Sports Films
List of Sports Films (containing philosophical issues)
(Originally this list was compiled to include sports films that covered philosophical issues. However, the breadth of ones that were suggested to me means that the philosophical content may be rather subtle and implicit rather than explicitly philosophical. I am not making a comment on the quality of the films but have merely included ones that have been suggested.
Generally the link given is to the IMDB database but occasionally other links are provided either to the full length version online, or to other sources if the IMDB source is incomplete. Many of these films can also be found either complete, or in part, on YouTube.
Please let me know of any amendments / broken links / further suggestions. http://philosophicalthought.wordpress.com/
Many thanks to all those who have provided suggestions for this list.)
100% Woman: the Michelle Dumaresq Story (2004) http://digital.films.com/play/AWJGVJ
127 Hours (2010) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1542344/
16th Man (2010) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1617301/
30 for 30 (2009–2013) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1408430/episodes
4th and Goal (2010) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1697797/
Against the Ropes (2004) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0312329/
Ali (2001) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0248667/
Any Given Sunday (1999) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0146838/
The Armstrong Lie (2013) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1638364/
Atletu (The Athlete) (2009) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1130965/
The Bad News Bears (1976) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0074174/
Ballplayer: Pelotero (2011) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1885335/
Beautiful Boxer (2004) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401248/
Being in the World (2010) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1515195/ http://beingintheworldmovie.com/
Ben Hur (1959) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0052618/
Bend it Like Beckham (2002) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286499/
Beyond the Mat.(1999) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218043/
Beyond the Mat (2013) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1207922/
The Big Blue (1988) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095250/
Big River Man (2009) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0956101/
Compiled by Dr Emily Ryall (University of Gloucestershire, UK) (2013)
Sports Films
Bigger, Stronger, Faster (2008) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt1151309/
Big Time Losers (2007) http://www.bigtimelosers.org/about/index.html
Bingo Long Traveling All Stars and Motor Kings (1976) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074207/
The Black Power Salute (2008) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1332005/
Black Swan (2010) http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1503101184/tt0947798?ref_=tt_ov_i
The Blind Side (2009) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0878804/
Blood on the Flat Track (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1051212/
Blue Crush (2002) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0300532/
Born and Bred (2011) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1780786/
The Boy Who Can't Stop Running (2006) http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/passionateeyeshowcase/2009/boywhocantstop/
Bra Boys (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0951318/
Breaking Away (1979) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0078902/
Bull Durham (1988) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0094812/
Chariots of Fire (1981) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082158/
Chasing October (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0997045/
Children of Heaven (1997) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0118849/
Cinderella Man (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0352248/
Coach Carter (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0393162/
Cool Runnings (1993) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106611/
Peter Martins, En Danser (Peter Martins The Dancer) (1978) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0378557/
Den Umulige Time (The Impossible Hour) (1974) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0378936/
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0364725/
Dogtown and the Z Boys (2001) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275309/
Eddie (1996) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0116168/
Eight Men Out (1988) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095082/
The Endless Summer (1966) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060371/
Everest (1998) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120661/
Compiled by Dr Emily Ryall (University of Gloucestershire, UK) (2013)
Sports Films
Huo Yuan Jia (Fearless) (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446059/
Field of Dreams (1989) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0097351/
Finish Line (1989) http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/finish_line/
First Descent (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455475/
FIT: Episodes in the History of the Body (1991) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0331493/
The Flying Scotsman (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472268/
Football Under Cover (2008) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1160008/
Det Forbudte Landshold (The Forbidden Team) (2003) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373848/
Friday Night Lights (2004) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0390022/
Gaea Girls (2000) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0261703/
The Game of Their Lives (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0354595/
Girl Fight (2000) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0210075/
Gladiator (2000) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0172495/
Glory Road (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385726/
Go Tigers! (2001) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0270971/
Golden Gloves (or the Real Million Dollar Babies) (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1073116/
The Golf War (2000) http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/golf.html http://www.golfwar.org/index.htm
Gridiron & Steel (2001) http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gridiron_and_steel/
Gridiron Gang (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421206/
He Got Game (1998) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124718/
Head Games (2012) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2239400/
A Hero for Daisy (1999) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230285/
Hershel (2013) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Herschel-DVD-Region-1- NTSC/dp/B0062RHG7K/ref=sr_1_174?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1399988155&sr=1-174
Hoop Dreams (1994) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110057/
Hoosiers (1986) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0091217/
The Hurricane (1999) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0174856/
Hurricane Season (2009) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1172998/
Compiled by Dr Emily Ryall (University of Gloucestershire, UK) (2013)
Sports Films
In Whose Honor (1997) http://jayrosenstein.com/pages/honor.html
Invictus (2009) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1057500/
Invincible (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445990/
It Happens Every Spring (1949) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041514/
Jerry Maquire (1996) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0116695/
Joe Louis – America’s Hero Betrayed (2008) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y83kTl95qI
The Journey of the African-American Athlete (1996) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0280792/
Kansas City Bomber (1972) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0068795/
Karate Kid (1984) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0087538/
Kicking It (2008) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157668/
Kiss My Wheels (2003) http://www.itvs.org/films/kiss-my-wheels
Kokoyakyu: High School Baseball (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0823481/
A Knight's Tale (2001) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0183790/
Kukolka (Little Dolls) (un.) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095471/reviews
A League of their Own (1992) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0104694/
The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146984/
The Legacy of Brendan Burke (2010) http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2010-2011/thelegacyofbrendanburke/
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962) http://retrofilms.in/index.php?productID=461
The Longest Yard (1974) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071771/
LifeCycles (2011) http://www.lifecyclesfilm.com/
Love & Basketball (2000) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0199725/
Man on Wire (2008) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1155592/
Major League (1989) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0097815/
The Mighty Ducks (1992) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104868/
Million Dollar Baby (2004) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0405159/
Miracle (2004) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0349825/
Moneyball (2011) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt1210166/
Compiled by Dr Emily Ryall (University of Gloucestershire, UK) (2013)
Sports Films
More Than a Game (2008) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286821/
The Morgan Lacrosse Story (2008) http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=3065215
Murderball (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436613/
Nadia (1984) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087774/
The Natural (1984) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0087781/
A Normal Life: Chronicle of a Sumo Wrestler (2009) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0mphkYLQxY
North Dallas Forty (1979) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079640/
Not Just A Game (2010) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1808340/
Offside (2006) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0499537/
Olympia (Leni Riefhenstahl's) (1938) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0030522/
Olympia 52 (1952) http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=222754.html
On Any Sunday (1971) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067527/
On the Ropes (1999) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181733/
On the Shoulders of Giants (2011) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1582235/
One Day in September (1999) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0230591/
The Other Final (2003) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379419/
Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist (2013) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2966760/
Peaceful Warrior (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438315/
Personal Best (1982) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0084489/
Pink Ribbons, Inc. (2011) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2035599/
Playing to Extremes: Investigative reports (2002) http://www.ShopAandE.com/dvdlibrary
Playing Unfair (2002) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luadmO7Cugc
Pumping Iron (1977) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0076578/
Punched Out: The Life and Death of a Hockey Enforcer (2011) - http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/12/04/sports/hockey/boogaard-video.html
Raging Bull (1980) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0081398/
Red Bull Rampage – The Evolution (2010) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY_8oBiGZAc
Remember the Titans (2000) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0210945/
Compiled by Dr Emily Ryall (University of Gloucestershire, UK) (2013)
Sports Films
Riding Giants (2004) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389326/
The Rise and Fall of Theo Flury (2009) http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2009-2010/the_fall_and_rise_of_theo_fleury/
Rocky (1976) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0075148/
Rocks with Wings (2002) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339591/
Rollerball (1975) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0073631/
The Rookie (2002) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265662/
Rudy (1993) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0108002/
Running Brave (1983) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086220/
Rush (2013) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1979320/
The Secret of Deva (2007) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDxmeQd5-9w
She’s the Man (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454945/
Slapshot (1977) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076723/
Sonicsgate: Requiem for a Team (2009) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Dp20ydm1E
Space Jam (1996) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0117705/
The Smashing Machine (2002) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320512/
Stars and Watercarriers (1974) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ0pUiTXV40
A State of Mind (2004) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0456012/
Step Into Liquid (2003) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0308508/
Sugar (2008) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0990413/
Sumo East and West (2003) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1095429/
A Sunday in Hell (1977) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0193171/
The Triplettes of Belleville (2003) http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_triplets_of_belleville/
The Turning Point (1977) http://www.imdb.com/media/rm93428992/tt0076843?ref_=tt_ov_i
This Ain't California (2012) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2113090/
This Sporting Life (1963) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057578/
Thrashin’ (1986) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092085/
Training Rules (2009) http://www.trainingrules.com/
Compiled by Dr Emily Ryall (University of Gloucestershire, UK) (2013)
Sports Films
Tokyo Olympiad (1965) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059817/
Touching the Void (2003) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0379557/
Two Days In April (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970965/
Undefeated (2011) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1860355/
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2004) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0413615/
Varsity Blues (1999) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0139699/
Visions of Eight (1973) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070884/
Viva Baseball (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491228/
Viva Baseball (2012) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2460678/
When We Were Kings (1996) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118147/
Whip It (2009) http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt1172233/
The Year My Parents Went on Vacation” (O Ano em Que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias) (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0857355/
Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait (Zidane, un portrait du 21e siècle) (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478337/
Compiled by Dr Emily Ryall (University of Gloucestershire, UK) (2013)