Rocky running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. A Vangelis score accompanying two sprinters persevering against all odds. A dad and son on a ghostly Iowan cornfield, playing catch. Sports movies just have a way of worming their way into our hearts, and their inspirational quality is a huge part of that appeal.
Athletic competition is rife with underdog stories, with dozens of scrappy upstarts who no one thought could ever win, but audiences couldn’t help but fall in love with. Some are based on true events, while others are born out of writers’ imaginations, but they’re all hard not to root for. Here are seven inspiring sports movies to watch ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
