Entertainment (Commonwealth Union) _ With the release of Brad Pitt’s F1 in theatres, the sports craze has captivated everyone. Hollywood boasts a plethora of excellent sports films that offer the ideal solution. Watching a troubled character overcome their demons to achieve fame is a compelling experience. The impact is particularly strong when the story revolves around a real-life figure. Here is a list of 8 sports movies based on true stories that prove to be powerful motivators.
- A League of Their Own (1992)
The movie presents a romanticised depiction of the sport through a fictionalised account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) and features two competitive sisters. With its star-studded cast that includes Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donnell and Madonna, among others, the story features a game show win along with a gut-wrenching ending. However, Tom Hanks’s foul-mouthed, scene-stealing performance is one of the more light-hearted parts of the movie.
- Ford v Ferrari (2019)
Starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale (what more do you need?), the film, directed by James Mangold, is based on a team of American and English designers and engineers, from which an automotive designer and an English driver are hired by Henry Ford II to build a racecar to defeat Ferrari. The film is set around the Ferrari-Ford rivalry during the Le Mans endurance race and was released to critical and commercial success.
- Coach Carter (2005)
The film is based on the life story of Ken Carter, the coach of the Richmond High School basketball team. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, the story follows the team’s struggles as they are suspended by the coach for poor academic results. A gripping story of student hardships, this film is an inspiring exploration of ethics, academics, and sportsmanship. - American Underdog (2021)
Having grossed out at $26 million, American Underdog is the biography of a National Football League quarterback, Kurt Warner. Starring Zachary Levi as the football star, this movie is a beautiful retelling of an undrafted football player who ends up winning Super Bowl XXXIV.
- I, Tonya (2017)
Based on American figure skater Tonya Harding, the movie is a biographical film about her connection to the 1994 assault on Nancy Kerrigan. The film employs an interesting use of perspectives, incorporating contradictory interviews, dark comedy, and challenging conventional norms. Starring Australian movie star Margot Robbie as the named figure skater, the film is an unsettling depiction of Tonya as a victim.
- Moneyball (2011)
A fascinating adaptation of Michael Lewis’s Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, the film is an account of the Oakland Athletics baseball team during the 2022 season. Starring Brad Pitt as the team’s general manager, the retelling explores a sophisticated approach to scouting players, the assembly of a team with half the funds in comparison to their rivals, and the scepticism that came along with it.
- The Blind Side (2009)
Famously starring Sandra Bullock alongside Quinton Aaron, The Blind Side is the story of Michael Oher, an offensive lineman who rose above his impoverished upbringing to become a player in the National Football League. The heartwarming story explores the hardships of growing up, adoption and family as Oher finds his momentum with the help of his adopted parents, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy.
- Young Woman and the Sea (2024)
Starring Daisy Ridley, this biographical sports film is the story of competitive swimmer Gertrude Ederle, who became the first woman to swim across the English Channel. This movie is full of spirit, determination, and perilous journeys. It’s an awe-inspiring watch.
- True Spirit (2023)
Speaking of the Sea, this biography is based on a memoir by Jessica Watson, who successfully carried out an unassisted solo circumnavigation around the world at the age of 16. Daunting, yet inspiring, the journey ends with her being awarded an Order of Australia Medal.
