“Play Ball!” Top Twenty Greatest Sports Movies.

Who doesn’t love a good sports film? The best ones in the genre are both highly entertaining and deeply inspiring in some form. Even if you never played a sport in your life there’s something about these films that resonates with millions and still brings tears of joy to us today. Boxing, Basketball, Football, Baseball etc. No matter the game, the love and passion is always there and the characters always make us root for them as the under dogs. Here are twenty sports films that I rank as the best the genre has had to offer as well as my personal favorites of the genre.

20. Space Jam. 1996.

Classic 90’s family film is one of those feel good flicks that every 80s and 90s kid grew up watching so much that they wore the tape completely out. The movie may be cheesy in most spots but its innovation with further pushing the boundaries blending animation and live action since Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Is still amazing.

19.The Mighty Ducks. 1992.

Another 90’s sports classic that helped pave the way for the explosion of kid sports movies. The Mighty Ducks became a very successful franchise and it all started here with this first classic movie. Putting Hockey at the forefront was unique and exciting. Emilio Estevez was at his best as the lovably sarcastic Coach Bombay.

18. The 6th Man. 1997.

You might not remember this hilarious supernatural Basketball comedy but it’s a little gem about two basketball playing brothers: One who died and came back as a ghost to lead the other one and their college team to victory.

17. Field of Dreams. 1989.

This classic sports fantasy film is perhaps best remembered for the iconic phrase whispered to the main character: “If you build it, he will come.” Kevin Costner stars as a farmer who builds a baseball field in his cornfield that attracts the ghosts of baseball legends including Shoeless Joe Jackson and his own father. The film went on to get multiple Oscar nominations and is considered a baseball classic as well as one of the ultimate father\son movies.

16. The Bad News Bears. 1976.

The classic little league baseball movie famous for little kids “cussin’” and “fussin’’, became a sports classic for all ages. Walter Matthau stars as a drunken has been pitcher that becomes the coach of a rag tag team of underdog kids.

15. Little Giants. 1994.

Who doesn’t love Little Giants? The classic kids football movie starring Ed O’Neill aka Al Bundy and Rick Moranis as two brothers with rival little league football teams competing for the spot of the town’s official little league football team. A very funny movie that any kid who felt like an outsider or a misfit on the field can relate to.

14. Creed. 2015.

This spin off of the iconic Rocky franchise proved its worth by giving us the story of Rocky’s old friend Apollo Creed’s son Adonis Creed played by the then up and coming Michael B. Jordan. Sylvester Stallone returning to the franchise as his iconic character, now a mentor to the young Creed was the icing on the cake and gave the film its heart with the father\son bond of Rocky and Adonis. The film has the spirit and familiarity of the Rocky movies but still manages to hold its own and take on its own identity. A great boxing film with epic fight sequences.

13. Caddyshack. 1980.

This zany, goofy and irreverent 1980 comedy went from a cult classic to an all time classic movie and it’s also one of the best(as well as rare) golf movies ever made. It made golf cool as well as entertaining. The film boasted an iconic ensemble cast that includes comedy heavyweights Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight and Bill Murray.

12. Just Wright. 2010.

This film’s a love story first but it’s very much taken place in the world of the NBA. Not just as a backdrop but as a huge part of the lives of our leads Leslie and Scott. Common and Queen Latifah were just right together (see what I did there?) and were so enjoyable on screen. The film’s one of those perfect movies for everyone whether you’re a fan of romantic comedies or a sports fan, namely Basketball.

11. Remember The Titans. 2000.

One of the all time great football films, this Denzel Washington led movie has remained a beloved classic for many football fans as well as Denzel fans. The film is both inspiring and gritty as it is not afraid to tackle racism in a real way but still hopeful and light enough to bring families and people of different races together to just enjoy. It also boasts a great cast that includes Will Patton, Nicole Ari Parker, Ryan Gosling, Donald Faison, Hayden Panettiere and Wood Harris.

10. Hoosiers. 1986.

This little film set in 1951\1952 about an underdog rag tag team of Indiana high school basketball players and their hard nosed but devoted coach Norman Dale is one of the ultimate underdog stories. Based on a real life 1950’s Indiana high school team that won the 1954 state championship against a big school.

9. He Got Game. 1998.

He Got Game is a 1998 sports drama about Jake Shuttleworth, (Denzel Washington) a prison inmate convicted for killing his wife gets a chance for an early release from his sentence by the governor if he convinces his son Jesus Shuttleworth, (Ray Allen) the top-ranked basketball prospect in the country to play for the governor’s alma matter. The film goes deep into the seedy world of college sports recruitment and the religious devotion to superstar fame and celebrity. In the film Jesus is treated like his namesake by numerous schools in order to get him to play for them. The story is at its core about the reunification of a father and his son as well as forgiveness, redemption and family.

8. The Karate Kid parts 1, 2 and 3. 1984, 1986, 1989.

“Wax on! Wax off!” The Karate Kid movies made the entire world karate fanatics. I think everyone at some point in their lives when facing off against a bully has tried that crane kick move Daniel-San pulls out. The Karate Kid franchise has become an all time classic and besides the karate sport itself it’s because of the tight bond between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi that gives the films their heart and soul. The success of the franchise has led to a very popular spin off\sequel series entitled Cobra Kai with Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Martin Kove and Thomas Ian Griffith returning in their iconic roles.

7. Coach Carter. 2005.

One of Samuel L. Jackson’s greatest films and roles. Based on the real life coach Ken Carter, who taught his high school players that there’s more to life than the sport of Basketball. The film is both a great sports\basketball film as well as just a quality teacher\high school drama that was in many ways a (then) modern day Lean on Me. The cast is amazing, but it’s Samuel L. Jackson who holds it all together as he brings both toughness and ferocity and tenderness and compassion to the role.

6. Love and Basketball. 2000.

This iconic love story also happens to be one of the most classic basketball\sports movies. Quincy and Monica grew up together, fell in love, broke up and got back together again all with their turbulent Basketball careers in the midst of it all. Before Just Wright, it was this film that found a way to bridge the gap of a love story and sports and doing it incredibly well. The film gave a much needed spotlight for the WNBA and had some quality game playing shots and scenes as well.

5. The Blind Side. 2012.

Based off a true story, The Blind Side is about a young man whose size and prowess playing American-style football help him attain an education in school and in life. Quinton Aaron portrays the oversized teenager transformed from a homeless street kid to a star athlete through the kindness and charity of a dynamic woman (Sandra Bullock) who offers him a stable home, a caring family and the opportunity to follow his dreams. This riveting, moving and at times very funny movie is a great film for the whole family to sit and watch together.

4. The Waterboy. 1998.

Truly one of Adam Sandler’s most successful and beloved movies, The Waterboy is a hilarious football comedy that puts the not too bright water boy Bobby Boucher into the world of College football where he dominates with his mean tackle when provoked. Adam Sandler is so stupidly funny in the film but is also supported by a truly great cast which includes Henry Winkler, Kathy Bates and Jerry Reed.

3. White Men Can’t Jump. 1992.

This film ranks high in the all time great Basketball flicks ever made for many and I do not dispute that claim. Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson are a truly dynamic duo as Sidney Deane and Billy Hoyle, two very different guys that got one thing in common: Basketball and the hustle. Wesley and Woody may have never been better in their careers than their work in this film and the chemistry they shared made them a 1990’s Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder. Sidney and Billy start off antagonistic but the two end up realizing what a great team they really make hustling on the courts to make some easy money. The film is so remarkably authentic to the world of street ball from the hardcore trash talk to the art of hustling and does very much to ease racial tension as it proves that at the end of the day that what matters isn’t black or white it’s green, as well being men and taking care of business on and off the court. The film also stars Rosie Perez, Tyra Ferrell, Ernest Harden Jr. and Kadeem Hardison,

2. Cool Runnings. 1993.

Based off a real Jamaican bobsled team that made it to the 1988 Winter Olympics, this comedic saga tells the story of four Jamaican athletes and their coach(John Candy) going to extremes to prove their worth at the Olympics. The film is a bonafide classic with plenty of laughs, heart and inspiration. It also brings a very different sport to the big screen that never had been before or since. The cast is first rate and the chemistry they all had together is one of those magic things you can’t manufacture or strive for, only have to hope for and be grateful when you get it. The film is also notable as one of the late great John Candy’s last films before his passing in 1994.

1. Rocky. 1975.

The ultimate Boxing film, Rocky started it all. Sure there had been a few sports films before Rocky, but this film changed the game(pardon the pun) and influenced the way the genre would go about sports films after it. The film became iconic enough to spawn many notable sequels and spin offs but it all started right here with a simple story about a simple, good natured loser who never amounted to anything in his life before he got the chance to prove himself going toe to toe against boxing champ Apollo Creed in the ring. All Rocky wanted to do is go to distance and he succeeded spectacularly. The film’s iconic training montage alone has been copied, paid homage to etc. in almost every movie and tv show but never has it been bettered than the OG.

’Til next time, folks!