corrupt dog owner tries to keep Wild Boy out of the Greyhound Derby. |
The Gay Dog | 1954 | Comedy | British film featuring a youngPetula Clark. |
Jumping for Joy | 1956 | Comedy | A man nurses a sick greyhound back to health, meets criminals who want to fix a race. |
Man About Dog | 2004 | Comedy | A trio of Irish lads and their greyhound run from a pack of crooks. |
The Mighty Celt | 2005 | Drama | Gillian Andersonstars in a story ofNorthern Irelandgreyhound racing. |
Horse racing[edit]
Jousting[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Knightriders | 1981 | Drama | King Billy (Ed Harris) leads a band of men who joust on motorcycles. |
A Knight's Tale | 2001 | Adventure | William Thatcher (Heath Ledger) pretends to be a nobleman to compete in jousting tournaments. |
Polo[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The Smart Set | 1928 | Drama | An arrogant player is booted from U.S. team before match vs. Great Britain. |
Polo Joe | 1936 | Comedy | Afraid of horses, Joe Bolton (Joe E. Brown) takes up polo to impress a girl. |
Mickey's Polo Team | 1936 | Comedy short | A game betweenDisneycharacters, led byMickey Mouse,and cartoon versions of real-life movie stars. |
The Kid from Texas | 1939 | Comedy | A loudmouth cowpuncher tries his hand at polo. |
The Polo Kid | 2009 | Documentary | True story of how 13-year-oldSantiago Torres,from an ordinary background, became a polo star. |
Rodeo[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The Calgary Stampede | 1925 | Mystery | After winning a Canada rodeo with a spectacular stunt, Dan (Hoot Gibson) is accused of a murder. |
Let 'er Buck | 1925 | Western | A cowboy hiding inOregonrisks exposure by entering the world rodeo championships. |
Wild Horse Rodeo | 1937 | Western | One ofThe Three Mesquiteerssearches for a horse called Cyclone. |
The Cowboy and the Lady | 1938 | Romance | A socialite fromPalm Beachfalls for rodeo cowpoke Stretch Willoughby (Gary Cooper). |
Ride 'Em Cowboy | 1942 | Comedy | Duke and Willoughby (Abbott and Costello) rescue kidnapped rodeo rider Bronco Bob. |
A Lady Takes a Chance | 1943 | Comedy | A bronc rider (John Wayne) bucks an Eastern gal's plan to get hitched. |
Rodeo King and the Senorita | 1951 | Western | Rex Allen (Rex Allen) joins a rodeo and tries to solve a murder. |
The Lusty Men | 1952 | Drama | Injured by a bull, a rodeo veteran (Robert Mitchum) quits, then makes an ill-fated comeback. |
Rodeo | 1952 | Drama | Unpaid for a feed bill, Nancy Cartwright takes over a bankrupt rodeo association. |
Sky Full of Moon | 1952 | Comedy | A bronc rider goes toLas Vegasto try to win his rodeo entry fee. |
Arena | 1953 | Drama | Now a rodeo clown, a washed up rider risks his life for one last try. |
Born Reckless | 1958 | Drama | A trick rider (Mamie van Doren) tries to lasso a young cowboy. |
The Rounders | 1965 | Comedy | Ben Jones (Glenn Ford) and Howdy Lewis (Henry Fonda) wager nobody in rodeo can ride their horse. |
Tickle Me | 1965 | Musical | Lonnie Beale (Elvis Presley) works as a singer until rodeo season returns. |
Stay Away, Joe | 1968 | Musical | Cowboys compete to stay aboardElvis Presley's prize bull. |
Junior Bonner | 1972 | Western | Steve McQueenstars as a rodeo pro with a few family issues. Directed bySam Peckinpah. |
J. W. Coop | 1972 | Western | A just-out-of-jail bronco buster (Cliff Robertson) resumes his career. |
When the Legends Die | 1972 | Western | Alcoholic cowboy Red Dillon (Richard Widmark) mentors a Ute Indian to compete in rodeo. |
Black Rodeo | 1972 | Documentary | A rodeo comes toHarlem,narrated byWoody Strode. |
The Great American Cowboy | 1973 | Documentary | A documentary about the rivalry between veteranLarry Mahanand newcomer Phil Lyne, as the two vie for theNational Finals RodeoChampionship title. |
The Electric Horseman | 1979 | Romance | TV reporter pursues rodeo cowboy (Robert Redford) who steals a valuable horse. |
Stir Crazy | 1980 | Comedy | A prison warden gets innocent inmates (Gene Wilder,Richard Pryor) involved in a rodeo. |
Rodeo Girl | 1980 | Drama | A rider's wife (Katharine Ross) gives rodeo competition a try herself. |
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys | 1991 | Drama | Rodeo rider (Scott Glenn) returns home after a long absence. |
Colorado Cowboy: The Bruce Ford Story | 1993 | Documentary | Behind the scenes look at a successful bronco buster. |
8 Seconds | 1994 | Drama | Biographical film onLane Frost,withLuke Perrystarring as doomed bull rider. |
The Cowboy Way | 1994 | Comedy | Cowpokes Sonny Gilstrap (Kiefer Sutherland) and Pepper Lewis (Woody Harrelson) take a trip to New York. |
Ruby Jean and Joe | 1996 | Drama | A female hitchhiker befriends a former rodeo rider played byTom Selleck. |
Everything That Rises | 1998 | Drama | Dennis Quaiddirects and stars in TV film about a Texas cowboy. |
Cowboy Up | 2001 | Romance | Bull rider Hank Braxton (Kiefer Sutherland) falls for barrel racer Celia Jones (Daryl Hannah). |
The Ride | 2010 | Documentary | Explores a season on theProfessional Bull Riders'top circuit. |
Cowgirls 'n Angels | 2012 | Family | A 12-year-old girl teams up with a rodeo owner (James Cromwell). |
The Longest Ride | 2015 | Drama | Injured bull rider (Scott Eastwood) befriends an aging artist (Alan Alda). |
Other[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Sport | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Babe | 1995 | Comedy | Sheepdog trail | Based on the bookThe Sheep-PigbyDick King Smith,nominated forBest Pictureat the68th Academy Awards. |
Cool Runnings | 1993 | Comedy | Bobsleigh | Loosely based on the debut of theJamaica bobsled teamat the1988 Winter Olympics. |
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story | 2004 | Comedy | Dodgeball | Farce about big-time dodgeball, starringVince VaughnandBen Stilleras rival players. |
Paper Planes | 2015 | Drama | Paper aeroplane racing | The film tells a story about Dylan, a young boy who lives in Australia, who finds out that he has a talent for making paper planes and dreams of competing in the World Paper Plane Championships in Japan.[9] |
Populaire | 2013 | Comedy, drama | Speed typing | A provincial girl guided by her coach becomes the fastest typist. |
Like a Virgin | 2006 | Comedy | Ssireum | A transgender Korean competes inssireum(traditional Korean folk wrestling). |
Tag | 2018 | Comedy | Tag | Three friends who spend one month a year playing tag. |
The Good, the Bad, the Hungry | 2019 | Documentary | Competitive eating | Made for TV as a part of ESPN's30 for 30series. Explores the longstanding rivalry betweencompetitive eatersTakeru KobayashiandJoey Chestnut. |
Never Stop | 2021 | Sprinting | Retired sprinter Hao Chaoyue competes with his protégé Wu Tianyi in the100-meter dash. | |
On Your Mark | 2021 | Drama | Marathon | A father and son participate in a marathon and thus come to understand and improve themselves. |
E-sports[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Beyond the Game | 2008 | Documentary | About the world ofprofessional video gaming,particularly of the gameWarcraft III: The Frozen Throne. |
Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters | 2011 | Documentary | A story of the lives of several gamers from around the country as they prepare to compete in the 2010Classic Tetris World ChampionshipinLos Angeles. |
Gamer | 2011 | The story of a young gamer who lives with his mother inSimferopol. | |
Free to Play | 2014 | Documentary | The film follows Benedict "hyhy" Lim,Danil "Dendi" Ishutin,andClinton "Fear" Loomis,three professionalDota 2players who participated inthe first International,the most lucrativeesportstournament at the time. |
The King of Arcades | 2014 | Documentary | The film followspunk rockmusician and classic arcade collector Richie Knucklez on his journey to cultural prominence when he takes his passion for collecting to new heights by opening anarcade businessinFlemington, New Jersey,only to watch it fall in the wake ofeconomichardship.[10] |
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters | 2007 | Documentary | FollowsSteve Wiebein his attempts to take thehigh scorerecord for the 1981 arcade gameDonkey KongfromBilly Mitchell. |
The Lost Arcade | 2015 | Documentary | About the influence of theChinatown Fairarcade on thefighting gamecommunity andNew York Cityas a whole. |
Man vs Snake | 2015 | Documentary | Film follows players as they try to accumulate a billion points on the 1982 arcade gameNibbler,a feat first achieved by Tim McVey in 1984. |
Ready Player One | 2018 | Sci-fi | Based on thebook of the same name. |
Fictional sports[edit]
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Rollerball | 1975 | Sci-fi | James Caanstars as the game's greatest star, playing for Houston in a futuristic story of a life-and-death sport. |
BASEketball | 1998 | Comedy | A league is formed featuring a new game that combines baseball and basketball. |
Rollerball | 2002 | Sci-fi | A remake of the 1975 sci-fi film starringLL Cool JandChris Klein. |
Multiple sport movies[edit]
Note:This category is for films about sports in general or films about athletes participating in multiple sports. This category is not for films featuring the Olympics, Paralympics, X Games and other similar "games" which fall under the "Multi-sport games/Olympics" category. Films featuring specific sports should be listed under that specific sport.
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Jim Thorpe – All-American | 1951 | Biographical | Story of famedNative Americanathlete who excelled at football, baseball and track & field, starringBurt Lancaster. |
June 17th, 1994 | 2010 | Documentary | Made for TV as a part ofESPN's30 for 30series. Examines the sporting events of the day in question, among them the opening of theFIFA World Cup,theNBA Finals,the lastU.S. Openround ofArnold Palmer,and theNew York Rangers'Stanley Cupcelebration—all overshadowed byO. J. Simpson'srun from the police. |
The Dotted Line | 2011 | Documentary | Part ofESPNFilms Collection - The Dotted Line is an in-depth look at what it takes to be a big-time agent in the fiercely competitive world of major league sports. |
Broke | 2012 | Documentary | Made for TV as a part ofESPN's30 for 30series examining pro athletes propensity to waste their millions |
Head Games | 2012 | Documentary | Athletes from the professional to the youth levels share their personal struggles dealing with concussions |
Branded | 2013 | Documentary | Made for TV as part ofESPN'sNine for IXseries. A thought provoking look at the double standard placed on female athletes to be the best players on the field/courts and the sexiest off them |
Let Them Wear Towels | 2013 | Documentary | Made for TV as part ofESPN'sNine for IXseries. Examines the obstacles that women sports journalists faced as they fought to gain access to the "boys' club" of male locker rooms |
Schooled: The Price of College Sports | 2013 | Documentary | Examines the billion-dollar enterprise of college sports built on the backs of unpaid student athletes. |
Equestria Girls | 2015 | Musical | Made for TV, aMy Little Pony: Friendship is Magicspin-off film about two schools and a "Friendship Games". |
Point Break | 2015 | Action, drama | A young FBI agent infiltrates an extraordinary team of extreme sports athletes he suspects of masterminding a string of corporate heists. A remake of the1991 filmof the same name |
Believeland | 2016 | Documentary | Made for TV as part ofESPN's30 for 30series. Follows the history of sports inClevelandsince the city's last major title in1964,including heartbreaks such asThe Drive,The Fumble,The Shot,The Move,andThe Decision.Airings after theCavalierswon the NBA title in2016include a new ending. |
Student Athlete | 2018 | Documentary | HBOmade-for-TV documentary, produced byLeBron JamesandMaverick Carter,criticizing the NCAA for alleged exploitation of college athletes. |
Deion's Double Play | 2019 | Documentary | Entry in ESPN's30 for 30series focusing onDeion Sanders,specifically a 24-hour period in 1992 when he played in two Major League Baseball postseason games and an NFL game in cities separated by 1,000 miles. |
Multi-sport games/Olympics[edit]
Note:Films featuring the Olympics, Paralympics, X Games, and other similar events are included. Films featuring specific sports featured in the games should be listed under that specific sport
Title | Year | Genre | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Spartakiada | 1929 | Documentary | Silent propaganda piece recapping athletic competitions held in Moscow in 1928. |
Charlie Chan at the Olympics | 1937 | Mystery | Charlie Chan's oldest son is chosen to compete in the1936 Summer Olympics. |
Olympia Part 1: Festival of Nations | 1938 | Documentary | Leni Reifenstahl's Nazi propaganda film chronicling the1936 Summer Olympics. |
Olympia Part 2: Festival of Beauty | 1938 | Documentary | Leni Reifenstahl's Nazi propaganda film chronicling the1936 Summer Olympics. |
Kings of the Olympics | 1948 | Documentary | American film mostly culled fromOlympia,Riefenstahl film on1936 Summer Olympics. |
Olympia 52 | 1952 | Documentary | French film about1952 Summer OlympicsinHelsinki,Finland. |
Geordie | 1955 | Comedy | A not-so-wee Scot goes to Australia for the1956 Summer Olympics. |
The Grand Olympics | 1961 | Documentary | A look back at the1960 Summer Olympicsin Rome. |
Tokyo Olympiad | 1965 | Documentary | A look back at the1964 Summer Olympicsin Japan. |
13 jours en France | 1968 | Documentary | A documentary about the1968 Winter OlympicsinGrenoble. |
The Olympics in Mexico | 1969 | Documentary | A documentary highlighting the1968 Summer OlympicsinMexico City. |
Visions of Eight | 1973 | Documentary | Eight directors' takes on1972 Summer OlympicsinMunich. |
White Rock | 1977 | Documentary | A look at1976 Winter Olympicsheld inInnsbruck,Austria. |
A Step Away | 1980 | Documentary | Footage from1979 Pan American GamesinPuerto Rico,narrated byOrson Welles. |
Animalympics | 1980 | Comedy | The animal kingdom stages its own Summer Olympics. |
The Golden Moment | 1980 | Drama | TV movie on American and Russian athletes at Moscow Olympics who fall in love. |
Stade 81 a.k.a. Starting Blocks | 1981 | Documentary | A short film documentary about the firstSpecial Olympics. |
The First Olympics: Athens 1896 | 1984 | Drama | TV mini-series about the origins of theModern Olympics. |
16 Days of Glory | 1986 | Documentary | Official documentary of the1984 Summer Olympicsin Los Angeles. |
Dorf and the First Games of Mount Olympus | 1988 | Comedy | Direct-to-video short withTim Conway,parody ofAncient Olympic Games. |
Fire, Ice and Dynamite | 1990 | Action | A tycoon fakes suicide and his children and creditors compete for his estate in Olympic-type events. |
One Day in September | 1999 | Documentary | A documentary chronicling theMunich Massacreat the1972 Summer OlympicsinMunich. |
Asterix at the Olympic Games | 2008 | Comedy | French film in which characters fromAstérixcomic book series participate in Olympics. |
Dream Weavers: Beijing 2008 | 2008 | Documentary | Official documentary about events building up to2008 Summer Olympics. |
Olympic Pride, American Prejudice | 2016 | Documentary | The story of the "forgotten" 17 African-American athletes that participated at theBerlin1936 Summer Olympics,along withJesse Owens. |
See also[edit]
- List of highest-grossing sports films
- List of films based on sports books
- List of sports video games
References[edit]
- Notes
- Citations
- ^Didinger, Ray; Macnow, Glen; Hackman, Gene (2009).The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies: Featuring the 100 Greatest Sports Films of All Time.Running Press. pp. 10–11.ISBN978-0-7624-3548-7.
- ^Rubin, Rebecca (July 30, 2020)."Pixar Shares Details About Next Original Film 'Luca'".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on August 18, 2020.RetrievedAugust 3,2020.
- ^"Spooner (TV 1989) - IMDb".imdb.Retrieved2012-10-29.
- ^Hal Erickson(2008)."Spooner – Movies".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon 2008-09-22.Retrieved2012-10-29.
- ^The Disney Channel Magazine,November/December 1989
- ^"Going to the Mat (TV 2004) - IMDb".imdb.Retrieved2012-10-29.
- ^Kerr, Elizabeth (March 31, 2014)."3D Lost in Wrestling: Filmart Review".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJune 2,2015.
- ^"Vật lộn mê thành (2015)".movie.douban(in Chinese).douban.RetrievedJune 2,2015.
- ^"Paper Planes - Penguin Books Australia".penguin.au.Retrieved16 October2016.
- ^"Twin Galaxies".Written by Catherine DeSpira.RetrievedSeptember 15,2016.
- Bibliography
- Armstrong, Richard B. and Mary Willems (1990).The Movie List Book: A Reference Guide to Film Themes, Settings, and Series.McFarland.ISBN9780899502403
- Davidson, Judith A. and Adler, Daryl (1993).Sport on Film and Video.New-York: The Scarecrow Press.ISBN9780810827394.
- Sicks, Kai Marcel and Stauff, Markus (eds.) (2010).Filmgenres: Sportfilm[sic]. Stuttgart: Philipp Reclam.ISBN978-3-15-018786-9.
- Wallenfeldt, Jeffrey H. (1989).Sports Movies: A Guide to Nearly 500 Films Focusing on Sports.CineBooks.ISBN9780933997240.
- (fr) Julien Camy and Gérard Camy,Sport&Cinéma,ed. Du Bailli de Suffren,2016, (1200 films, 60 sports, 80 interviews)