MovieWeb - Sports

The All-Time 15 Best Performances in Sports Movies

Tyler Geis — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 16:00:28 GMT

The underdogs, the top dogs, the challengers, and the champions. All of these are personas that are part of a character that wows us in a sports film. There's a quote from a movie starring George Clooney called Up in the Air that goes like this: "Kids look up to athletes because they chase their dreams". And it's true either in life or on the big screen. The sports film genre is full of characters that have uplifted us in our times of strife, and we are forever grateful for these moments in cinema.

The Dallas Cowboys' Long History in Hollywood, Explained

Haylee Gilmore — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 15:30:30 GMT

The Dallas Cowboys have been known as "America's Team" since the late 1960s. After all, no other football team was able to win three Super Bowls in four years before. They have had 20+ winning seasons in the 1966-1985 span, plus 12 playoff victories and three titles in the 90s. It's easy to see why the Cowboys are so loved and popular among the American population. But their winning streak would not last forever. Ever since the Super Bowl XXX back in January 1996, the Cowboys have won no divisional-round playoff games. They only have five playoff winnings and have won no champion games. They have yet to win another Super Bowl as well. Yet they are still wildly popular and one of the most popular team assets in global sports.

12 Times Football Legend Deion Sanders Played Himself in Movies and TV Shows

Richard Thompson — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 15:30:30 GMT

Deion Sanders is currently taking the college football world by storm as the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, but the man known affectionately as "Prime Time" has been a sports and pop culture icon for decades. Having excelled in both professional football and baseball in his heyday, Sanders was known for his flashy style both on and off the field. By the late '80s, he was already pretty much a household name, but in the mid-'90s his star power had exploded, as he made a World Series appearance in 1992 and won back-to-back Super Bowls in '94 and '95.

Max: Fans of Live Sports Can Enjoy a Thrilling New Tier on the Streaming Service Starting This Fall, Includes MLB, NBA & the NHL

Steven Thrash — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 14:53:27 GMT

Combining movies and sports might not be quite as innovative as mixing peanut butter and chocolate together — thank you, Reese's — but Max is less than a month away from launching a brand-new tier. Beginning on Thursday, October 5, a Bleacher Report-branded sports option will be available as an add-on to the streaming service. The CEO and President of Global Streaming and Games, JB Perrette, addressed why the new sports service is packaged as an add-on rather than a standalone service. Perrette said in an interview with Deadline:

The 10 Best Disney Channel Original Sports Movies

Lindsay Press — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 17:00:30 GMT

Sports are a large part of growing up. They help to create friendships, create teamwork opportunities, and give athletes a sense of responsibility. It gears competitive nature into something productive, whether it is beating the other team, or proving one's own capabilities. Over the years, Disney Channel Original Movies have covered various topics, from musicals to portraying the life of the average high school student. But, along the way, Disney Channel also placed a lot of emphasis on sports, and how sports fit into the main character's life. Many of the sports films highlighted a similar plot device, mostly discussing how the main character feels pressured into the storyline or activity the film designed, only to break out and stand up for themselves and their desires later.

12 Actors Who Played Real-Life Football Coaches in Movies

Richard Thompson — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 17:30:26 GMT

America's obsession with the sport of football and Hollywood's penchant for cultivating inspiring or illuminating stories based on actual events have led to the creation of a special type of sports movie. Audiences have pretty much always cared about the plight and performance of the player on the big screen, but ever since the release of Knute Rocke, All American back in 1940, the coach has become an archetypal staple of the based-on-a-true-story football movie.

The Best Movie Based on the NFL

David Grove — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 16:30:25 GMT

Like all great sports films, North Dallas Forty isn’t primarily about sports but rather the lives and personalities of the players and the corporate and institutional pressures that conspire to make these players virtual hostages to their sport, which in North Dallas Forty is professional football.

Sports vs Sci-Fi: Who's Really Winning?

Zak Standridge — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 16:30:27 GMT

As a genre, science fiction has saturated the market. Sports, always a safe bet from big-name studios, finds enthusiastic audiences in the unpredictable ebb and flow of the cultural zeitgeist. Sometimes, football films are loved, and sometimes, they're skipped. Science fiction, however – and especially the superhero genre lately – has attained a mass inclusion in the film industry, becoming the dominant form of entertainment, having grown from a fringe form of art.

13 Movies from the Early-2000s That Highlight Women Athletes

Leila Holley — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 21:30:28 GMT

The early-2000s was a time. Whether you were around to live through it or live vicariously through media, that era gave the world lots of great entertainment. While some may associate the early-2000s with cult classic teen romances, animated family movies, or high-budget super blockbusters, there’s another genre of film that often gets overlooked: sports films. More specifically, sports films that center women athletes.

U.S. Open Winner Coco Gauff Binge-Watched Anime Like My Hero Academia Before Playing

Ali Valle — Sat, 09 Sep 2023 23:14:40 GMT

As we glance into the life of the prodigious tennis dynamo Coco Gauff, we find a youthful blend of grit and grace, both on the court and in the choices of her leisurely indulgences. At the youthful age of 19, Gauff has crafted a pre-game ritual that remarkably juxtaposes the solemnity of sporting pursuits with the vibrant and fantastical world of anime. After sweeping past her competition and making her way to the finals of the US Open, Gauff divulged her penchant for the sensational anime series My Hero Academia, integrating episodes into her downtime before stepping onto the court.

BS High: Why This Is the Wildest Sports Documentary Released in Years

Sean Shuman — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 19:31:27 GMT

August 29, 2021. A high school American football game between Bishop Sycamore and IMG Academy is nationally broadcasted on ESPN, an occasion meant to promote prominent teams and players looking to compete in the highest level of collegiate American football. However, as the match began, something felt "off." The game was a complete blowout, with IMG scoring a total of 58 points over four quarters and Bishop Sycamore never scoring a single point throughout. Color commentators admitted that they couldn't verify the authenticity of Bishop Sycamore's roster live on air. One even questioned whether the game should continue, as Bishop Sycamore was visibly out of their league in terms of skill.

HBO's Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel Ends After 29 Years On Air

Mariah Starks — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 10:06:00 GMT

After 29 seasons and over 300 episodes, HBO’s Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel is set to end this year, Variety has confirmed. The sports series features news stories across the globe about players, coaches, fans, organizations, technological advancements, and the political nature of sports. The show has featured several correspondents and acclaimed journalists, including Ariel Helwani, Soledad O’Brien, Mary Carillo, Jon Frankel, David Scott, Carl Quintanilla, Bernard Goldberg, and many more.

Kelce Trailer Highlights NFL Legend & His Brother's Rivalry

Jonathan Fuge — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 14:14:40 GMT

Streaming platform Prime Video has now announced a premiere date of September 12 for Kelce, with a new trailer teasing the feature-length documentary about Philadelphia Eagles team captain and All-Pro center Jason Kelce throughout the 2022-23 season. Coming courtesy of the official Prime Video YouTube channel, Kelce will now debut on the platform in time for the return of Thursday Night Football. Check out the trailer for Kelce below.

The 11 Best Fictional Movie Football Players, Ranked

Zac Wenzel — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 16:31:26 GMT

American football is now one of the most popular sports and enjoys global appeal on the amateur and professional levels. It is also one of the most used sports when it comes to big-screen stories. Throughout cinema history, Hollywood has helped craft some of the most unique and awe-inspiring fictional football players. Let's take a trip to a magical land where MovieWeb is granted their very own football team. Here are the eleven players we would want on our team: Down, set, hike!

Andrew Dice Clay Leads Basketball Redemption Comedy in Warrior Strong Trailer

Jonathan Fuge — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 16:17:41 GMT

Stand-up comedian and actor Andrew Dice Clay works to lead a high school basketball team to victory in the newly released trailer for the upcoming sports drama, Warrior Strong. Coming courtesy of Quiver Distribution, Warrior Strong follows suspended pro basketball player Bilal Irving (Jordan Johnson-Hinds) who must work alongside his old coach (played by Andrew Dice Clay) in order to restore his image and bring a ragtag team of high school basketball players together on the court. Check out the trailer for Warrior Strong below.

Challengers' Stars Zendaya and Josh O'Connor Dish on Playing Villains in Upcoming Film

Steven Thrash — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 21:09:57 GMT

It looks like Zendaya wins the serve in Challengers, at least when it comes to being the baddie. The actress is best known for portraying the kind-hearted girlfriend of Peter Parker (Tom Holland) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and Sony movies which feature the friendly neighborhood Spider-man. But next year, Zendaya gets to play a more “villain-esque” character in the tennis pro turned coach, Tashi Duncan. And one of her co-stars, Josh O’Connor, joined Zendaya in a recent conversation about how good it is to be bad. O’Connor said in an interview with V Magazine:

16 Best Sports Biopics of All Time, Ranked

Sam Carrick — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 01:52:44 GMT

Just as there have been movies about musicians and, similarly, movies about real-life writers, there have also been movies about athletes, whether fictional or based on true events. The biographical sports film — or sports biopic — has been a staple genre in the film industry.

The Hill Review | Batter Up, If the Script Doesn't Weigh You Down

Greg Archer — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 01:06:40 GMT

Based on a true story, The Hill comes from director Jeff Celentano (Breaking Point), who attempts to strike a home run with this baseball tale. Creatively, the bases never feel fully loaded here and there’s never a sense that things won’t get resolved. That the film goes into overtime — literally — is another story. Despite all that, if you can have a little patience, when all is said and done, Celentano does justice to the real-life story of a celebrated baseball player, beginning with his childhood in the 1970s and moving through young adulthood where he was further confronted with his physical injuries and filial strife.

‘The Blind Side’ Producers Respond to Michael Oher’s Claims of Inaccuracy: The Film ‘Will Never Be a Lie or Fake’

Shari Hirsch — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 20:34:26 GMT

As reported by Variety, Broderick Johnson and Andrew Rose, the producers behind The Blind Side and co-founders of Alcon Entertainment, have recently released a statement regarding the authenticity of Michael Oher's story in the 2009 sports movie. The response comes in light of Oher's claims that the Tuohy family falsified his adoption in order to place him under a conservatorship, which he has since remained under. In a petition filed against the Tuohy family (via ESPN), Oher alleged that his adoption was a lie and that he did not receive earnings from the film.

A League of Their Own Co-Creator Speaks Out For First Time Since the Show Was Canceled

Steven Thrash — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 16:24:55 GMT

Jo's homerun ended Rockford's run — but sadly there won't be a shot at any championships in the future for the Peaches now. The demise of the Amazon Prime Video series A League of Their Own, after only one season has prompted co-creator Will Graham to write an impassioned and lengthy tweet thanking the fans for their support. Graham also addressed the difficulty of dealing with the sudden cancelation of a second season after it was initially greenlit. Graham wrote (via Twitter):

The Blind Side Subject Michael Oher Says Adoption Was a Lie, Made Nothing From the Movie

Cameron Bolton — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 08:45:14 GMT

Michael Oher is a retired NFL player whose story of being adopted into a wealthy white Tuohy family you might know from The Blind Side. A feel good story that starred Quinton Aaron as Oher. It was a box office success and earned Sandra Bullock an Academy Award for her performance as Leigh Anne Tuohy, the family matriarch. However, contrary to what was depicted in the film, a recent lawsuit by the real Oher alleges that the couple never actually adopted him.

Is Movie Culture Ruining Sports or Saving It?

Nathan Williams — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 19:00:24 GMT

While we tend to think of sports as a being co-opted by those in the entertainment business, the movies have had a gargantuan impact in how we see and consume sports. Lionel Messi’s deal with Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami more closely resembles an actor’s contract with a studio than a traditional sports signing, the Argentine soccer star earning a share of profits not only from his team but from Apple+. Don’t expect it to be the last athlete to take the Adam Sandler-Netflix strategy.

The 10 Best Soccer Anime TV Shows of All Time

Fatima Ali Idrisoglu — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 15:30:18 GMT

The game of soccer, also known as football, is a world-wide loved sport. Whether it’s kids or adults, it’s a game that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. Especially in Japan, where many soccer enthusiasts live. Which is why it’s only natural for there to be anime about it.

The 10 Greatest Sports Anime of All Time

Fatima Ali Idrisoglu — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 15:00:19 GMT

Welcome to the exhilarating realm where animated characters pull off gravity-defying feats on the courts, field, and track. The sports anime genre is a special category that has left an indelible mark on fans worldwide. Blending thrilling athletic endeavors with compelling storylines. These series have the power to inspire, entertain, and ignite a fervent passion for sports in everyone. They're funny, electrifying, and guaranteed to make the fans jump out of their seat. Get ready to explore jaw-dropping moves, heart-pounding rivalries, and more sweat than a gym sauna!

The 10 Best Korean Sports Dramas, Ranked

Fatima Ali Idrisoglu — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 16:30:19 GMT

Welcome to the world of sports K-dramas, where the thrill of athletic competition meets the gripping narratives of Korean television. From heart-pounding matches to personal triumphs and setbacks, these dramas immerse viewers in the captivating world of sports while showcasing the resilience and determination of their characters.

10 Sports Movies That Weren't Really About the Sport

Thomas Zelios — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 13:30:18 GMT

The peaks and valleys that sports provide make for some immensely compelling motion pictures. However, a majority of the time, the action of the sport in these movies reigns supreme over the film's central theme. Themes in sports films go way beyond winning or losing a game and can be translated universally to all walks of life. Here are 10 feature films that weren't really about the sport they depict.

21 Athletes Who Played Themselves in Movies

Mike Damski — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:31:19 GMT

Professional athletes have long been sought after for movie roles thanks to their impressive physicality and the built-in audience of fans and followers curious to see their sports heroes on the Silver Screen. In the first half of the 20th Century in America, athletes became some of the biggest and most marketable celebrities, leading to an inevitable cross over into film. While they often slotted into fictional roles, studios quickly found appeal in casting these sports heroes as themselves, with varying results.

Jim Brown: A Force to Be Reckoned With

Nathan Williams — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 19:00:18 GMT

Jim Brown, more than anyone, established the sports-to-Hollywood pipeline that Dwayne Johnson and LeBron James would later take for granted. Playing his share of tough guys in cowboy flicks, Blaxploitation movies, and even the occasional spoof like his self-parody in I’m Gonna Git U Sucka, the jock-turned-thespian made up with charisma what he lacked in range, never taking himself too seriously. With a movie career spanning six decades, Brown only broke into acting on a lark, making a name in star vehicles, then as a character actor. Not bad for a side gig in the off season.

The 25 Most Underrated Sports Movies Ever Made

Jonah Rice — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 21:05:44 GMT

With regard to football films, don’t expect The Blind Side (2009) on this list. Rocky (1976), Raging Bull (1980), Million Dollar Baby (2004) — those boxing movies are among the most renowned in all of cinema, and won’t be included, either. The same thing goes for baseball and A League of Their Own (1992), along with basketball and Hoosiers (1986).

Lionel Messi Scores Original Docuseries at Apple TV+

Maca Reynolds — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 16:40:53 GMT

The world will be able to experience every goal and every celebration of Lionel Messi's career thanks to Apple TV+. Months after winning the FIFA World Cup with Argentina after four appearances and a tragic final in 2014, Messi's popularity continues to grow and the streaming platform wants to take advantage of it.

The American Gladiators Documentary: Why ESPN's Take on this 90's Show Is a Must Watch

Salvatore Cento — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 20:30:18 GMT

With larger-than-life men and women battling the everyday person in feats of strength, endurance, and agility, audiences seemed to be stuck to their television sets ever since American Gladiators first premiered on television sets in September 1989. Running for seven seasons and over two hundred episodes, names like Gemini, Malibu, and Thunder quickly became household idols and were trademarked on all sorts of products, including video games, lunchboxes, and action figures.

Gran Turismo: Plot, Cast, Release Date, and Everything Else We Know

Hanumanth — Wed, 17 May 2023 16:30:18 GMT

What happens when you take your passion too seriously? You create miracles. In recent times, Sony Pictures and PlayStation Studios have focused a lot on video game adaptations. In addition to the recent Uncharted film starring Tom Holland, which grossed $400 million, another video game adaptation seems to be a real possibility. According to Deadline, Sony and PlayStation are already preparing for the production of films based on video games, including the popular action-adventure game Ghost of Tsushima.

Best Fictional Sports in Movies and TV, Ranked

Alyssa Gawaran — Sat, 13 May 2023 18:30:17 GMT

Movies and TV are entertainment spaces that are meant to take us to different worlds. Creativity is at its all-time peak in these projects, and when an idea comes to life on screen, we film and TV fans are ready to eat it up. Characters, plot twists, concepts, and settings are all things that great writers and directors can conjure up. Well, here, we want to get into the world of fictional sports in film and TV.

13 Greatest Sports Films of the 1990s

Jonah Rice — Fri, 05 May 2023 13:45:16 GMT

Several genres of film were at their best in the 1990s, with tremendous science fiction films and high-quality westerns as far as a given film fan could see. That goes for sports films, too. But it’s worth noting off the bat that, for this list, documentaries like Hoop Dreams (1994) or When We Were Kings (1996) will be omitted. This will focus solely on feature-length projects.

10 Must-Watch Sports Documentaries

Manthila Gallassage — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 02:07:35 GMT

Well-known film producer Libby Geist once said, “People seem to think they know the stories, but a filmmaker can step back and show reasons why and how, which the everyday narrative of sport often lacks.” Sports fans around the world would wholeheartedly agree.

Top 25 Sports Movies of All Time, Ranked

Gary Lockard — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 21:30:22 GMT

Mainly for the better, but sometimes for the worse, there are no shortage of sports movies. When done well, a sports movie can elicit several emotional responses: love, joy, happiness, passion, etc. They can provide more heart than an NBA player playing defense in an All-Star game. When talking about the best sports movies ever, it's almost impossible to narrow it down to 25 films. Amazing titles such as Glory Road, Million Dollar Baby, I, Tonya and literally handfuls of others, all deserve their accolades, but ultimately did not appear on this list for one reason or another.

10 Sports Anime Series You Should Be Watching

Amria Abdel-Fadil — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 13:30:16 GMT

Sports are known to bring joy to many. They help you build mental and physical resilience, track your progress, and keep you active. At the core of each sport, there is movement, tactics, and challenges; these sports anime will make you fall in love with the world of sports and will show you how much character growth it stirs in anyone who engages with it.

The Most Heart-Wrenching Sports Movies of All Time

Molly Pohlig — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 13:00:17 GMT

Watching sports can give viewers lots of feelings: the bliss of victory, the agony of defeat. Fury when your team wastes chances, elation when they hit their stride. And even if you aren’t a sports fan, watching a bunch of grown men swarm a field to celebrate, say, a World Series win, or a soccer player strip down to her sports bra after winning the World Cup, those moments can be heart-warming to anyone watching.

The Best Movies Featuring Winter Sports

Amanda Minchin — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 12:01:17 GMT

What’s better than hitting the slopes in the dead of winter? Watching others do just that, of course. Whether you are eagerly awaiting the next Winter Olympic season or trying to find the motivation to jump-start that New Year’s resolution (again), these movies will have you itching to don some warmer clothes and hop right on in again… with physician approval of course. Proceed with caution.

Top Sports Movies Not Based on a True Story

Greg Spielman — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 21:14:46 GMT

Sports and movies go together like a fine tailored suit and a great tie—they become a perfect fit. People go to the movies to be entertained and leave their real world behind. It gives people a chance to pretend to be someone else. Sports also helps bring people together, no matter what race, religion, or ethnicity they are; sports movies inspire people and help them be entertained.

The Most Emotional Sports Movies of the 2000s

Jonah Rice — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 15:35:16 GMT

Whether it's an individual sport like track and field or a team sport such as football, sports movies can provide some of the most emotionally compelling storylines the film industry has to offer. And they're all unique, with each sport offering a different perspective on their respective characters. Stepping into a boxing ring, for instance, symbolizes a much different kind of battle than the quarterback of a football team leading his peers to victory. But in the end, these movies deliver on emotional resonance in ways that can only be done on a field, a court, or inside of a ring.

Disney+'s Chang Can Dunk: Plot, Cast, Release Date, and Everything Else We Know

Hanumanth — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 22:30:17 GMT

Sports might be brutal at times, but they can also transform people by allowing them to overcome their anxieties and grow as individuals. There are numerous films in the sports genre worth watching, like True Spirit, Cosmoball, Creed, and the upcoming Champions starring Woody Harrelson, which focuses on disabled athletes vying for the Basketball championship. Speaking of Basketball, the new Disney+ film Chang Can Dunk shows that anyone can succeed if they put in the time and effort without compromising what makes them distinctive.

The Best Sports Comedy Movies, Ranked

Ray Clough — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 16:30:17 GMT

Sports are one of the most fascinating and dramatic forms of entertainment, and cinema is often used to put a focus on some of the more endearing qualities of the industry. But sports can also include some rather humorous gaffes and botches, as well as some heated tempers, and the film genre of sports comedies does a great job of wrapping all of that together into one fantastic package. Here we are going to rank some of the finest sports comedies to have hit the big screen, reviewing the plots of each film as well as citing highlights of feel-good moments and scenes that made audiences burst with laughter.

10 Sports Movies That Even Non-Sports Fans Will Enjoy

Dustin Pinney — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 22:01:15 GMT

Whenever a major sporting event approaches, it can sometimes feel like the whole world is suddenly an expert on a game that most of them don’t actually play. This can leave a lot of folks feeling alienated since they simply have no interest in watching adults engage in meaningless physical activity that corporations manage to get rich on while oftentimes the players put their minds and bodies on the line. For those individuals who find the concept of devoting their time and mental energy to looking at a screen while opposing teams run side to side with a ball monumentally tedious, but would easily get lost in the drama linked to the sporting world if told to them in an interesting and cinematic fashion, there are sports movies.

Best Cameos from Sports Legends, Ranked

Patrick Hayes — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 15:49:22 GMT

Surprisingly, it took David Beckham’s cameo in Guy Ritchie’s 2017 critical flop, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, to really make filmmakers think twice about misplacing their faith in a sports star in the hope their name will help sell the movie. Unfortunately for Ritchie’s abysmal screenplay, David Beckham’s cameo appearance as Trigger, a noble knight, was as expectedly wooden, characterless, and contrived as the man himself.

Major League Stars Reunite at Sports Convention

Jeremy Dick — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 15:09:29 GMT

The stars of the Major League movies have gotten back together once again. Back in 1989, writer-director David S. Ward released his baseball movie Major League. It featured a strong ensemble cast that was led by Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, and Corbin Bernsen. The film was a huge hit at the box office, spawning the 1994 sequel Major League II with all three stars reprising their roles. Bernsen would also return for the final installment of the trilogy, 1998's Major League: Back to the Minors.Years later, the trio was all back together for a special appearance at a sports convention in Houston. TMZ has published an image of the three standing together to sign a poster of the film, while video footage tweeted by Fiterman Sports Group shows more of the three actors at the convention, conversing with fans and signing more autographs.You can check those out below.

Best TV Shows About Sports, Ranked

Jordyn Spears — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:00:16 GMT

Like pop culture, sports has its very own fandom, and it includes millions of enthusiastic fans. However, things get interesting when pop culture and sports unite. Fortunately, the composition of these two worlds has been brought to both the big and small screens various times, and each time, it affects a particular fan differently. While the best sports movies have their own essence, TV shows about the game display a little more than sports to make it a wholesome affair.

Champions Trailer Gives First Look at Woody Harrelson's Latest Sports Comedy Role

Stephanie Watel — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 23:51:07 GMT

Woody Harrelson, a champion of an actor himself with a long, distinguished career, is returning in a new sports comedy film appropriated titled Champions. Outlets such as Empire released the first official trailer for the film today, giving us a first-hand look.

Best Documentaries About Corruption in Sport

Patrick Hayes — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 21:53:32 GMT

Corruption plagues all walks of life. From rigged general elections in the political world to low-level money laundering at your local convenience store, it is everywhere. On Oct. 25th, Netflix aired the trailer for its upcoming documentary on the FIFA corruption scandal, which concerns the illicit affairs of world football’s governing body under the presidency of Sepp Blatter. In 2015, reports of money laundering, racketeering, tax evasion, and bribery came to a head when Blatter and numerous FIFA officials, including Michel Platini, were arrested. The potential criminality of the most powerful body for the world’s biggest game shook the sport to its core, and so the scandal unfolded as the world’s media watched on.

TIFF 2022: Every Sports and Thriller Movie Breakdown

Kassie King — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 13:45:14 GMT

From September 8th to the 18th, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will return for its 46th annual celebration of cinema from all over the world. The 11-day event will include screenings of films by both renowned and lesser-known directors and will include many Canadian and worldwide premieres. Brett Morgen’s David Bowie documentary Moonage Daydream, the Viola Davis-led historical epic The Woman King, and Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical The Fablemans, are just a few of the highly-anticipated features that will be shown during the festival, along with many, many more.

Why Welcome to Wrexham Will Be an Ultimate Sports Underdog Story

Craig Jones — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 14:11:14 GMT

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney may not look like soccer moguls, but they are certainly making a good job of it. Two years after their sensational -- some would say crazy -- decision to purchase the Welsh football club Wrexham AFC, the team is gunning for promotion, stadium attendances have skyrocketed, and replica shirts are selling like hot cakes.

Why The Sandlot Might be the Best Sports Movie of All Time

Olivia Martello — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 13:16:14 GMT

The Sandlot is a 1993 movie directed by David Mickey Evans. Set in 1962, the movie starts when Scott Smalls (Tom Guiry), a shy kid struggling with his mom and stepdad, moves to a suburb in Los Angeles. After seeing a group of boys who play sandlot baseball, he is invited by Benny Rodriguez (Mike Vitar), the team’s leader, to join, despite his lack of baseball talent. Scott gets better at playing and becomes one of the team, joining them on summer adventures to the fair, the pool, and a dangerous journey over the fence at the field. The movie is a perfect celebration of childhood friendship and summer fun, with growing up and lessons learned along the way. The film got mostly positive reviews, and nearly 30 years later, it remains a beloved cult classic. With its strong friendships and life lessons, it’s much more than a sports movie – and it’s this, ironically, that just might make it the best sports movie of all time.

Sunderland 'Til I Die: A Brilliantly Unconventional Sports Docuseries on Netflix

Patrick Hayes — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 21:54:57 GMT

Most sports documentaries professedly follow that familiar narrative arc: the rise – the success – the fall – the rebuild – the success and retention. These documentaries more or less tap into the audience’s hunger for that endorphin kick, the feel-good factor when the little guy conquers Everest against all odds, when the impossible meets the possible. Yet, what happens when a documentary doesn’t meet our Hollywood-ending expectations? When the intended storyline takes a turn for the worse, not the better?

All American: What The CW Drama Gets Right About Sports, Race, and Class

Amy Lamare — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 02:42:46 GMT

All American premiered in the fall of 2018 on The CW. The show is based on the real life experience of former football player Spencer Paysinger and centers on a group of teenagers at South Crenshaw High School and Beverly High School, as well as their coaches, parents, siblings, and communities. The difference between Crenshaw and Beverly Hills is stark despite only being roughly seven miles away from each other. All American depicts a case of the haves and the have-nots — but not in the way viewers might initially think. Sure, the kids from Beverly Hills have big houses, fancy cars, and plenty of disposable income, but the kids from Crenshaw have a sense of family, community, and integrity often missing from the more well-off teens.

80 for Brady: Everything We Know About the Tom Brady Sports Comedy

Adam Brown — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 19:58:13 GMT

Perhaps the greatest football quarterback of all time, Tom Brady has won seven Super Bowls over 22 seasons with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now, the GOAT is looking to add one more title to his lengthy and impressive resume: film producer. Brady will produce and star in 80 for Brady, an upcoming sports comedy film produced by Brady’s company 199 Productions and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The name 199 Productions is a nod to the 2000 NFL Draft, where Brady was the 199th selection in the sixth round. Seems like a great choice in hindsight, right?

The League: How the FX Series Perfectly Merged Sports and Comedy

Madeline Catalano — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 21:12:53 GMT

The League is an American sitcom that aired on both FX and FXX from 2009-2015. The show was successful in its own right and had a very dedicated fanbase, and was a hilarious meeting-of-the-minds for a wide range of talents -- indie film icons Mark Duplass and Katie Aselton starred, comedy legends Nick Kroll and Paul Scheer accompanied them, and YouTube star Jon Lajoie appears. The show, set in Chicago, was about the members of a fantasy football league and their day-to-day lives. The League was uniquely centered on sports, something rarely prominent in the comedy world, and featured an ever-rotating list of epic cameos from the sports world. However, the show is also ricidulously hilarious, especially with the large cast of comedians who starred in it.

Exclusive: Writer Arash Amel Discusses Disney+ Sports-Drama Rise

Tim Kraft — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 22:55:38 GMT

The Antetokounmpo brothers Giannis, Thanasis, and Kostas are the first family trio to have rings in the NBA. Kostas received his in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers, then Giannis and Thanasis in 2021 with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Antetokounmpos have carved themselves a legacy in the NBA, though it wasn’t easy. Rise provides context to that, following their parents Charles and Vera Antetokounmpo’s emigration from Nigeria to Greece, their struggle to survive and provide for their five children, all while under the constant threat of deportation.

Sports Movies Where Underdogs Go From Zeroes to Heroes

Patrick Hayes — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 22:08:58 GMT

Forget General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, Eastenders, and Coronation Street; sport is the real, never-ending soap opera. Brimming with scandal, controversy, jubilation, and despair, it is a composite of emotional investment and drama that's typically unpredictable in nature. From gladiatorial combat in Roman amphitheaters, to the original Olympics in Ancient Greece, sport was (and at times, still is) a matter of life and death, fierce competition, and the height of physical prowess, except if your names are Jeff, Walter, and Donny and you bowl at the Hollywood Star Lanes on the Santa Monica Boulevard…

The Best Sports Movie Rom-Coms, Ranked

Amy Lamare — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 18:15:52 GMT

Combining sports, comedy, and romance is a prescription for a guaranteed good time in American film, as the seven movies below demonstrate. It is the cinematic equivalent of baseball, apple pie, and Chevrolet. After all, what is more quintessentially American than a character obsessed by a sport or sports and a potential love interest they butt heads with over that? It's not just romantic comedies that mine this subject either; Kevin Costner's For Love of the Game is one of the best examples of sports and romance interwoven into a compelling and interesting storyline. Field of Dreams (albeit in this one it's Costner's love of baseball at the center of the romance) and The Natural are other romantic dramas with sports at their center.

Hustle Review: Adam Sandler Shines in a Superb Sports Drama

Julian Roman — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 00:37:11 GMT

Adam Sandler delivers one of his best performances in a captivating sports drama. Hustle follows a veteran NBA scout and talented Spanish player as they both pursue their hoop dreams. The film doesn't re-invent a tried and true formula for the genre. The outcome is frankly never in doubt. Hustle shows that the journey makes you stronger. Fight for every chance you get. Those who persevere put themselves in the best possible position. There's zero chance to make a difference if you don't get in the game.

Best Speeches from Coaches in Sports Movies, Ranked

Katey Hicks — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 18:01:14 GMT

Some of the most inspirational speeches have been given by sports coaches. Whether they are movies about football or movies about the Olympics, one thing they have in common is, at the moment of need, the head coach delivered an impactful speech that turned the game around for the players. The coaches in sports movies and even sports biopics play influential roles in their players' lives.

The Best Sports Documentaries on Amazon Prime Video

Patrick Hayes — Wed, 18 May 2022 16:56:57 GMT

The celebrated story goes that on Christmas Day 1914, while the rest of the world tucked into their Christmas dinners and drank sherry, British and German soldiers temporarily ceased firing their rifles and met in 'no man’s land' to play a game of football. The Germans ran out 2-1 winners (nothing’s changed for England there, then!), and the soul-stirring tale was forever carved into the World War I time capsule. That simple act shared between the British and German troops during the great Christmas Truce restored a sense of humanity amongst the bloodshed and senseless killing of war. The power of sport possesses the ability to unify, empower, and bring peace in times of conflict.

Best Coaches in Sports Movies, Ranked

Jonny Hoffman — Sun, 15 May 2022 21:00:14 GMT

In the genre of sports films, there is no team without an inspiring coach to lead them to victory. Throughout the years, there have been countless stories around athletics that have been beloved by the masses, from inspiring sports biopics to movies about the Olympics. With most sports movies, there is much emphasis put on the coach and their relationship with the team or athlete. At the same time, with many sports movies, you are likely to receive a great monologue delivered by the coach, as outlined by Bleacher Report. Even non-sports fans can appreciate a film based on athletes for the high stakes and dramatic circumstances. We have seen in films like Remember the Titans the sheer effect that athletics can have on youth and society.

Backyard Sports: Why the Game Franchise Should Get Adapted

Jonathan Meschutt — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 16:05:14 GMT

Sports are a universal activity that spans across every single country around the world. No matter where you go on Earth, it's certain to include some sort of sporting facility or stadium or event that crowds can flock to in order to forget about their troubles for a few hours. Sports come in all shapes and sizes, as do the athletes who play said sports -- the variety in Olympic athletes is enough to prove that. A gymnast might be shorter than 5 feet tall and weigh less than a hundred pounds; meanwhile, a basketball player could stand over 7 feet tall and reach the rim without jumping. Neither is more nor less athletic than the other -- they're just sports.

These Are the Best Women's Sports Movies

Jessica Gardner — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 19:00:50 GMT

Women’s sports movies, though rare, are always much more satisfying to watch than men’s sports movies. There is the sense that these women had to work much harder in order to be taken seriously in their chosen field than any of their male counterparts. Women in sports seem to be fighting a never-ending uphill battle in the industry. Take, for example, the Norwegian Women’s Beach Handball team: They dared to ask why they, as women, must wear skimpy bikini bottoms during competition, while the Men’s Handball team played in shorts. When the women eventually took a stand against the baseless double standard and showed up to a match in form-fitting shorts, the International Handball Federation promptly hit the team with a 1500 Euro fine ($1770 USD). Also faced with the threat of disqualification, the team eventually backed down. Their fight, however, was not in vain as it eventually sparked change. According to NBC News, starting January 2022, women will be allowed to wear "short tight pants with a close fit" and a "body fit tank top" when competing, as per new regulations published by the International Handball Federation.

National Champions Trailer Unravels an Overawing Sports Drama With an Astonishing Cast

Abhishek Sharma — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 20:48:54 GMT

STX Films has released the new trailer of its new film, National Champions, a fictional sports drama focusing on a protest raged by young athletes against team managers. The film focuses on two college athletes, football players eyeing for NFL selections in the future, who ignite a player’s strike three days before the national championship game. What follows is the efforts of the few college players to bring down an entire lineage of sports managers, executives, coaches, and profiteers in order to gain fair compensation and equal rights as other league players.