The Best US Sports Movies to Watch This Easter
The upcoming Easter holidays will provide an excellent opportunity for people to put their feet up and relax after a hectic start to the year.
For many people it’ll be the perfect chance to binge-watch something on television – maybe the crime series they missed or a day filled with rom-coms.
However, we think one of the best ways to grab some downtime at Easter is by firing up your favourite streaming service and searching for sports movies. Here’s some of our favourites.
Hoosiers
Loosely based on a true story, it is fair to say that the 1986 film Hoosiers is one of the most underrated movies of all time.
It tells the story of a small-town Indiana high school basketball team that attempts to overcome the odds and win the state championship.
Written off in the basketball betting as no-hopers for the title, the Hickory Huskers are led by a feisty coach named Norman Dale (Gene Hackman).
Dale’s innovative coaching style brings out the best in the Huskers, but can they go on and win the title? You’ll have to watch the film to find out!
Goon
The violent nature of ice hockey is perfectly captured by Goon – a 2011 film that left moviegoers wincing at some of its brutal scenes.
Seann William Scott plays Doug Glatt, a down on his luck bouncer who makes a name for himself an enforcer for a minor league ice hockey team.
He ends up on a pathway to a clash with Ross ‘the Boss’ Rhea (Liev Schreiber) – a veteran enforcer who is demoted to the minors after serving a suspension for slashing an opponent in the head.
While the eventual fight between the pair is undoubtedly gory, it paints a true picture of what enforcers in ice hockey put their bodies through.
Field of Dreams
If you love watching baseball you have got plenty of movies to choose from, with Bull Durham and Moneyball amongst the pick of the bunch.
Our number one pick is Field of Dreams, a 1989 American sports fantasy drama film that has the power to completely pull at your heartstrings.
The adaption of WP Kinsella’s novel Shoeless Joe is packed with stars including Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta and Burt Lancaster.
However, James Earl Jones steals the show as reclusive writer Terence Mann – his big speech towards the end of the movie is well worth the wait.
Glory Road
After an underdog story, a brutal movie and a tear-jerker, it is time to immerse ourselves into something a little heavier with Glory Road.
Given the ongoing issues surrounding racism in the US, this insightful 2006 movie about university basketball in Texas during the 1960s delivers a strong message.
It charts the story of Don Haskins (Josh Lucas), who made history by picking seven disadvantaged African-American players in the Texas Western Miners squad.
Despite the obstacles placed in their way the team progress to the National Championship game – we won’t spoil the ending for you.
Remember the Titans
Based on a real-life story from the early 1970s, Remember the Titans is another thought-provoking movie with racial undertones.
It focuses on coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) and his attempts to integrate a high school football team in Alexandria, Virginia.
Black and white players initially find it difficult to co-exist, but Boone challenges their prejudices to get everyone pulling in the same direction.
With the local community and school board members resistant to Boone’s attempts at integration, the team have plenty of obstacles to overcome if they are to be successful.
Miracle
US ice hockey teams rarely go into major international events as underdogs, but that was certainly the case at the 1980 Winter Olympics.
The mighty Soviet Union team were strongly fancied to crush the competition and the US were given little chance of bringing home the gold medal.
Coach Herb Brooks’ decision to pick an inexperienced squad was expected to backfire, with the Soviets boasting some of the best players in the world at the time.
What happened during the tournament is now firmly etched into sporting folklore. Regardless of whether you know the ending, this is a must-watch movie.