Ranking the Best Sports Movies of All Time

Way back in 1917, the world was blessed with what is believed to be the first sports drama in cinema history, Somewhere in Georgia. Written by legendary sports journalist Grantland Rice and starring Detroit Tigers slugger Ty Cobb as himself, the film spins a tale of imperiled romance, criminal betrayal and, in the end, heroic triumph through it all. Sounds familiar, huh?

In the 100 years since, we've seen countless renditions of that same story. But we've also seen new tropes emerge, as well as novel ways of capturing the energy and passion of athletics combined with the dramatic and comedic themes moviegoers have come to expect at the theater. From tearjerkers like Brian's Song to lighthearted Disney productions like Cool Runnings, thousands of sports movies have been made over the past century.

So what makes a good sports film? And what even counts as one?

We were pretty flexible with our rankings, which took critical acclaim, cult appeal, memorability and timelessness into account equally. We were also liberal with our parameters, considering documentaries, dramas and comedies and accepting all varieties of sports.

Here is our definitive list of the 10 best sports movies of all time.

Honorable Mentions

When We Were Kings (1996)

This documentary on Muhammad Ali and George Foreman's legendary "Rumble in the Jungle" in 1974 took 22 years for director and producer Leon Gast to edit and finance, but boy was it worth it. Winner of an Oscar for Best Documentary, When We Were Kings is an absolute must-watch whether you're a boxing fan or not.

Space Jam (1996)

OK, this movie wasn't "good" by traditional standards, but in terms of cult appeal and cultural impact, Space Jam is hard to beat. Plus, it delivered us R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly," so it deserves props for that at very least.

The Sandlot (1993)

Released to only modest success back in 1993, The Sandlot has become a cult classic and a favorite among millennials. While the coming-of-age baseball film doesn't really bring anything new to the table, it's solid and deserves at least a mention on this list. 

Beyond the Mat (1999)

Absolutely brutal in its portrayal of the professional wrestling industry, Beyond the Mat followed a handful of wrestlers, including Mick Foley, Terry Funk and Jake "The Snake" Roberts, who are all at different points in their careers. Also, fun fact: It marked the film debut of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Hoosiers (1986)

Many will be upset to see that Hoosiers didn't crack our top 10, and that's understandable. More than 30 years after its theatrical release, the film is still a favorite among sports fans young and old. The fact that it didn't make the cut says more about the quality of category than anything else. 

The Blind Side (2009)

The highest-grossing sports movie to date at over $300 million, The Blind Side told the emotional backstory of Carolina Panthers tackle Michael Oher, born to a drug-addicted mother, left at the mercy of the foster care system as a result and eventually adopted by a wealthy local family that helps him realize his potential as a football player. This touching film is a heart-wrencher through and through.

10. Murderball (2005)

Blurring the lines of both sport and the genre of film that chronicles it, Murderball enjoys a 98 percent positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is considered one of the most unique documentaries in recent memory.

Shot entirely on a cheap consumer camera and directed by a pair of young amateur filmmakers, the movie focused on athletes from the United States and Canadian wheelchair rugby teams in the run-up to the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. It highlighted not only the physical mettle of the colorful cast of characters who play this violent game, but also their emotional resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Like many sports movies, Murderball was less a film about athletic triumph than one about humanity and its strength and fragility played out in an athletic arena. Like any good movie from this genre, it left you feeling moved, uplifted and ready to run through a brick wall.

9. Any Given Sunday (1999)

Warning: video contains profanity.

Starring Al Pacino as the prickly, old head coach, Cameron Diaz as the conniving young owner and Dennis Quaid, Jamie Foxx, James Woods and LL Cool J in supporting roles, this star-studded Oliver Stone flick featured ultra-violent football scenes, a badass soundtrack and perhaps the greatest locker room speech of all time.

Any Given Sunday was of those movies critics largely hated and audiences widely loved. Yes, it was two-and-a-half hours of cliches and platitudes, testosterone-infused action and unrealistic plot devices. But what it lacked in substance, it made up for in style.

As one critic said, the film was "a meathead burlesque." Honestly, that sounds pretty awesome to us.

8. The Bad News Bears (1976)

They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery. If that's the case, The Bad News Bears deserves a lot of credit.

The film was one of the first sports movies to poke fun at the more ridiculous aspects of youth sports, and in the 41 years since its release we've seen too many copycat productions to count, including a forgettable 2005 remake starring Billy Bob Thornton.

When The Bad News Bears first hit theaters, parents across the nation were shocked by the film's crassness and vulgarity. It contained profanity despite its PG rating and challenged the squeaky-clean image of youth sports. But its roughness around the edges is what made it unique, and the film appealed to both younger and older audiences, something that today is common but in 1976 was quite novel.

7. Hoop Dreams (1994)

Originally designed to be a 30-minute television short for PBS, Hoop Dreams eventually branched out into a three-hour feature documentary that earned near-universal critical praise and a host of awards. The film followed two high school basketball players, William Gates and Arthur Agee, as the two inner-city Chicago natives acclimated to life as freshmen at powerhouse prep school St. Joseph 15 miles west of downtown.

Hoop Dreams focused on issues of race, class, culture and education in America and did so eloquently and compellingly. While neither Gates nor Agee realized their dreams of making it to the NBA, the film succeeded in shining a light upon the exploitative nature of the pro sports pipeline as well as the stacked odds that stand in the way of so many talented hopefuls.

6. Major League (1989)

Warning: video contains profanity.

Released during an era oversaturated with sports comedy duds, Major League truly rose above the rest. Starring Tom Berenger, Corbin Bernsen and Charlie Sheen, the movie featured a lovable roster of misfit has-beens and never-weres assembled as part of a devious plan by the Cleveland Indians' new owner to tank the season in order to move the team from Cleveland to Miami. But—surprise—the ragtag group had other plans.

What Major League lacked in creativity, it made up for in campiness. From Wesley Snipes as the smooth-talking speedster Willie Mays Hayes, to Dennis Haysbert as enigmatic slugger Pedro Cerrano, to Bob Uecker as jaded play-by-play announcer Harry Doyle, what keeps fans coming back to this movie is its unique cast of characters. Nearly 30 years later, the film remains a cult classic.

5. The Wrestler (2008)

Mickey Rourke was born to play Randy "The Ram" Robinson in this authentic and raw portrayal of a washed-up pro wrestler who tries to find meaning in his life as deteriorating health threatens the only career he's ever known.

While Sean Penn took home the Oscar for Best Actor for his role as the title character in Milk that year, Rourke was nominated for the award and earned renewed interest in Hollywood after a rough several years.

Shot in a 2.4:1 aspect ratio and bathed in dingy, realistic color, The Wrestler made you feel like you were right there in the high school gymnasiums and old civic centers where Rourke's character abused his body to the delight of the hundreds in attendance. And if you're saying to yourself that wrestling isn't a sport and shouldn't be on this list, just watch (or rewatch). It's as beautifully composed as it is spectacularly written, and it absolutely deserves to be here.

4. Rocky (1976)

The only film on this list to win Best Picture, Rocky is an American sports classic. While one could argue its kitschiness doesn't withstand the test of time, part of the reason it feels so cliche is that so many boxing movies that have come out over the past four decades have borrowed from it.

Sylvester Stallone's portrayal of Rocky Balboa, whose story was based loosely on pro boxers Chuck Wepner and Rocky Marciano, made the film a hit and turned him into a star. Forty-one years later, the city in which it's based, Philadelphia, still clings to Rocky as the film that defines its blue-collar identity. The movie has sparked six sequels and spin-offs, with the latest, Creed, coming out in 2015 to massive critical acclaim and box office success.

Rocky not only defined a genre, but it also popularized one of the most widely used sports film tropes of the decades that followed: the training montage. For that alone, we owe it a major debt of gratitude.

3. White Men Can't Jump (1992)

Warning: video contains profanity.

From the mind of Bull Durham director Ron Shelton, White Men Can't Jump is as witty, poignant and fun today as it was when it hit theaters 25 years ago.

In the film, Woody Harrelson played a former college basketball player who turned to hustling local streetballers for money. Because of his—umm—unassuming appearance, many of those he hustled initially doubted his abilities, giving him an edge. But when Wesley Snipes' character tricked Harrelson's character out of a good chunk of money, the two rival players decided to team up.

Where this film separated itself from other sports comedies made in the early '90s was in its deviation from the regular tropes so many others relied upon. Given its not-so-subtle play on racial and cultural stereotypes, White Men Can't Jump could have easily felt contrived and tactless, but the writing was great, and Harrelson and Snipes were perfect alongside one another.

Word from Borys Kit of the Hollywood Reporter is that a remake is in the works. Pray they don't screw up this classic.

2. Caddyshack (1980)

Not only one of the funniest sports movies of all time, but also one of the all-time funniest movies period, Caddyshack still holds up decades after its 1980 release.

With a star-studded cast that features Michael O'Keefe, Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight and Bill Murray, the film revolves around a group of zany characters at the Bushwood Country Club and was the first major comedy centered on golf since Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis made The Caddy in 1953.

Murray, at the time a young star on Saturday Night Live, stole the show despite limited screen time. Legend has it that every single one of his lines in Caddyshack was improvised. In fact, a good bit of the film was improvised, including many of Chase's scenes. The result was a relentlessly quotable and unadulterated slapstick comedy executed flawlessly.

1. A League of Their Own (1992)

Warning: video contains profanity.

It's hard to sum up the greatness of this film in just a couple hundred words.

Set during the height of World War II, A League of Their Own was based on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which began when owners of men's professional teams decided to pursue women's leagues in order to keep the sport afloat while male players fought in the war. Focused on the Rockford Peaches and their misfit group of players, the movie weaved together historical themes while balancing some good old-fashioned heartstring-tugging with charming comedic relief.

A League of Their Own was funny, it was moving, it had great acting and an awesome premise, and it featured a brilliant cast including Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Lori Petty and Jon Lovitz. It's a shame the movie wasn't nominated for a single Academy Award, but it's No. 1 in our book.