Finding cool ways to stay entertained in your spare time is something everyone loves to do, and movies have been a long-standing giant of the entertainment world. There is just something about the silver screen and the escapism it offers that pulls people in every time. This is even more true now that digital streaming services such as Netflix make accessing top films so easy.
If you love to watch movies, then you will most likely have certain genres you gravitate towards. Sports films are one genre that remains a big draw for many. This is no surprise when you consider how popular sports are in society still and how widely they are followed. It is not just playing sports which people love to do either.
Recently, betting on sports has really taken off. This has been helped a lot by the 2018 decision from the US Supreme Court to strike down the PASPA Act. This decision allowed individual states to legalize sports betting if they wished and suddenly made sports betting a fun, legitimate pastime for many people. As a result, following the latest sports betting tips and news to place bets from is now a popular activity. When you think about the rise of sports betting and the enduring place sports have in our hearts, it is perhaps no wonder sports films do so well still.
But which are the best sports movies to watch?
Any Given Sunday
With the poster tagline of ‘Life is a contact sport’, you know that this movie will deliver raw action and drama. Released in 1999, it is one of the best sports films ever and certainly one of the best about football. It tells the story of a fictional team (the Miami Sharks) and their road to a championship final game. For many, there are three things which make this film so amazing.
The action is realistic and looks great, while Oliver Stone brings his usual pizazz to proceedings. The cherry on the cake though is the eye-wateringly fantastic cast. Al Pacino is reliably intense as Head Coach Tony D’Amato, but there are also Jamie Foxx, Randy Quaid, Cameron Diaz and James Woods to enjoy. The acting chops they bring to the screen makes this a superb sports flick to watch. In addition, there are some cool cameos from top ex-pros, such as Pat Toomay and Johnny Unitas.
Cool Runnings
If you want high-octane thrills to watch, then the rush of bobsleighing is a good bet. Although there are not many movies based on this sport, this most famous example is pretty good. Cool Runnings came out in 1993 and was a surprise hit across the globe. It is loosely based on the true story of how Jamaica got a bobsled team to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Alberta. With energetic turns from Doug E Doug and Rawle D Lewis, this movie is also full of some exciting bobsled action to enjoy. John Candy also pops up to add his usual goofy charm as the disgraced coach the team hire to get them ready to compete.
Days of Thunder
Any film which has Tom Cruise playing a lead character called ‘Cole Trickle’ has to be worth a look! When you also add in great support from Nicole Kidman as his love interest and the high-octane world of NASCAR racing, it gets even better. Robert Duvall also pops up as a veteran crew chief to light the screen up and Michael Rooker puts in a great turn as Cruise’s nemesis ‘Rowdy Burns’. The driving sequences are fast and furious, which really helps make it a top watch for sports fans. With cool music from Hans Zimmer to make it sound as awesome as it looks, this 1990 classic is a great way to spend a few hours.
Sports films are perfect for drama and excitement
The competitive nature of sports — both on and off the field — lends itself perfectly to great filmmaking. The above are just some of the adrenaline filled movies this genre includes. When you think of films like Rocky, Raging Bull and The Hustler, it gets even better. If you ever have some spare time and need something dramatic to fill it, then choosing from the best sporting flicks is worth thinking about. Even if you normally go for something like James Gunn’s recent ‘Suicide Squad’ film, sporting films are a nice change of pace to enjoy.
