Great sports narratives are rarely in short supply. Many professional athletes are fiercely competitive, which creates fierce rivalries, devastating defeats, and motivational redemption storylines. The irony of sports documentaries involves the fact that athletes’ personal tales frequently take precedence over the results of the games.
Since many individuals in the sports world have disobeyed the law and either been caught or, even worse, managed to get away with it, it may also result in a blatant crime. Of course, the ultimate results are important, but not nearly as important as the athletes, trainers, and spectators who contributed to the result. We want the narratives, not the box scores, as living creatures.
We want to support the underdog and admire athletes who accomplish a caliber that millions of others will never achieve. Regrettably, some great sports documentaries did not appear on our list, just as not every squad can win the Lombardi Trophy, and not all golfer is given the opportunity to don the green jacket. That doesn’t imply they aren’t noteworthy movies with compelling plots, yet some players lose even in the list-making game.
Thus, for dedicated sports fans, below is the list of best sports docudramas collection.
20 Best Sports Documentaries:
20. A Kid from Coney Island (2019)
- Director: Coodie, Chike Ozah
- Cast: Stephon Marbury, Ronald Stewart
- IMDb Ratings: 7.0
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
A Kid from Coney Island Plot:
Stephon Marbury, a basketball superstar whose path led him from Coney Island towards the pinnacles of the NBA to compete in China, may not be well-known to younger generations. Kevin Durant made this fantastic documentary that covers his biography from the beginning to the present day, with all of its high points and down points.
19. The Speed Cubers (2020)
- Director: Sue Kim
- Cast: Max Park, Schwan Park, Philipp Weyer
- IMDb Ratings: 7.4
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
The Speed Cubers Plot:
The Speed Cubers is an illustration of a sports factual film that isn’t focused on one of the popular sports you might expect; instead, it tells the tale of the friendship involving Max Parks with Feliks Zemdegs, two of the world’s quickest Rubik’s Cube solvers.
In addition to teaching us more about the art and competitiveness of quickly cracking a Rubik’s Cube, this narrative is rich and tenderly presented. It’s going to make the audience feel really good. Side benefit? Its duration is only 40 minutes, which is less than most episodes of Netflix’s original programs.
In new feel-good doco short #TheSpeedCubers, the world of competitive Rubik's Cube solving gets demystified through the eyes of two world champions and friends: Aussie Felix Zemdegs and American Max Park. pic.twitter.com/o4LmrP9T4n
— Netflix ANZ (@NetflixANZ) August 3, 2020
18. Fearless (2016)
- Director: Andrew Fried
- Cast: Ty Murray, Grant Crookes, Ty Hurley
- IMDb Ratings: 7.1
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Fearless Plot:
A danger exists in practically every sport. Injuries—some lasting, some not—ranging from injured knees to possible concussions are predicted. Bull riding, though, is in a very different league. This movie follows one man’s professional bull riding adventure from Brazil towards the finals in Las Vegas and his quest for success and recognition by any measures (or expense).
17. Losers (2019)
- Director: Mickey Duzyj
- Cast: Mickey Rourke, Harold Perrineau, Ron Shelton
- IMDb Ratings: 7.6
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
The world’s Michael Jordan & Michael Phelps are well known to us all. What about the contestants that came in second?
The individuals who nearly hit their target but fall short by a fraction of a second, centimeter, or point?
Losers Plot:
This documentary series focuses on sportsmen. You may or may not recall from sports history. It shows how some have transformed tragic defeat into their greatest personal triumph.
16. Rising Phoenix (2020)
- Director: Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui
- Cast: Jean-Baptiste Alaize, Ryley BattEllie Cole
- IMDb Ratings: 8.1
- Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
We keep forgetting that not every sport is accessible when we look at sports, namely baseball and football. Consequently, Paralympic sports.
Rising Phoenix Plot:
This video focuses on a topic that is sometimes overlooked: the Paralympic events and how they serve as a shining example of acceptance, diversity, and success.
15. The Dawn Wall (2017)
- Director: Josh Lowell, Peter Mortimer
- Cast: John Branch, Tommy Caldwell, Kevin Jorgeson
- IMDb Ratings: 8.1
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix and Prime Video
The Dawn Wall Plot:
They have spent their entire lives conquering challenges. Thus, Yosemite’s Dawn Wall, a 3,000-foot rock face that rock climbers Tommy Caldwell with Kevin Jorgeson resided on for weeks, was simply another hurdle when they headed outside to climb this in 2015.
14. Zion (2018)
- Director: Floyd Russ
- Cast: Zion Clark, Gilbert Donahue, Kimberly Clark
- IMDb Ratings: 7.1
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
You’ll never think of wrestling the very same way after just 11 minutes.
Zion Plot:
Zion Clark, a crippled child who was raised in foster care and discovered his passion for professional wrestling, is the subject of this little documentary. If you’re seeking something that is a sports-focused and is emotionally charged, then this one is for you.
13. The Playbook (2020)
- Director: NA
- Cast: Doc Rivers, José Mourinho, Dawn Staley
- IMDb Ratings: 7.4
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Sports documentaries occasionally focus on the coaches rather than the actual athletes.
The Playbook Plot:
The Playbook on Netflix is a kind of sequential anthology where each episode focuses on a specific championship-level coach in their particular sport and explains the guidelines and techniques that enable them to succeed.
Fans of the Philadelphia 76ers, who will be able to watch an entire episode to learn more about their newest coach Doc Rivers, may find this to be of special interest. Jose Mourinho, Jill Ellis, as well as other soccer coaches are also mentioned.
12. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
- Director: Seth Gordon
- Writer: Seth Gordon
- Cast: Steve Wiebe, Billy Mitchell, Mark Alpiger
- IMDb Ratings: 8.0
- Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
- Streaming Platform: Prime Video
Video game enthusiasts competed for the highest scores playing classic arcade games worldwide; long earlier, eSports became a viable enterprise, and institutions started to offer degrees in organized, competitive gaming.
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters Plot:
The narrative of Steve Wiebe, a jobless teacher of Washington, as he attempts to surpass a Donkey Kong record that has been held for more than 25 years, is told in King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Wiebe ultimately surpassed the record score in 2003 after utilizing his mathematical training to find vulnerable patterns in the iconic arcade game and sending the evidence to a business that tracks top scores in arcade games.
11. Free Solo (2018)
- Director: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
- Cast: Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Jimmy Chin
- IMDb Ratings: 8.1
- Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
- Streaming Platform: Disney+
Free Solo Plot:
El Capitan, a 3,000-foot steep rocky structure at Yosemite National Park, is the subject of the documentary Free Solo, which follows Honnold’s journey and his ambition of becoming the first individual to ascend it free solo. Free Solo’s intriguing subplot is Jimmy Chin, with Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi being completely open about Honnold not going for the climb.
It’s unusual to witness a documentary when the filmmakers express open optimism that their hero doesn’t attempt to achieve his objective.
10. Last Chance U: Basketball (2021)
- Director: Greg Whiteley
- Cast: John Mosley, Malik Muhammad, Kj Allen
- IMDb Ratings: 8.3
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Last Chance U: Basketball Plot:
Like its forerunner, Last Chance U: Basketball centers on young men from East Los Angeles who want to play professional basketball. These hopeful basketball players work hard to succeed with the help of a determined and willed coach.
9. Last Chance U (2016)
- Director: Greg Whiteley, Adam Ridley, Luke Lorentzen
- Cast: Ron Ollie, Brittany Wagner, Garrett Kruczek
- IMDb Ratings: 8.4
- Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Last Chance U Plot:
Last Chance U, a tentpole flagship sports docuseries of Netflix, features a distinct junior college squad each season as the subject of its emphasis. This isn’t your normal “inspirational sports” tale; instead, it focuses on what the title suggests.
It is the “final opportunity” for the players to succeed and transfer to a better football program to play in the NFL. And they’re determined to get there by whatever means necessary.
8. The Short Game (2013)
- Director: Josh Greenbaum
- Cast: Amari Avery, Jed Dy, Allan Kournikova
- IMDb Ratings: 7.3
- Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix, Vudu
The Short Game Plot:
In this Justin Timberlake-directed sports documentary, a group of young golfers aged seven and eight participate in the 2012 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship.
The Short Game Review:
It’s true that the movie, which has drawn similarities to Spellbound, the iconic portrait of spelling bee contestants, will undoubtedly induce you to feel lousy regarding your own golfing prowess. Still, it’s also a fun and sometimes illuminating look at juvenile sports culture.
7. Team Foxcatcher (2016)
- Director: Jon Greenhalgh
- Cast: John du Pont, Dave Schultz, Mike Gostigian
- IMDb Ratings: 7.3
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Team Foxcatcher Plot:
This movie chronicles the life of John du Pont, a rich successor to the du Pont family inheritance and supporter of USA Wrestling, who was ultimately found guilty of murder. The role of du Pont in the 2014 film Foxcatcher won Steve Carrell an Oscar nomination for best actor. However, this documentary still goes further and uses family footage to recount the terrible true crime tale of the departed du Pont.
Team Foxcatcher Review:
By focusing so much on du Pont’s less appealing traits and biases, Team Foxcatcher undoubtedly performs a better job of enabling the viewer to completely comprehend who du Pont was. In addition to portraying craziness, it is a devastating movie about gifted wrestlers. They have been coerced and dominated by du Pont without reason other than their desire to win the Olympics.
6. Screwball (2018)
- Director: Billy Corben
- Writer: Billy Corben, David Cypkin
- Cast: Frankie Diaz, Bryan BlancoIan Mackles
- IMDb Ratings: 7.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
- Streaming Platform: Prime Video and Apple Tv
Sports films may focus more on the strategies for winning than the actual competition. Screwball presents precisely that.
Screwball Plot:
The bright imagination of director Billy Corben takes the audience on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Major League Baseball doping controversy and its prominent players.
Screwball Review:
It’s a strange decision that works well, offering lots of entertainment and making fun of the ridiculously juvenile behavior of the participants. Screwball is a blistering condemnation of some of baseball’s most important figures, especially Alex Rodriguez and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred while being persistently entertaining. It is impossible to suggest this one enough.
5. The Battered Bastards of Baseball (2014)
- Director: Chapman Way, Maclain Way
- Cast: Lou Russell, Kurt Russell, Ken Wheeler
- IMDb Ratings: 8.0
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
The Battered Bastards of Baseball Plot:
The Class-A Portland Mavericks of said 1970s are certainly a once-in-a-lifetime story, while minor league baseball has served as the lyrical setting for many a sports hero.
The Mavericks made their name as a team that included potential actor Kurt Russell, who was handled by his dad, and the legendary Jim Bouton, who was trying to make a triumphant return after his major league tell-all effectively forced him to retire. This 2014 documentary is a great look into this real-life underdog tale.
4. Cheer (2020)
- Director: Greg Whiteley
- Cast: Monica Aldama, Gabi Butler, La’Darius Marshall
- IMDb Ratings: 8.1
- Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Football is a harsh and gritty sport, but cheerleading shows that the bleachers are just as brutal.
Cheer Plot:
The docuseries portrays teenage athletes as they strive to juggle their private lives with real juggling. At the same time, they are flung into the air, on each other’s shoulders, and even put themselves in danger for the sport at a college in the tiny town of Corsicana, Texas.
Cheer Review:
The better the little written about Cheer’s many unexpected turns. However, it can be claimed that the series presents moving pictures of young individuals attempting to mature into adults, navigate the world, and reach their maximum ability. It’s an exciting, moving, and thought-provoking series.
3. Icarus (2017)
- Director: Bryan Fogel
- Writer: Bryan Fogel, Mark Monroe, Jon Bertain
- Cast: Bryan Fogel, Dave Zabriskie, Don Catlin
- IMDb Ratings: 7.9
- Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Icarus Review:
In addition to shedding light on the Kremlin’s state-sponsored deception, Bryan Fogel’s spectacular documentary exposing Russia’s Olympic doping program earned the best documentary feature at the 2018 Academy Awards. This award is well-deserved for a movie that also unfolds like a real-life political mystery.
As director Bryan Fogel descends farther and further into the rabbit hole, the movie plays like a hypnotic conspiracy thriller. Even those without a background in science can realize how widespread corruption is in this situation. Icarus demonstrates that despite the availability of apparently unlimited material, one movie can still profoundly affect the globe.
2. Undefeated (2011)
- Director: Daniel Lindsay, T.J. Martin
- Cast: Bill Courtney, O.C. Brown, Montrail ‘Money’ Brown
- IMDb Ratings: 7.7
- Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Undefeated Plot:
The high school football team from Manassas, Virginia, has a history of producing dismal campaigns. Then along stepped coach Bill Courtney. This Academy Award-winning film follows the Tigers, a Memphis football team from an underprivileged neighborhood, as they pursue greatness on and off the field.
1. The Last Dance (2020)
- Director: Jason Hehir
- Cast: Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen
- IMDb Ratings: 9.1
- Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
The Last Dance Plot:
This documentary focuses on Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls during 1997–1998, as well as the events that surrounded him during that part of his life.
The Last Dance could have had O.J.: Made in America’s rapid cultural effect as the only other sports film to compare. In addition to contemporary interviews featuring Michael Jordan and his colleagues, the movie includes previously unreleased video from the 1997–98 season of said Chicago Bulls.
