Are you wondering what sports movies on Netflix should watch if you are a sports fanatic?
Whether the movie is based on baseball, cricket, boxing, or football, watching a sports drama is always inspiring. Like a ton of movies of other genres, Netflix has a wide array of sports movies available too.
If you are fond of sports, you will like all kinds of movies based on sports. It can be a sports comedy, drama or documentaries.
I love sports documentaries more because it showcases a true story of a personality, did more rooted in the character’s psychology, and understand their struggles.
So, if you are too lazy or busy to scroll through a long list of sports movies on Netflix, I have got a full list of best sports movies on Netflix to watch.
Best Sports Movies on Netflix
Ali
Ali is a 2001 biographical movie that focuses on the chronicle of the life of the boxer Muhammad Ali played by Will Smith.
The movie exclusively touches the ten years of his life: his struggle, conversion to Islam, eviction from Boxing, and his series of fights inside the ring.
It is a great film to watch if you are a sports enthusiast. Legendary Muhammad Ali is an iconic figure; several documents have been made that are based on his life.
Let’s talk about Will Smith’s performance in the movie; like all his movies, he is a sound actor. Every scene that we saw him onscreen has compassion.
Southpaw
Southpaw is an intense melodramatic story of a champion boxer Jake Gyllenhaal.
The story gives a rough sketch of heavyweight boxing champion Billy, who has risen from low life and now seems to have everything, a loving family, luxury life.
But fame comes with a price. After Billy loses his loving wife in an accidental gunshot he is broken and shattered.
Determined to take back the custody of his precious daughter from the family care service, he is all set to revive himself to fight once again inside the ring.
The best thing about ‘Southpaw’ is the boxing scenes that are shot in a wide array of camera angles. Jake Gyllenhaal is perfect in portraying the character Billy Hope.
His fierce fighting scenes, bruises, and his solid muscular tattooed body makes him look intense and raw as the character fits.
The Short Game
Well, ‘The Short Game’ is an entertaining and sweet movie because it has two seven-years-old world champions of Junior Golf.
The story follows two children who travel to Pinehurst, North Carolina, to compete in the World Championship for Junior Golf.
It is absolutely amazing to watch how these little girls compete with each other and enjoy such a serious sport at such an early age.
You can watch the film with your kids on Netflix and teaching them about golf.
First Match
Director Olivia Newman’s ‘First Match’ is a coming- of- age Netflix original movie about a girl Monique who joins her high school wrestle team. Having grown up in foster care without her parents by her side, situations have made her tough.
The protagonist Monique has had a rough and violent childhood. It seems her father was a wrestler, and she too wants to join her school wrestling team to gain her father’s love back.
For Monique, joining the school wrestling team is the only option left for her where she can express her deep angst.
Actor Elvire Emanuelle as the character Monique, has performed incredibly well. I would recommend watching this fantastic sports movie on Netflix.
Also Read: 40 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video (June 2020)
Dangal
Dangal is an Indian sports biographical movie and is the highest-grossing Indian film ever.
Aamir Khan, as the former Indian wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat in the film, trained her two daughters from a very young age to be a wrestler.
The movie did talk about social issues like gender inequality globally and low literacy rates in the regions of Haryana. The storyline of the movie is loosely based on the Indian Women Wrestler champion two sisters Babita and Geeta Phogat.
Even if you don’t understand the language, Netflix has a subtitle that will help you understand the plot.
Also Read: 10 Best Indian Netflix Original Movies You Shouldn’t Skip
Soorma
Soorma is yet another Indian sports biographical movie starring Diljit Dosanjh and Tapsee Pannu in the lead.
The story tells about the chronicles of the life of Indian hockey player Sandeep Singh, who got paralyzed after an accidental gunshot while traveling in the Shatabdi Express.
The movie beautifully showcases the early life and the pain he endured after his accident. Also, the character is an inspiration because of the way he never gave up playing for his country.
Diljit Dosanjh, as Sandeep Singh has capable of nailing in his performance. Although the critically much-underappreciated movie, it is a wonderful Indian sports drama movie to watch.
The Fighter
American biographical sports drama film ‘The Fighter’ starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo is one of the best sports-movie to enjoy watching.
The storyline of the movie revolves around the Micky Ward, a professional boxer, and his older brother Dicky Eklund (Bale).
The film is inspired and loosely based on the 1995 documentary titled ‘High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell.’
The story follows the brothers, their ups, and down in their boxing career.
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Amateur
In Netflix Original movie ‘Amateur,’ we get an insight of a 15-year-old young boy Terron, who faces many challenges to make his dream of playing professional basketball come true.
Terron has a medical condition named ‘dyscalculia’ – this is a condition that makes him unable to read or understand even a simple numerical calculation.
Terron lives with his father, a former athlete, and an overprotective mother; he wants to break free of his life and school.
So, when he got an offer to get enrolled in an elite school coaching program, he accepted that.
It is a beautiful film that explores the journey of a young boy who wants to pursue his dream despite having medical issues and sports politics.
The best thing about this movie that I felt is its reliable performance and camerawork.
Hands of Stone
Hands of Stone is a great and fantastic sports biopic film about the career of Panamanian professional boxer Roberto Duran. Watching the movie will remind you of Robert De Niro’s Raging Bull.
Hands of Stone represents a true story of the 1970s’ lightweight champion Roberto Duran played by Edgar Ramirez. The movie gets more charming when Robert De Niro enters as Ray Arcel, the trainer.
The movie is intense to watch, and there isn’t a dull moment that I could remember. Nothing more than I would say further about the story because it is a pure movie for those who love to watch Boxing- based stories.
Although the movie received mixed reviews from the audience and the critics, still, if you are looking for good sports movies on Netflix, ‘Hands of Stone’ is hard to ignore.
Race
Race is a biographical sports movie that is based on the African American athlete Jesse Owens, who is widely known for winning a record-breaking four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.
The movie is uplifting, inspiring, and shining lights on the historical, social issues along with the biopic. The movie starts in 1933 when he studies at Ohio State University, where he has a great track record.
The movie shows the early life and struggles he faces on the names of ‘racism,’ how Jesse Owens crosses every barrier, and gained respect and fame.
Stephan James, as Owen, is disciplined and respectable. James is so very well capable of expressing and portraying such an enigmatic iconic character.
There are chances that you might have missed watching this amazing movie. Race gives to its audience inspiration and social message.
Icarus
Icarus is a sports documentary film by Bryan Fogel that reveals the darker side of sports. Everybody knows how glamorous a sports world can be, but we never really get to see what’s the true story behind it.
Often, we read or hear over the news about doping secrets. ‘Icarus’ seeks to find out the truth about doping in sports, politics, and the filthy money-making business.
The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
‘Icarus’ is one of the best sports documentary movies on Netflix that is hard to ignore. You will get to know about the secrets that you have never dreamed of.
The Battered Bastards of Baseball
Another sports documentary film that is exceptionally well-crafted. This is a film about the baseball team Portland Mavericks owned by actor Bing Russell, where he accepted those players who had been rejected from any other organized baseball.
The documentary film is an inspiring tale of a man and his love for the game. The movie received positive reviews and ratings from both the critics and the audience with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 100%.
Invictus
Clint Eastwood’s 2009 sports biographical movie ‘Invictus’ starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman in the lead is yet another one of the best sports movies on Netflix to watch.
The story is based on the book “Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation” by John Carline.
When Nelson Mandela released from prison after 27 years and elected the first black president of South Africa, the entire nation was in a critical situation.
After the Apartheid, President Nelson Mandela took a bold decision to reunite his people by supporting the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Conclusion:
So, I hope this will help you in finding and understanding why the above sports movies are the best on Netflix, and I am recommending it.