Best sports movie of all time

[Sheilbh]

I think "The Damned United" was one of the best sports movies I have seen. Michael Sheen's version of Brian Clough was eerily like watching the man himself. But it is a rather niche film, since you'd really had to have a relationship to 1970s English football. 

The book's outstanding too - also his Red Riding Quartet.

[The Brain]

My favorite on the list is definitely When We Were Kings, but documentaries aren't really comparable to other movies IMHO.

[Sheilbh]

On the list - absolutely Hoop Dreams.

Love that film.

[Barrister]

What?  No "Men With Brooms", the Canadian curling movie (it's in the Olympics!) starring Paul Gross and Leslie Nielsen? 

I love curling, but it wasn't that good a movie.

I'm voting Field of Dreams, Slap Shot and Friday Night Lights.

[Sheilbh]

Friday Night Lights TV show is one of my go to comfort re-watches. I love that show (except for the second season which is very obviously impacted by the strike ).

[celedhring]

My favorite on the list is definitely When We Were Kings, but documentaries aren't really comparable to other movies IMHO.

Yeah I was torn whether to include them, but both When We Were Kings and Hoop Dreams are just way too good.

[Tonitrus]

A couple more options...

- Rudy
- The Best of Times

[Josquius]

Escape to victory of course 

Mike basset is worth mentioning seriously.

This sporting life was good too.

There's probably some good  foreign ones but I cannot recall.

[Norgy]

Mike basset is worth mentioning seriously.

It manages to stay relevant every time England qualifies. Ricky Tomlinson is a very good actor and there are some scenes both in the movie and in "Mike Bassett: League Manager" that make me giggle when I think about them.

It takes all the football tropes, like the hair-dryer teamtalk and the utterly unsympathetic press into a satire that is borderline believable. There are these neat little touches, such as Norwich winning "The Mister Clutch" cup, Tonka (who is basically Paul Gascoigne) and the utterly useless assistant Doddsy.

[Sheilbh]

It's very good. The open top bus parade accidentally turning onto a motorway too

[Sheilbh]

May be a new entry soon. I am very hyped for this in Damned United territory
https://variety.com/2024/film/global/saipan-steve-coogan-mick-mccarthy-eanna-hardwick-roy-keane-1236086199/

[Norgy]

Now that looks interesting. I can almost hear the lawsuits coming already.

[Savonarola]

College (1927) of course; if nothing else, the final gag is among the darkest and funniest in cinema.

Unfortunately American Football isn't played at the Olympics, so the other classic, The Freshman can't be included.   

 

[Caliga]

Rocky and Raging Bull are in a league of their own.

[Syt]

Rocky and Raging Bull are in a league of their own.