There is rarely a dull moment in sports. Hollywood understands this, so audiences are constantly treated to spectacular sports films. Glory Road, Remember the Titans, and many other films have touched the souls and hearts of fans worldwide.
This genre will undoubtedly captivate you. Whether it’s the underlying message in the film or the chills you get from the intriguing drama. Things are even more enjoyable when they are based on true events.
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Many sports movies take place in real-life settings but feature largely fictitious characters and plot elements. Classics like The Wrestler and Remember the Titans are examples of this. Even Hoosiers is also a little bit of a stretch, but we’ll go with it.
The films listed below have not only actual settings but also true characters. Of course, none are accurate, but that is why they say “based on true events.”
Remember the Titans (2000)
Herman Boone, an African American man, is hired to coach a rugby team in high school. However, the chaos among teammates caused by differences between races is the biggest hindrance in accomplishing the mutual goal of winning tournaments.
Nevertheless, Herman Boone has the chance to flourish as a great professional at this moment.
Watching Remember the Titans is fun. Except for Denzel Washington, no megastars were featured in the movie. It has comedy aspects that make the film enjoyable from beginning to end, and the high school drama is just the icing on the cake.
Glory Road (2006)
Don Haskins, the high school girl basketball team’s coach, was invited to be the coach of the Texas Western Miners in 1965. Despite the lack of funds, Haskins sees a chance to sue the NCAA and decides to move to a college dormitory with his spouse and children.
He selects seven talented black players to play with the other five players who are Caucasian and forms a legendary team that defeats the powerful Kentucky team in the 1966 national championship.
Ali (2001)
Ali (2001) depicts excellent boxer Muhammad Ali’s fight for the title of “King of the Ring.”
You can watch Will Smith portray the journey of Ali from zero to the proud sportsman of his country. Ali is a fantastic boxer who used to be regarded as the best in America.
In this real-life movie, you can see flashbacks to four of Muhammad Ali’s most memorable matches. This inspiring film also shows a side of Ali that has never been depicted in the media. You can watch Ali (2001) on Netflix.
Rookie (2002)
Jim Morris coached baseball at a high school who had long given up on his dream of playing in Major League Baseball when, following a series of arm surgeries, he found he could throw a 98-mph fastball. So Morris struck a deal with his team: if they won their conference, he would try out for the top leagues.
Dennis Quaid plays Morris, a minor league pitcher who impresses enough to earn a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. It’s an inspirational story, but it does so with a lot of heart.
Raging Bull (1980)
Jake LaMotta is a prizefighter when he steps into a boxing ring and annihilates his competitor. However, when he treats his friends and relatives the same way, he becomes a time bomb ready to detonate at any moment.
Though LaMotta desires the love of his family, something always appears to stand in the way. It could be his violent periods of jealousy and paranoia. This type of rage helped him a lot in becoming a champion, but in reality, he ends up in the ring alone.
Cinderella Man (2005)
Cinderella Man, starring Renee Zellweger and Russell Crowe, was released in 2005 and portrayed the life story of James J. Braddock, a former heavyweight boxing champion. The Irish-American boxer from New Jersey was forced to walk away from the ring due to injury.
But, much to the astonishment of many, he came back with a victory. And it will no doubt leave some to wonder what the odds were on that boxing result. But Braddock’s story gets even better when he wins the heavyweight title and becomes the true Cinderella Man.
Invincible (2006)
Vince Papale, 30, is having bad luck in the 1976 summer. He has worked twice weekly as a substitute teacher but recently learned that his position has been abolished due to budget cuts. As a result, his wife abandons him, declaring that he will never be successful and requesting a divorce.
He works part-time as a bartender and enjoys playing football with his friends. So when the Philadelphia Eagles’new coach, Dick Vermeil, announces that open tryouts will be held, Vince unwillingly decides to give it a shot.
All it took was a door knock and the situation’s big push for him to become a member of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.
Hoosiers (1986)
This film is a classic redemption story, with a former star player who became an alcoholic and an unpredictable coach leading a small town basketball team on an unlikely run to Indiana high school championship game.
Coach Norman Dale faces several challenges, including an aggressive instructor determined to retain the best player from playing for the team, a town crowded with second-guessing fathers, and a group of unruly athletes. The story was motivated by the Milan Indians’ 1954 state championship.
Eight Men Out (1988)
The 1919 Chicago White Sox were the unhappiest team ever to win a trophy. The team is resentful of their penny-pinching owner, Charles Comiskey, and their teammates.
So gamblers take advantage of the opportunity by offering money to some players to throw the series. But the Shoeless Joe Jackson Buck Weave returns at the last second and gives it their all.
The Red Sox almost return from a 3-1 gap. The truth is revealed two years later, and the Red Sox are dragged to court. The jury finds them not guilty, but Landis, the baseball commissioner, has some other plans.
The Blind Side (2009)
The story of Michael Oher is told in “The Blind Side, a broken-up, homeless African-American adolescent who the Touhys adopt, a wealthy white family who helps him reach his full potential. Simultaneously, Oher’s existence in the Touhys’ lives leads to some insightful self-discoveries.
Living in his new surroundings presents the teen with an entirely new set of problems to overcome. Nevertheless, Oher works hard as a student and football player and, with the assistance of his adopted family and coaches, becomes an All-American left tackle.
Conclusion
I hope you liked this article and will watch all the films on this list. No one makes movies about failures. So true-life sports movies are all about real-life heroes who triumphed by doing what they excel at.
The films on this list must inspire us all to pursue our dreams, no matter how unrealistic they may appear. Also, check out the best movies based on Books.