Top 16 Inspiring Sports Movies of all time that you can’t afford to miss watching.
When life gives you a hard time, tune into Sports movies.
Sports movies are more than entertainment. They inspire you through compelling narratives. The stories or characters of the film showcase how they rise with resilience and dedication despite several falls and win through adversities, leaving the viewers motivated not to give up on their dreams. Right?
Sports movies instil a sense of passion and determination in us. Whether it is the Rockey movie series, Chak de or Money Ball, or Lagaan. Though the plots are versatile, each narrative renders a sense of purpose, and the determination to overcome challenges keeps us coming back to these movies time and again.
Let’s check out these 16 sports movies and why you should watch and rewatch them to fuel your motivation.
1. The Rockey Movie Series:
This series will always be a Timeless classic for many reasons. It depicts the inspiring journey of the underdog boxer Rocky Balboa, his rise & fall, boxing glory, and personal triumph.
It will take you to the chronicles of Rockey’s life beyond the sport. You will witness the protagonist’s evolution through obstacles, and how he shades his insecurities and is determined to prove his worth and loyalty to his family. Memorable for its quotes and musical scores, this film also emphasizes an athlete’s indomitable spirit to overcome challenges without giving up.
We face obstacles at some point in our life. This movie portrays the unlimited potential in each of us. Though it features a fighter’s journey, it also celebrates the fighters that we all have in us.
2. Chak De! India:
One of the inspiring Bollywood movies of all time. Inspired by true events, this movie narrates the story of a disgraced captain of the Indian Hockey team and his redemption as a coach of an Indian women’s hockey team. The movie continues with the coach managing the players from diverse backgrounds, their internal conflicts, and uniting them as a team.
Moreover, the unpredictable victory in the climax will keep you on the edge of your seat. To sum it up, Chak De! India depicts everything from resilience to patriotism to dedication to team bonding.
3. Money ball:
If being a sports manager is a career on your card, you can’t afford to miss watching Moneyball. The movie narrates how Beane, a sports manager of the Oakland Athletics baseball team proves the efficiency of his unconventional approach while struggling with a shoestring budget and undervalued athletes.
Further, how Beane steps up the game with the power of innovation and a data-driven approach, which showcases the importance of critical thinking, analyzing data, and developing new strategies to build a winning team. Like every sports movie, Money Ball talks about having unwavering faith, perseverance, and resilience in adversity.
4. Million Dollar Arm:
Another sports movie that revolves around sports strategy, challenges, and dreams to fulfill. Based on a true story, this story expands when a sports agent named J.B. Bernstein faces a career slump and decides to transform his situation with unconventional ideas. The story takes a new turn with the launching of a reality show in India to find cricket players who can play in Major League baseball games.
The movie beautifully synchronizes two pursuits of dreams of the young Indian boys striving to achieve success in an unknown sport and the sports agent revitalizing his career.
5. Jerry Macguire:
Hope is all you need to bounce back in life. And this movie will show you how!
Jerry Macguire is an inspiring story of a sports manager- Jerry Macguire, his epiphany, and how he starts his career all over with just one client. Though fiction, the movie highlights the ethical approach and value of a sports agent in the face of difficulties that encourage one to be true to oneself.
6. Gold:
Sports always glorifies patriotism. Some movies exemplify it best. Gold is one of them. It’s not just a movie on hockey, it’s a period drama about the Indian Hockey team winning the gold medal in the 1948 Summer Olympics.
It was an early independent era in India, and the story revolves around a passionate hockey manager & his dream to see the hockey team win in the Olympics in independent India, team challenges, internal conflicts, and so on. However, it instills patriotism and pride in you as it recreates the era when lesser-known and underrated Indian Hockey team struggled to prove their worth on the global stage.
Anything and everything is possible if you have passion and diligence toward achieving your goal, in that case, this movie is worth every minute of yours.
7. 83:
1983 World Cup win -the testament of World Cup cricket. And in the essence of inspiration, the movie is no less. A biographical sports drama follows the journey of Indian cricketer Kapil Dev- the team’s captain, and his underdog squad as they exerted all expectations and defeated West Indies in the final.
The film showcases the team’s struggles, their indomitable spirit, and legendary triumph, which created milestones in Indian Cricket history.
8. Lagaan:
When speaking about sports movies, Lagaan surely comes to everyone’s mind. It’s a historical sports drama set in British-ruled India, and how they faced all adversities with courage and fought for their rights and dignity.
Moreover, the movie follows the villagers’ journey as they learn cricket, overcome inner turmoil, and face the formidable British team in a climactic match. Lagaan celebrates the power of unity and community spirit. The protagonist’s unwavering belief in his team and ability to unite everyone exemplify leadership.
9. Mary Kom:
This movie makes you believe that you can achieve anything you want even if the odds are there. Based on the biopic of Indian female boxer and Olympic bronze medalist Mary Kom, the story revolves around her obstacles, rise, downfall, and comeback.
Though it’s a biographical sports drama, it showcases a woman’s courage and commitment to the sport.
10. M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story:
The movie is more than just a biopic. It’s a great tale of dedication and determination, making it truly inspiring for sports lovers and dreamers like us. The story showcased how Mahendra Singh Dhoni being a small-town boy from Ranchi became one of the most successful cricket captains in the world, despite having all odds and adversity in his way.
Moreover, Dhoni’s captaincy and motivation for his team to perform their best in the 2011 Cricket World Cup marked a legendary milestone in cricket history.
11. Saina:
One of the most celebrated athletes in India, Saina Nehwal is an inspiration to many young girls in the country. Based on her biopic, the movie illustrates her unwavering dedication and passion for Badminton, and how she became the world No. 1 badminton player in 2015. The film, further, captures her struggles to balance her personal life with the pressures of international competition, her difference of opinions with her coach, her injuries & never giving up spirit.
This movie resonates with everyone who dares to dream and surpass everything to achieve it.
12. Maidan:
Maidan brings us back to the “Golden era of football” for team India. Based on a true story, it documents the triumph of the Indian football team at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and 1962 Asian Games, paying tribute to the man behind it, Syed Abdul Rahim. During that time, India was never a football powerhouse, especially in the cricket-crazed nation. Hence, the odds & hurdles in the way of building a team were obvious.
However, overcoming the challenges and succeeding at the final moment will inspire you to rewatch the movie.
13. Ghoomer:
One of the inspiring movies that will blow your mind. If you want to witness how one can defeat destiny and surpass it, watch Ghoomer. The story goes as one talented female cricketer loses her right arm just before her international dream debut, and loses all hopes in life, and when she meets a former cricketer as her coach who pursues her to reinvent her career as a bowler.
The movie tells us an unconventional story of exceeding one’s limit and showing courage even when you see no hope.
14. Iqbal:
Similar to Ghoomer, this movie will also make you believe that anything is possible with dreams and determination. It’s a beautifully crafted story of a mute & deaf boy from a rural place who dreams of playing in the Indian cricket team. Despite the dissonance with his father and financial constraints, above all, his physical limitation, he fought for his dream and shone.
15. Hawa Hawai:
Hopeful & heartbreaking at the same time. This movie will make you smile and bring tears of joy. The story narrates a tale of an underprivileged child and his dream to play skating despite having no money back up and training. But, when your hope is bigger than the challenges, you will win any odds in life.
Include this movie in your watch bucket list to witness the drama, the mentorship, and how with great friends, you win over any obstacle.
16. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag:
The movie frames a sports drama amid partition between India & Pakistan, highlighting the pain of parting from loved ones and the grit to bring glory to the country. The movie narrates the life journey of Milkha Singh, famously known as ‘Flying Sikh’, one of the world’s greatest runners.
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” is a poignant and inspiring film that celebrates the human spirit to overcome challenges and achieve greatness. His story truly inspires a generation of athletes to strive for excellence.
So, next time, if you think of giving up on your dreams, play one of these movies to reignite your passion. And you won’t regret it.
Read Next: https://iismworld.com/indian-cricketers-who-turns-in-to-an-entrepreneur/
