25. Major League (1989)
Director: David S. Ward
Cast: Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Rene Russo
This quintessential baseball comedy stars Charlie Sheen as pitcher Ricky 'Wild Thing' Vaughn. The Cleveland Indians owner purposely assembles the worst team possible so the team will lose and she can move them. trailer
24. Mystery, Alaska (1999)
Director: Jay Roach
Cast: Russell Crowe, Burt Reynolds, Hank Azaria
Russell Crowe as a hockey player with magnificent hockey hair, what isn't there to like? A small town Alaska team takes on the New York Rangers on the outdoor rink. trailer
23. The Rocket (2005)
Director: Charles Binamé
Cast: Roy Dupuis, Julie LeBreton
The true story of Canadiens great Maurice Richard. Roy Dupuis is great as Richard and the movie is captivating from start to finish. trailer
22. Miracle (2004)
Director: Gavin O'Connor
Cast: Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Noah Emmerich
When a group of amateur US players beat a heavily favoured Soviet team at the 1980 Winter Olympic games, it became one of the top sporting moments of the 20th century. This movie perfectly captures the events leading up to the big game. trailer
21. Happy Gilmore (1996)
Director: Dennis Dugan
Cast: Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald
Vintage Adam Sandler at his best. It's almost impossible to spend a day on the golf course without a quote from this one. "He shouldn't have been standing there." trailer
20. A League of Their Own (1992)
Director: Penny Marshall
Cast: Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Madonna
"There's no crying in baseball!" Where would we be without that line? A women's baseball league is thrown together while the men are off at war. Tom Hanks is hilarious as the Rockford Peaches manager, an alcoholic ex baseball player. trailer
19. Bull Durham (1988)
Director: Ron Shelton
Cast: Kevin Costner, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon
Bull Durham is much more than just a baseball comedy, it's an all around great movie. Robbins and Costner play off each other perfectly in the roles of the rookie pitcher and the veteran catcher brought into mentor him. trailer
18. Caddyshack (1980)
Cast: Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray
Worth the watch for Bill Murray alone. This golf comedy features some of the greats: a young Murray, a fresh faced Chase, and the usual schtick from Dangerfield. After watching this movie, you will receive total consciousness. At least you've got that going for ya. trailer
17. Remember the Titans (2000)
Cast: Denzel Washington, Ryan Gosling, Will Patton
A movie about race as much as it is about football. Denzel Washington stars as Coach Herman Boone who takes over a high school football team previously coached by a caucasian coach. trailer
16. The Sandlot (1993)
Cast: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna
Baseball will always be synonymous with The Sandlot, "For-ev-er". A newcomer to town joins a group of friends that spends the summer playing ball, just like all of us wish for. Don't be an L-7 weenie, watch it if you haven't seen it. trailer
15. Cinderella Man (2005)
Director: Ron Howard
Cast: Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger, Paul Giamatti
Great performances from Crowe and Giamatti are the highlight in this true story about underdog boxer James Braddock, an impoverished fighter during the 1930's. trailer
14. Win Win (2011)
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale
Not a lot of people saw this movie but you're missing out if you did. The film received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for best screenplay and Giamatti delivers the best performance of his career. trailer
13. Friday Night Lights (2004)
Director: Peter Berg
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Tim McGraw, Connie Britton
There are few sports more fascinating than high school football in the state of Texas, and this film manages to capture it perfectly. The Permian Panthers and their coach (Thornton) must survive their season after star player Boobie Miles is injured. trailer
12. The Hurricane (1999)
Cast: Denzel Washington, Vicellous Reon Shannon, Liev Schreiber
The true story of boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a title contender who is accused of triple murder and imprisoned in 1967. His fight to prove his innocence is aided by a young man who is moved to action by Carter's autobiography. trailer
11. Hoosiers (1986)
Cast: Gene Hackman, Dennis Hopper, Barbara Hershey
High school basketball in Indiana is what high school football is to Texas. One of the first great sports movies I can remember watching and one of the greats of all time. trailer
10. Rudy (1993)
Cast: Sean Astin, Jon Favreau, Ned Beatty
Rudy is the ultimate underdog story. Diminutive football player Daniel 'Rudy' Ruettiger always had the dream of playing college football for Notre Dame. He will do whatever it takes just for one shot with the team. trailer
9. Ali (2001)
Cast: Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight
I have always been fascinated by Muhammad Ali and this movie added to that. No one could have portrayed Ali better than Smith, and he gives a career performance. Talented director Michael Mann created some of the most realistic boxing scenes in film. trailer
8. Slap Shot (1977)
Cast: Paul Newman, Michael Ontkean
The best sports comedy there is and the greatest hockey movie there will ever be. I know every quote from this movie ten times over and so do most hockey players. Just don't watch the sequels. trailer
7. Moneyball (2011)
Cast: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman
One of the first great movies allowing a glimpse behind the scenes of a major sports team. This one is the true story of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane (Pitt) and his quest to make his team great despite a limited budget. Jonah Hill gives an understated yet great performance as Beane's understudy. trailer
6. Field of Dreams (1989)
Director: Phil Alden Robinson
Cast: Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta
"If you build it, he will come." There aren't many more recognizable and famous lines than this one. A touching baseball movie that will bring a tear to any son's eyes. trailer
5. The Fighter (2010)
Director: David O. Russell
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo, Amy Adams
Christian Bale delivers one of the great acting performances in the history of film as the addict brother of real life boxer "Irish" Mickey Ward. Do not miss this for Bale's performance alone. trailer
4. Rocky (1976)
Director: John G. Avildsen
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young
The first great boxing movie and perhaps the first great sports movie. Rocky is the rags to riches story of debt collector turned heavyweight contender, Rocky Balboa. trailer
3. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Cast: Hillary Swank, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman
Old-time boxing trainer Frankie Dunn (Eastwood) reluctantly works with a determined female boxer. The story is much more than a boxing movie, but one that focuses on life and relationships. Just another of Eastwood's great works of art. trailer
2. Raging Bull (1980)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci
The boxing scenes in this classic are done so well it's as if you can feel the power of the boxing gloves connecting with your nose. It's hard to believe this movie was made in 1980, it stands the test of time. Scorsese and De Niro really deliver, they always do. trailer
1. The Wrestler (2008)
Cast: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
I'm ashamed to admit I never knew much about Mickey Rourke before The Wrestler. His magnificent performance has stayed with me since the day I saw this movie. All of Randy "The Ram" Robinson's pain becomes your pain as he struggles with life outside of the wrestling ring. trailer
Honourable Mentions: Cool Runnings, Angels in the Outfield, *61, Prefontaine, The Mighty Ducks, Invictus, Invincible, Warrior
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