We love a good sports movie. Here’s a list of some of our favorites. Remember, all our lists only include movies that are rated G or PG.
Many of these movies talk about race issues in our country and world. Make sure you take time to discuss these issues with your family after you watch these movies. It’s a good springboard to promote understanding, kindness, and cooperation in a world that sorely needs these lessons.
Remember the Titans is one of the best sports movies of all time. We get to be a part of one of the first integrated football teams in Virginia. It is powerfully written and an excellent starting place for a discussion of race issues in our country.
The Perfect Game is the incredible true story of a Mexican little league baseball team who overcomes hardships and prejudice to compete in the 1957 Little League World Series. This really is a perfect family movie… great story, full of humor, and very inspiring.
Cool Runnings is just plain fun. It’s a Jamaican bobsled team! We love the humor, the determination, and the community support from the fans back home. It’s a great underdog story that will make you smile.
The Sandlot is about a new kid in town who makes friends with a group of rag-tag kids who play baseball at the sandlot. Together they go on lots of adventures, including solving the mystery of the monster behind the fence.
Miracle is an amazing story of an underdog US Olympic hockey team. It’s a little too rough for younger kids, but our teenagers really like it. Mom thinks the coach is too hard on the players, but our older kids overruled her opinion. They think it’s one of the greatest sports movies ever.
A League of Their Own is about the All-American Girls Baseball League in the 1940’s when the male players were fighting in WWII. It’s a story of amazing women who blazed the trail for female athletes for generations to come. You’ll fall in love with these amazing, spunky athletes.
Macfarlane USA is another great underdog story. It’s about an impoverished Latino high school cross-country team who overcomes the odds to become state champions with the help of a coach, amazing family support, and determination. It’s a fabulous story!
Basketball is a big part of our family. Glory Road is an important movie because it allows us to see the awful attitudes and behaviors in our nation toward athletes of color. It’s uncomfortable to watch, but still full of hope and celebration. This one may be scary for little kids. We’d recommend it for kids 10+, followed by a good discussion of race issues in America.
Rudy is a great underdog story about grit, friendship and Notre Dame football. If you love cheering for the little guy, this one’s for you.
When an Iowa farmer hears a voice in his cornfield saying, “If you build it, he will come,” he decides to plow down his corn and build a baseball field. The ghosts of great baseball players start coming to play each night. Field of Dreams is a fun one for baseball fans.
Soul Surfer is based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton, an incredible young surfer who loses her arm in a shark attack. With the help of her family and church, she is able to turn the tragedy into a beautiful opportunity to serve and inspire others.
Well, if you haven’t seen The Karate Kid, it’s about time you joined the human race. You really need to see it for cultural literacy. Mr. Miyagi’s teaching methods will stay with you forever.
The Blind Side is another family favorite. It’s the story of the Tuohy family who takes in a homeless teenager, Michael Oher. Not only does he turn out to be a football star, but the whole family is transformed by the experience. It’s funny, full of great football scenes and quips, and very moving.
The Boys in the Boat is the true story of the University of Washington’s 1936 eight-man rowing team who overcame incredible challenges to compete in the Berlin Olympics. It’s beautifully filmed and a really amazing story!
Did you know that a young woman set the world record for crossing the English Channel in 14 hours 31 minutes in 1926, beating the world record held by a man by two hours? Young Woman and the Sea is a wonderful story of a spunky young woman who dares to dream the impossible.
Again, we love basketball. This is the really cool story of pro basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpos. He and his family emigrate from Nigeria to Greece. Their amazing story of rags to riches is definitely screen-worthy.
I can’t believe this is the only soccer movie on our list. We’ll look for more. It’s seems like we should all know a little more about the iconic legend, Pele. This is the story of his meteoric rise from the slums of Sao Paulo to World Cup victory.
Forever Strong is a rugby movie. And, since Invictus couldn’t be on our list because of it’s rating (PG-13), we wanted to throw in a nod to Rugby with this film. We happen to live near the high school associated with this show, so we have a soft spot for it.
Safety is a true story about what it means to be a family. You can find it on Disney+. It’s about a college football player who has to take care of his 12-year-old brother while his mother is in drug rehabilitation. The whole college community steps up to help.
Angels in the Outfield is an old classic baseball movie with silly comedy and big heart. It’s a fun one for every age.
Is chess a sport? Probably not, but it’s definitely filled with intense competition. We’ve spent hundreds of hours at chess tournaments, so trust us on this. Searching for Bobby Fisher is a great story of a young chess prodigy and his family. Check it out!
If chess makes the sports movie list then spelling bees should count too. Akeelah and the Bee is a wonderful tale of perseverance and competition. It’s the story of a little girl who works her tail off to make it to the National Spelling Bee (which is aired on ESPN, so it must be a sport.) It’s one of our very favorites!
And, we have to include Hoosiers because it’s one of the greatest basketball movies of all time. The story of a tiny school basketball team making it to the big time has never been better than this!