5 Best Sports Movies

Staying on the subject of sport, but moving away from betting on sport, I’d like to look today at my five favourite sports movies of all time.

Now I’ve been quite loose in my definition of sport here. Some of you might not consider Rocky a sports movie for example. But I think you can make the case that it’s the definitive sports movie. It has all the things you’re looking for from a sports movie: the underdog, the champion, the highs, the lows, the training montage, the joy, the pain…

So here are my top five sporting movies of all time:

1. Rocky. The sequels were ok (especially 3 and 4) but the original is still the best. Everything you want from a sports movie. Imagine if the studio had got their way and cast someone other than Sly in the lead role!

2. Chariots of Fire. It’s hard to know if this would have become such a classic without the theme tune. But it’s a great movie, with a wonderful script and some under-rated performances by the two leads.

3. Any Goven Sunday. I dread to think how many times I’ve seen this movie. The story is as old as sports itself: Team owner (Carmen Diaz) and head coach (Al Pacino) can’t agree on the direction the team should go. But it’s the amazing soundtrack and high energy performances that make this a must see.

4. Pumping iron. Another one that you might not consider a sports movie, but it’s a movie and it’s about a sport so… It put Arnie on the map and it introduced bodybuilding (and the keep fit craze) to 1970s America.

5. Bend It Like Beckham. Ok laugh if you must. But this is actually a really solid sports movie. And it’a a chance to see Keira Knightley before she became really annoying.