The following 5 films make up our favorite motivational sports movies for teaching us about sportsmanship, determination, teamwork, and chasing our dreams.
- Rudy
Rudy tells the story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger who is an average kid with big dreams of playing football for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame University. This film is a marvelous underdog story that makes most who watch it well-up with tears.
Despite his limited athleticism and all of the obstacles along the way, Rudy never gives up on his dream, and with persistence, he makes it on the team. Rudy is not a movie about an exceptional athlete but the story of a determined young man who by the end of the film, is hoisted on his teammate’ shoulders as the crowd chants his name.
2. The Rookie
The Rookie is the true story of Jim Morris, a high school science teacher and baseball coach who never had a chance to pursue a baseball career when he was younger.
His students believe in him so much that they get him to promise them to try out for the upcoming Major League baseball camp. Despite being 35, Jim Morris is offered a chance to pitch by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Morris, thanks to the support of his family, community, and students, is empowered to follow his dreams. He goes on to spends two seasons in the MLB.
3. Miracle
Miracle is the inspirational story of the U.S. Men’s Hockey team and their underdog victory at the 1980 Winter Olympics over the Soviet Union. The movie stars Kurt Russell as USA head coach Herb Brooks.
Those who were alive during the 1980 Olympics will tell you that the movie, Miracle, beautifully captures the drama of that time.
4. A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own is a sports comedy-drama film that tells a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League(AAGPBL). A League of their Own is light and inspiring.
The movie begins as a candy-bar tycoon enlists agents to seek women who could play baseball while most of the men at that time are away at war. Two sisters, Dottie (Geena Davis) who can hit and catch, and Kit (Lori Petty), who can throw a mean fastball, are discovered.
The team’s coach is a broken-down alcoholic played by Tom Hanks. Inspired by the team and after a few weeks of training, as Dugan sobers up, the team begins to show some promise. By the end of the season, the team has improved to the point where they are competing in the World Series.
5. Remember the Titans
In 1971, two schools in Alexandria, Virginia integrate forming T.C. Williams High School. The white head coach of the Titans is replaced by an African American coach from North Carolina.
Remember The Titans is based on a true story that tells the story of one coach’s struggle to integrate a high school football team who are made up of different races.
Tensions are eased during the two-week training camp in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. However, when the players returned to Alexandria, they find their city in turmoil due to those who oppose the desegregation of the high schools. But as the season progresses, the team’s success and their perfect season causes the community to accept the changes and see that unity is possible.