Sports movies can be inspiring and uplifting for the entire family, but knowing which ones are good and which ones fall flat can be tricky.
This list of classic sports movie reviews was put together by Rotten Tomatoes, offering four options for movies that may have sports themes but that speak to the competitive and human spirit in everyone.
The Tomatometer reading included with each is
a special feature of Rotten Tomatoes – the higher the percentage, the better the movie ranked with reviewers.
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“Field of Dreams”
This ‘80s classic starring Kevin Costner is one all family members can easily get behind. It has an 86 percent rating on the Tomatometer, and features James Earl Jones in a supporting role. With a solid cast and great storyline, Dreams is an uplifting film.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, of the Chicago Reader, said of the movie, “The conception is sentimental, but the storytelling remains assured and effective.”
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“Hoosiers”
Perhaps one of the most popular basketball movies ever made,
“Hoosiers” is a classic sports tale about the underdog winning it all. With an 88 percent Tomatometer rating, it’s liked by many people. The critical consensus for the movie reads, “It may adhere to the sports underdog formula, but Hoosiers has been made with such loving craft, and features such excellent performances, that it's hard to resist.”
The film was nominated for two Oscars and received praise from both Sports Illustrated and ESPN as “The best sports movie of all time.”
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“Invictus”
Rated PG-13, “Invictus” details the efforts of Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) to unite the country of South Africa together following apartheid. Mandela chose rugby as the uniting force, and Matt Damon’s performance capped off splendid directing by Clint Eastwood to deliver a hard-hitting, well-paced movie.
The film, which has a 72 percent on the Tomatometer, is rated PG-13 for brief strong language, but
Dave Calhoun of Time Out! said the film was, “A noble and compassionate work that in its later scenes manages successfully to invest our emotions in the triumph of an important - if overlong! - sporting victory.”
“Rocky”
The movie that launched this popular series has a 92 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it drew in varied reviews, including
this gem from TimeOut: “Rocky is an old-fashioned fairytale brilliantly revamped to chime in with the depressed mood of the '70s.” A classic example of will and determination overcoming tremendous odds – and the success of the underdog – Rocky is a classic favorite.
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