Sports and movies have much in common.  They make us laugh, cry, shout for joy, and smash things uncontrollably (this only happens at really bad movies).  So, it’s only natural that they overlap in their tireless efforts to entertain the world.  Thousands of movies depicting every sport imaginable have been made — good, bad, ugly, pretty, strange, and mythical.  It is our aim with this list to illuminate and lavish with praise, only the best of films that have ever employed sports as a character in their narratives.  Of course, such lists are utterly subjective so if we excluded your favorite movie feel free to let us know, but please, please, direct your profanities and black magic elsewhere.  Here are TMA’s picks for the 25 Greatest Sports Movies of All-Time:

Bill Murray as Big Ern McCracken in "Kingpin"

#25. Miracle (2004)

This stirring tale about the US Olympic hockey team’s improbable 1980 upset over the invincible Soviets may be built on a clichéd script and a formulaic narrative, but stellar performances, a profound understanding of the team dynamic, and incredibly shot athletic action make this Gavin O’Connor flick a fun, gripping piece of American nostalgia. A worthy tribute to one of the all-time great upsets in sports history.

#24. A League Of Their Own (1992)

Some macho dudes may balk (pun intended) at the inclusion of a movie about an all female baseball league formed during WWII, but these trash-talkin’ ladies are fine by us.  Anchored by a stellar ensemble cast including Madonna, Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donnell, and Tom Hanks, Penny Marshall’s “A League of Their Own” delivers a belly full of laughs, memorable one-liners, and just the right amount of sentimentality. Just remember, “There’s no crying in baseball!”

#23. Kingpin (1996)

This absolutely absurd and hilarious slapstick comedy has been called “the Caddyshack of bowling.” And rightly so. Woody Harrelson commands the laughs as Roy Munson, a balding, has-been bowler with a rubber hand that’s resorted to hustling seedy marks for extra cash.  But the real genius comes in Bill Murray’s unequaled turn as bowling’s most revered hot-shot jerk-off, Big Ern McCracken.  Truly one of the great comedic performances in cinema history.

#22. Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Roger Ebert calls Clint Eastwood’s compelling tale of redemption, ambition, and friendship a “masterpiece, pure and simple, deep and true.” Strong words, but it’s hard to disagree with him. Eastwood adeptly stars in his own film alongside Hilary Swank, who delivers a brilliant and inspiring performance that powerfully and acutely echoes the narrative’s themes.  One of the most proficiently acted and beautifully photographed films on this list.

#21. When We Were Kings (1996)

The “Rumble in the Jungle,” the 1974 world heavyweight bout in Zaire between Muhammad Ali and the champion at the time, George Foreman, is one of the most famous fights of all time. “Kings,” the quintessential boxing documentary, covers the incredible fight, Ali’s stunning underdog victory through his infamous “Rope-A-Dope” strategy, and and its striking political and social significance, with calculated genius.

Robert Ryan in "The Set-up"

#20. Chariots of Fire (1981)

One man runs for God.  The other for fame, fortune, and status.  “Chariots of Fire” is a beautiful film that pits Christian agains Jew but adeptly depicts their rivalry with mutual respect, refusing to take sides.  What plays out on screen, in the minds of our characters, and in the world around them is an elegaic ode to competition, ambition, respect, and overcoming prejiduce, both inward and outward.  And what a musical score!

#19. The Wrestler (2008)

A dramatic instance of life imitating art. Mickey Rourke stars as Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a broke, washed-up professional wrestler that gets a chance to relive his past glory in the comeback of a lifetime. Rourke makes a parallel, real-life comeback of his own delivering, without hyperbole, one of the greatest performances in the history of cinema.  “I don’t hear as good as I used to, and I ain’t as pretty as I used to be. But I’m still here – I’m the Ram.”

#18. The Set-up (1949)

Robert Wise’s 1949 boxing-noir about a washed up, but stubbornly prideful fighter (Robert Ryan) surrounded by corruption. His daring choice whether or not to take a dive, coupled with gritty and stark intensity, including an 18-minute fight shot in real time, and striking drama make this early triumph of sports cinema a timeless classic. “Well, that’s the way it is. You’re a fighter, you gotta fight.”

#17. Rudy (1993)

The ultimate tale of the sheer power of heart and determination.  The true story of Notre Dame football player, Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger who was under-sized, under-skilled, and too stupid to know that he wasn’t supposed to succeed.  Sean Astin gives the most heartfelt, inspirational performance of his career in this misty-eyed celebration of the underdog.

#16. Brian’s Song (1971)

The true story of the Chicago Bears’ Brian Piccolo and hall of famer, Gale Sayers. James Caan is at his best as the free spirited Piccolo diagnosed with cancer and Billy Dee Williams is pitch-perfect as his friend, the legendary Sayers. Together, they forge an unlikely bond that tears down racial barriers and exemplifies loyalty, courage, and humanity. We dare any man to make it through this flick without shedding a tear. “Gayle, I think I’m pregnant.”

Paul Newman in "The Hustler"

#15. The Bad News Bears (1976)

A brilliant foul-mouthed comedy about a group of misfit Little Leaguers coached by an alcoholic. Walter Matthau leads the way with an understated performance for the ages, and helps this Michael Ritchie flick deconstruct cliched sports stories, feel-good family movies, and youth athletic leagues, all at the same time. “This quitting thing, it’s a hard habit to break once you start.”

#14. Bang The Drum Slowly (1973)

Robert De Niro, before he was Robert De Niro, stars as a naive, rookie catcher who is taken under the wing of a veteran pitcher (Michael Moriarty) only to be diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease and face the awful possibility that he may be playing his last season. There isn’t a man alive who hasn’t teared up during this powerful tale of respect, loyalty, friendship, and the love of the game. One of the first baseball films to study the game from the inside out.

#13. The Hustler (1961)

Jackie Gleason turns heads with his dark, deep, and eerily fleshed out performance as champion pool player, Minnesota Fats, facing his own demons and his possible downfall personified by baby-faced upstart, Paul Newman.  Newman’s performance is equally breathtaking as the young, cocky, Fast Eddie Felson, who must decide whether to risk it all for superficial glory, or discover what’s really important in life.  “A 25% slice of something big is better than a 100% slice of nothing.”

#12. Breaking Away (1979)

Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern and Jackie Earle Haley all turn in amazing performances as a smalltown team of cyclists called the “Cutters.”  They have their work cut out for them racing against Indiana U’s snobby rich kids for the Little 500 trophy.  The perfectly captured feeling of just beginning adulthood, combined with Christopher’s amazing scenes on his bike set against Mozart and Rossini, help this superb film break away from its peers.

#11. Major League (1989)

The tagline reads, “When these three oddballs try to play hardball, the result is totally screwball.” Couldn’t have said it better myself. This hilarious romp is the classic tale of a team of misfits working together to become a team of ballplayers. What makes it standout from the crowd are the insanely memorable and wacky characters.  “Hats for bats, keep bats warm.”

Steve James' Dramatic Doc, "Hoop Dreams"

#10. Slap Shot (1977)

With the boon of hilarity inherent in the game of hockey — missing teeth, Billy Ray Cyrus-esque mullets, Canadians that pronounce ‘about’ as if they’re talking about footwear — it’s amazing more comedies haven’t been made about this funny, funny game.  Maybe it’s the fact that Paul Newman’s sailor-mouthed masterpiece does it so well it would futile to try and best it. “What did the old man trade for these assholes, a used puck bag?”

#9. The Natural (1984)

Robert Redford’s fantastic, mythical take on the reverence and awe that are still inspired by America’s grandest game. Roy Hobbs embodies the grace, power, mystery, and legend of the luminaries of baseball’s golden era. Few other films have ever been made with such respect, love, and nostalgia for the magical game of baseball. “When I walked down the street people would’ve looked and they would’ve said, ‘there goes Roy Hobbs, the best there ever was…’”

#8. Hoop Dreams (1994)

A striking and harrowing look at life in the inner city.  A tale of two impoverished high school basketball players that dream of a life of fame and fortune in the NBA only to be faced with the harsh realities of the cut-throat, unapologetic world of competitive basketball and White America.  “Hoop Dreams” is both an inspiring and heartbreaking film that exposes the harsh truths of exploitation and inequality in America.

#7. Pride of the Yankees (1942)

“Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.” Some of the most poignant, heart-wrenching, and inspiring words ever uttered in the realm of sports, or otherwise.  Lou Gehrig.  A true American hero.  The Iron Horse was a strong, confident, but humble soul who was tragically taken from us at the young age of 36 by ALS.  This brilliant film offers a beautifully elegiac and harrowing glimpse into the life and untimely death of a legend thanks to Gary Cooper’s inspired performance.

#6. Field of Dreams (1989)

Kevin Costner finds his niche as a baseball loving, 1960s idealist farmer with daddy issues who, after hearkening to a mysterious, heavenly voice, builds a baseball diamond in the middle of his Iowa cornfields. Ghostly reincarnations of legendary ballplayers from baseball’s golden age soon find a Mecca in the homemade field and relive their glory days. Misty eyes are unavoidable when Costner discovers the true meaning of the cryptic message, “If you build it…he will come.”

Kevin Coster & Susan Sarandon in "Bull Durham"

#5. Hoosiers (1986)

One of the most finely crafted underdog stories ever told. The premise is familiar–an obscure Indiana high school basketball team digs deep to overcome impossible odds and win the state title. It may now be considered cliched but Gene Hackman’s performance coupled with a timeless script propel this little film into the pantheon of greatest sports stories ever told.

#4. Caddyshack (1980)

“He’s on his final hole. He’s about 455 yards away, he’s gonna hit about a 2 iron I think.” The most hilariously farcical anti-establishment sports movie ever made. Comedy legends Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, and Rodney Dangerfield team up to make this tale of an uppity country club turned on its head one of the funniest and most quotable movies of all time.

#3. Bull Durham (1988)

Though it has some minor issues–Tim Robbins’ 90+ mph fastball looks more like 65 mph–this 1988 classic gets almost everything else spot-on.  Say what you will about Kevin Costner’s ventures into epic, post-apocalyptic  science fiction, e.g. “Waterworld” — he was born to play a washed up, endlessly quotable veteran ball-player. “You hit white balls for batting practice, the ballparks are like cathedrals, the hotels all have room service, and the women all have long legs and brains. ”

#2. Rocky (1976)

“Yo Adrian!”  Rocky Balboa, the charming southpaw from the mean streets of Philly, captures our imagination and our hearts on his quest to, “Go the distance.”  It’s a tale about an ordinary man with an extraordinary spirit set against impossible odds.  Sidestepping cliché but embracing fairytale, “Rocky,” a near-perfect film, is the measuring stick by which all other sports movies are judged.

Robert De Niro is Jake Lamotta in "Raging Bull"

#1. Raging Bull (1980)

A masterpiece. That word is thrown around far too often, but Martin Scorsese’s technically and philosophically groundbreaking character study of deeply troubled fighter, Jake LaMotta (Robert De Niro), embodies the term.  Offering the grittiest, most unflinchingly realistic depiction of a brutal sport and its accompanying lifestyle in all their poetic barbarism, “Raging Bull” shocks, disgusts, compels, and inspires.  The Academy’s snub of this film for Best Picture is one of the most grievous missteps in industry history as it is not only the greatest sports film ever made, but one of the finest achievements in all of cinema.  De Niro famously set a new precedent for method actors adding 60 pounds to his frame in his Oscar-winning performance.

Honorable Mentions (most of these could have made our list on another day. And you know, some of them probably should have… oh well): Jerry Maguire (1996), The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962), The Sandlot (1993), Without Limits (1998), White Men Can’t Jump (1992), This Sporting Life (1963), Rocky III (1982), Heaven Can Wait (1978), Eight Men Out (1988), North Dallas Forty (1976), Olympia (1936), Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956), Prefontaine (1997), The Jericho Mile (1979), Tin Cup (1996), Friday Night Lights (2004), Better Off Dead (1985), The Longest Yard (1974), The Color of Money (1986), Dogtown and Z-Boys (2002), The Endless Summer (1966), Hurricane (1999), The Freshman (1925), Downhill Racer (1969), Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962)

TMA’s 25 Greatest Sports Movies of All Time: Abbreviated List

#1. Raging Bull
#2. Rocky
#3. Bull Durham
#4. Caddyshack
#5. Hoosiers
#6. Field of Dreams
#7. Pride of the Yankees
#8. Hoop Dreams
#9. The Natural
#10. Slapshot
#11. Major League
#12. Breaking Away
#13. The Hustler
#14. Bang the Drum Slowly
#15. Bad News Bears
#16. Brian’s Song
#17. Rudy
#18. The Set-up
#19. The Wrestler
#20. Chariots of Fire
#21. When We Were Kings
#22. Million Dollar Baby
#23. Kingpin
#24. A League of Their Own
#25. Miracle

<< Read the Detailed List