20 Most Inspiring Sports Movies of All Time
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 setbacks and win through adversities, leaving the viewers motivated not to give up on their dreams. Right?
Sports movies instill a sense of passion and determination in us. Whether it is the Rocky movie series, Chak De! India, Moneyball, 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 20 sports movies and why you should watch and rewatch them to fuel your motivation.
The Rocky Movie Series
The Rocky 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 and fall, boxing glory, and personal triumph.
It will take you to the chronicles of Rocky’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 series also emphasizes an athlete’s indomitable spirit to overcome challenges without giving up.
We all face obstacles at some point in our life. This movie portrays the unlimited potential in each of us. Though it features a professional fighter’s journey, it also celebrates the fighters that we all have in us.
Chak De! India
Chak De! India movie
One of the most inspiring Bollywood movies of all time. Inspired by true events, this movie narrates the story of a disgraced captain of the Indian men’s 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.
Moneyball
Moneyball movie
If being a sports manager is a career on your card, you can’t afford to miss watching Moneyball. The movie narrates how Billy 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.
Beane stepping up the game with the power of innovation and a data-driven approach showcases the importance of critical thinking, analyzing data, and developing new strategies to build a winning team.
Even though it challenges the traditional scouting approach in Major League Baseball (MLB), Beane persists to implement it and go on an inspiring streak of victories against all odds.
Like every sports movie, Moneyball talks about having unwavering faith, perseverance, and resilience in adversity.
Million Dollar Baby
Million Dollar Baby movie
A movie that strikes many emotional chords and leaves you shell-shocked about the real-life tragedies any sportsperson could face. Million Dollar Baby is an Academy Award-winning feature that shows the gritty story of a female boxer, who gets mentored by an ill-tempered boxing trainer and how they develop a father-daughter bond as the story progresses.
While it focuses on the sporting journey, the movie also delves into both characters’ mental struggles. The climax of the movie may leave you in tears, seeing both protagonists’ story arcs end on a tragic note.
Gold
Gold Movie
Sports always glorify 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 the first Olympic Games appearance for India after gaining independence, and the story revolves around a passionate hockey manager’s dream to see the national hockey team win the gold medal as an independent Indian squad despite intra-team conflicts, internal systemic challenges, and so on.
The movie instills patriotism and pride in you as it recreates the era when a lesser-known, newly-formed, and underdog Indian hockey team strived to prove their worth on the global stage.
Anything and everything is possible if you have passion and diligence toward achieving your goal. And in that case, Gold is worth every minute of yours.
83
The 1983 World Cup win — a path breaking moment, not just in Indian cricket but in World Cup cricket history as well! 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 exceeded all expectations and defeated then giants and defending champions 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 and set the nation on the trajectory toward becoming one of the powerhouses in the sport.
Jerry Maguire
Hope is all you need to bounce back in life. And this movie will show you how!
Jerry Maguire is an inspiring story of a sports manager – Jerry Maguire, 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.
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 thrilling climactic match to get their taxes waived off.
Despite being a fictional story, Lagaan celebrates the power of unity and community spirit. The protagonist’s unwavering belief in his team and ability to unite everyone exemplify leadership in the most relatable manner.
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag movie
The movie frames a sports drama amid the 1947 partition between India and Pakistan, highlighting the pain of parting from loved ones and the grit to bring glory to the country. It 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.
All in all, it can be deemed as one of the most inspirational sports movies to watch.
Ford v Ferrari
Ford v Ferrari movie
Racing movies always find takers, but few of them accurately capture the speed and adrenaline that race car drivers feel in the cockpit. Ford v Ferrari does that beautifully!
The movie mainly shows the Ford Motor Company’s quest to dethrone Italian giants Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is the pinnacle of Endurance racing. On top of that, though, it encapsulates the madness and grit of Carroll Shelby, a former Le Mans winner and Ken Miles, one of the top racers of the 1960s, to achieve excellence in building and racing cars.
If you like motorsport or are intrigued by the rush and intricacies of racing, Ford v Ferrari is a must-watch for you.
Mary Kom
This movie makes you believe that you can achieve anything you want even if the odds are there. Based on the Indian female boxer and Olympic bronze medalist Mary Kom, the story of this biopic revolves around her obstacles, rise, downfall, and comeback in the world of boxing.
Though it’s a biographical sports drama, it showcases a woman’s courage and commitment to the sport.
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story
M.S. Dhoni The Untold Story movie
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, against all odds and adversity in his way.
Moreover, Dhoni’s captaincy and motivation for his team to perform at their best in the 2011 Cricket World Cup marked a legendary milestone in cricket history.
Pele: Birth of a Legend
Pele movie
Pele’s journey as one of the greatest footballers Brazil ever produced is certainly cinematic. And this biopic serves the purpose well to showcase Pele’s early steps into the football world and how that paved way to his team’s triumphant journey at the 1958 FIFA World Cup.
It is a classic story of an underprivileged boy defying the odds — something that goes under the radar — to make a name for himself and become a footballing legend.
While Pele has become a household name, many modern football fans can get to explore the phenomenon that Pele was in the ’50s and ’60s.
Saina
Saina Movie
One of the most celebrated athletes in India, Saina Nehwal is an inspiration to many young girls in the country. Based on her life journey, this biopic 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 and her spirit of never giving up.
This movie resonates with everyone who dares to dream and surpass everything to achieve it.
Fun Fact: Some parts of this movie were shot at the IISM Campus.
Chandu Champion
Chandu Champion movie
Biopics often elevate the underrated sporting heroes and Chandu Champion fits the bill perfectly. This movie highlights the life journey of Murlikant Petkar, coming from Sangli in Maharashtra, and his dream of becoming an Olympic medalist.
Going through multiple troughs and peaks in his life playing multiple sports like wrestling and boxing besides serving in the Indian army, the movie dives deep into his personal struggles, his leg injury and the eventual glory moment of winning the Paralympic gold medal in swimming.
This biopic not only brings to light Murlikant Petkar’s relatively unknown story but also inspires people not to give up despite the worst setbacks in life.
Maidaan
Maidaan brings us back to the “Golden era of football” for team India. Based on a true story, it documents the fourth-placed finish of the Indian football team at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and the gold medal-winning run at the 1962 Asian Games, paying tribute to the man behind it — Syed Abdul Rahim.
India has never been a football powerhouse, and relatively the nation has become quite crazy for cricket. So, the movie feels quite right to demonstrate the odds and hurdles in the way of the Indian team wanting to become a top team in international football.
Naturally, overcoming those challenges and succeeding at the final moment will inspire you to rewatch the movie.
Remember the Titans
Remember the Titans movie
A movie that encapsulates everything from college football intricacies in the USA to racial inequality and leadership lessons — Remember the Titans checks off all boxes as a classic sports drama.
Based on the real-life story of college football coach Hermann Boone, this movie portrays the dream run of the then-named T.C. Williams High School team ‘Titans’ during the 1971 state championship in Virginia.
It shows how Boone works with a dictatorial style of leadership, but later adapts his approach with his assistant coach Bill Yoast and shapes up a formidable championship-winning side.
This movie has plenty of inspiration for all sports coaches, managers, players and serves a treat of sporting drama and excitement to the fans.
Ghoomer
Ghoomer Movie
If you want to witness how one can defeat destiny and surpass it, watch Ghoomer. One of the inspiring movies that will blow your mind.
The story goes as one talented female cricketer loses her right arm just before her international dream debut, and loses all hopes in life. That’s when she meets a former cricketer as her coach who persuades 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.
Iqbal
Iqbal Movie
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 and deaf boy named Iqbal from a rural place who dreams of playing in the Indian national cricket team.
Despite the dissonance with his father and financial constraints, above all, his physical limitation, he fought for his dream and shone.
Hawaa Hawaai
Hawa Hawai Movie
Hopeful and 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 financial backing and proper training. But, when your hope is bigger than the challenges, you will win against any odds in life.
Include this movie in your watch list to witness the drama, the mentorship, and how with great friends and the right mentors, you can overcome any obstacle.
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.
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