True Sports Stories That’ll Have You Believing in Miracles (and Maybe Placing a Bet!)
Get Ready to Cheer
There’s nothing better than sports movies based on true stories. They not only entertain, but they often pull on the heartstrings, and coupled with sports, you can’t go wrong.
There have been some blockbuster sports movies released, and we wouldn’t dare to rank them. Instead, we look at some of the best inspirational sports movies that captivated their audiences.
One of the more inspiring also true sports story movies is Cinderella Man, which not only had a great storyline, but great acting.
Cinderella Man: Washed-Up to Champion
Who doesn’t love an underdog story? Real-life sports drama movies are packed with underdog stories, but Cinderella Man had everything a Hollywood blockbuster could ask for.
It followed the life of James J. Braddock, who was a down-and-out boxer with no chance of winning a title. However, he rose from the ashes to win the heavyweight title through sheer determination.
Played expertly by Russell Crowe, it followed his life story, from the torment of losing eight fights in an 11-fight stretch to beating Max Baer for the NBA and The Ring Heavyweight titles in 1935.
In terms of biographical sports films, it’s one of the more accurate depictions, and well worth a watch for some inspiration. We have no doubt the fighters featured with boxing odds at betus.com.pa have taken inspiration from Braddock.
Cool Runnings: A Comedic Look at the Unlikely
Nothing about the story behind Cool Runnings is believable; a Jamaican bobsled team competing at the Winter Olympics? That just doesn’t happen, but it happened at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
While much of the story was embellished to make for a better plot, the base of the story is true. A Jamaican sprinter was banned from his event, so he enlisted the help of others to make a bobsled team.
The closest thing to ice in Jamaica is a rum punch cocktail, so having a team compete at the Winter Olympics made for a great story. As we know, sports movies based on true stories don’t always end successfully. That was the case with Cool Runnings, but despite not winning, that wasn’t the point.
It inspired people to take risks and go for gold, much like our next featured sports movie.
Eddie the Eagle: Taking Flight
Eddie the Eagle is very similar to Cool Runnings. It features an athlete at the 1988 Winter Olympics, who failed to qualify for the Summer Games.
Eddie the Eagle, which tells the story of Michael Edwards, was the first Briton to compete at the Olympics in the ski jumping category. He self-trained for the event because he had no backing from the British Olympic committee, and that’s why it’s one of the inspiring true sports story movies.
Edwards finished last in both jumps, but not having any financial backing and getting to the Olympics is a feat in itself. Eddie the Eagle is a metaphor in movie form, showing its viewers that you can take flight and achieve anything despite obstacles.
42: Jackie Robinson Breaking Barriers
42 isn’t one of the highest-ranked sports movies based on true stories, but it’s an accurate reflection of how Jackie Robinson paved the way for African-American athletes in professional sports.
He was the first African-American to play modern-era Major League Baseball, and although he faced a tremendous amount of racism throughout his career, he marched on and carved out a fantastic career.
The Brooklyn Dodgers’ second baseman not only broke the race barrier, but his career statistics hold their own. He ended his time in the MLB with a .313 batting average, with 141 home runs and 761 RBIs. He was a six-time All-Star, and he won the World Series in 1955.
The movie 42 sweeps over much of his career due to time limits, but when it comes to biographical sports films, 42 is right on the money.
What Are Some of the Most Inspiring True Sports Movies?
We love Cinderella, 42, Cool Runnings, and Eddie the Eagle. They have inspired many athletes in various sports.
How Accurate Are Sports Movies Based on True Stories Compared to Real Events?
Sports movies based on true stories are often close to what happened in real life, but there are always embellishments in the plot to add excitement.
