A-Z Sports Films/TV Shows and Docs

Athlete A: ‘I was dealing with an organisation that didn’t give a rat’s ass about children, that cared about itself and that was covering up rape.’ This documentary focuses on gymnasts who survived USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar’s abuse and the reporters who exposed USAG’s toxic culture. 

Brian Banks: The former American football player, who was falsely accused and arrested for raping a fellow classmate while at high school. Things change when a criminal defence lawyer from the Innocence Project and his team uncovers the truth.  A thought-provoking analysis on the justice system in America. 

Coach Carter: ‘In this state, you’re 80% more likely to go to prison than college’. A sports good owner accepts the job of Basketball coach for his old high school where he was an athlete. Shocked by attitude of his players, he sets out to change things. This is such a classic in my opinion that you have to watch.  

Denzel Washington: Who recalls the film Remember the Titans. This is based on a true story of a newly appointed African American coach who is called Coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) and his high school team on their first season as a racially integrated unit. Denzel Washington as done other sports dramas such as He Got Game and The Hurricane. 

Emilio Estevez: This actor played the main lead as Gordon Bombay in the 1992 American sports comedy-drama film The Mighty Ducks which was directed by Stephen Herek. These films turned into a media franchise. It’s an inspiration story how someone can have a second chance in life. He was most known for the classic film the Breakfast Club. 

Fast Girls: Directed by Regan Hall, this drama/sports film is about an athlete, who belongs to a poor neighbourhood and has dreams to become world champion in athletics. She joins a national track team and overcomes the hostility of fellow teammates to achieve her goal. 


Greg Whiteley: This director and producer is one of my favourites. He is known for directing Cheer and The Last Chance U Series. I would say he has recently gained a reputation in the film industry and has produced some award-winning shows as mentioned before earlier. Both The Last Chance U and Cheer used three main themes to make this show unique, these are tightly wound authority, astonishing game action but most of all compassionate athlete’s stories. 


Hoop Dreams: The 1994 documentary, is about two African American teenagers William Gates and Arthur Agee travels each way form inner Chicago to St Joseph High school in Illinois for their amazing basketball program. It was their dream of NBA stardom; they battle the social and physical obstacles that stand in their way. 


Icarus: The Filmmaker Bryan Fogel set out to uncover the truth about doping in sports, a chance meeting with a Russian scientist transforms his story from a personal experiment into a geopolitical thriller. This film got highly rated by IMBD (8.2) and Rotten Tomatoes (92%) and Oscar nominated as well. 


Jimmy Chin: This American professional mountain athlete and film director created an Oscar winning documentary called Free Solo. Hanging from El Capitan in Yosemite, all by yourself and some chalk to keep your hands from slipping away. One wrong move you are dead. 

How many times do you turn away as you are too scared to watch? Alex Honnald was the first person to climb El Capitan without any safety measures.


King Richard: Will Smith controversially won the best actor for this film in the Oscars. This is film is based on the Venus and Serena Williams rise to the top and dominate the world of women’s tennis with the help of her ever-supporting father, Richard Williams. This was directed by Reinaldo Marcus green and only recently came in 2021. 


Leon Gast: This award-winning director and producer that won the best documentary (When we were Kings) in the 1997 Oscars. You don’t have to be a fan of Mohammad Ali to appreciate this spectacular film of him regaining the world championships in Africa, Rumble in the Jungle. 


Moneyball: This biological sports film was directed at Bennett Miller. Baseball general manager, Billy Beane, and an economics graduate Peter Brand. They challenged the convention as the form a competitive sports team using computer-based methods. The two main leads were played by Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill. 


Naomi Osaka: This mini-TV series, was an insightful and intimate look inside of the life of one of the most gifted and complex athletes for her generation offers the awareness into the tough decisions and ecstatic triumphs that shape Naomi Osaka as a superstar and a young woman. This was released in 2021, which is relatively new. 


Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer: The 2017 film looks the story of Paralympian Oscar Pistorius and the relationship with model Reeva Steenkamp that ultimately ended with her murder on Valentine’s Day. This film was directed by Norman Stone. You can watch this on Discovery +. 


Paul Newman:  When people think that Newman they think ‘westerns’ but they also could think sports movies. He played a boxer in Somebody Up there likes me. He played a character called Rocky Graziano has a career in crime. He gets caught and arrested but when he gets out, he starts boxing and fights against his roots to become world champ.


Queen of Katwe: This is underrated sports drama film that I do recommend you watch. Phiona’s life changes after she meets Robert Katende who teaches her to play chess. Under his guidance Phiona becomes the top player and seems an opportunity to escape from her life of poverty. 


Refugees: Heart-breaking, profoundly moving, and beautiful is how Sally El Hosaini tells this true story that maybe most people would never have heard of. A year after the Syrian civil war came out Yursa (Nathalie Issa) and Sara (Manal Issa) swim three hours in the Mediterranean. Sea to go to Greece as refugees before going to compete at the Olympics in swimming.


Stephen Hopkins:  The well-known film Race was directed by Stephen Hopkins. It is based on African American athlete Jesse Owens faces his difficulties throughout his journey while participating in the 1936 Olympics. It got released in 2016 but this film is definitely a one to watch. 


The Blind Side: The award-winning Oscar film, The Blind Side is based on a true story about Michael a homeless African American teenager, is adopted by a Caucasian family who help him overcome his learning difficulties and the achieve excellence in American Football. It was directed by John Lee Hancock. Sandra Bullock is an unbelievable actress but the whole cast was incredible in this film. 


Untold: Malice at the Palace: The 2021 Documentary, which was made for Netflix and directed by Floyd Russ. It is the first installment in the nine-part Untold documentary film series. It focuses on the infamous brawl that occurred between fans and the NBA players during the Indiana pacers and Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills on 2004. There is the most heartfelt interview comes from Jermaine O’Neil who found himself in the middle of the brawl. 


Vision Quest:  This romance drama film that came out in 1985 is about a star athlete who decides he wants more out of life, and he sets himself goals to achieve that many don’t think that he can complete. He proves himself to the world with his help with his love. It was directed by Harold Becker. 


Woody Harrelson: Woody Harrelson has been in six sport dramas but the one that I want to talk about is Champions. It’s about the former minor-league basketball coach receives a court order to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. Despite his doubts, he soon realises that together they can go further than they ever imagined. It has just recently come out and the reviews was positive. 


Youngblood: The 1986 film was directed by Peter Markle. This story is about Dean Youngblood who is an exceptionally skilled young ice hockey player trying to make a name in Canadian junior hockey circuit and impress scouts from the national hockey league. 

X Games 3D the movie: The 2009 documentary is where filmmaker Steve Lawrence who goes behind the scenes at the 2008 Summer X games for an unprecedented look at the event, capturing all the raw emotion and drama. Some of these athletes would be Shaun White, Travis Pastrana, Danny Way etc. This Documentary reviews were okay as it got a 6.3 in IMDB. 


Zidane a 21st Century Portrait: This was directed by Douglas Gordon and Phillipe Parreno. It got a 6.1 on IMDB. Seventeen cameras capture the soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal, played 2005 from the perceptive of protagonist and player Zinédine Zidane. This is a must see for everyone interested in football and also anyone interested in how cinema is capable of stillness and portraiture. 

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