Still no sports events in sight, we're still forced to sit around the house and wait for better days. Hopefully the first part of this top 50 sports movies list has inspired you to watch some great films, now it's time for part two! Let's get to it:
40. White Men Can't Jump (1992)
This has become an iconic movie of the 1990s, mostly thanks to the powerful performances from lead actors Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes. The story is set on the West Coast of the United States in the early 90s, featuring two streetball hustlers that are trying to make the most of their talent. This is a great movie for basketball fans but not only for them, it can provide a pleasant afternoon for anybody as the story has an universal appeal.
39. Ali (2001)
Muhammad Ali is probably one of the greatest personalities in the world of sports, not only thanks to his talent but also because of the controversies that surrounded him back in the day. This film, directed by Michael Mann, tries to follow Ali's life between 1964 and 1974, focusing on the triumphs of his sporting career but also on the controversies that made him a star in the newspapers. Will Smith plays Muhammad Ali in this film and does a very good job.
38. Any Given Sunday (1999)
This is a fast-paced poretayal of American Football at its best, the work of famous director Oliver Stone. The cast is filled with stars, including Al Pacino as the coach, Dennis Quaid as the veteran quarterback, Jamie Foxx as the rising star and Cameron Diaz as the club owner. The movie is centered around the Miami Sharks, a team that is struggling to make the playoffs in the NFL. The best sequence of this movie is Al Pacino's pre-match speech, one that has inspired coaches in all sports after the movie came out.
37. Borg vs McEnroe (2017)
This was one of the biggest rivalries in the history of tennis, between the ice-cold Swedish champion Bjorn Borg and the flamboyant American star John McEnroe. The movie follows the story of Borg's attempt to win his fifth Wimbledon title, while McEnroe seemed the only player capable of stopping him. The film is focused on the Swedish star, showing a side of him that was pretty much hidden to the public. Sverrir Gudnason plays Borg, while Shia LeBeouf plays McEnroe.
36. Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001)
This is a special film, a satiric mockumentary about a lower league football manager that becomes overnight the England boss. Mike Basset is the name of this fictional character, and he is the England manager as the team head to the World Cup in Brazil. Ricky Tomlinson plays the main character, while real-life stars like Pele and the Atomic Kitten pop group also appear in the film.
35. Cool Runnings (1993)
This is a film that you will definitely remember for years and years after having watched it. The whole thing is inspired by a true story, the incredible adventure of three Jamaican sprinters that end up competing in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary. They can't practice bobsled properly in their country, there's no ice there, but despite all the hardships they manage to qualify for the Olympics.
34. Foxcatcher (2014)
This is also a movie that is based on real events, the story of Olympic gold-medallist Mark Schultz. He won the Olympic Gold Medal in Los Angeles in 1984 and a pair of World titles before retiring. The movie focuses on his arrival in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), under the direction of John du Pont, one of America's richest men. It's a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, with Channing Tatum playing Schulz and Steve Carrell putting in a huge performance as Du Pont.
33. Happy Gilmore (1996)
Adam Sandler is the star of this film, so you can guess that it's definitely a comedy. Happy Gilmore, the main character, is passionate about hockey but never made it to the pros. Then, when his grandmother gets evicted, he realizes that he could make it into the golf tour thanks to his abilities. He doesn't really like golf, but buying back his grandma's house gets him the motivation to fight for prizes on the tour. This movie will surely provide a few laughs.
32. Seve: The Movie (2014)
This time we're talking about real golf and one of the greatest personalities of this sport. Severiano Ballesteros was one of the most gifted European golfers, winning 90 tournaments in his career. He died of brain cancer at the age of 54. The movie is a documentary / biopic, following his rise to fame from a poor family that had no connection with golf whatsoever. This is an inspiring movie to watch and also a tribute to one of the world's greatest sportsmen.
31. Chariots of fire (1980)
This is a proper classic, a movie that has been played on television networks across the world with the occasion of Olympic Games. The film is based on the real stories of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, who are tryiong to overcome all obstacles in order to get into the Great Britain athletics squad for the 1924 Olympic Games. The music score of this movie, created by Vangelis, is well-known all around the world by now, and the opening credits scene is now legendary.
The top continues with another ten movies tomorrow, while the previous ten places can be seen here. Remember, please share your suggestions of great sports movies in the comments.
