There's just something about sports that ignites so much passion and emotion in people. Seeing the grit and dedication of athletes and watching them achieve their goals — and often pull off feats that seem absolutely impossible to the rest of us — is truly inspiring. That's why an event like the Olympic Games is so popular and such a huge deal for people around the world. We love witnessing the incredible results of hard work play out in front of us. It's honestly a boost to the human spirit — young or old, athlete or not.
Though we don't get to experience that kind of excitement all the time, even movies and shows about sports can give us all a little of that inspired feeling. Even people who aren't necessarily sports fans often enjoy feel-good sports movies and TV shows. More often than not, they are underdog stories that drive home the message that any of us can do incredible things if we put our minds to it, and sometimes you just need that kind of encouragement.
With the 2020 Olympics set to kick off in Tokyo on Friday, we thought we'd get ramped up for all the action by rewatching some of our very favorite feel-good movies and TV shows about sports. Here's what we'll be enjoying at home before tuning into the Olympics.
'Miracle'
This Disney title, starring beloved actor Kurt Russell, is the kind of sports film that will bring you to tears again and again. Sad tears, happy tears — you'll experience a full spectrum of emotions. It's about the 1980 US Olympic hockey team preparing to take on the Soviets.
'The Blind Side'
When the Blind Side, starring Sandra Bullock, came out in 2009, the movie generated quite a lot of buzz. Based on a book by author Michael Lewis, it's about a homeless Black teenager who is taken in by a couple who helps him meet his potential both academically and athletically. It's a moving watch for sure.
'Remember the Titans'
We'll watch anything starring Denzel Washington, but the 2000 film Remember the Titans is a particular favorite. In it, two groups of high school football players must grapple with racial tensions in their Virginia town when integration is enforced at their high schools in the year 1971.
'Million Dollar Baby'
In the 2004 film Million Dollar Baby, starring Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, and Morgan Freeman, two people form an unlikely and life-changing bond when one is recruited to train the other, an aspiring female boxer from the Midwest. This one ended up winning four Academy Awards.
'Glory Road'
Based on a true story, 2006's Glory Road, starring Josh Lucas, is about a high school coach who nabs a job as the coach for the Texas Western Miners basketball team and ends up forming the first all-Black starting line for a college team and leading them to a victory at the 1966 NCAA University Division Basketball Championship.
'Seabiscuit'
Most of us remember the film Seabiscuit, starring Tobey McGuire, Jeff Bridges, and Elizabeth Banks. It's about an underdog — whose unlikely success ends up inspiring and bringing much-needed hope to Depression-era Americans — and his jockey, who is looking for a second chance at life after going through a rough patch.
'Invincible'
Invincible, starring Mark Wahlberg, is another fan-favorite sports movie from Disney. It tells the story of former Philadelphia Eagles football player Vince Papale, a 30-year-old fan who tried out for the team in 1975 and to everyone's surprise, actually made it, leading to a memorable season for the team and its supporters.
'Goal! The Dream Begins'
A favorite flick among soccer fans, the 2005 film, Goal! The Dream Begins is about Mexican soccer player Santiago Muñez's journey to become a professional soccer player after a retired player recognizes his talent. He ends up trying out for England's Newcastle United, makes the team, and undergoes both athletic and personal transformations.
'The Rookie'
Yup, Disney did it again. In 2002's The Rookie, starring Dennis Quaid, a high school baseball coach from Texas ends up trying out for the major leagues after he promises his students he would do so if they made it to the state playoffs. At 39 years old, he ends up getting signed.
'A League of Their Own'
Another inspiring baseball movie, A League of Their Own, starring Geena Davis, Madonna, and Tom Hanks, tells the story of the Rockford Peaches. They're an all-female baseball team that is part of the first (and only) female professional baseball league. The women must navigate their relationships and societal expectations as they strive to be a success.
'Field of Dreams'
Kevin Costner's Field of Dreams spins the story of a farmer from Iowa who decides to pursue his baseball dreams after hearing a voice in his field tell him, "If you build it, he will come." He decides to build a baseball field on the farm and begins to see the ghosts of famous players who were banned after throwing the 1919 World Series.
'Gridiron Gang'
Back to football, Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson and rapper Xzibit star in the 2006 film Gridiron Gang. Based on a true story, it's about a group of teens serving time at a juvenile detention center whose counselor decides to form a football team, which he uses to teach them values he believes will change their lives and alter the course of their futures.
'Rocky'
The Rocky franchise, created by Sylvester Stallone, is iconic in the world of American film. Though some of the movies are better than others, they all have at least one deeply inspiring moment or poignant theme that viewers can relate to. They will make you laugh, cry, and root so hard for a completely fictional character.
'Soul Surfer'
Soul Surfer, starring AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt, and Dennis Quaid, is a film that tells the incredible story of Bethany Hamilton, an American woman who was attacked by a shark while surfing as a teenager. She ends up losing an arm but relies on her family, friends, and faith to help her recover and ultimately get back in the water.
'The Fighter'
The Oscar-winning film The Fighter, starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, is not one you want to watch with the kids, but it is a truly fantastic film. It's the story of Micky Ward from Lowell, Massachusetts, and his quest to become a boxer and make a name for himself in a sport in which his older brother is already well-known.
'The Mighty Ducks'
This one you most definitely should watch with the kids. The '90s classic The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez, is a great story about an egotistical lawyer who is humbled when he does community service as a youth hockey coach, and is tasked with leading a group of underdog kids to a successful season.
'Rudy'
Rudy, starring Sean Astin and John Favreau, is another classic underdog story. It's about a teen who has always been told he'd never make it in college football because of his size, but with sheer determination and lots of hard work, he works toward his lifelong dream of playing football for Notre Dame.
'Cheer'
The docuseries Cheer on Netflix took the streaming world by storm when it premiered in January 2020, revealing many of the struggles of the incredible college athletes on the cheer squad at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas. For the first time, many people removed from the world of competitive cheerleading got to see the immense dedication and physical demands it takes to compete in the sport these days.
'The Last Dance'
Iconic NBA player Michael Jordan's story is undoubtedly an inspiration. But in the ESPN docuseries The Last Dance, fans of the sport get a completely different perspective on his career and the events that led to his immense success as a basketball player and the influence he had on not just his teammates, but also on the sport as a whole.
'Friday Night Lights'
Though it only ran for five seasons, Friday Night Lights remains a hugely popular TV show about the importance and impact of football in small-town Texas. It highlights the struggle that high school players experience as they try to balance the pressures of the sport with school and relationships, and also shows the toll it all takes on the adults in their lives, from their coaches to their parents.
'All American'
The relatively new CW series All American is the story of a high schooler from Los Angeles' gritty South Central neighborhood who is recruited to play for Beverly Hills High School, where he's confronted with a world very different from his own. As he works to succeed in his sport, he must also deal with various racial and socioeconomic disparities.
