Written by: Rob Lazlo

When I first sat down to write up a list of sports movies, it was coming out much too long.  I had EVERYTHING on there.  "Hmmm, M*A*S*H is a war movie, but it has that great football sequence in it;  those Harry Potter movies have the best quidditch sequences ever filmed"....

Realizing the column would wind up being 9 pages long, I then thought of doing a “top 10” list, or picking the best movies in each individual sport.  Then I scrapped all those artificial constructions and just came up with MY list.  These may or may not be the best sports movies ever, but they are my best sports movies ever. 

Every film on this list is something which struck me when I first saw it and that I can watch over and over again.  In keeping with that sort of “no particular definition” spirit, these movies are not in any order.  This is not a ranking system, it’s just a list of sports titles that won’t let you down.

Bull Durham (1988)

Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins

This is a charming and very funny film about a minor league baseball team and it’s “bonus baby” rookie (Robbins).  Through the course of the season, he learns from a veteran mentor (Costner) and a cougar baseball groupie (Sarandon).  The action is as fun and easy going as a baseball game on a warm summer night, but the real strength of Bull Durham is the excellent script and fine performances from the leads.  There are TONS of laughs in this movie, and many of the very best and funniest sequences in the movie happen during conferences on the mound or in the dugout.  Bull Durham is in part a love story, but the real story is how the film perfectly captures the simple pleasure of baseball and lets you join in loving the game.

Hit the jump to see the rest of essential sports movies you need to see in your life....

The Longest Yard (1974)

Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert

If you’ve only ever seen the hideously stupid 2005 Adam Sandler remake of this classic, do yourself a favor and watch the original.  Burt Reynolds plays Paul Crewe, a disgraced former NFL quarterback who is sent to prison and is then coerced by the corrupt warden to stage a practice game between the guards and the inmates.  The movie has real laughs in it, but it is mostly serious business.  The climactic showdown on the gridiron contains some of the most realistic and meticulously shot sports action ever (which earned the picture an Oscar for film editing).  The only thing I’ve ever seen that comes close is the mostly forgettable Any Given Sunday by Oliver Stone.  The Longest Yard is vastly superior, and includes outstanding supporting performances including a few by NFL greats of the day, including “Engine” Joe Kapp and Ray Nitschke. 

Pride of the Yankees (1942)

Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright

Lou Gehrig was nicknamed the “iron horse” for setting a record for consecutive games played that stood for over 50 years until finally being broken by Cal Ripken.  His career and life were, ironically, shortened by the debilitating disease that bears his name.   Gehrig is an iconic character for that reason, but beyond that the reason fans so connected with him was that he was truly one of those “regular guys” who just happened to play baseball.  This biopic works so well, in part, because the quintessential Hollywood actor, Gary Cooper, is so very believable as Gehrig.  Cooper and Wright make the story even more special by reminding us that the Lou Gehrig story was not just the fall of an everyman American hero, but a tragic love story as well (both were nominated for Oscars).  Pride of the Yankees also contains one of the most iconic scenes ever filmed in a sports movie, the unforgettable “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth” farewell speech delivered by Gehrig at Yankee stadium, with his voice reverberating through the PA system.  Pride of the Yankees is a true classic, as timeless and persistent as the iron horse himself.

Love and Basketball (2000)

Omar Epps, Sanaa Lathan

This movie is not considered a classic by any stretch, but there are so many reasons to love it I just couldn’t leave it off the list.  Try this out:  how about strong performances from Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan just as they were coming into their own as actors?  How about a classic boy meets tomboy-next-door love story?  How about a classic rich boy meets regular gal love story?  How about some of the best women’s basketball sequences you will ever see on film?  How about the far too often ignored story of how women athletes are put under the same tremendous pressures as men but receive only one-tenth of the recognition and glory, if that?  Have I convinced you to see this picture yet?!  Love and Basketball is smartly written, unique and well acted.  You really can’t ask more from a sports film than that.

Rollerball (1975)

James Caan, John Houseman

When Rollerball was first released, it was one of a number of sci fi films at the time that depicted a creepy, dehumanized, big-brother style future.  In the Rollerball universe, corporations rule the world, buy and sell people like property and offer the public a violent, unwinnable sport as entertainment.  Enter Jonathan E (Caan), a Jordan-like superstar who grows bigger than the game itself and (damn him) won’t die, even when the powers that be start changing the rules to make the game ever more dangerous.  The future depicted in this film might have seemed dated 10 or 15 years ago - you had those uniforms with the numbers in the very old style computer generated font, people blowing up trees for recreation, lots of buildings with ultra interiors - but something funny happened on the way to the rollerball rink.  In an increasingly contentious political culture where the power of money seems to increase exponentially with each passing year, the Rollerball cautionary tale slowly came back into focus, and a viewing of the film today is still goosebump worthy, especially when that eerie organ music begins playing Bach‘s Tocatta and Fugue in D Minor.  All of it works because of the strong performances from James Caan and John Houseman as a decidedly nasty detached villain.  The action sequences on the rollerball rink are also a good bit of fun.  Skip the atrocious remake of this picture and see the original.

Raging Bull (1980)

Robert DeNiro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci

Scorcese’s masterpiece biopic on the life of Jake LaMotta was nominated for 10 Oscars and won 2 (including a Best Actor for DeNiro).  DeNiro’s transformation was complete, both physically and inhabiting LaMotta as a character.  Unbelievable direction and performances make this film an all time classic (Moriarty, in particular, has never been close to as good as she was in this picture).  The film includes ample boxing footage that is shot with striking impact and realism.  Raging Bull is an unforgettable and brutal film experience that has rarely been equaled.

Friday Night Lights (2004)

Billy Bob Thornton, Lucas Black, Derek Luke

Based on a true story, Friday Night Lights is dead on target as it captures the atmosphere surrounding high school football in Texas.  The film smartly divides its energies between advancing it’s story line and character development, the latter endeavor made easy by a strong ensemble cast, lead by a brilliantly understated Billy Bob Thornton as embattled head coach Gary Gaines.  There are plenty of football sequences in this film, and they are done exceptionally well, both in technical terms and in terms of advancing the story and building drama.

Million Dollar Baby (2005)

Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman

In retrospect, it seems like a foregone conclusion that this much talent would produce one of the all-time great movies, sports genre or otherwise.  Clint Eastwood had already won a directing and best picture Oscar for Unforgiven. He won two more for this film.  Morgan Freeman had been nominated three times previously.  He won his first here.  Hilary Swank had won an Oscar for Boys Don’t Cry. She took home her second.  All of them were 100% deserved.  Million Dollar Baby is a one-of-a-kind story, nothing like any movie you’ve ever seen, and after spending an hour of screen time building it’s unique and enthralling plot and trio of relationships, the film abruptly kicks into emotional overdrive, barely giving you time to fasten your seatbelt.   Beyond that, this picture represents a chance to see the very best at what they do at their very best.  If you’ve only watched this movie once, treat yourself to a repeat viewing.

Greased Lightning (1977)

Richard Pryor, Beau Bridges, Pam Grier

The comic genius of Richard Pryor is on display in this picture which is less than a bio-pic, more of a “based upon the life of”, it tells the story of Wendell Scott, the first African-American stock racing champion.  Pryor is in mid-70’s peak form here, and while this film doesn’t quite hit the hilarious high notes of Silver Streak, Pryor’s classic first on-screen collaboration with Gene Wilder, there are plenty of good laughs here, and a good story to go with it.  While I am not a fan of NASCAR, the racing sequences in this movie are exciting and advance the story well.  Not an all time classic, but a thoroughly enjoyable movie start to finish.

The Hustler (1961)

Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott, Piper Laurie

The first thing you’ll realize after watching The Hustler is that the atmosphere has staying power.  You’ll practically taste the cheap scotch and smell the cigar smoke of the pool hall in the air.  The second thing you’ll realize is that you’ve just seen true greatness.  All four of the leads in this picture were nominated for Oscars, as well as its director Robert Rossen and the movie itself (it won in two other categories, for art direction and cinematography).   I know this is a movie on the list that a lot of people may not have seen.  If you only know the character of “Fast” Eddie Felson (played by Newman) from the good but not great sequel to this movie The Color of Money, you need to see the original.  If you thought Jackie Gleason was just that fat guy from The Honeymooners, then you really need to see this movie.  Gleason is absolutely masterful, dominating the screen in what would be a cameo role in the hands of a lesser actor.  The Hustler is, quite simply, a masterpiece.

Bad News Bears (1976)

Walter Matthau, Tatum O’Neal, Vic Morrow

Bad News Bears is a movie that broke all the rules and was ahead of its time.  A kids movie with cursing, drinking and racism?  A kids movie where the adults are over-competitive jerks?  A kids movie where the only adult “role model” is a borderline alcoholic washed up ex ball player?  A sports movie where the heroes lose at the end?!  If you haven’t given this movie a viewing since you were a kid, now is the time to do so as an adult and appreciate the novelty of the story, which is still relevant today, and the underrated performances of the stars, especially Vic Morrow as “bad guy” Roy Tanner.  When I played little league, half the dads on the team were Roy Tanner.  This movie was remade in 2005 with Billy Boy Thornton, and while I enjoyed the remake, the original remains a true classic and a superior sports movie to many so-called “grown up” pictures.

Hoosiers (1986)

Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper

Most “top 10” sports movie lists I have seen have Hoosiers at #1 or top 3 at least.  It is no surprise.  Loosely based on the story of a tiny Indiana high school that won the state basketball championship in the ‘50sa, this is probably the best underdog story ever put on film.  The performances are strong, especially Hopper’s Oscar nominated turn as the loveable and flawed Shooter, and Hackman is perfectly cast as Coach Norman Dale, whose competitive fire has burned him in the past.  The basketball sequences in Hoosiers are truly outstanding and the film uses them to full advantage in delivering drama, tension and hopeful inspiration. It seems that this may be the reason that Hoosiers is so beloved and so lasting:  it is the most uplifting of stories and is told with the utmost of skill.

Rocky (1976)

Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith

From one great underdog story to the next.  If you pretend for a moment you didn’t know that Rocky would spawn a series of increasingly bad sequels, and that Stallone would go on to appear in a series of films that range from merely tolerable to completely unwatchable, it helps you to appreciate just how good a picture Rocky is.  While it is an inspiring underdog tale, the thing that makes Rocky special are the characters, from the ugly duckling love story between Rocky and Adrienne (Stallone & Shire), to the comical working class bum Paulie (Burt Young) to the cantankerous trainer Mickey (a perfect Burgess Meredith), Rocky hit’s the right notes throughout the story, and builds to a satisfying climax of the fight between the Italian Stallion and Apollo Creed (an Ali-like character well played by Carl Weathers).  As for the fight sequences themselves, they are very Hollywood - there is more action and hitting in 20 seconds of Rocky­-boxing than you are likely to see in an entire heavyweight fight, but, while unrealistic, the fight itself is well in keeping with the tone of the movie and is just as enjoyable as the ride that gets you there.  Yo Adrian!

North Dallas Forty (1979)

Nick Nolte, Mac Davis

North Dallas Forty was sometimes billed as “the film the NFL doesn’t want you to see” and with good reason.  Based on the novel by former Dallas Cowboys receiver Peter Gent, North Dallas Forty is about the dehumanization of professional football players, and includes storylines of players being followed by investigators hired by their own team, being pressured into taking cortisone injections to play through injuries, and purposely injuring players on the opposing team.  Pretty heavy stuff, but when you keep in mind that North Dallas Forty is also hilariously funny, it gives a whole new meaning to the phrase black comedy. The football sequences in this picture are not up to Longest Yard standards, but they’re not supposed to be.  Instead, North Dallas Forty sticks to its theme and conveys the pain, exhaustion and despair that NFL players feel late in the fourth quarter of a game they need to win.  While Hollywood has seen fit to remake every horror movie franchise from the 80s and a handful of 70s films that did not need to be remade (I’m talking to you, Pelham 123), I find it astounding that no one has attempted to re-work this story in some fashion, especially given the prominence and controversy surrounding drug and steroid use in professional sports today.  Since they haven’t, do yourself a favor and see the film the NFL doesn’t want you to see.

Slap Shot (1977)

Paul Newman, Strother Martin, Lindsay Crouse

No lie, I have seen this movie 50 times and I still laugh just as hard.  Slap Shot is simply the funniest sports movie ever made, and one of the funniest movies ever made, period.  Besides creating some truly iconic movie moments and characters, Slap Shot delivers some fairly good ice hockey sequences (in between the fights, of course) and tells a pretty relevant story of minor league hockey players facing an uncertain future in an economically depressed Northeastern town (the town, team and uniforms were based on the ECHL’s Jonestown Jets) and dealing with a nameless, faceless owner who holds their lives in his (her?) hands.  It doesn’t hurt that the movie gets a huge lift from the performances of its leads, especially Paul Newman, who is clearly having a blast in this film (he once told an interviewer that this was one of his all time favorite roles).  One other interesting pieces of trivia. . .Slap Shot, which is clearly considered one of the all-time “guys” movies, was written by a woman, Nancy Dowd.

Field of Dreams (1989)

Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones

Field of Dreams contains one of the most stunning and beautiful visuals I have ever seen in any movie, the picture of the baseball diamond as it is carved out of the cornfield.  It certainly didn’t surprise me to learn, a few years after I saw the movie, that the field itself is still there and is, in fact, a tourist attraction.  The picture itself, however, has so much more going for it than just the visual.  This is a truly unique, charming and engrossing story, told with complete reverence for the game of baseball, and features some great performances (in particular, the criminally overlooked Amy Madigan as Costner’s feisty “stand by your man” wife and Burt Lancaster, who was absolutely brilliant in his final role in an American film). In the end, Field of Dreams ties up its fantasy elements and lets us in on the secret that the story has been about a father and son, and the bond between them forged through baseball, all along.  If you didn’t cry in the final sequence of this picture, when Costner’s Ray Kinsella asks his resurrected dad to play catch with him, you are either a robot or you died before the movie ended.

One final note: if you’ve only ever seen the cut up edited for TV version of some of the older movies on this list, do yourself a favor and find the original theatrical versions.  Like I said, every movie on this list is one you can watch again and again.