The 10 Greatest Sports Movies Since 2000

The twenty-first century has had its share of great sports movies but sometimes you have to wonder, which ones have been the best?

I have comprised a list of what I believe to be the ten best sports movies since 2000. I almost made this list from 1999 instead of 2000 just because of Mystery, Alaska, but then I decided that it was better to keep it simple, and the twenty-first century it was.

Here we go!

Honorable Mentions

Moneyball - I think Moneyball will be one of the greatest, but it has yet to be released so it lands in the honorable mention section.

The Rookie - Dennis Quaid was great in this true story about a 40-year-old pitcher who makes the majors after coaching a high school team for several years.

Cinderella Man - Russell Crowe plays a washed up boxer during the Great Depression who has a late surge in his career and becomes the Heavyweight Boxing Champion after beating a fighter who had killed a man in the ring before. Quality movie.

The Greatest Game Ever Played - The story of Francis Ouimet is a movie worth watching as Shia LaBeouf puts on a great performance of Ouimet winning the U.S. Open over some of the all time greats. This one just missed my top ten list. 

10.) 61*

The story of Roger Maris and his record breaking 1961 season was portrayed in the movie 61*.

The film told the race between Mickey Mantle and Maris to break Babe Ruth's record of 60 home runs in a single season and the amount of hatred that Yankees fans had for Maris.

This is a great sports movie, and if you have yet to watch it then you should rent it on Netflix immediately.

9.) Million Dollar Baby

Winner of Best Picture at the Academy Awards, Million Dollar Baby was a superb movie about a woman boxer who has a dream to be a fighter. 

Clint Eastwood and Hillary Swank put on two spectacular performances in this inspiring movie.

8.) Friday Night Lights

Billy Bob Thornton coaches the Permian Panthers to the Texas high school championship in Friday Night Lights.

The Panthers lose in the end, but it was a great movie nonetheless. 

Despite the loss of their star player, Permian fights their way to the finals in a great comeback story.

7.) The Legend of Bagger Vance

Will Smith puts on a great performance as Matt Damon's Caddie in The Legend of Bagger Vance.

The movie focuses on the spiritual side of golf and shows that you will never lose your true game if you can find that one perfect swing.

And you have to love Will Smith's accent. 

6.) Seabiscuit

Seabiscuit is the lone movie about horses on this list, and it was a great one.

The comeback story about a horse who was undersized and thought to be washed up is exciting and inspiring, with Tobey Maguire giving a terrific performance.

5.) The Blind Side

Sandra Bullock won Best Actress for her performance in The Blind Side, the story of offensive lineman Michael Oher who currently plays for the Baltimore Ravens.

This movie shows that even those who have nothing left in their lives can still be great, and those who have much to give should offer what they have to those who need it.

4.) Coach Carter

When Samuel Jackson arrives at his old California high school and becomes the head coach of a dying program, he becomes Coach Carter.

Not only does Jackson teach his players how to play basketball at a higher level, but he helps them with their studies, allowing them to get scholarships and the chance to have better lives. 

3.) The Fighter

The Best Picture-nominated movie starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale tells the story of a washed up fighter addicted to crack and his brother who is trying to make a name for himself as a boxer.

This movie was truly spectacular, and you need to make sure that you see it if you haven't already.

2.) Remember the Titans

Remember the Titans take place during the Civil Rights Movement when black and white high schools were integrated. 

Denzel Washington shows his great acting ability as the black head coach of the school's football team, where he must deal with the conflict between his players.

He guides the them through that conflict and it makes for an incredible football team, which goes on to win the State Championship.

Bring It On

Just Kidding.

1.) Miracle

What better movie to have as number one?

When one of the greatest sports stories in the history of a nation is turned into a movie, that movie is bound to be great and Miracle won.

In the heat of the Cold War, the US beat perennial champions the Soviet Union and staged one of the biggest upsets in history.

Miracle accurately portrayed the long journey for the young men of that 1980 team and I believe that it was definitely the best sports movie since 2000.

 

I hope you all enjoyed, and will share your thoughts!