Rocky Franchise (1976 – 2018)
Well, We can’t start this list without the King of motivational sports movies, Rocky one of the most iconic roles created by the legendary Sylvester Stallone. A small-time boxer who gets a rare shot at the title while he meets the love of his life Adrian. 6 Rocky and 2 Creed movies show us a life of self-discipline, self-discovery and what it means to never give up!
Some of the best movies ever made inspired many generations that has no time limit without any doubt. Each Rocky movie has life lessons and goes really deep for those who want to win in life. Don’t you dare miss this masterpiece!
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Honestly, who didn’t cry with Hilary Swank and Clint Eastwood in this movie? High ratings, 4 Oscars, amazing performances equal success! We have the underdog, a very very poor determined woman working with a hardened boxing trainer to become a professional. A simple story that manages to melt hearts and give you a pump at the same time. Not that surprising when you have these two old dogs, Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood together!
The Blind Side (2009)
This is a really educative drama/sport movie. Call it a family-friendly movie. It’s the story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an American football player and first-round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family. Sandra Bullock seems to pull off this role and give the movie a friendly tone. It is certainly a different sport movie than the usual boxing ones and it will lighten you up.
The Wrestler (2008)
This is a drama about an aging professional wrestler, decades past his prime, who now barely gets by working small wrestling shows and as a part-time grocery store employee. As he faces health problems that may end his wrestling career, he tries to reconcile with the daughter he abandoned.
Maybe the best movie Mickey Rourke has ever done! Brutal, honest and heart melting. Amazing performance by M. Rourke and a totally different plot from all the standard sport movies out there. Some of us might relate more because of the loneliness it shows but one thing is for sure… You can’t hate this movie. It earned the critics and the audience. It should have won the 2 nominations for Oscars too.
Moneyball (2011)
Where art and science meet a great casting. Brad Pitt, Chris Pratt and Jonah Hill made a great trio serving not only a baseball movie but a sport movie with economics.
Manager Billy Beane attempts to assemble a baseball team on a lean budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire new players.
It’s not easy to make a sport like baseball that interesting but Steven Zaillian created the screenplay that didn’t bore anyone and managed to elicit 6 Oscar nominations.
Warrior (2011)
Warrior (2011) is not only a powerful motivational sports movie but a stunning family drama too. Two brothers face the fight of a lifetime besides the wreckage of their broken family in a brutal, high-stakes MMA fight. Who’s gonna win? The ex-Marine or the family guy…Every time I watch this movie I cry out of pride and sadness. I bet every broken person does… Unforgettable performances, pride, love, family, mind & body altogether. Every single scene is powerful. It is no surprise that an MMA movie is nominated for an oscar and is on the top-rated movies
The Fighter (2010)
We all know Mark Wahlberg always delivers, he is pure entertainment but this is a serious movie. It is based on the story of Micky Ward, a talented boxer who tries to escape the shadow of his more famous but troubled boxer brother and get his own shot at greatness.
Rightly got those 2 Oscars because Mark gave this script with the chameleon Christian Bale color! It is a boxing movie but you can relate with the family drama. Family pushes you down, ain’t believing in you, don’t want to succeed because they didn’t… It’s realistic, it’s exciting, it will get your blood moving and you are gonna love it!!!
Coach Carter (2005)
What is your deepest fear?
Give up Mr. Cruz!
Had to say those quotes… Because Samuel Jackson gave everything he had again! He plays the role of coach Carter who benches his entire team for breaking their academic contract with him. Controversy surrounds high school for the basketball match while the coach is trying to teach them something.
I think this movie touches you if you’re legit if you’re real. It is one of those motivational stories about sports that form an athlete’s character from boyhood. Despite its simplicity, It’s realistic and inspiring.
“I Came To Teach Boys… And You Became Men.”
Undisputed (Boyka)
I didn’t want to include many martial arts movies but this franchise is a category of its own. Scott Adkins is a master of martial arts and gives beautiful, hardcore, performances in every movie. It is not easy to make choreography for this kind of martial arts to promote sports in a prison fight that is not boring at the same time. It has to excite the viewer and it is very demanding and dangerous to shoot. He succeeds nevertheless to deliver art because sports is not something that is played or learned in a field.
One of the best prison/ sports movies and his fight with Michael Jai White is one of the most talked-about fights ever!
It is not Oscar-worthy. It is pure entertainment.
I am a lifetime movie addict and cinema is my passion. I’ve been a movie writer for 8 years. My goal is to teach people how to watch movies and how to appreciate them instead of hating them. Some gems are hidden out there but I’m here to show you them all!
Ohh Hillary swank was perfect in this movie. Probably the best.
The blind side is so emotional! Maybe the best!