Though they are a year late, the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan are finally in full swing and now is the perfect time for a sports-themed movie marathon to get in the spirit of the games. From the locker room pep talks to the training montages to the unimaginable displays of human strength and athleticism, sports movies are the ultimate source of inspiring, feel good entertainment. The Olympics in particular, with its high stakes, drama and global community, is rife with Hollywood story material. The Olympic Games have been the subject of films since 1938’s Olympia and countless stories of athletes and coaches have been told since.
With so many options, narrowing down the list can be a daunting task. Here are the eight best sports movies to watch in honor of the Olympics.
Chariots of Fire
Even those who haven’t seen the 1981 Academy Award winner for Best Picture have heard the Oscar winning soundtrack and likely programmed the main theme song on a running playlist or two. Chariots of Fire tells the story of two British runners, defined by their opposing religious backgrounds, as they compete in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. While it may not have deserved the Oscar that year over Raiders of the Lost Ark, Chariots of Fire is an inspiring, emotional story of competition and prejudice that is arguably the definitive Olympics movie.
Cool Runnings
Cool Runnings is the ultimate underdog, fish out of water tale of a group of Jamaican runners who do not make the Olympic team and decide to form a bobsled team to compete in the 1988 Olympics. They enlist the help of a disgraced former bobsledder to coach them, played by the late John Candy in one of his final roles. Throwing away the traditional sports movie narrative, Cool Runnings is a cute and quirky film that enlists slapstick humor and a reggae soundtrack to tell an inspiring story that revels in failure. Throwing away many of the facts of the true story, this heartwarming comedy is a sports fairy tale that celebrates sportsmanship over victory.
Race
Olympic runner Jesse Owens has one of the most inspiring true stories and greatest triumphs in Olympic history, as told in the 2016 film Race. The title is both an obvious reference to Owens’ running career and a more subtle comment on the bigotry and prejudice he faced as a Black man in the 1930s. Owens faced immense pressure not to compete, with Americans calling for a boycott of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin due to the rise of antisemitism and discrimination in Germany. Despite this, he went on to a Nazi-defying victory that is captured in this exhilarating, earnest biopic.
Blades of Glory
Not all sports movies have to be serious dramas. On the lighter side of things, Blades of Glory may not be an inspiring true story or even an Olympic movie (they are competing in the fictitious World Championship), but it’s a wacky, hilarious ride that will have everyone rooting for the most unlikely pair. Ridiculous, over-the-top and silly are just a few of the words that come to mind to describe Will Ferrell and Jon Heder’s delightfully quotable figure skating comedy. It may not be a piece of master cinema, but it is a fun time that will have audiences laughing from start to finish.
Eddie the Eagle
Put Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman together and a good movie is practically guaranteed. Eddie the Eagle delivers just that and more in this heartwarming biopic about Michael Edwards' journey from a child with walking difficulties to Britain’s first ski jumper in six decades. Ever the underdog, Eddie the Eagle is a story of heart and perseverance set against a pastel palette of 1980s spandex. It’s hard not to smile watching the film’s goofy, lovable lead, who will steal your heart and hit even the most jaded viewer with a dose of inspiration.
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is not a typical Bollywood saga. This Hindi language film, whose title translates to “run, Milkha, run,” tells the true story of Indian Olympic running champion Milkha Singh, aka "The Flying Sikh.” His is a story of pride and redemption, rising above the trauma of his childhood to become a record breaking Olympian. Despite one too many training montages, the film is beautifully shot, from the exhilarating race sequences to the sepia tone flashbacks. It boasts a lengthy runtime, but it is an engrossing biopic that balances national triumph with the individual blood, sweat and tears required to achieve it.
I, Tonya
Tonya Harding is one of the most notorious names in Olympic history for the 1994 attack on Nancy Kerrigan orchestrated by her ex-husband. The scandal and Harding’s life are chronicled in I, Tonya, which tells the story of the Olympic figure skater’s journey of violence and abuse as she attempts to take home the gold. Margot Robbie earned an Oscar nomination for her nuanced portrayal of Tonya Harding, bringing sensitivity and humanity to one of figure skating's greatest villains. Though I, Tonya plays fast and loose with some of the facts, the dark humor and brilliantly shot ice skating sequences make this a fun watch.
Miracle
Last, but certainly not least, no list of sports movies can be considered complete without Miracle. At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. men’s hockey team faced off against the unbeatable Soviet Union and pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history, known as the “Miracle on Ice.” The real life Cinderella story is corny, dramatic and barely believable, making it the perfect subject for a sports film. Kurt Russell’s gruff, cagey portrayal of Coach Herb Brooks is the secret that keeps this film from feeling saccharine. Instead, Miracle is a solid period piece and an exciting ride that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, even if they already know the iconic ending.