Every sport is filled with Cinderella stories, conflict on and off the field, and edge of your seat moments, which is why many sports movies have hit the silver screen throughout the decades.
There are, however, some flicks that follow an athlete or team’s rise to success, which will inspire others to follow their dreams. If you want to absorb yourself in an uplifting film that forces you to jump up off the sofa, here are the most inspiring sports movies of all time to watch at least once.
The Blind Side (2009)
The Blind Side, which was nominated for Best Picture at the 2010 Oscars, is easily one of the most heartwarming sports flicks every made. The movie tells the real story of Michael Oher, an NFL football player, and his foster family. As his mother is struggling with drug addiction, Michael is embraced into the Tuohy family, who provide him with warmth, shelter, food, clothing and educational support.
One of the most inspirational scenes in the movie is when his adoptive mother, Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock), steps onto the football field during practice to give Michael a much-needed pep talk, which helps him to reach his sporting potential.
Coach Carter (2005)
Any child who has a dream of making it into an NBA Championship winning team should watch Coach Carter at least once. The movie proves how one dedicated coach (Samuel L. Jackson) can have a big impact on young athletes, as their commitment and belief in their ability can inspire budding players to greatness and change the rest of their life. The movie also features one of the best motivational speeches in movie history, which could inspire budding ball players to take to a court.
Rocky Balboa (2006)
It doesn’t matter if you are an avid boxing fan or not, it is hard not to be inspired by the Rocky movie franchise. After all, it follows the many hardships one talented athlete must overcome to secure sporting glory. While Rocky VI (1986) is a fan favorite, it is Rocky Balboa that will inspire you to pull yourself off the sofa, put on some boxing gloves and take to the ring.
One of the best scenes from the flick is when Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) gives his son a pep talk, explaining there will be hardships in his life, but he is the only person responsible for both his dreams and accomplishments, and he can’t blame the world for the goals he fails to reach.
Friday Night Lights (2004)
During the lull in the 19/20 NFL season, you should immerse yourself in Friday Night Lights, which was based on H.G. Bissinger’s Book. The story focuses on the economically poor and racially divided town of Odessa, Texas, who find joy when rooting for The Permian High Panthers.
While the team have a long history of winning, they are thrown into disarray when their superstar tailback suffers a career-destroying injury. Despite the community and team losing hope, they are soon inspired by Coach Gaines. Played by Billy Bob Thornton, he makes an inspiring speech that changes the players’ views of perfection, as he believes “perfect is being able to look your friends in the eye and know you did everything you could not to let them down.”
Remember the Titans (2000)
Remember the Titans tells the story of an African American coach, played by Denzel Washington, who has recently been recruited to a high school team. Set in 1971, racial tension is dividing the Virginia high school and preventing the team from becoming a close-knit unit both on and off the field. It is full to the brim with inspiring scenes and speeches, with Coach Boone teaching the players to trust one another to enjoy success and change community perception.
So, if you want to watch an uplifting tale that inspires you to reach your own personal or athletic goals, you should check out the above sports movies.