Best Sports Movies of All-Time
“She’s The Man”
While people may not immediately associate rom-coms and sports movies, this 2006 film is the perfect mix of them both.
“She’s The Man” stars Amanda Bynes as a high school soccer player, Viola, who has high hopes of playing soccer at the University of North Carolina. However, when her school cuts the girl’s soccer program, she takes her brother's place at her rival all-boys school. Viola takes on the persona of Sebastian and takes on the challenge of playing on the team without her secret persona being discovered.
Channing Tatum plays Bynes’ romantic interest and while this isn’t the most believable plot line, it is a funny and heartwarming story once the viewer gets past some of the logistics of Viola’s charade.
This may not be the most critically acclaimed sports movie but it is an extremely fun watch. Bynes received a lot of praise for her comedic performance in this movie and it is considered to be her most iconic role.
While the premise of “She’s The Man” is definitely odd, it is one of the funniest sports movies to date. – Sophia D’Ovidio
“Blades of Glory”
There may not be a sports movie with a funnier cast than “Blades of Glory.” This 2007 film stars Will Ferrell and Jon Heder as Chazz Michael Michaels and Jimmy MacElroy, respectively.
Once rivals, these banned figure skaters desperately want to get back to competing since their ban. The opportunity presents itself as Chazz and Jimmy are forced to team up to become the first male-pairs team.
The cast also includes other notably funny actors such as Amy Poehler and Will Arnett who play the sibling skating duo who are threatened by Chazz and Jimmy. They enlist their younger sister Katie, played by Jenna Fisher to try and tear their competition apart.
It is not surprising that a movie with a cast this stacked would be as hilarious as it is, but it is truly one of the funniest sports movies. Similar to most of his work, Ferell is the clear star of the movie, putting on one of his funniest performances to date.
Even if ice skating isn’t someone’s favorite sport, “Blades of Glory” is guaranteed to make any of its viewers laugh. – Sophia D’Ovidio
“Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story”
“Dodgeball” is considered by many to be one of the funniest slapstick movies there is.
This movie is filled to the brim with quotable moments like “If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball!”
With an all-star cast including Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Christine Taylor and many more, it is hard not to be sucked into its comedic moments.
Besides all the funny moments of the film, it is a true 2000s classic that delivers a heartfelt story of average Joes coming together to defeat the most athletic dodgeball team there is so they can keep their gym.
Ironically, this movie is about dodgeball and making a movie around a kid’s game, especially a good one, is a hard thing to do and this movie did it perfectly.
This underdog movie accomplishes another feat by becoming one of the best sports movies there is. – Ethan Hetrick
“Rocky”
This movie is one of the greatest sports films ever made and arguably one of the best movies ever.
This 1970s classic stars Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa or the “Italian Stallion” who is the definition of a true underdog to step into a ring and nearly win against boxing star Apollo Creed.
The inspiring tale of watching a broke street boxer manage to rise to the top and nearly wins provides an inspirational message for all.
Plus, the “Eye of Tiger” and training montages gets the blood pumping through anyone. This movie is so iconic that it affects the real world.
The movie managed to make broke and homeless Stallone into one Hollywood’s most famous actors to ever exist.
It also touched the city of Philadelphia so much that they created a statue to honor “Rocky.”
This movie is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, sports movies to ever exist. – Ethan Hetrick
Sophia D’Ovidio is a first-year majoring in communications. To contact her email at sgd5185@psu.edu.
Ethan Hetrick is a first-year majoring in communications. To contact him email eth5186@psu.email.
