Popular Sports Movies To Watch That Are Based On True Stories

Some of the most gripping movies are those based on true stories, and sporting films can be just as thrilling to watch. Whether it’s a sport you love or even one you don’t quite understand all the rules of, sports movies based on true stories can be entertaining ways to bring together the family or just enjoy a movie night of your own. So read on for some of the most memorable sports movies of all time.

The Blind Side (2009)

Following the life of Michael Oher, The Blind Side explores his experience of growing up moving between various foster homes and finding a passion and talent for football. Oher’s story is an inspiring tale of the importance of kindness and the repercussions of being selfless. The core theme, which is the importance of family, is a pivotal element of what makes the true story translate so well to the screen.

American football is the most popular sport in the US in terms of viewership and sees over 1 million high school athletes play each year. Advancing to the NFL, the National Football League, as Oher did, would see you become part of one of the most watched sporting events in the world. Filled with exciting plays and taking place in enormous, energetic stadiums, the sport makes a great spectacle to underpin movies, especially when they’re based on true stories of inspiring athletes.

42 (2013)

Centered around the real life of Jackie Robinson, 42 details the experience of the baseball player as he becomes the first black athlete to play in the MLB (Major League Baseball) in the modern era when the Brooklyn Dodgers signed him. The tale is important in its depiction of the adversity and discrimination Robinson faced in the process of signing.

MLB is the oldest major professional sports league in the world, with the modern version of baseball we see today having been refined and revised by amateur men’s ball clubs in New York City during the 19th century. New York still holds a prominent place within the MLB, with the New York Mets and the New York Yankees being two of the most renowned teams in the sport. As well as attracting millions of spectators, sports betting in the state has become the largest market in the US with New Yorkers putting money behind their favourite teams, and these intense rivalries are part of what makes baseball such a great focus for movies.

Rush (2013)

When it comes to some of the best sports movies to watch that are based on true stories, Rush is one thrilling film to watch if you’re interested in Formula One history. Based on a single season of Formula One racing, Rush follows the fierce rivalry of James Hunt and Niki Lauda as they battle for victory. Following the riveting true story of disqualifications, setbacks and the genuinely life-threatening extremes the drivers went to, the 1976 season sets the backdrop to a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat movie.

Laced with fire and fear and based on the pure raw competitiveness of motorsport, it’s no wonder the ever-popular, global phenomenon of F1 has inspired so many other movies, such as Senna (2010). Senna, is a great documentary about the three-time winner of the F1 world championship. Ayrton Senna and Alain, like Hunt and Lauda, were some of the biggest player rivalries in the history of Formula One. 

King Richard (2021)

One of the latest films which is based around a true story is Kind Richard, starring Will Smith. This recent release takes a look at the life of Richard Williams, father of the applauded tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, the latter of whom recently announced that she is evolving away from tennis. The movie celebrates Williams’ efforts in coaching his daughters and supporting them towards success in the face of so much adversity.

Tennis is widely loved for its fast-paced action and has even inspired other recent real-life movies including Battle of the Sexes (2017), which explores the highly involved nature of the more directly, personally competitive sport in comparison to those played in teams.