Summary

  • 50 sport films selected and reviewed by BBC Sport journalists

  • Use thumb up or thumb down to review each film

  • Tell us your favourite sport film using #mybestsportfilm

  • Films are listed in alphabetical order

  1. 'Bowling is a sport too you know...'published at The arts editor's view

    Will Gompertz
    BBC Arts Editor

    Muhammad AliImage source, Getty Images

    The best sports movie by a distance is When We Were Kings, an exquisitely paced documentary following Muhammad Ali’s training camp in Zaire leading up to his fight against George Foreman in 1974: The Rumble in the Jungle.

    Second place on the podium of all-time great sports pictures also goes to a doc, Asif Kapadia’s intimate profile of the Brazilian F1 ace Ayrton Senna.

    The bronze medal is a photo-finish between American comedies White Men Can’t Jump starring Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, Caddyshack (you might hate golf but you’ve gotta love Bill Murray), and Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby with a fantastically punchy performance from Hilary Swank.

    But wait! Coming up on the rails is that old classic from the same genre (talented female wanting to break into a male-dominated sport) National Velvet with a 12-year old Elizabeth Taylor in the saddle. Sometimes the oldies really are the goldies. But pipping them all to the post and taking the third spot on the podium is not the excellent Gregory’s Girl, or the timeless Chariots of Fire, but the Coen Brother’s surreal beauty The Big Lebowski, because bowling is a sport, too, you know.

    The Big LebowskiImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    (The Big Lebowski didn't make our list but it's a seriously good film...)

  2. Fever Pitchpublished at 1997, 15

    'So you don't get many Micky Thomas moments in real life?'

    'Every now and then, not very often, but it happens, you catch a glimpse of a world that doesn't stop in May and begin again in August.'

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    Well as fate should have it, we are in a time like that, people. Right now.

    Yes, the gender politics haven't aged too well, and yes, these are cartoon exaggerations of a certain sort of football fan.

    But which football nut honestly hasn't compared their partner to George Graham, or to Jose Mourinho or Pep for that matter, at one point or another? Or said 'you can see your sister next season?'

    More than anything this film does a brilliant job of describing the illogical pursuit of success - to the detriment of all other areas of life - that a die-hard fan will endure.

    Crocheted from rich source material in the form of Nick Hornby's superb book, this is as close to essential viewing as it gets if you're a football fan. You'll never hear David Pleat's name and react the same away again.

    And no, you don't have to support Arsenal to enjoy it. TR

    Michael ThomasImage source, Getty Images

    Key cast: Colin Firth, Ruth Gemmell, Neil Pearson, Mark Strong

    Sporting fix: There's not much action at all to speak of, apart from some lovely early shots of Highbury, though you do of course get the classic Anfield '89 title showdown. 'Thomas! Right at the end...'

    Artistic licence: Of course, not every season as a football fan can possibly end like that one did. Almost none will, in fact. And most relationships would certainly struggle to put up with Paul's obsessions. As Sarah says, "I don't think that Arsenal's home form is a sturdy enough basis for marriage and parenthood, do you?"

    Where can I watch?: Rent or buy from Amazon or Apple.

  3. Field Of Dreamspublished at 1989, PG

    'If you build it, he will come.'

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    Written down, the premise for Field of Dreams seems ludicrous. Iowa corn farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) receives a whispered message from beyond telling him to "build it and he will come", sparking an obsessive quest to construct a baseball diamond in one of his fields, regardless of the financial and emotional toll it takes on him and his family.

    The subsequent arrival out of the corn of the ghosts of dead baseball players from the early 20th century serves only to push Ray even further along his deeply personal journey.

    Most sports films go straight for guts and glory, but a select few get you where it really matters, right in the heart. Field of Dreams is an ode to baseball, but more than that it is a love letter to the power of sport and its ability to help us to dream, to bring us together and to heal wounds.

    It is a film that gladly trades any world title or winners' medal for just one more opportunity to play catch with the old man. PD

    Key cast: Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta

    Sporting fix: You won't get a technical lesson in baseball but you'll get a bit of a history one, with the aforementioned ghosts, led by "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, all based on real-life members of the disgraced 1919 Chicago White Sox team.

    Artistic licence: A film about ghosts of baseball players appearing on a diamond built in a corn field? Yeah, I think it's fair to say we're in magical realism territory here. Just go along for the ride and keep the tissues close by.

    Where to watch: Steam on Now TV and Sky Go, rent or buy on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play and more.

    Is Field of Dreams the best?

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    Allan McDonald: The Legend of Bagger Vance is entertaining, Clare Grogan is still “Gorgeous” in Gregory’s Girl, but Field of Dreams takes a lot of beating!

    Peter Halliwell: Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones for pure drama or another Costner, Tin Cup, one of my favourite films fullstop.

  4. Fire In Babylonpublished at 2010, 12

    'If you can't handle the heat... get out'

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    Sometimes you just want to watch people bowling really fast and batting really bloody well, and that’s what Fire in Babylon offers.

    Clive Lloyd transforms his West Indies team into a side that would dominate cricket for many years and inspire generations to take up the sport.

    It’s got a superb soundtrack and it’s shot in a way that makes you feel like you’re watching a documentary about anything but cricket. It also addresses the more serious issues of racism and civil rights, showing how sport can, actually, transcend these issues.

    Plus, Viv Richards is the coolest man in the world. Fact. AL

    Key cast: Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards

    Sporting fix: Lots of archive footage and interviews from the time, which means plenty of opportunities to enjoy the fashions of the 1970s. Plus, you get to see some of the finest batters and bowlers in cricket history in action.

    Artistic licences: The music, the newspaper headlines... it makes the whole film that bit more dramatic.

    Where to watch: Rent or buy on Amazon Prime, Google Play and YouTube Movies.

    Is Fire in Babylon the best?

    Use #mybestsportfilm , externalto tell us your favourite sport film and what we've missed.

    Capt. Paradise: Amazing film, made me want to be a nasty fast bowler. I arranged a viewing at Cube cinema packed with cider drinking Bristolians wincing at each body blow.

  5. wrestling

    Foxcatcherpublished at 2014, 15

    'I want to see this country soar again.'

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    Less feel-good sports movie, more unsettling, eerie sorry-what-now? thriller. The sort of film based on real events to send you down a Wikipedia wormhole for hours.

    Olympic gold-medallist Mark Schultz is struggling to make ends meet when he gets a phone call from one of America's richest men John du Pont, who wants him to come and train at his own personal wrestling facility. All expenses paid, naturally.

    It's the dream scenario for many an Olympian. Right?

    Wrong. It all goes very wrong - in fact very, very wrong by the end - and you are left with a lot of questions.

    Who is John du Pont? What is John du Pont? What is a coach? What is their relationship? Why does he buy a tank at one pont? What does it take to win Olympic gold anyway? Is it worth it?

    It's about betrayal, brotherhood, family, loyalty and power more than wrestling.

    From helicopter drugs hits to hotel room meltdowns to armed police face-offs. There's a lot going on here. TR

    Steve CarellImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Steve Carell was Oscar nominated for his performance - he's superb

    Key cast: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo

    Sporting fix: Oh there's a lot of wrestling and grappling to get into. Does it explain the rules? Nope. You do get a good feel for the intensity if takes to be a champion, plus play along and see if you can lose 12lbs in 90 minutes. Actually don't...

    Artistic licence: Plenty - it's not a documentary afterall. The real life timespan of events shown in the film was much longer for a start, and Schultz was unhappy at how his relationship with Du Pont played out on screen. He later changed his mind though - "Foxcatcher is a miracle. I'm sorry I said I hated it. I love it."

    Where can I watch?: If you're quick you can catch it on iPlayer. If not, it's on Google, Amazon and Apple.

  6. Boxing on the big screenpublished at Boxing correspondent's view

    Mike Costello
    BBC Sport boxing correspondent

    Body and SoulImage source, Getty Images

    Boxing has been a popular subject for Hollywood. Body and Soul is one of the best boxing movies in a long list. It was released in 1947, the year Jake LaMotta lost to Billy Fox and later admitted “going into the tank”.

    As Charley Davis becomes world champion, he is introduced to the cold, hard reality that losing can be more lucrative than winning. It was one of the first films to capture the pressures an elite fighter faces, both from those who care and those who don’t.

    It also reflects a time when boxing was heavily influenced by Mob figures, creating an image of the sport that has endured way beyond the black-and-white era.

  7. Free Solopublished at 2011, 12A

    'Let's hope for a low-gravity day...'

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    The very first shot of Free Solo plunges the viewer over a cliff edge, to stare down its sheer drop at the tiny dot of a human patiently edging their way to the top. As an introduction to the world of free soloing (that's climbing without ropes or safety equipment), it is nerve-shreddingly, exhilaratingly perfect.

    This is sport at its most extreme and unforgiving. One single mistake in this arena and there will be no opportunity to make a second.

    The documentary feature follows free soloist Alex Honnold's obsessive quest to climb Yosemite's El Capitan (3,200ft of sheer granite), with only his own grip and skill to keep him from falling, and digs deep into the burning question: why?

    What you get as a viewer is a life-affirming, psychological journey alongside an unusual and fascinating man who repeatedly puts himself in extreme danger, not because he has a death wish but because he wants to feel alive and needs to be literally on a cliff edge to do so. PD

    Key cast: Alex Honnold

    Sporting fix: You'll get as close as you possibly can from the safety of your own living room to feeling like you're scaling the cliffside with Alex, especially if you have a huge HD TV. The final 20 minutes are utterly gripping. Literally.

    Artistic licence: Despite being a documentary, it has many of the hallmarks of a cliched Hollywood sports film: the likeable underdog hero, a wise mentor, supportive but concerned partner and a big showdown with a daunting antagonist. But when the stakes are this real and high, who needs added drama?

    Where to watch: Stream on Disney+, rent or buy on Amazon Prime and Apple TV, Google Play and others.

  8. Friday Night Lightspublished at 2004, 12

    'You may never matter again in your life as much as you do right now.'

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    You're 17, trying to have fun in small-town Texas, and everywhere you go people are saying you must win another state championship. No pressure then.

    Based on a non-fiction book of the same name, this depicts the harsh reality of high-school life in "football country" through Permian's 1988 season. You can't help but feel for coach Billy Bob Thornton and his limited youngsters. Their star player is injured in the first game, they're under constant scrutiny and have problems at home yet somehow find a way to keep defying the odds.

    Against a bully of an opponent, you're cheering for them to prove everyone wrong, and somewhat predictably, the season goes right down to the wire. BC

    Key cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Derek Luke, Jay Hernandez

    Sporting fix: You get a taste of the tension at home and in the stands. And while the running plays leave a little to be desired, the tackling sequences are as brutal as those calling in to Odessa's radio phone-ins.

    Artistic licence: The most ludicrous event actually happened - a three-way coin toss televised from a truckstop - although the film does add a twist, among several tweaks from the book.

    Where to watch: Stream on Netflix, rent or buy on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and others.

  9. Happy Gilmorepublished at 1996, 12

    'Why you don't you just go HOME ball? That's your HOME.'

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    Happy Gilmore loves nothing more in the world than ice hockey. Oh, except for his grandma, who he moves in with after accidentally killing his dad with a stray puck from an aimless punt.

    Slap shot meets slapstick, as you’d expect from an Adam Sandler film. But it is not about hockey. Hot-headed Happy isn’t good enough to get a pro deal. But after grandma gets evicted for racking up $270,000 of unpaid government tax, he inadvertently realises he does have a sporting talent… whacking a golf ball 400 yards.

    Happy hates golf. But he’s swayed to play when told he can win money on the pro tour - and buy back grandma’s house.

    Golf hates Happy, especially leading tour pro Shooter McGavin, who seethes at the antics of a "freak" who fights the one-eyed alligator which bit off the hand of his coach (played by Carl Weathers of Apollo Creed fame), scraps with veteran 'The Price Is Right' host Bob Barker in a pro-am, javelin-throws flagsticks, threatens rivals with broken bottles and wears an AC/DC tee in the clubhouse.

    And if that list doesn't make you want to watch this, nothing will. JJ

    Key cast: Adam Sandler, Carl Weathers, Christopher McDonald

    Sporting fix: If you’re thinking watching Happy’s swing might give you some tips… think again. His run-up approach to driving and hockey-style putting grip won’t help you beat your mates down the local municipal. When it reopens, of course. There is one real golfer though… Lee Trevino pops up with several solemn shakes of the head at Happy’s bad behaviour.

    Artistic licence: More creative shooting than Bubba Watson. For starters, no golf course on the planet would tolerate Gilmore’s litany of public order offences. Neither would any golfer be forced to 'play it as it lies' when the ball ends up on the foot of the beastly-looking bloke who played Jaws in James Bond. Shooter was. And golf’s most coveted jacket - for which Happy and Shooter also duel - will never be gold.

    Where to watch: Stream on Netflix, Now TV or Sky Go.

  10. basketball

    Hoop Dreamspublished at 1994, 12

    'This whole thing is revolving around money'

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    This documentary is a real-life tale of hope, aspiration and hardcourts in 1980s America. Hoop Dreams was a roaring success for director Steve James when it was released in 1994.

    The three-hour epic follows the lives and basketball journeys of two African American boys from Chicago. Arthur Agee and William Gates had their lives followed from the ages of 14 to 19 as they navigate their way through school and college in the hope of making a success and maybe even a shot at the NBA.

    The film follows the pair as they both receive scholarships to the predominantly white St Joseph High School in Illinois – a school famed for helping produce NBA legend Isaiah Thomas – and onto college.

    It is as much a film about hope as it is expectation and is a wholesome critique of the US at the time. Can they make it through the education system? Will they fulfil their potential on the basketball court? Twenty-six years on, this film resonates as much now as it did upon its initial release. AF

    Key cast: William Gates, Arthur Agee

    Sporting fix: It’s fully loaded with hoops skills and features two-time NBA champion Thomas. It’s there for all to see and there’s a front row seat to watch the protagonists develop as basketball players.

    Artistic licence: It is as real as it comes, but that doesn't mean it lacks drama. Far from it.The film has everything – the basketball action is all real (obviously) and offers plenty of it. It’s gritty and realistic, offering a unique insight into the trials and tribulations of families striving for better than the hand they were dealt. But it’s Agee and Gates who are the stars of this. Everything is seen through their eyes and you can feel everything they feel as they strive for their Hoop Dreams.

    Where to watch: Rent on Curzon.

  11. 'Who doesn't need some escapism now?'published at Olympic reporter's view

    Nick Hope
    BBC Sport Olympic correspondent

    Cool RunningsImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The 'real' Cool Runnings team...

    If head-to-head battles and controversies are your thing then take a look at I, Tonya. It follows the life of controversial Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding and her connection to the 1994 attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan.

    However, if pure ‘fun’ is what you’re after – and who right now doesn’t need a little escapism – then you MUST watch two classics, which interestingly were both based on performances at the 1988 Winter Olympics.

    Firstly, Eddie the Eagle and his story of the Calgary Games. Eddie was by far the worst athlete in the event, but such was the courage and passion he demonstrated that he became part of Olympic folklore and the release of the movie in 2016 created a new generation of fans.

    Finally – surely the ultimate Olympic movie… Cool Runnings, which follow’s the epic journey of Jamaica’s first-ever Winter Olympics bobsleigh team. Hollywood dramatisation means the story isn’t an entirely truthful recollection of the events – there was no ‘lucky egg’ and the team was recruited from the Jamaican army rather than their nation’s sprinters – but ultimately not even the Jamaicans care.

    There is always interest, intrigue and also a little magic around the Jamaican bobsleigh team even to this day and most of that stems from the success of the movie rather than their infamous ride to and crash at the 1988 Olympics.

  12. I, Tonyapublished at 2017, 15

    'America. They want someone to love, but they want someone to hate.'

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    It was one of sport’s biggest scandals when ice skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked with a hammer ahead of the United States trials for the 1994 Winter Olympics – with her team-mate Tonya Harding implicated in it.

    This film is a darkly comic look at Harding’s life from her start in skating aged four to her spectacular fall from grace. It is an enjoyable if not always easy watch with a loveless mother and a husband who was prone to domestic violence but there are moments of humour and light as well.

    It was a passion project for Margot Robbie, who produced the film as well as starred in it and the style of the film has the main protagonists speaking directly to the camera with their viewpoints on what happened. AT

    Key cast: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney

    Sporting fix: As you would expect, there is some great ice skating content, including Harding’s history-making triple-axel, and it also highlights the injustice of a judged sport where if your face doesn’t fit, you’re not going to get high marks even if you have better technical skill than your competitors.

    Artistic licence: The film explores the infamous “incident” and questions who was directly responsible and also plays with your mind over what did – and what didn’t – happen in Harding’s life, but it is mainly sympathetic towards her.

    Where to watch: Stream on Netflix, rent or buy on Sky Store, YouTube Movies and Apple TV.

  13. Invictuspublished at 2009, 12

    'Rugby is a very rough game, almost as rough as politics.'

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    This could have been awful. However., Hollywood big names Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood (behind the camera as director) manage not to trample the nuanced story of post-apartheid South Africa underfoot as they retell the story of the Springboks' famous 1995 Rugby World Cup triumph on home soil.

    The victory is played inevitably as a saccharine-sweet vanquishing of racist ideology. The reality was not quite as simple, with Chester Williams – the only black player on the Springbok team - claiming that he was racially abused by team-mate James Small. MH

    South Africa rugby players, led at front by Francois PienaarImage source, Getty Images

    Key cast: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon

    Sporting fix: The rugby action is well recreated, if heavily reliant on choreographed close-ups, with 5ft 10in Matt Damon putting in the gym work to fill the boots of Pienaar. The inclusion of former Bath number eight Isaac Fe’aunati to play All Blacks powerhouse Jonah Lomu is a notable nod to realism.

    Artistic licence: A faithful depiction of the Boks campaign, whether hearts and minds were as transformed as the film suggests though is not so clear.

    Where to watch: Rent or buy on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Sky Store and others.

    Is Invictus the best?

    Use #mybestsportfilm , externalto tell us your favourite sport film and what we've missed.

    Stuart Morris: 'Invictus' - love this film because it changed the whole rainbow nation, it made everyone believe in a time where not many did believe.

  14. Living With Lionspublished at 1997, 15

    'This is your Everest boys...'

    1997 British and Irish LionsImage source, Getty Images

    A gold standard for sports documentaries. The 1997 British and Irish Lions were expected to roll over like pussycats in the face of the world champion South Africa.

    Instead, a stirringly stubborn team, bound together by the hostility of their opposition and team talks from coaches Jim Telfer and Ian McGeehan that could rouse the Dalai Lama to violence, shocked the Boks.

    Moments of on-pitch physicality – such as Scott Gibbs leaving ogre-like prop Os du Randt in a crumpled heap – were fleeting. Instead the focus is on the dressing room with the viewers huddled together with a talismanic Keith Wood, the irrepressible John Bentley and the inscrutable, indestructible Martin Johnson. Every cough, spit, f-bomb and pre-match nervous retch are there in all their glory.

    Uplifting and inspiring, whether you're a rugby fan or not. MH

    If you want to read more about the making of Living With Lions, you can do so here.

    Key cast: Sir Ian McGeechan, Jim Telfer, Martin Johnson

    Sporting fix: Top notch. Bentley’s 60m solo effort against the Gauteng Lions is the pick of the Tour match action, while the Lions' delicious heist of the second Test provides a fitting finale.

    Artistic licence: Not needed on this occasion.

    Where to watch: Rent on Amazon Prime, watch on YouTube.

  15. 'Living with Lions is iconic'published at Rugby union correspondent's view

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent

    LionsImage source, Getty Images

    When it comes to the big screen, rugby union hasn't made much of an impact, with Invictus - starring big-hitters Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman and directed by Clint Eastwood - far and away the biggest of the bunch, as the film respectably retells South Africa's 1995 Rugby World Cup triumph, one of the great stories in the sport's history.

    Realistically recreating the action though is one of the major challenges in rugby films, which is why fly-on-the-wall documentaries are a much better bet. Inside England Rugby: Sweet Chariot follows Clive Woodward's outstanding England side during a golden six-month unbeaten spell from 2002 to 2003, giving a real insight into the personalities involved on and off the pitch, while the recent Amazon documentary about the New Zealand All Blacks - All or Nothing- is also worth a watch.

    The best rugby film or documentary of all time, however, has to be the iconic Living with Lions, a raw, behind-the-scenes portrayal of the British Lions' against-the-odds series win against the world champion Springboks in 1997. It is a documentary that has reached cult status in rugby circles and beyond, and remains just as watchable and enjoyable 23 years on. The 2001, 2009, 2013 and 2017 Lions editions are also very decent, although progressively more vetted and corporate than the original, but the 2005 doc is as disappointing as the tour itself.

  16. Mike Bassett: England Managerpublished at 2001, 15

    'Ladies and gentlemen. England will be playing Four-Four-*@#! Two.'

    Fifteen years before Sam Allardyce's brief stint in charge of England, there was Mike Bassett.

    Parachuted in for an emergency stint fresh from winning the Mr Clutch Cup with Norwich, backwater journeyman Bassett doesn't win any of his three qualifiers but reaches the World Cup thanks to an unlikely Luxembourg win.

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    With some scenes lifted almost word for word from An Impossible Job this mockumentary has enough believable moments amid the farce to take any England fan with it.

    The 90s tropes are there, from a vicious press pack led by Phill Jupitus, a misunderstood maverick 'Gazza' character, a 'you can bring your dinner' style half-time meltdown and the fight against 4-4-2.

    Will Bassett come good at the World Cup? Don't bet against it. TR

    Key cast: Ricky Tomlinson, Bradley Walsh, Pele

    Sporting fix: Some nice archive footage of the old Wembley and plenty of England-Argentina archive to enjoy. Sadly Bassett's boys in Brazil is the closest we'll get to an international tournament this year.

    Artistic licence: By the lorryload. It's a daft comedy after all. Contains the second-best reading of Kipling's If after Des Lynam.

    Where can I watch?: Rent or buy on Google and Apple

    Is Mike Bassett: England manager the greatest of all time?

    Use #mybestsportfilm , externalto tell us if Rocky is on your list - or if we've missed out your favourite.

    Mark Fridlington: 'Mike Bassett: England Manager' is one of funniest films ever made! A must view for any football fan.

    Paul Harris: It just has to be the brilliant Mike Bassett England Manager.

  17. boxing

    Million Dollar Babypublished at 2004, PG

    'Girlie, tough ain't enough'

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    You may think you know the story of Million Dollar Baby, especially after watching the above trailer. The checklist is all there - a dismissed underdog with a dream, a grizzled mentor with demons in his locker, training, fighting and the rest. Hell, Morgan Freeman even narrates it.

    But you don't know this story. Yes, there are cliches woven into its fabric but the tale it wishes to tell is not the one sports film fans are used to hearing. I'll say no more of its narrative for fear of veering into spoiler territory.

    What is undeniably true is that this is Eastwood, Swank et al on top form, the former adding another directorial masterclass to his already packed back catalogue and the latter showing that Boys Don't Cry was no fluke. They both won Oscars, as did Freeman. PD

    Key cast: Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman

    Sporting fix: A rarity in boxing films in that it portrays the women's sport. Significantly, it is an accurate illustration of how brutal and dangerous it can be, regardless of gender.

    Artistic licence: The film is adapted from a short story by FX Toole, which is the pen name of fight manager and cutman turned writer Jerry Boyd. It is not without its artistic flourishes but the emotion you will feel is well-earned and raw.

    Where to watch: Stream on Amazon Prime, rent or buy on Apple TV, Google Play and more.

  18. Moneyballpublished at 2011, 12

    'If we win, on our budget with this team, we'll change the game'

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    Has there been a better sports film released in the 2010s?

    Moneyball is that rare beast - a film about professional sport that focuses more on what happens off the pitch than on it. Adapted from Michael Lewis' book of the same name, it is on the surface the tale of the Oakland Athletics' 2002 season, but on a deeper level a dramatisation of a theoretical (and to the establishment downright heretical) approach that would change baseball for ever.

    Converted by Jonah Hill's pioneering analyst, A's manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) flies in the face of the perceived wisdom that what matters most is how a player hits or throws and looks doing it and instead preaches the mantra: "get on base".

    In many ways, it is a film for sports nerds, where (and huge props to writer Aaron Sorkin here) a telephone negotiation for a player in a quiet office is as gripping as anything that takes place on the grass. PD

    Key cast: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Chris Pratt

    Sporting fix: Authenticity is key to a film like this and in the pursuit of this real and former players, scouts and groundstaff were employed to mix in with the actors. Director Bennett Miller also weaves real archive footage into his recreations to give the match-action scenes that true air of the Coliseum on game day.

    Artistic licence: A technical exploration of a game-changing theory, Michael Lewis' Moneyball book is not one that immediately lends itself to a fictional Hollywood narrative. The film gives you only the amount of theory you need (embodied neatly in the fictional character of Peter Brand) and hooks it to the coattails of the more compelling story of the Oakland A's. Inevitably, there is some dramatisation and a few tweaks to the real-life narrative, but the bones of the story remain firmly in tact.

    Where to watch: Stream on Netflix, rent or buy on Apple TV, Google Play and others.

  19. Murderballpublished at 2005, 15

    'You can't market Murderball to corporate sponsors'

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    The film that probably did the most to redefine disability sport and bring it to a wider audience, this gritty and ground-breaking documentary shines a light on the USA and Canadian wheelchair rugby teams before the 2004 Athens Paralympics.

    Wheelchair rugby was originally known as Murderball and the players you meet have all suffered illness or accident which means they are now quadriplegic or have restricted movement in all four limbs. But the sport means they are often achieving far more as athletes than they ever could dream of before.

    The sub-plot surrounds former USA star Joe Soares – a man obsessed - who takes over as Canada coach after failing to be appointed USA coach. Can he end the USA’s dominance of the sport in Athens? EH

    Kay cast: Keith Cavill, Andy Cohn, Scott Hogsett

    Sporting fix: Wheelchair rugby is the most violent Paralympic sport and every bash, crash and smash you see is real. It makes you wince at what these guys put their already battered bodies through in the name of sport. But as important here are the players and their own personal stories.

    Artistic licence: While you may suspect there is an element of playing up to the camera, both the rivalries and the various relationships are totally genuine and it may just make you rethink your perception of disability.

    Where to watch it: Stream on Amazon Prime.

  20. National Velvetpublished at 1945, U

    'Some day you'll learn that greatness is only the seizing of opportunity.'

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    On what would have been the week after Grand National Saturday how could we leave out National Velvet?

    Filmed in ‘glorious technicolour’, this 1944 movie centres on a young girl’s dreams of a fairytale triumph in the big race. It’s cheesy, perfect family viewing and the recent successes of real-life jockeys such as Katie Walsh, Rachael Blackmore and Bryony Frost have made a once unlikely storyline seem much more realistic.

    A 1970s sequel, International Velvet, is best glossed over, although Champions – the story of Bob Champion and Aldaniti’s heartwarming 1981 National triumph is worth a watch. FK

    Key cast: Elizabeth Taylor, Mickey Rooney

    Sporting fix: The actual racing footage was shot 5,000 miles away from Merseyside in Pebble Beach, California, and it’s miles away from being realistic, but is all part of the film’s strange charm.

    Artistic licence: This is a classic sporting tale from the era of Classical Hollywood films. There's melodrama aplenty, but all in service of telling an entertaining story.

    Where to watch: Available on DVD.