Sport Films
Generally of the inspiring-true-story, triumph-of-the-little-guy variety, films about competitive sports and the people who play them are hugely successful in sports-mad USA. And they're catching on here. Get ready to sit back with a cold one and demonstrate your armchair referee skills - bearing in mind that you may just need to keep box of tissues handy.
Pictured: Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones in seminal baseball film, 'Field of Dreams'.
Shiner (2001)
6/10
Director: John Irvin
Starring: Michael Caine, Martin Landau, Frances Barber, Andy Serkis, Frank Harper, Claire...
Michael Caine stars as Billy 'Shiner' Simpson, an East End boxing promoter with big ideas. In a crucial match which could lead to a place in the world... Read more
Slap Shot (1977)
7.4/10
Director: George Roy Hill
Starring: Strother Martin, Paul Newman, Michael Ontkean, Lindsay Crouse, Jerry Houser, Jen...
Paul Newman plays an ageing player-coach of an ice hockey team who's a loser until he instructs the members of his team to behave like 'animals' durin... Read more
Southpaw (2015)
7.4/10
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, Rachel McAdams, Naomie Harris, Curtis '50 Cent...
Billy "The Great" Hope, the reigning junior middleweight boxing champion, has an impressive career, a loving wife and daughter, and a lavish lifestyle... Read more
Southpaw (Blu-ray) (2015)
7.4/10
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, Rachel McAdams, Naomie Harris, Curtis '50 Cent...
Billy "The Great" Hope, the reigning junior middleweight boxing champion, has an impressive career, a loving wife and daughter, and a lavish lifestyle... Read more
Speed Racer (2008)
6/10
Director: The Wachowski Brothers
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Benno...
From the creators of "The Matrix" trilogy comes this live-action adaptation of the popular anime series. He's a demon on wheels and ace driver Speed R... Read more
Split Decisions (1988)
5.2/10
Director: David Drury
Starring: Gene Hackman, Craig Sheffer, Jeff Fahey
When a boxer is killed because he wouldn't take a dive, his brother tries to find a way to avenge him even if only symbolically. Read more
Stealing Home (1988)
6.6/10
Starring: Mark Harmon, Blair Brown, Jonathan Silverman, Harold Ramis, John Shea, Jodie Fos...
Ex baseball player Billy comes home to receive his childhood darling's ashes (suicide). He reminisces. Read more
Sumo Do, Sumo Don't (1991)
7.3/10
Director: Masayuki Suo
Starring: Masahiro Motoki, Misa Shimizu, Naoto Takenaka, Masaaki Takarai, Hiromasa Tagushi...
With his grades sliding at university, Shuhei's professor gets the cunning idea of blackmailing him into joining the Sumo wrestling team. Shuhei begru... Read more
Surfwise (2007)
7.3/10
Director: Doug Pray
The amazing true life odyssey of a Malibu doctor who decided to leave behind the lifestyle of mainstream America and seek self-fulfillment by taking u... Read more
Swimming Upstream (2002)
6.4/10
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Judy Davis, Tim Draxl, Jesse Spencer
Based on the true story of a youth from Brisbane, Australia, who overcame family dysfunction to become a world-class athlete, director Russell Mulcahy... Read more