List of sports films


This compilation of films covers all sports activities. Sports films have been made since the era of silent films, such as the 1915 film The Champion starring Charlie Chaplin. Films in this genre can range from serious to silly. A classic theme for sports films is the triumph of an individual or team who prevail despite the difficulties, standard elements of melodrama.

Australian rules football

Aviation sport

Bobsledding

Bowling

Caving

TitleYearGenreNotes
The Descent2005HorrorA caving expedition goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and pursued by predators.
The Cave2005HorrorBloodthirsty creatures await a pack of divers who become trapped in an underwater cave network.
The Descent Part 22009HorrorSequel to the 2005 film.
Sanctum2011AdventureAn underwater team experiences a crisis during an expedition to unexplored cave system.

Cheerleading and dance

TitleYearGenreNotes
Debbie Does Dallas1978AdultPornographic film, no connection to the Dallas Cowboys or their cheerleaders.
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders1979DramaMade-for-TV drama about the famous NFL cheerleading squad.
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders II1980DramaTV sequel to the 1979 movie.
Laker Girls1990DramaTelevision film about the Los Angeles basketball dance team.
'1992DramaTV film based on Wanda Holloway's 1991 attempt to hire a hit man to kill the mother of her daughter's cheerleading rival. With Lesley Ann Warren as Holloway.
The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom1993ComedyA more light-hearted TV movie also based on the Wanda Holloway story, with Emmy-winning performances by Holly Hunter and Beau Bridges.
A Friend to Die For1994DramaTori Spelling and Kellie Martin in a TV film based on a California cheerleader's murder.
But I'm a Cheerleader1999RomanceNatasha Lyonne as a cheerleader whose parents disapprove of her personal life.
Bring It On2000ComedyA clash between rival cheerleading squads, starring Kirsten Dunst.
Sugar & Spice2001ComedyMinnesota high school girls rob a bank. With Mena Suvari and James Marsden.
All Cheerleaders Die2001Horror Comedy
Gotta Kick It Up!2002Family ComedyTelevision film, based on true story about middle schoolers.
Cheerleader Queens2003ComedyThail film.
Bring It On Again2004ComedySequel to 2000 film.
'2006ComedySecond sequel to 2000 film.
'2007ComedyThird sequel to 2000 film.
'2008DramaBased on controversial true events involving five girls from Texas.
2009ComedyFourth sequel to 2000 film.
Fired Up!2009ComedyFootball players con their way into a cheerleading camp.
Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader2012ComedyAn experimental drug makes a cheerleader grow 10 times her normal size.
All Cheerleaders Die2013Horror comedyRemake of 2001 film.
Daughters of the Sexual Revolution2018DocumentaryDocumentary of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Competitive eating

Cricket

Cue sports

Curling

Dodgeball

E-sports

Fencing

Fictional sports

Field hockey

Figure skating

Fishing

Golf

Greyhound racing

Gymnastics

Handball

Hiking

Jousting

Kabaddi

Lacrosse

Martial arts

Note: Films should not be listed here unless the sporting aspects of martial arts play a major part in the plot.
TitleYearGenreStyleNotes
Sanshiro Sugata1943ActionJujutsu
Judo
Sanshiro Sugata Part II1943ActionJudo
Enter the Dragon1973ActionJeet Kune Do
Kung Fu		Bruce Lee's final screen appearance before his death.
Cordão de Ouro1977ActionCapoeira
Knightriders1981Drama
The Karate Kid1984FamilyKarateRetired karate master Mr. Miyagi instructs a newcomer.
The Karate Kid Part II1986FamilyKarateSequel to the 1984 hit.
No Retreat, No Surrender1986Action dramaMMAA Seattle boy ends up fighting a Russian martial-arts star.
Bloodsport1988ActionMMAFrank Dux, a Canadian, enters a competition in Hong Kong.
The Karate Kid Part III1989FamilyKarateSecond sequel to the 1984 film.
Best of the Best1989ActionTae Kwon DoAmericans take on Koreans in a tae kwon do tournament. Eric Roberts stars.
Kickboxer1989ActionKickboxing & Muay ThaiAn American and his brother end up in a life-or-death competition in Asia.
Hard To Kill1990ActionAikido
Out For Justice1991ActionAikido
Sidekicks1992ActionKarateA boy with asthma fantasizes about being taught by Chuck Norris, and gets to compete alongside him in a tournament.
3 Ninjas1992FamilyKarateThree boys learn Ninjutsu from their Japanese grandfather.

Motorcycle racing

Mountaineering and climbing

Multiple sport movies

Note: This category is for films about sports in general or films about athletes participating in multiple sports. This category is not for films featuring the Olympics, Paralympics, X-Games and other similar "games" which fall under the "Multisport Games / Olympics" category. Films featuring specific sports should be listed under that specific sport.
TitleYearGenreNotes
Jim Thorpe – All-American1951BiographicalStory of famed Native American athlete who excelled at football, baseball and track & field, starring Burt Lancaster.
June 17th, 19942010DocumentaryMade for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Examines the sporting events of the day in question, among them the opening of the FIFA World Cup, the NBA Finals, the last U.S. Open round of Arnold Palmer, and the New York Rangers' Stanley Cup celebration—all overshadowed by O. J. Simpson's run from the police.
The Dotted Line2011DocumentaryPart of ESPN Films Collection - The Dotted Line is an in-depth look at what it takes to be a big-time agent in the fiercely competitive world of major league sports.
Broke2012DocumentaryMade for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series examining pro athletes propensity to waste their millions
Head Games2012DocumentaryAthletes from the professional to the youth levels share their personal struggles dealing with concussions
Branded2013DocumentaryMade for TV as part of ESPN's Nine for IX series. A thought provoking look at the double standard placed on female athletes to be the best players on the field/courts and the sexiest off them
Let Them Wear Towels2013DocumentaryMade for TV as part of ESPN's Nine for IX series. Examines the obstacles that women sports journalists faced as they fought to gain access to the "boys' club" of male locker rooms
Schooled: The Price of College Sports2013DocumentaryExamines the billion-dollar enterprise of college sports built on the backs of unpaid student athletes.
2015AnimationMade for TV, a My Little Pony spin-off film about two schools and a "Friendship Games".
Point Break2015Action DramaA young FBI agent infiltrates an extraordinary team of extreme sports athletes he suspects of masterminding a string of corporate heists. A remake of the 1991 film of the same name
Believeland2016DocumentaryMade for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Follows the history of sports in Cleveland since the city's last major title in 1964, including heartbreaks such as The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot, The Move, and The Decision. Airings after the Cavaliers won the NBA title in 2016 include a new ending.
Student Athlete2018DocumentaryHBO made-for-TV documentary, produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, criticizing the NCAA for alleged exploitation of college athletes.
Deion's Double Play2019DocumentaryEntry in ESPN's 30 for 30 series focusing on Deion Sanders, specifically a 24-hour period in 1992 when he played in two Major League Baseball postseason games and an NFL game in cities separated by 1,000 miles.

Multi-sport Games / Olympics

Note: Films featuring the Olympics, Paralympics, X-Games, etc... and other similar events are included. Films featuring specific sports featured in the games should be listed under that specific sport
TitleYearGenreNotes
Spartakiada1929DocumentarySilent propaganda piece recapping athletic competitions held in Moscow in 1928
Charlie Chan at the Olympics1937MysteryCharlie Chan's oldest son is chosen to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Olympia Part 1: Festival of Nations1938DocumentaryLeni Reifenstahl's Nazi propaganda film chronicling the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Olympia Part 2: Festival of Beauty1938DocumentaryLeni Reifenstahl's Nazi propaganda film chronicling the 1936 Summer Olympics
Kings of the Olympics1948DocumentaryAmerican film mostly culled from Olympia, Riefenstahl film on 1936 Summer Olympics.
Olympia 521952DocumentaryFrench film about 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.
Geordie1955ComedyA not-so-wee Scot goes to Australia for the 1956 Summer Olympics.
The Grand Olympics1961DocumentaryA look back at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
Tokyo Olympiad1965DocumentaryA look back at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Japan.
13 jours en France1968DocumentaryA documentary about the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble.
The Olympics in Mexico1969DocumentaryA documentary highlighting the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
Visions of Eight1973DocumentaryEight directors' takes on 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
White Rock1977DocumentaryA look at 1976 Winter Olympics held in Innsbruck, Austria.
A Step Away1980DocumentaryFootage from 1979 Pan American Games in Puerto Rico, narrated by Orson Welles.
Animalympics1980AnimatedThe animal kingdom stages its own Summer Olympics.
The Golden Moment1980DramaTV movie on American and Russian athletes at Moscow Olympics who fall in love.
Stade 81 a.k.a. Starting Blocks1981DocumentaryA short film documentary about the first Special Olympics.
1984DramaTV mini-series about the origins of the Modern Olympics.
16 Days of Glory1986DocumentaryOfficial documentary of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Dorf and the First Games of Mount Olympus1988ComedyDirect-to-video short with Tim Conway, parody of Ancient Olympic Games.
Fire, Ice and Dynamite1990ActionA tycoon fakes suicide and his children and creditors compete for his estate in Olympic-type events.
One Day in September1999DocumentaryA documentary chronicling the Munich Massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
Asterix at the Olympic Games2008ComedyFrench film in which characters from Astérix comic book series participate in Olympics.
Dream Weavers: Beijing 20082008DocumentaryOfficial documentary about events building up to 2008 Summer Olympics.
Olympic Pride, American Prejudice2016DocumentaryThe story of the "forgotten" 17 African-American athletes that participated at the Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics, along with Jesse Owens.

Polo

Powerboat racing

Rodeo

Rollerblading

Roller skating

Rowing

Rugby

Sailing

Shooting

Skateboarding

Skiing

Ski jumping

Snowboarding

Speed typing

Ssireum

Sumo wrestling

Surfing

Swimming & diving

Table tennis

Tennis

Triathlon

Underwater diving

Volleyball

Water polo

Wrestling

Note: Lucha films are not included in this list. Although they feature luchadores as the lead characters, the luchadores typically portray heroes within non-wrestling stories.

TitleYearGenreDisciplineNotes
Take Down1979Comedy-dramaScholastic wrestlingLorenzo Lamas as a high school wrestler.
Lurich1984DramaGreco-RomanBiographical film on the career of Georg Lurich.
Vision Quest1985DramaScholasticMatthew Modine as a high school wrestler.
Over the Top1987DramaArm wrestlingTruck driver Sylvester Stallone enters an arm-wrestling competition.
Spooner1989DramaScholasticMade for TV, premiered on the Disney Channel, stars Robert Urich.
Reversal2001Romantic dramaScholastic wrestlingStory of a Pennsylvania high school athlete.
The Backyard2002DocumentaryBackyard wrestlingDocumentary film examining backyard wrestling.
Going to the Mat2004Family ComedyScholastic wrestlingMade for TV, premiered on the Disney Channel, stars Andrew Lawrence.
Personal Effects2008DramaWrestlingStars Ashton Kutcher and Michelle Pfeiffer.
The Streak2008DocumentaryScholastic wrestlingMade for TV movie that was included in ESPN's 30 for 30 series. The story of the wrestling program at Brandon High School in Florida and their 439-match winning streak that spanned 3 decades
Legendary2010DramaScholastic wrestlingOklahoma teen is coached by his older brother.
The Hammer2010DramaCollegiate wrestlingBiographical film about a deaf college wrestler.
Win Win2011Comedy-dramaScholastic wrestlingBroke lawyer Paul Giamatti becomes a boy's coach and guardian.
Foxcatcher2014DramaFreestyle wrestlingChanning Tatum in a true story about Olympic wrestler Mark Schultz, his brother Dave, and the events leading up to Dave's murder by their benefactor, John du Pont.
Lost in Wrestling2015Drama
The Prince of Pennsylvania2015DocumentaryFreestyle wrestlingMade for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Another look at the Schultz–du Pont case.
Dangal2016DramaFreestyle wrestlingStarring Aamir Khan as Mahavir Singh Phogat, who taught wrestling to his daughters Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari.
2016DramaScholastic wrestlingIn 1980, a teenage Iranian immigrant moves to a California town and joins a high school wrestling team.
Godha''2017DramaFreestyle wrestlingStarring Renji Panicker as Captain, Wamiqa Gabbi as Aditi Singh