10 films about victories and defeats that will appeal even to those who are far from sports

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Cinema about sports always inspires, albeit a small victory. Together with "" we have compiled a selection that is a must-see for everyone who does not have enough faith in themselves. It's time to cheer up, gain strength and finally get out of your comfort zone. Or just look at your life from the other side.

1. Ice

• Russia, 2018.
• Duration: 112 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

The story of the victory of the spirit over the body. Nadia, from provincial Irkutsk, has dreamed of becoming a figure skater since childhood. Her road to a successful career is not easy. She takes her first steps on the ice under the guidance of her mother, who teaches her daughter from a book. The perseverance of a novice athlete makes her a partner of a famous skater. Success ends with a serious injury and a wheelchair. But Nadya did not give up, learned to walk again, returned to the ice and even found her love.

The film is not only inspiring but also romantic. What you need for a cozy evening with a dear person.

2. The man who changed everything

• USA, 2011.
• Duration: 127 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

At the end of the film, you will want to exclaim: "It doesn't happen!" In fact, it even happens. This is a biographical drama. But the events in it are really so impressive that it is difficult to believe in them.

Baseball manager Billy Bean is losing his best talent. They go to more successful and money-based clubs. Now Billy is forced to restore the national team in a short time. True, the budget is very limited. The hero's chance acquaintance with a young Yale graduate, Peter, ends with the fact that they begin to recruit players according to mathematical calculations. The team includes former baseball stars, injured athletes, inexperienced minor league players. It seems that a victory with such a line-up is impossible. But mathematics says the opposite.

The film has six Oscar nominations and is played by Brad Pitt.

3. Legend number 17

• Russia, 2012.
• Duration: 128 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

Many sports dramas are about overcoming. This story is no exception. She talks about the ascent of the Russian hockey star Valery Kharlamov. Starting with minor league teams, he becomes one of the leading players of the famous CSKA. But a sudden accident and a serious leg injury force him to pause his career. The recovery is proceeding slowly, and very soon a series of friendly matches between the national teams of the USSR and Canada begins. Kharlamov really wants to get there, and he succeeds. In the first match, he becomes a legend of world hockey, scoring two goals.

Danila Kozlovsky starred in the title role. The film was nominated for 11 Golden Eagle Awards and won six of them.

4. Ford vs Ferrari

• USA, France, 2019.
• Duration: 146 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

The film tells about the events of the 60s, when the carmaker Ford decides to create a racing sports car and bypass the invincible Ferrari on it. The company hires renowned auto maker Carroll Shelby, who refuses to work without talented, albeit problematic, racer Ken Miles. After a while, dozens of accidents, a bunch of burnt tires and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent, Ford produces a car that can cope with the task: to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The film received four Oscar nominations and won two. The plot turned out to be so fascinating that even those who know nothing about cars or races will like it.

5. Coach Carter

• USA, Germany, 2005.
• Duration: 130 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

The movie is based on real events. The real Ken Carter was even present on the set.

The former basketball player becomes the coach of a school team in the not-so-prosperous city of Richmond. However, under his competent leadership, yesterday's hooligans are turning into effective players and the national team is rapidly moving up the standings. In the middle of the season, Carter makes an unexpected decision: he closes the doors of the hall and forbids players to participate in matches until they get good grades in all school subjects. Such an act infuriates the school administration, the students and their parents. Everyone wants to win, and not waste time on illusory hopes for good grades.

The picture may not motivate you to immediately enroll in the basketball section, but it definitely teaches you to believe in people.

6. Tonya against everyone

• USA, 2017.
• Duration: 114 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.6.

Figure skating is a graceful, elegant sport. During an impressive performance, no one thinks about years of hard training for wear and tear. It is difficult for Tone Harding to fit into this ideal world. Her childhood was terrifying: her mother expected from the girl only victories on the ice and did not forget to remind each time how much effort, money and time she had invested in her daughter's sports career. After my mother, there was a tyrant husband. And in training in Tona, they saw only a problematic, intractable rebel. No one noticed her aspirations and tenacity.

Meanwhile, Tonya became the first American figure skater to jump the triple axel. But the girl's entourage did not appreciate her talent. She was mired in intrigue, gossip and scandals, which was the reason for her downfall.

7. Eddie "Eagle"

• USA, UK, Germany, 2016.
• Duration: 101 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

A comedy about an incorrigible dreamer. Since childhood, Eddie dreamed of the Olympics, however, it was not possible for him to get there at all. He tried a lot of sports sections, but he was kicked out of each. The hero suffered one setback after another, until he decided to participate in the Winter Olympics. Eddie tries his hand at ski jumping. And the success of his idea is that he is the only representative of this sport in the whole of Great Britain.

Eddie finished last in the competition, but became a national hero, a symbol of perseverance and self-confidence.

8. Million Dollar Baby

• USA, 2004.
• Duration: 132 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

Maggie is 31 years old. She's a waitress at a diner. She looks after a grumpy mother and helps her sister, who is raising a child alone. The heroine's life seems as hopeless as possible. Her only outlet is a punching bag.

Frankie Dunn is an old boxing trainer who was turned away by his daughter and the best student left. It maintains a gym, which is just a loss. His life also seems as hopeless as possible.

One day the heroes meet. Maggie persuades Frankie to take her as a student. They become a real family for each other. The girl wins one victory after another, and once tries herself in a fight for the champion title.

The film has seven Oscar nominations and four wins. Plus two Golden Globes.

9. Goal

• USA, UK, 2005.
• Duration: 113 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

Santiago Munez lives in Los Angeles, loves to play football, but he has no opportunity to realize his potential. Once he is noticed by the former football player Glen Foy and offers to come to England, where the hero will have a chance to try in one of the local teams.

Santiago is saving money for the trip, but his father does not believe in his success. He takes his son's savings and buys a car that will be useful to the family for work, but this does not stop the hero. He still comes to England. True, new difficulties await him there.

The film really charges you to believe in yourself and your dream.

10. Knockdown

• USA, 2005.
• Duration: 138 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.

Biographical drama about boxer Jim Braddock. A series of defeats in the ring forced him to leave the sport. The Great Depression began in America. The hero grabs any job to feed his family. But suddenly fate again throws him into the ring. He fights a world title challenger and wins.

Jim didn't miss his second chance. Despite the ridicule of his rivals, many old injuries and problems in his personal life, he returned to the big sport and became the best in it.

The film received three Oscar nominations.

All tapes from this selection are available in the online cinema "". And there are more than 6,000 films and 1,250 series of different genres - you will definitely find something that you have not seen or want to revise.