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| Training scene from Rocky(1976) ranked first for sports movies. |
Welcome to our Reel Fives
pre-launch movie rankings for the best sports movies of all time. Sports movies
are one of the most popular film genres in terms of movie rankings, given we
found an impressive 130 rankings of the best sports movies. Reel Fives has
taken all of those rankings and aggregated them into definitive rankings for
the top sports movies of all time. Our rankings of the top sports movies
include over 100 films. For each ranked list of top movies for the sports movie
genre we found online we have taken the top five ranked sports films. The original
sources of rankings on top sports movies are included at the bottom of this
post and include rankings of the best movies in the sports film genre created
by movie experts as well as sports movie rankings from polling sites, such as
ranker.com.
Competition compels audiences, and
a great sports movie captures the audience and brings them to the competition. Sports
movies follow the journey of an individual or team through tragedies and
triumphs and normally end with protagonists succeeding in a close finish. The
number one film in our top sports movie rankings of all time, Rocky (1976), provides insight into how
the genre works. While Rocky (1976) centers on boxing, ultimately, it is an
underdog story. Rocky was not supposed to win in a match against the boxing
heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. In the movie, Rocky just intended to fight
local boxers, but couldn’t back down from the challenge. Through a training
montage, concluding with the famous scene of Rocky jogging around Philly, the
audience gained sympathy and ends up rooting for Rocky.
Sports movies could also be divided
by sport and then by the stories they tell. Many successful sports movies don’t
have a serious tone, such as the one in Rocky
(1976). Some of them offer comedic relief. Golf is one sport that Hollywood
cannot seem to take seriously. From Caddyshack
(1980) to Happy Gilmore (1996),
golf seems to one sport where humor is a central theme. Football movies can be
both humorous and serious and often focus on a coach. Coaches in sports films,
such as Coach Herman Boon (Denzel Washington) in Remember the Titans (2000), are intriguing characters as they often
drive the direction of the movie. Their relationship to their team (or lack of
team) determines the how the sports movie will play out.
It is not surprising to see that Rocky (1976) took the place for greatest
sports movie of all time because audiences love an underdog story. A great
sports movie leaves the viewer wanting to jump from their seats as if they were
in the movie and Rocky (1976) does
just that, as do other films on our list. The top six films are sports dramas
that take the viewers on a journey through triumph and trial. Coming in at
number 7, Caddyshack (1980) also does
not surprise us because the movie features classic comedians, such as Chevy
Chase and Bill Murray, and is just laugh out loud funny. When Ty Webb (Chevy
Chase) says “don't sell yourself short Judge, you're a tremendous slouch,” no
one could know that Caddyshack (1980)
would be quoted long after its release.
Reel Rives will further categorize
the sports films into their sub-genres and present rankings for the top boxing
movies, top football movies, top baseball movies, and top sports comedies. We
do not see the sports movie industry slowing down as they are popular movies
for audiences, as evidenced by the recent release, and subsequent critical acclaim
for, Creed (2015) and Concussion (2015), which are too new to be included in
these rankings.
| Top 105 Sports Movies of All Time | |
| Percent of online top fives movies appear shown on right hand side | |
| 1 . Rocky (1976): 58.9% | |
| 2 . Raging Bull (1980): 48.0% | |
| 3 . Hoosiers (1986): 40.3% | |
| 4 . Field of Dreams (1989): 28.6% | |
| 5 . Bull Durham (1988): 22.4% | |
| 6 . Remember the Titans (2000): 20.9% | |
| 7 . Caddyshack (1980): 17.8% | |
| 8 . Hoop Dreams (1994): 15.5% | |
| 9 . The Natural (1984): 13.1% | |
| 10 . Slap Shot (1977): 11.6% | |
| 11 (tied). Million Dollar Baby (2004): 10.8% | |
| 11 (tied). Miracle (2004): 10.8% | |
| 11 (tied). Major League (1989): 10.8% | |
| 11 (tied). The Sandlot (1993): 10.8% | |
| 15 (tied). The Hustler (1961): 9.30% | |
| 15 (tied). A League Of Their Own (1992): 9.30% | |
| 17 . The Wrestler (2008): 8.52% | |
| 18 (tied). Jerry Maguire (1996): 7.75% | |
| 18 (tied). Chariots of Fire (1981): 7.75% | |
| 20 (tied). Rudy (1993): 6.20% | |
| 20 (tied). The Blind Side (2009): 6.20% | |
| 20 (tied). Moneyball (2011): 6.20% | |
| 23 (tied). The Bad News Bears (1976): 5.42% | |
| 23 (tied). The Pride of the Yankees (1942): 5.42% | |
| 25 . The Longest Yard (2005): 4.65% | |
| 26 (tied). Eight Men Out (1988): 3.87% | |
| 26 (tied). Any Given Sunday (1999): 3.87% | |
| 26 (tied). Friday Night Lights (2004): 3.87% | |
| 26 (tied). The Fighter (2010): 3.87% | |
| 26 (tied). Space Jam (1996): 3.87% | |
| 31 (tied). When We Were Kings (1996): 3.10% | |
| 31 (tied). Brian's Song (1971): 3.10% | |
| 33 (tied). The Mighty Ducks (1992): 2.32% | |
| 33 (tied). Coach Carter (2005): 2.32% | |
| 33 (tied). Happy Gilmore (1996): 2.32% | |
| 33 (tied). Cool Runnings (1993): 2.32% | |
| 33 (tied). Breaking Away (1979): 2.32% | |
| 33 (tied). Varsity Blues (1999): 2.32% | |
| 33 (tied). This Sporting Life (1963): 2.32% | |
| 33 (tied). We are Marshall (2006): 2.32% | |
| 33 (tied). Invictus (2009): 2.32% | |
| 42 (tied). For the Love of the Game (1999): 1.55% | |
| 42 (tied). The Water Boy (1998): 1.55% | |
| 42 (tied). Rocky 4 (1985): 1.55% | |
| 42 (tied). Cinderella Man (2005): 1.55% | |
| 42 (tied). Escape to Victory (Victory) (1981): 1.55% | |
| 42 (tied). He Got Game (1998): 1.55% | |
| 42 (tied). Seabiscuit (2003): 1.55% | |
| 42 (tied). Tin Cup (1996): 1.55% | |
| 42 (tied). The Rookie (2002): 1.55% | |
| 42 (tied). Greatest Game ever Played (2005): 1.55% | |
| 52 (tied). Rush (2013): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). 61* (2001): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Creed (2015): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Forrest Gump (1994): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault (1996): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Warrior (2011): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Rocky 3 (1982): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Rocco and his Brothers (1960): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Mystery, Alaska (1999): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Bring it On (2000): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Montevideo: Taste of Dream (2010): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Facing The Giants (2006): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Heaven Can Wait (1978): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). MacFarland USA (2015): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Victory (1981): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Gregory's Girl (1981): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Best of the Best (1989): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). The Big Lebowski (1998): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Angels in the Outfield (1994): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Bend it Like Beckham (2003): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Days of Thunder (1990): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Teen Wolf (1985): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Whip It (2009): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). BASEketball (1998): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). The Karate Kid (1984): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Wild Hearts Can't be Broken (1991): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Ali (2001): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Southpaw (2015): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). The Longest Yard (1974): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). See you in Montevideo (2014): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). White Men Can't Jump (1992): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). North Dallas Forty (1976): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Cars (2006): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). 42 (2013): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Lucas (1986): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). The Battered Bastards of Baseball (2014): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Murderball (2005): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Point Break (1991): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Beyond the Mat (1999): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Chakde! India (2007): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). The Big Blue (1988): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Rounders (1998): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Cobb (1994): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Little Giants (1994): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Mighty Ducks 2 (1994): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Bad Boys (2014): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Invincible (2006): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Glory Road (2006): .775% | |
| 52 (tied). Rocky 2 (1979): .775% | |
| 105 . Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007): 0% | |
| Source Rankings for Best Sports Movies of All Time | |
| 12 most | List of top 12 (link) |
| 247 Sports | List of top 10 (link) |
| 5 Points Blue | List of top 10 (link) |
| Adoring Anna Kendrick | List of top 5 (link) |
| ajaysharda | List of top 6 (link) |
| all womens talk | List of top 8 (link) |
| alltimebest | List of top 10 (link) |
| AMC | List of top 10 (link) |
| axs | List of top 10 (link) |
| az central | List of top 10 (link) |
| Bears Grab | List of top 5 (link) |
| Best Sports Movies | List of top 100 (link) |
| Bleacher Report | List of top 101 (link) |
| cacbasketball | List of top 30 (link) |
| Campus Sports | List of top 15 (link) |
| Canadian Olympic Team | List of top 20 (link) |
| CBS | List of top 5 (link) |
| Champagne Laced | List of top 10 (link) |
| chatham daily news | List of top 10 (link) |
| College Humor | List of top 25 (link) |
| Colombusalive | List of top 10 (link) |
| Country Outfitter | List of top 25 (link) |
| CulturalList | List of top 10 (link) |
| Daily News | List of top 25 (link) |
| deconstructors | List of top 25 (link) |
| Den of Geek | List of top 10 (link) |
| Desert News | List of top 20 (link) |
| Digital Dream Door | List of top 100 (link) |
| Draft Kings Playbook | List of top 10 (link) |
| effingham Radio | List of top 30 (link) |
| ESPN | List of top 20 (link) |
| ESPN 700 | List of top 17 (link) |
| Euro Sport | List of top 5 (link) |
| Fanopedia | List of top 50 (link) |
| Film Crave | List of top 500 (link) |
| Film School Rejects | List of top 10 (link) |
| Film School WTF | List of top 100 (link) |
| Find a Team Mate | List of top 10 (link) |
| Fogs' Movie Reviews | List of top 10 (link) |
| Fox Sports | List of top 20 (link) |
| Fox Sports | List of top 105 (link) |
| Gay Times | List of top 5 (link) |
| Germ Magazine | List of top 5 (link) |
| Go Local Worcester | List of top 12 (link) |
| Good Movie List | List of top 50 (link) |
| Green Valley News | List of top 5 (link) |
| Heart | List of top 20 (link) |
| herald standard | List of top 10 (link) |
| History Net | List of top 100 (link) |
| Hollywood | List of top 10 (link) |
| IGN | List of top 25 (link) |
| imdb | List of top 502 (link) |
| imdb | List of top 100 (link) |
| infoplease | List of top 10 (link) |
| John Ronzino | List of top 15 (link) |
| Laloyan | List of top 25 (link) |
| Letterboxd | List of top 17 (link) |
| List 25 | List of top 25 (link) |
| List Challenges | List of top 75 (link) |
| List Fellas | List of top 63 (link) |
| Listal | List of top 100 (link) |
| Listal | List of top 57 (link) |
| Listosaur | List of top 12 (link) |
| Los Angeles Times | List of top 10 (link) |
| lyxol | List of top 10 (link) |
| Magic Lantern Film Blog | List of top 15 (link) |
| Movie Fone | List of top 101 (link) |
| Movie Mezzanine | List of top 10 (link) |
| Movie Mistakes | List of top 30 (link) |
| msn | List of top 20 (link) |
| my tears spoiled my aim | List of top 12 (link) |
| Nylon | List of top 10 (link) |
| OnMilwaukee | List of top 14 (link) |
| Paste Magazine | List of top 25 (link) |
| Radio Sport | List of top 30 (link) |
| Ranker | List of top 100 (link) |
| Rant Lifestyle | List of top 30 (link) |
| Red Gage | List of top 10 (link) |
| Red Pill Talent | List of top 10 (link) |
| reel life with jane | List of top 6 (link) |
| Rolling Stone | List of top 30 (link) |
| Rotten Tomatoes | List of top 100 (link) |
| Russel Street Report | List of top 10 (link) |
| Screen Junkies | List of top 10 (link) |
| SDPB | List of top 10 (link) |
| seattlepi | List of top 50 (link) |
| SFGate | List of top 12 (link) |
| Share Ranks | List of top 20 (link) |
| Short List | List of top 20 (link) |
| Sports Break | List of top 10 (link) |
| Sports Direct | List of top 50 (link) |
| Sports Faith | List of top 10 (link) |
| Sports in Movies | List of top 100 (link) |
| sports keeda | List of top 5 (link) |
| Sporty Ghost | List of top 10 (link) |
| Sporty Insider | List of top 21 (link) |
| Standing o Sports | List of top 5 (link) |
| Star News Daily | List of top 42 (link) |
| TDN | List of top 10 (link) |
| The 42 | List of top 13 (link) |
| The Buzz | List of top 30 (link) |
| The Daily Progress | List of top 10 (link) |
| The Fat Film Guy | List of top 50 (link) |
| The Guardian | List of top 10 (link) |
| The Kensington | List of top 5 (link) |
| The Movie Gourmet | List of top 10 (link) |
| The New York Times | List of top 10 (link) |
| The Penitent Man | List of top 9 (link) |
| The Rock of Rochester | List of top 5 (link) |
| The Schleicher Spin | List of top 30 (link) |
| The Sports Corner | List of top 10 (link) |
| The Times | List of top 10 (link) |
| The Top Tens | List of top 10 (link) |
| this blog rules | List of top 5 (link) |
| Time | List of top 30 (link) |
| Time Out | List of top 50 (link) |
| Top Ten Diary | List of top 10 (link) |
| Toronto Sun | List of top 10 (link) |
| TSM Plug | List of top 10 (link) |
| Ultimate Movie Rankings | List of top 400 (link) |
| Ultimate Movie Rankings | List of top 100 (link) |
| Unhemmed | List of top 10 (link) |
| USA Today | List of top 25 (link) |
| Weekend Notes | List of top 10 (link) |
| Wet Tub | List of top 10 (link) |
| What Culture | List of top 5 (link) |
| What do you watch | List of top 25 (link) |
| whosay | List of top 8 (link) |
| Your student body | List of top 10 (link) |
| Identifying the top movies is our mission. | |
| www.reelfives.com | |
| https://twitter.com/reelfives | |
| https://www.facebook.com/reelfives | |
