Some of the best memories I have as a child was sitting down with my family for movie night. Movies can inspire you and drive you to be a better person for yourself and others around you. Sports movies especially bring this out of us. I tend to cheer for the underdog. I think there is something inside of us all that cheers for the underdog because we have all faced the challenge of being the underdog at some point. Here are my top 15 best family sports movies. Some of these aren’t for the little ones, but are great for teens and up. Enjoy!
15. Miracle
This movie is based on true events of the USA ice hockey team going against a very strong and powerful Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympics. Join Herb Brooks as he attempts to take an unorganized group of college kids on an unbelievable journey against all odds. This is very inspirational and great for the whole family!
14. The Big Green
“This Big Green” is like “Miracle” in the sense that a school teacher takes a group of unorganized and very inexperienced kids into the realm of soccer. There are some good lessons in this movie as the kids overcome their inexperience in soccer as well as their own life circumstances with family issues. This is a great one for the younger kids, as the older ones may lose interest.
13. Rocky 2
Why not Rocky 1? Keep reading ? Rocky 2 was an amazing movie that shows the power of believing in yourself to overcome the odds. Rocky has already been beaten by Apollo Creed and attempts a 2nd match against him in this one, after Apollo invites him out of retirement. This movie is all about overcoming struggles and obstacles. Not only is Rocky going onto the fight of his life, he can’t read well, he is a newlywed, he has a baby on the way, and he has been laid off from his job. The sportsmanship you see from Rocky is something that all athletes should strive for. He continually talks nicely about Apollo Creed, even though Apollo plans on humiliating him. This one has some swearing, violence and alcohol use. I recommend it for ages 10 and up.
12. Little Giants
This movie is also an underdog movie…hmm. It seems families enjoy this type of theme. Watch 2 brothers take their pee-wee football teams head to head. Not only do you see team effort and inclusion, but there are other lessons to be learned about how families should treat each other. All in all it is a great movie for families. This one is also geared toward the younger kids, as the older ones may lose interest.
11. Field Of Dreams
This is a classic family movie about dreams, family, and of course baseball! Watch the story of Ray Kinsella as he builds a baseball field in the middle of his cornfield, because of a whisper he heard saying, “If you build it he will come.” As the story unfolds you watch a beautiful reconciliation between Ray and his father, who has already passed away. There is some cursing in this movie, so plan accordingly. This one is great for ages 10 and up.
10. Angels In The Outfield
This movie is great for the whole family! Join Roger as he lives in a foster home down the street from the L.A. Angels baseball stadium. He lives there because his dead beat dad abandoned him, and his mother has passed away. This movie teaches the value of teamwork, and shows maturity in the coach as he moves to change his ways throughout the movie. You get a great lesson in “role-modeling” as the coach connects with Roger and J.P. (Roger’s friend). There are a couple instances of cursing in this movie, but overall it is well balanced with positive messages.
9. Remember The Titans
This movie is based on a true story of racial tension and football in 1971 Alexandria, Virginia. This movie is a great piece of history to watch with your children and talk with them about. This movie is full of positive messages and positive role models. Watch as a football team is integrated racially for the first time and eventually overcomes the racial diversity and mindset that previous generations had ingrained into them. Also, watch a school adapt to having an African American coach for the first time as well. This movie can create great conversations between you and your family about how we should all treat each other. I recommend this one for ages 10 and up, as there is a little language.
8. Radio
Radio is a heartwarming movie that teaches the value of respecting other people no matter what they are like. “Radio” is a slower man. He isn’t as smart as others and he overcomes being mistreated by the football team to eventually helping them with their program. This is a great movie to talk with your children about. You can teach them the value of loving other people despite their differences.
7. Cool Runnings
A Jamaican bobsled team? What? This movie is all about overcoming the odds as a group of very close Jamaican men decide they want to be in the winter Olympics bobsledding competition. This movie is loosely based on the real story of the Jamaican team that went to the 1988 winter Olympics. Aside from some swearing, this movie is very inspirational, especially the last scene of the team’s last run. It’s full of humor and positive themes. Cool Runnings is great for the whole family!
6. The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid is an awesome movie about overcoming obstacles, and dedicating yourself to greatness. Watch Daniel as he overcomes harassment from the local Cobra Kai clan in school and in the tournament. Daniel learns many valuable lessons from Mr. Miyagi, his sensei, along the way. There are some violent scenes, swearing, and drug use, but the positive far outweighs the negative in The Karate Kid. This movie is great for kids 9 and up.
5. Rocky
Rocky is a great movie for one main reason: sometimes we fail in life. You can talk with your kids about how it is okay to have failures along the journey of life. Sometimes failures and mistakes teach us the greatest lessons. Watch as Rocky trains for the fight of his life against the formidable Apollo Creed. This movie has some swearing, violence, and alcohol use, so I recommend it for ages 10 and up. Kids today are scared to fail, and this movie teaches a valuable lesson: it isn’t failing that matters, it’s going for what you believe in that matters.
4. Rudy
Perseverance, dedication and determination describe this movie to a tee. Rudy wants nothing more than to play football for Notre Dame. Literally no one believes in him until he meets a priest that gets him into a local junior college. Rudy has poor grades and gets help from a friend to help pass his classes. With camaraderie from the people around him he is able to achieve his chance to play for Notre Dame. This movie is a must see. Kids today expect everything to be handed to them. It’s time for a wakeup call. Hard work gets you places, not free hand outs. This movie has some swearing and drinking. I recommend it for kids 12 and up.
3. The Blind Side
This is a touching movie about Michael Oher and his determination to overcome adversity. This movie includes racial tension and can be a great topic of discussion between you and your children. Watch Michael overcome his educational obstacles to achieve his dream of playing in the NFL. This movie has sexual references, swearing, alcohol use and violence. I recommend it for ages 12 and up.
2. Mighty Ducks
This is a classic sports movie that the entire family will enjoy. Like many other movies, this one deals with a man who overcomes his past and present demons through community service by coaching an ice hockey team. Watch the Mighty Ducks soar to the championship through teamwork and dedication. You and your family will enjoy this one for sure!
1. Facing The Giants
This movie is my favorite sports movie for the family and it is much like the rest of this list. It is about overcoming the odds. Characters overcome adversity on the football field as well as in their own lives. Watch a team grow closer as a team, but also as friends as coach, Grant Taylor, leads them to victories on and off of the field. This movie is great for all ages.
Conclusion
As I stated in the intro, there is something inside of us that wants to see the underdog win. Hollywood definitely picked up on this as this list portrays. I hope you have enjoyed my list of the top 15 family sports movies. Tell us some of your favorites in the comments below! God bless you all!
Click on the following link to countdown the top family movies of all time with us. 101 Best Family Movies of All Time
Resources- ESV Holy Bible, Youtube, photo credit: Neon Tommy via photopin cc
