List of sports films

This compilation of films covers all sports activities. Sports films have been made since the era of silent films, such as the 1915 film The Champion starring Charlie Chaplin. Films in this genre can range from serious to silly. A classic theme for sports films is the triumph of an individual or team who prevail despite the difficulties, standard elements of melodrama.

Team sport

Cheerleading and dance

Title	Year	Genre	Notes
Debbie Does Dallas	1978	Adult	Pornographic film, no connection to the Dallas Cowboys or their cheerleaders.
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders	1979	Drama	Made-for-TV drama about the famous NFL cheerleading squad.
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders II	1980	Drama	TV sequel to the 1979 movie.
Laker Girls	1990	Drama	Television film about the Los Angeles basketball dance team.
Willing to Kill: The Texas Cheerleader Story	1992	Drama	TV film based on Wanda Holloway's 1991 attempt to hire a hit man to kill the mother of her daughter's cheerleading rival. With Lesley Ann Warren as Holloway.
The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom	1993	Comedy	A more light-hearted TV movie also based on the Wanda Holloway story, with Emmy-winning performances by Holly Hunter and Beau Bridges.
A Friend to Die For	1994	Drama	Tori Spelling and Kellie Martin in a TV film based on a California cheerleader's murder.
But I'm a Cheerleader	1999	Romance	Natasha Lyonne as a cheerleader whose parents disapprove of her personal life.
Bring It On	2000	Comedy	A clash between rival cheerleading squads, starring Kirsten Dunst.
Sugar & Spice	2001	Comedy	Minnesota high school girls rob a bank. With Mena Suvari and James Marsden.
All Cheerleaders Die	2001	Horror comedy
Gotta Kick It Up!	2002	Family comedy	Television film based on true story about middle schoolers.
Cheerleader Queens	2003	Comedy	Thai film
Bring It On Again	2004	Comedy	Sequel to the 2000 film.
Bring It On: All or Nothing	2006	Comedy	Second sequel to the 2000 film.
Bring It On: In It to Win It	2007	Comedy	Third sequel to the 2000 film.
Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal	2008	Drama	Based on controversial true events involving five girls from Texas.
Bring It On: Fight to the Finish	2009	Comedy	Fourth sequel to the 2000 film.
Fired Up!	2009	Comedy	Football players con their way into a cheerleading camp.
Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader	2012	Comedy	An experimental drug makes a cheerleader grow 10 times her normal size.
All Cheerleaders Die	2013	Horror comedy	Remake of the 2001 film.
Daughters of the Sexual Revolution	2018	Documentary	Documentary about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Lacrosse

Individual sport

Caving

Title	Year	Genre	Notes
The Descent	2005	Horror	A caving expedition goes horribly wrong as the explorers become trapped and pursued by predators.
The Cave	2005	Horror	Bloodthirsty creatures await a pack of divers who become trapped in an underwater cave network.
The Descent Part 2	2009	Horror	Sequel to the 2005 film.
Sanctum	2011	Adventure	An underwater team experiences a crisis during an expedition to unexplored cave system.

Martial arts

Note: Films should not be listed here unless the sporting aspects of martial arts play a major part in the plot.

Title	Year	Genre	Style	Notes
Sanshiro Sugata	1943	Action	Jujutsu Judo
Sanshiro Sugata Part II	1943	Action	Judo
Enter the Dragon	1973	Action	Jeet Kune Do Kung Fu	Bruce Lee's final screen appearance before his death.
Cordão de Ouro	1977	Action	Capoeira
Knightriders	1981	Drama
The Karate Kid	1984	Family	Karate	Retired karate master Mr. Miyagi instructs a newcomer.
The Karate Kid Part II	1986	Family	Karate	Sequel to the 1984 hit.
No Retreat, No Surrender	1986	Action, drama	MMA	A Seattle boy ends up fighting a Russian martial-arts star.
Bloodsport	1988	Action	MMA	Frank Dux, a Canadian, enters a competition in Hong Kong.
The Karate Kid Part III	1989	Family	Karate	Second sequel to the 1984 film.
Best of the Best	1989	Action	Tae Kwon Do	Americans take on Koreans in a tae kwon do tournament. Eric Roberts stars.
Kickboxer	1989	Action	Kickboxing Muay Thai	An American and his brother end up in a life-or-death competition in Asia.
Hard to Kill	1990	Action	Aikido
Out For Justice	1991	Action	Aikido
Sidekicks	1992	Action	Karate	A boy with asthma fantasizes about being taught by Chuck Norris, and gets to compete alongside him in a tournament.
3 Ninjas	1992	Family	Ninjutsu	Three boys learn ninjutsu from their Japanese grandfather.
Only the Strong	1993	Action	Capoeira	An ex-Green Beret uses martial arts against Miami drug dealers.
The Next Karate Kid	1994	Family	Karate	Another sequel, this time with a girl as Mr. Miyagi's apt pupil.
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie	1994	Action	Various
Street Fighter	1994	Action	Various
Mortal Kombat	1995	Action	Various	Based on the video game.
The Quest	1996	Action	MMA	In 1925, a pickpocket flees America and ends up fighting for his life near Siam.
A Fighter's Blues	2000	Drama	Muay Thai	Andy Lau's 100th film role.
Undisputed	2002	Action	Boxing	Television film about a boxing match inside a prison.
Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior	2003	Action	Muay Thai
Johnny	2003	Drama	Muay Thai
Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi	2003	Drama	Muay Thai
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing	2006	Action	MMA	Sequel to 2002 prison fight film, with a different cast.
DOA: Dead or Alive	2006	Action	Various	Four females enter a tournament.
Fearless	2006	Biography	Various	Biography of Chinese Martial Arts Master Huo Yuanjia, who is the founder and spiritual guru of the Jin Wu Sports Federation.
Redbelt	2007	Drama	MMA	An instructor reluctantly enters a tournament. Written and directed by David Mamet.
Never Back Down	2008	Action, drama	MMA	An Orlando, Florida high school boy discovers martial arts.
Champions	2008	Action	Wushu
Ip Man	2008	Action, drama	Wing Chun
Besouro	2009	Action	Capoeira
Blood and Bone	2009	Action	MMA
Fighting	2009	Action, drama	MMA	A New York street hustler reneges on a guarantee to lose a big fight.
Tekken	2009	Action	MMA
Ip Man 2	2010	Action, drama	Wing Chun
The Karate Kid	2010	Family	Kung Fu	Remake of the 1984 film with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith. Unlike original film, and despite title, this version involves kung fu instead of karate.
The King of Fighters	2010	Action	Various	Science-fiction story involving a thief.
Knucklehead	2010	Comedy	MMA	An amateur wrestler enters a $100,000 tournament in New Orleans.
Ong Bak 3	2010	Action	Muay Thai
Undisputed III: Redemption	2010	Action	MMA	A convict is taken to Russia for a fight behind bars.
Warrior	2011	Action, drama	MMA	Brothers fight for an MMA championship, one trained by their dad.
Never Back Down 2	2011	Action	MMA	Sequel to the 2008 film.
Here Comes the Boom	2012	Comedy	MMA	Kevin James stars as a teacher who moonlights as a UFC competitor.
Unbeatable	2013	Drama	MMA	Hong Kong film
A Grande Vitória	2014	Drama	Judo	Brazilian film
Brothers	2015	Drama	MMA	Bollywood film and official remake of Warrior.
Ip Man 3	2015	Action drama	Wing Chun
Notorious Nick	2018	Drama	MMA	Biographical film about Nick Newell.
Chuck & Tito	2019	Documentary	MMA	Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Chronicles the up-and-down relationship between two of the major figures in MMA history, Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz.
Be Water	2020	Documentary	Various	Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Examination of the life and legacy of Bruce Lee as an icon of both film and martial arts as the 80th anniversary of his birth approaches.
Cagefighter: Worlds Collide	2020	Drama	MMA	Made for TV. A successful MMA champion agrees to defend his title against a pro wrestler, only to find himself in the toughest fight of his life.

Snowboarding

Surfing

Title	Year	Genre	Notes
Gidget	1959	Romantic comedy	A 17-year-old California girl is introduced to surfing and the guys who do it.
Beach Party	1963	Comedy	Surfer Frankie tries to succeed on his board and with Annette Funicello, too.
The Endless Summer	1966	Documentary	Follows Mike Hynson and Robert August on a trip around the world, plus other prominent surfers.
Big Wednesday	1978	Drama	Leroy and Matt as California surfers during the Vietnam War years.
North Shore	1987	Action	Arizona boy moves to Hawaii in attempt to become a pro surfer.
Back to the Beach	1987	Comedy	Annette and Frankie reunited for one more beach movie.
Surf Nazis Must Die	1987	Comedy	Nonsense about rival surf gangs feuding in earthquake-struck California.
A Scene at the Sea	1991	Drama	Japanese film about a trash collector learning how to surf.
Point Break	1991	Action	Crime caper about FBI agent and bank-robbing surfer.
Surf Ninjas	1993	Comedy	Teen surfers from L.A. discover they are actually Asian princes at war with Colonel Chi.
The Endless Summer II	1994	Documentary	Pat O'Connell and Robert "Wingnut" Weaver retrace steps of Hynson and August from Endless Summer.
Blue Juice	1995	Drama	Romance with Sean Pertwee, Ewan McGregor, Catherine Zeta-Jones.
In God's Hands	1998	Action drama	Teen boys travel thousands of miles seeking the ultimate wave.
7 Girls	2001	Documentary	Focuses on the surfing lives of seven prominent female surfers.
Blue Crush	2002	Drama	A young woman surfs Oahu's North Shore, meets a Pro Bowl football player.
Step into Liquid	2003	Documentary	Director Dana Brown explores sport's evolution since his dad's Endless Summer II, including tow-in surfing.
Riding Giants	2004	Documentary	A historical overview of the sport, focusing primarily on big wave surfing.
Surf's Up	2007	Comedy	Animated mockumentary
Shelter	2007	Drama	Gay men meet, surf and hope to live together as a family.
Surfwise	2008	Documentary	Life of the Paskowitz family.
Surfer, Dude	2009	Comedy	Steve Addington impatiently waits for a big wave to come along.
Blue Crush 2	2010	Drama	Sequel to 2002 film with all-new cast surfing in South Africa.
Soul Surfer	2011	Drama	Biographical film on the life of Bethany Hamilton.
Chasing Mavericks	2012	Drama	Biographical film on the life of Jay Moriarity.
Hawaiian: Legend of Eddie Aikau	2013	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Biographical film on big-wave surfer Eddie Aikau, whose death inspired a spiritual movement.
Drift	2013	Drama	Australian film about 1970s surfing innovators, starring Sam Worthington.
Surf's Up 2: WaveMania	2017	Comedy	Sequel to Surf's Up, where Codey and friends team up with the stars of WWE to surf on Palisade.
Unstoppable	2018	Documentary	A more recent examination of Bethany Hamilton's life, from childhood to shark attack victim, professional surfer, wife, and mother.

Wrestling

Note: Lucha films are not included in this list. Although they feature luchadores as the lead characters, the luchadores typically portray heroes within non-wrestling stories.

Title	Year	Genre	Discipline	Notes
Take Down	1979	Comedy, drama	Scholastic wrestling	Lorenzo Lamas stars as a high school wrestler.
Lurich	1984	Drama	Greco-Roman	Biographical film on the career of Georg Lurich.
Vision Quest	1985	Drama	Scholastic	Matthew Modine stars as a high school wrestler.
Over the Top	1987	Drama	Arm wrestling	Truck driver Lincoln "Linc" Hawk enters an arm-wrestling competition.
Spooner	1989	Drama	Scholastic	Made for TV, premiered on the Disney Channel, stars Robert Urich.
Reversal	2001	Romantic drama	Scholastic	Story of a Pennsylvania high school athlete.
The Backyard	2002	Documentary	Backyard wrestling	Documentary film examining backyard wrestling.
Going to the Mat	2004	Family comedy	Scholastic	Made for TV, premiered on the Disney Channel, stars Andrew Lawrence.
Personal Effects	2008	Drama	Wrestling	Stars Ashton Kutcher and Michelle Pfeiffer.
The Streak	2008	Documentary	Scholastic	Made-for-TV movie that was included in ESPN's 30 for 30 series. The story of the wrestling program at Brandon High School in Florida and their 439-match winning streak that spanned 3 decades
Legendary	2010	Drama	Scholastic	Oklahoma teen is coached by his older brother.
The Hammer	2010	Drama	Collegiate wrestling	Biographical film about a deaf college wrestler.
Win Win	2011	Comedy, drama	Scholastic	Broke lawyer Mike Flaherty becomes a boy's coach and guardian.
Foxcatcher	2014	Drama	Freestyle wrestling	Channing Tatum in a true story about Olympic wrestler Mark Schultz, his brother Dave, and the events leading up to Dave's murder by their benefactor, John du Pont.
Lost in Wrestling	2015	Drama
The Prince of Pennsylvania	2015	Documentary	Freestyle	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Another look at the Schultz–du Pont case.
Dangal	2016	Drama	Freestyle	Starring Aamir Khan as Mahavir Singh Phogat, who taught wrestling to his daughters Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari.
American Wrestler: The Wizard	2016	Drama	Scholastic	In 1980, a teenage Iranian immigrant moves to a California town and joins a high school wrestling team.
Godha	2017	Drama	Freestyle	Starring Renji Panicker as Captain and Wamiqa Gabbi as Aditi Singh.
The Iron Claw	2023	Drama	Wrestling	Biographical film about the sons of Fritz Von Erich achieving success in wrestling
Queen of the Ring	2024	Drama	Wrestling	Biographical film about Mildred Burke.

Other

Multiple sport movies

Note: This category is for films about sports in general or films about athletes participating in multiple sports. This category is not for films featuring the Olympics, Paralympics, X Games and other similar "games" which fall under the "Multi-sport games/Olympics" category. Films featuring specific sports should be listed under that specific sport.

Title	Year	Genre	Notes
Jim Thorpe – All-American	1951	Biographical	Story of famed Native American athlete who excelled at football, baseball and track & field, starring Burt Lancaster.
June 17th, 1994	2010	Documentary	Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Examines the sporting events of the day in question, among them the opening of the FIFA World Cup, the NBA Finals, the last U.S. Open round of Arnold Palmer, and the New York Rangers' Stanley Cup celebration—all overshadowed by O. J. Simpson's run from the police.
The Dotted Line	2011	Documentary	Part of ESPN Films Collection - The Dotted Line is an in-depth look at what it takes to be a big-time agent in the fiercely competitive world of major league sports.
Broke	2012	Documentary	Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series examining pro athletes propensity to waste their millions
Head Games	2012	Documentary	Athletes from the professional to the youth levels share their personal struggles dealing with concussions
Branded	2013	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's Nine for IX series. A thought provoking look at the double standard placed on female athletes to be the best players on the field/courts and the sexiest off them
Let Them Wear Towels	2013	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's Nine for IX series. Examines the obstacles that women sports journalists faced as they fought to gain access to the "boys' club" of male locker rooms
Schooled: The Price of College Sports	2013	Documentary	Examines the billion-dollar enterprise of college sports built on the backs of unpaid student athletes.
Equestria Girls	2015	Musical	Made for TV, a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic spin-off film about two schools and a "Friendship Games".
Point Break	2015	Action, drama	A young FBI agent infiltrates an extraordinary team of extreme sports athletes he suspects of masterminding a string of corporate heists. A remake of the 1991 film of the same name
Believeland	2016	Documentary	Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Follows the history of sports in Cleveland since the city's last major title in 1964, including heartbreaks such as The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot, The Move, and The Decision. Airings after the Cavaliers won the NBA title in 2016 include a new ending.
Student Athlete	2018	Documentary	HBO made-for-TV documentary, produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, criticizing the NCAA for alleged exploitation of college athletes.
Deion's Double Play	2019	Documentary	Entry in ESPN's 30 for 30 series focusing on Deion Sanders, specifically a 24-hour period in 1992 when he played in two Major League Baseball postseason games and an NFL game in cities separated by 1,000 miles.

Multi-sport games/Olympics

Note: Films featuring the Olympics, Paralympics, X Games, and other similar events are included. Films featuring specific sports featured in the games should be listed under that specific sport

Title	Year	Genre	Notes
Spartakiada	1929	Documentary	Silent propaganda piece recapping athletic competitions held in Moscow in 1928.
Charlie Chan at the Olympics	1937	Mystery	Charlie Chan's oldest son is chosen to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Olympia Part 1: Festival of Nations	1938	Documentary	Leni Reifenstahl's Nazi propaganda film chronicling the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Olympia Part 2: Festival of Beauty	1938	Documentary	Leni Reifenstahl's Nazi propaganda film chronicling the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Kings of the Olympics	1948	Documentary	American film mostly culled from Olympia, Riefenstahl film on 1936 Summer Olympics.
Olympia 52	1952	Documentary	French film about 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.
Geordie	1955	Comedy	A not-so-wee Scot goes to Australia for the 1956 Summer Olympics.
The Grand Olympics	1961	Documentary	A look back at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
Tokyo Olympiad	1965	Documentary	A look back at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Japan.
13 jours en France	1968	Documentary	A documentary about the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble.
The Olympics in Mexico	1969	Documentary	A documentary highlighting the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
Visions of Eight	1973	Documentary	Eight directors' takes on 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
White Rock	1977	Documentary	A look at 1976 Winter Olympics held in Innsbruck, Austria.
A Step Away	1980	Documentary	Footage from 1979 Pan American Games in Puerto Rico, narrated by Orson Welles.
Animalympics	1980	Comedy	The animal kingdom stages its own Summer Olympics.
The Golden Moment	1980	Drama	TV movie on American and Russian athletes at Moscow Olympics who fall in love.
Stade 81 a.k.a. Starting Blocks	1981	Documentary	A short film documentary about the first Special Olympics.
The First Olympics: Athens 1896	1984	Drama	TV mini-series about the origins of the Modern Olympics.
16 Days of Glory	1986	Documentary	Official documentary of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Dorf and the First Games of Mount Olympus	1988	Comedy	Direct-to-video short with Tim Conway, parody of Ancient Olympic Games.
Fire, Ice and Dynamite	1990	Action	A tycoon fakes suicide and his children and creditors compete for his estate in Olympic-type events.
One Day in September	1999	Documentary	A documentary chronicling the Munich Massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
Asterix at the Olympic Games	2008	Comedy	French film in which characters from Astérix comic book series participate in Olympics.
Dream Weavers: Beijing 2008	2008	Documentary	Official documentary about events building up to 2008 Summer Olympics.
Olympic Pride, American Prejudice	2016	Documentary	The story of the "forgotten" 17 African-American athletes that participated at the Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics, along with Jesse Owens.