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Best Sports Movies to Watch While You’re Waiting for Pro Sports to Return

Best Sports Movies to Watch While You’re Waiting for Pro Sports to Return

The global coronavirus pandemic has shaken the sports world like nothing else in recent history. Major events from the Summer Olympics and Wimbledon to professional sports like hockey and baseball have been canceled or postponed. Though fans can’t watch their favorite sports, they can still watch movies about them.

In some good news for millions of Americans, Major League Baseball is giving fans some hope. Players and owners are negotiating and may start the new seasons, albeit a shortened one, around mid-July. There are some highly praised movies about America’s favorite pastime that some people may want to see in the meantime.

24/7 Tempo created an index of several measures, including the average critic rating and average audience rating Rotten Tomatoes as well as the Internet Movie Database average user rating, to compile a list of the 25 best sports movies now available for streaming.

If your sport still hasn’t resumed by the time you’re done with the movie binge, you may want to find a new pastime. There are competitions that are extremely popular elsewhere in the world, but the typical American likely doesn’t know about them – these are 20 sports most Americans have never heard of.

 

To determine the best sports movies available to stream, 24/7 Tempo created an index based on each feature film’s Rotten Tomatoes average critic rating, Rotten Tomatoes average audience rating, and Internet Movie Database average user rating. To be considered, each film needed to be categorized as “sport” by IMDb, have at least 5,000 user ratings on IMDb, and at least 10 Rotten Tomatoes critic reviews.

We averaged the user ratings from Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb and weighted by the number of votes for each. The combined user rating was then averaged with the Rotten Tomatoes critic rating. Editorial discretion was used to remove titles that were deemed insufficiently related to sports.

Each film was available for streaming on at least one platform as of June 22, 2020, based on data from website JustWatch.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

25. The Blind Side (2009)
> Starring: Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw
> Sport: Football
> Runtime: 129 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW, Fandango, Sling TV, Freeform

“The Blind Side” is a feel-good movie that tells the story of a couple from Memphis, Tennessee, who took traumatized teen Michael Oher — who eventually became a first-round NFL draft pick and Super Bowl champion — under their wing. Sandra Bullock’s strong performance won her an Oscar for Best Actress. The movie has a 7.6 out of 10 rating on IMDb and 85% of users on Rotten Tomatoes liked it.

Source: 4kodiak / E+ via Getty Images

24. McFarland, USA (2015)
> Starring: Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Ramiro Rodriguez
> Sport: Cross-country running
> Runtime: 129 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, Starz, DIRECTV

Kevin Costner starred in this uplifting movie from Disney based on a true story about a former high school football coach who moves to an economically distressed community in California and turns the cross-country team into a champion. Though some critics thought “McFarland, USA” was a bit formulaic, those on Rotten Tomatoes awarded the film a Freshness score of 81%, while 88% of audiences liked the movie.

Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures

23. Caddyshack (1980)
> Starring: Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray
> Sport: Golf
> Runtime: 98 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW, Sling TV, Amazon Video

The comedy classic about the goings on at an elite golf club (the fictional Bushwood Country Club) has entertained audiences for the past 40 years, including 87% of those who rated it on Rotten Tomatoes. At least two of those involved in the making of the film had extremely limited experience with golf — director Harold Ramis reportedly only played twice prior to making “Caddyshack” and star Chevy Chase said he had “never gone for golf” and “was more of a tennis player.”

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

22. A League of Their Own (1992)
> Starring: Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Lori Petty
> Sport: Baseball
> Runtime: 128 min
> Available on: Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Apple iTunes, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW, Fandango

“A League of Their Own” is a women’s sports movie, not a common genre back in 1992. Jill Rachlin from Entertainment Weekly calls the movie “a celebration of sport for sport’s sake.” The movie is about the first female professional baseball league, launched in 1943 when men were away fighting in World War Two. Starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donnell, and Madonna, and directed by Penny Marshall, “A League of Their Own” has a 78% score among critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 84% among fans.

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

21. Friday Night Lights (2004)
> Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Jay Hernandez, Derek Luke
> Sport: Football
> Runtime: 118 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW, HBO Go, HBO Now, HBO Now Amazon Channel, HBO Max

“Friday Night Lights,” based on a book by H.G. Bissinger, followed the triumphs and tribulations of the Permian High School football team, which carried the hopes of the economically downtrodden city of Odessa, Texas. The film starred Oscar winner Billy Bob Thornton (Best Writer, “Sling Blade”) and holds a Freshness rating of 81% among Rotten Tomatoes critics, with 85% of audiences entertained by the movie. It has a 7.2 rating out of 10 among IMDb users.

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

20. Slap Shot (1977)
> Starring: Paul Newman, Michael Ontkean, Strother Martin
> Sport: Ice hockey
> Runtime: 123 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Vudu, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Starz, FandangoNOW, Amazon Video, Fandango, Redbox

Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes lauded Paul Newman’s performance as the player/coach of a failing minor league hockey team that starts winning after he adds to the roster several overly physical players of questionable ability. The raunchy depiction of minor league hockey in America, directed by George Roy Hill, earned a Freshness rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics of 85% and 89% of audiences were amused by the film. “Slap Shot” holds a 7.3 rating out of 10 among IMDb users.

Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures

19. Bull Durham (1988)
> Starring: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins
> Sport: Baseball
> Runtime: 108 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, VUDU Free, Redbox, FandangoNOW, Showtime, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Tubi TV, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video, Showtime Amazon Channel

Minor league baseball provided the backdrop for a love triangle involving a player with fading skills (Kevin Costner), a rising star (Tim Robbins), and the team groupie (Susan Sarandon) who romances both of them. The script that blended comedy and romance earned a Best Writing Oscar nomination for writer-director Ron Shelton. Chicago Tribune critic Dave Kehr said the movie “is a warm, droll, deftly cracked romantic comedy” and critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 97% Freshness rating. Among IMDb users, “Bull Durham” has a rating of 7.1 out of 10.

Source: Courtesy of Gil's Fish Camp Bayou Bar via Facebook

18. Queen of Katwe (2016)
> Starring: Madina Nalwanga, David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o
> Sport: Chess
> Runtime: 124 min
> Available on: Vudu, Amazon Video, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Disney Plus, FandangoNOW

“Queen of Katwe” is a Disney movie telling the story of Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan chess prodigy, who went from selling corn on the streets to winning international chess tournaments. Her mother was portrayed by Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave”). Nikita Pearl Waligwa, the child actress who played a friend of Mutesi, died in February 2020 at age 15 from brain cancer.

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

17. The Natural (1984)
> Starring: Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close
> Sport: Baseball
> Runtime: 138 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Microsoft Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Video

Barry Levinson directed this homage to the national pastime based on Bernard Malamud’s novel of the same name that is part sports drama and part fantasy. Robert Redford played a Depression-era baseball player whose hitting prowess seems almost divinely ordained. The staff at Variety said “The Natural” was “an impeccably made, but quite strange, fable about success and failure in America.” Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a Freshness rating of 82%, while audiences awarded the movie a score of 88%. The film has a rating of 7.5 out of 10 among IMDb users.

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

16. Miracle (2004)
> Starring: Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Nathan West
> Sport: Ice hockey
> Runtime: 135 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Netflix, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Amazon Video, DIRECTV, Disney Plus, FandangoNOW

“Miracle” is about the man behind one of the most famous victories (and upsets) in the history of hockey. Kurt Russell played Herb Brooks, who coached the U.S. Olympic hockey team against the Soviet squad, which was believed to be unbeatable. The American team eventually won the gold medal. The movie has a 7.5 out of 10 rating on IMDb.

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

15. Rudy (1993)
> Starring: Sean Astin, Jon Favreau, Ned Beatty
> Sport: Football
> Runtime: 114 min
> Available on: Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Microsoft Store, Showtime, FandangoNOW, fuboTV, Showtime Amazon Channel, Redbox

“Rudy” is the sentimental story about a working-class young man whose goal is to play football for the University of Notre Dame, his dream school, despite the fact he’s undersized. Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes hailed the film for its “uplifting spirit and determination.” “Rudy” is an audience favorite, scoring 90% among Rotten Tomatoes users and has a rating of 7.5 out of 10 among IMDb users.

Source: usarmyafrica / Flickr

14. I, Tonya (2017)
> Starring: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney
> Sport: Figure skating
> Runtime: 119 min
> Available on: Vudu, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Apple iTunes, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW, Hulu

“I, Tonya” is a comedy drama about the rise and fall of competitive ice skater Tonya Harding, whose legacy was forever tarnished by her alleged involvement in one of the biggest scandals in sports history — the attack on fellow Olympic competitor Nancy Kerrigan. Margot Robbie got her first Oscar nomination for playing Harding and Alison Janney won her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress as Harding’s mother. The movie has an 89% score among critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 88% of the fans on the site liked it.

Source: Courtesy of Neil T. via Yelp

13. Remember the Titans (2000)
> Starring: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris
> Sport: Football
> Runtime: 113 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Amazon Video, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, FandangoNOW, Disney Plus, Fandango

Described by Rotten Tomatoes’ Critics Consensus as “an inspirational crowd-pleaser with a healthy dose of social commentary,” “Remember the Titans” stars Denzel Washington as high school football coach Herman Boone, who is hired to oversee the newly desegregated public school team. The film was a hit with audiences, receiving positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes from 93% of the more than 578,000 users who rated it.

Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures

12. Hoosiers (1986)
> Starring: Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper
> Sport: Basketball
> Runtime: 114 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, YouTube, AMC on Demand, Redbox, FandangoNOW, Amazon Video, Amazon Prime Video, The Roku Channel, VUDU Free, Tubi TV, fuboTV, Pluto TV

“Hoosiers,” the story about a longshot Indiana high school basketball team that wins the state championship, was lauded by the Washington Post for its “fast-break cinematography that catches the pace of the game.” The film was also buoyed by the performances of Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, and Dennis Hopper. The movie has an 89% Freshness rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics, and 88% of audiences liked it. “Hoosiers” holds a rating of 7.5 out of 10 among IMDb users.

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

11. Field of Dreams (1989)
> Starring: Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta
> Sport: Baseball
> Runtime: 107 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, Starz, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Redbox, Fandango

Kevin Costner returned to the national pastime in this sports fantasy about a struggling Iowa farmer who carves a baseball diamond out of his cornfield. Soon afterward, the 1919 Chicago White Sox, infamous for rigging the World Series, show up at the field. The film, known for the quote “If you build it, he will come,” has a Freshness rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics of 87% and 86% of audiences liked the movie. It was also the last feature-length movie for actor Burt Lancaster.

Source: Courtesy of FBI.gov

10. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
> Starring: Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman
> Sport: Boxing
> Runtime: 132 min
> Available on: Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, DIRECTV, Redbox, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW, Apple iTunes, HBO Max

Clint Eastwood directs “Million Dollar Baby” about a poor 31-year-old woman who is determined to become a professional boxer, only to have her promising career cut short by a tragic injury. The movie won four of the biggest categories — Best Picture, Best Actress (Hilary Swank), Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman), and Best Director. It has a Freshness rating of 91% among critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 90% of audiences liked it.

Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

9. The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
> Starring: Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Babe Ruth
> Sport: Baseball
> Runtime: 128 min
> Available on: Hoopla, Microsoft Store, Criterion Channel, Amazon Video, Amazon Prime Video

Gary Cooper starred as Lou Gehrig, the New York Yankees Hall of Fame first baseman whose career was cut short by the neuromuscular disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The Oscar-winning movie is a tribute to the courage Gehrig displayed in the face of the crippling disease. “The Pride of the Yankees” has a Freshness rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics of 93% and 89% of audiences liked the film. It has a rating of 7.7 out of 10 among IMDb users.

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

8. Breaking Away (1979)
> Starring: Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern
> Sport: Cycling
> Runtime: 101 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW

“Breaking Away” is a coming-of-age movie about a cycling enthusiast in Indiana who dreams of riding with a team of renowned Italian cyclists while he pursues his love interest who has gone away to Indiana University. The film featured emerging stars Dennis Quaid and Daniel Stern. It holds a Rotten Tomatoes Freshness rating among critics of 94% and 88% of audiences liked the movie. The movie has a 7.7 rating out of 10 among IMDb users.

Source: BotMultichillT / Wikimedia Commons

7. The Big Lebowski (1998)
> Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore
> Sport: Bowling
> Runtime: 117 min
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Fandango, Starz, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, FandangoNOW, FlixFling

While perhaps better classified as a “sports-adjacent” movie, there is no greater loved film to feature the sport of bowling more centrally than the Coen brothers’ “The Big Lebowski.” Lead character Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) — who is subjected to an absurd chain of events after being mistaken for a much wealthier man named Lebowski — is a dedicated bowler who plays in an organized league. The movie has a rating of 8.1 out of 10 on IMDb and was given a positive rating by 94% of users who reviewed it on Rotten Tomatoes.

Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

6. The Wrestler (2008)
> Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
> Sport: Wrestling
> Runtime: 109 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Vudu, Amazon Video, DIRECTV, FandangoNOW, Redbox

Critics praise Mickey Rourke for his “astounding,” “career-reviving” performance as a popular wrestler who suffers a heart attack and is forced to retire, but struggles with his new life. The movie, which was directed by Oscar-nominated director Darren Aronofsky (“Black Swan”), has a 7.9 out of 10 rating on IMDb. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave “The Wrestler” a 98% Freshness rating while 88% of audiences liked the movie.

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

5. Rush (2013)
> Starring: Daniel Brühl, Chris Hemsworth, Olivia Wilde
> Sport: Car racing
> Runtime: 123 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, AMC on Demand, HBO Now, HBO Go, Redbox, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW, HBO Max, Amazon Video, HBO Now Amazon Channel

Oscar winner Ron Howard (“A Beautiful Mind”) directed this sports drama about the legendary rivalry between two of the most popular Formula One drivers of the 1970s — fun-loving James Hunt, played by Chris Hemsworth, and disciplined Niki Lauda, played by Daniel Brühl. Wesley Morris from Grantland described the movie’s script as a “speculative duet built around a moment of newsworthiness.” “Rush” has a Freshness rating of 88% among both critics and fans.

Source: Courtesy of Amy M. via Yelp

4. Moneyball (2011)
> Starring: Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill
> Sport: Baseball
> Runtime: 133 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Starz, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW, FlixFling

“Moneyball,” nominated for six Oscars and based on the book by Michael Lewis, told the story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane, who tried to build a winning team in a small market by using computer-based analysis and data. Sharply written and keenly observed by Steve Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, the movie has a Freshness score among Rotten Tomatoes critics of 94% and 86% of audiences liked the film. It has a rating of 7.6 out of 10 among nearly 350,000 IMDb users.

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

3. Love & Basketball (2000)
> Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Glenndon Chatman
> Sport: Basketball
> Runtime: 124 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, DIRECTV, Redbox, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW

The feature debut from writer-director Gina Prince-Bythewood expertly mixes sports and romance as we watch the intertwined lives of athletes Quincy and Monica over a number of years. While critics delivered a respectable Freshness rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, audience members really took to the film, giving it 95% positive reviews. In addition to seeking actors who had experience playing basketball, Prince-Bythewood had performers with limited athletic ability train with coaches prior to filming.

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

2. Ford v Ferrari (2019)
> Starring: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal
> Sport: Car racing
> Runtime: 152 min
> Available on: Amazon Video, Apple iTunes, Microsoft Store, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Redbox, FandangoNOW, DIRECTV, HBO Now Amazon Channel, HBO Max, HBO Go, HBO Now

“Ford v Ferrari,” directed by James Mangold, tells the remarkable true story of American car designer Carroll Shelby (Oscar winner Matt Damon) and British driver Ken Miles (Oscar winner Christian Bale) preparing for the grueling 24-hour auto race in Le Mans, France. The two overcome many struggles to build and drive cars representing Ford Motor Company and the then-dominant Italian Ferrari. The movie has a Freshness rating of 92% among critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 98% of audiences liked it.

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

1. Raging Bull (1980)
> Starring: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci
> Sport: Boxing
> Runtime: 129 min
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Tribeca Shortlist, AMC on Demand, Pluto TV, VUDU Free, Redbox, The Roku Channel, Criterion Channel, FandangoNOW

“Raging Bull” is considered by many to be the best sports movie ever and one of the best films of the 1980s. Director Martin Scorsese shot it in black and white to underscore the grim and violent life of champion boxer Jake LaMotta inside and outside the ring. Many critics believe the film is the greatest collaboration of Scorsese and Robert De Niro, and it holds a 93% approval rating among critics and audiences alike on Rotten Tomatoes. It has an exceptional rating of 8.2 out of 10 among nearly 311,000 critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

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