The world of sports is huge. A massive number of sports are played all over the world every single day. Sports are the best hobby, a great way to meet people, and something to anticipate on a weekly basis. With all of this considered, it’s no surprise that nearly everyone has some sort of connection to sport.
Film-makers worldwide have recognised the global love for sport. This is great, as it means sports fans of all different preferences can watch great movies depicting their sport. Not only does each different sport have it’s own rules and regulations, but it also carries a unique set of emotions and stories. This means that although they may be bunched into the same genre of sports films, no two are the same. With that being said, here are some films that perfectly depict the glory of the sport they focus on and are the best of their kind.
Football – Goal!
If you are a football fan and are waiting for the new season to start, or anticipating the UEFA Nations League odds, you may want to pass the time with a football film. There’s perhaps none better than Goal!
Football is all about passion. Some of the greatest sporting moments and stories of all time have come from this sport. It is only just that movies based on the sport appropriately capture the raw emotion and dedication of football. When forced to choose between making the move for professional football or helping to support his family in Mexico, Santiago takes the risk. Following his passion, the film shows the emotional rollercoaster as well as the dedication required to make it on the big stage. The film is iconic in the football community, and a further two instalments were made to the series. The trilogy also sees cameos from footballing legends such as David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane.
Tennis – Battle of the Sexes
This 2017 release is based on the unforgettable tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. The storyline covers important topics in the world of tennis. The feature film covers the likes of homosexuality in sports, the rise of WTA and unequal prize money for tennis players. The film is regarded as one of the best sports films in the past five years. This is largely helped by stunning performances by both Emma Stone and Steve Carell.
MMA – Warrior
The sport of mixed martial arts is brutal, mentally tough, and high stakes. The 2011 drama warrior does an amazing job of showing that. Tom Hardy plays Tommy, a former Marine who returns home to be trained by his father for an upcoming MMA contest. Although it was originally the prize money that motivated him, much more is on the line when he has to face his brother.
Boxing – Rocky
One of the most iconic film franchises of all time is Rocky. The boxing film shows how much dedication has to go into the sport, and how disappointing and difficult it can be. Sylvester Stallone’s breakthrough performance was the blueprint for sports films in the future. The Rocky franchise would get six instalments in total, with a further two Creed movies being made in 2015 and 2018.