Best sports movies of all-time? You tell me
Gene Hackman’s death reminded me of his lead role in one of my favorite sports movies, “Hoosiers.”
And it got me to wonder: What is the best sports movie of all-time?
I have my own favorites. I am wondering about yours.
In the comments section below, please vote for your favorite sports movies, from one through five.
In a week, I will tally the results and report back to you.
From those who comment, I will draw five names and send you a complimentary copy of “Overcoming the Odds: The Jerome Kersey Story.”
Here are 15 films (counting the Rocky series as one), in alphabetical order, that would be on my list — but feel free to vote for anything you think qualifies as a sports movie. Clicking the movie name takes you to reelgood.com, that provides links on how to stream each movie.
I never thought Al Pacino would play the lead in a sports movie, but he was great as Tony D’Amato, head coach of the pro football Miami Sharks, in the film partly based on a 1984 novel by former NFL defensive end Pat Toomay. There was a saucy cast featuring the likes of Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, James Woods and Jamie Foxx and cameos from all kinds of NFL players, including Dick Butkus, Y.A. Tittle, Emmitt Smith, Johnny Unitas and Warren Moon.
There are so many elements to like in this baseball saga featuring Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. The exploits of Crash Davis, Annie Savoy and Nook LaLoosh with the Single-A Durham Bulls include comedy, romance and even some baseball filmed in historic Durham Athletic Park, which dates to 1926.
Granted, this is more straight comedy than a sports movie — but so darn clever and funny. Bill Murray is fabulous as the assistant greenskeeper, with Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield and Ted Knight playing hilarious supporting roles. That darn gopher never had a chance.
Costner, again, has the lead in another baseball movie that strikes of nostalgia to the sports fan. A terrific cast, which included Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones, Amy Madigan and Burt Lancaster, made W.P. Kinsella’s 1982 novel “Shoeless Joe” come to life on screen. The backdrop is the obsession of Costner’s corn farming character (Ray Kinsella) with Shoeless Joe Jackson and the 1919 Black Sox Scandal. It is a great fantasy story with one of the most classic lines ever uttered in a sports movie: “If you build it, he will come.”
Hackman gives perhaps the greatest performance of his illustrious career as Norman Dale, the old-school coach of the small-town Indiana high school basketball team that wins the state all-school championship. It is based on the true-life story of Milan High in 1954. Dennis Hopper as Dale’s assistant coach (Shooter Flatch) and Barbara Hershey as Dale’s love interest are compelling. I loved Maris Valainis’ portrayal of Jimmy Chitwood, Milan’s star player who hits the last-second shot to win the state title.
Another baseball movie, this one replete with laughs galore. How not to be amused by the antics of Willie Mays Hayes, voodoo slugger Pedro Serrano and pitcher Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn? Tom Berenger was classic as catcher Jake Taylor, and I loved Bob Uecker as Harry Doyle, side-splitting funny as the somewhat intoxicated radio play-by-play guy. And Rene Russo as Taylor’s love interest — what’s not to like?
The true story of the United States’ shocking ride to the gold medal in ice hockey in the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid. The focus of the movie was the U.S. team’s 4-3 upset of the heavily favored Soviet Union; though the implication was it came in the gold medal game. It actually was the first game in the medal round; the Americans clinched by beating Finland in the final game. The Soviets had lost only one game since the 1964 Olympics and were stocked with professionals; Team USA was using all amateurs. Kurt Russell was superb as U.S. coach Herb Brooks. Portland’s Mike Rich wrote the screenplay, though it went uncredited after a dispute and arbitration conducted by the Writers Guild of America.
This movie was based on the book written in 2003 about the Oakland A’s and general manager Billy Beane’s brilliance at building a competitive team on a noncompetitive budget. Beane, played by Brad Pitt, used sabermetrics to evaluate talent before other teams were relying on analytics. I liked the actors supporting Pitt, including Robin Wright as Beane’s wife, Philip Seymour Hoffman as manager Art Howe and Jonah Hill as the chief scout.
This one was based on the 1952 novel penned by Bernard Malamud while working as an instructor at Oregon State. It starred Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs, a naturally gifted baseball player with the fictional New York Knights. It was set in the pre-World War II era and filmed at Buffalo’s War Memorial Stadium, an idyllic location for such a movie. I loved Redford’s portrayal of the southpaw Hobbs, the story, the production and the dramatic music.
Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film is an adaptation of former middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta’s 1970 memoir. A 37-year-old Robert De Niro played LaMotta, expertly displaying the boxer’s temper, talent and fury. Joe Pesci plays Jake’s brow-beaten brother Joey. It is a rise-and-fall story that at times is hard to watch, but you can’t take your eyes off it.
Denzel Washington plays coach Herman Boone in the story based on Boone’s attempt to integrate a high school football team in Alexandria, Va., in 1971. Race is a central theme, with justice and resolving of conflicts the result of black and white coaches and players ultimately working together. Great soundtrack, including the song “Titans Spirit,” later used on numerous sports telecasts as well as following Barack Obama’s speech after winning the 2008 presidential election.
There have been nine of them, beginning with the original Rocky in 1976 all the way through to Creed III in 2023. (I have seen all but Creed II and III). From Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa to Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed, I can make a case for any of the first seven boxing films. Hard to beat Rocky, with its epic theme songs “Gonna Fly Now” and “Eye of the Tiger.” But I enjoyed Tommy Morrison’s portrayal of Tommy Gunn in Rocky V, and the first Creed was a great watch, too.
This tug-at-the-heart tale is a biographical portrayal of Rudy Ruettiger’s time with the Notre Dame football program in the 1970s. The unlikeliest of candidates for a walk-on spot on the Fighting Irish squad, Rudy (played by Sean Astin) impresses the coach with his determination and hard work and gets to suit up for his final game. It is the ultimate underdog story, and a sentimental winner.
I never get tired of watching this movie about a group of youngsters who play sandlot baseball, set in 1962. I especially like Benny Rodriguez, played by Mike Vitar, the leader of the pack. James Earl Jones is imposing and intimidating as Mr. Mertle, owner of the house by the sandlot field and owner of “The Beast,” the scariest guard dog (a Mastiff) in baseball movie history.
There are few sports movies funnier than this flick about a minor league hockey team that, through the years, has come to be regarded as a cult classic. Paul Newman is brilliant as player-coach Reggie Dunlop (he beat out Al Pacino for the role), and the three bespectacled Hanson Brothers form a knee-slapping line for the Charlestown Chiefs. Former Portland Buckaroo Connie Madigan has a minor role as enforcer “Mad Dog” Madison. There are bench-clearing brawls and plenty of bad language — hey, hockey was different then — but it was all in good fun. In 1998, Maxim Magazine named it the “Best Guy Movie of All Time.”
► ◄
Readers: what are your thoughts? I would love to hear them in the comments below. On the comments entry screen, only your name is required, your email address and website are optional, and may be left blank.
Follow me on X (formerly Twitter).
Like me on Facebook.
Find me on Instagram.
Be sure to sign up for my emails.
