List of films about the sport of athletics

Last updated

The following is a list of films featuring the sport of athletics, including track and field.

List

TitleYearGenreEvent(s)Notes
College 1927ComedySilent film with Buster Keaton trying multiple sports.
Olympic Games 1927Comedy Our Gang children's version of the Olympics.
Local Boy Makes Good 1931ComedySprintsShy librarian (Joe E. Brown) joins a college track team to impress a girl.
Million Dollar Legs 1932ComedyShot put W. C. Fields fable of team from "Klopstokia" competing at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
A Million to One 1937DramaDecathlonAfter his dad is stripped of an Olympic gold medal, Johnny Kent trains to win one.
The Bob Mathias Story 1954BiographicalDecathlonA look at career of two-time Olympic gold medalist Bob Mathias.
Geordie 1955ComedyHammerStory of Scotsman out to get to the Summer Olympics.
It Happened in Athens 1962ComedyMarathon Jayne Mansfield in story set at 1896 Olympics in Greece.
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner 1962DramaDistance runningAcclaimed film from UK starring Tom Courtenay.
Billie 1965ComedySprints Patty Duke as a high school athlete who competes with boys.
Walk, Don't Run 1966ComedyRace walkingFinal film of Cary Grant, set during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
The Games 1970DramaMarathon Ryan O'Neal and Michael Crawford as fictional distance runners.
The World's Greatest Athlete 1973ComedyTrack Disney tale of a jungle boy who becomes a star athlete.
The Loneliest Runner 1976DramaMarathonMade for TV, written and directed by Michael Landon.
See How She Runs1978DramaMarathonMade for TV
Crossbar1979DramaHigh JumpMade for TV
The Jericho Mile 1979DramaMileMade for TV about a prisoner trying to qualify for the Olympics.
Our Winning Season 1979DramaMileStory of a high school senior during time of the Vietnam War.
Running 1979DramaMarathon Michael Douglas as fictional Olympic distance-running hopeful.
Goldengirl 1979Sci-fiSprintsA scientifically enhanced girl (Susan Anton) trains for the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
A Shining Season1979BiographicalRunningTrue story of John Baker, a girls' track coach dying of cancer.
Chariots of Fire 1981DramaSprintsTrue story set during 1924 Olympics. Four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Graduation Day 1981HorrorTrackSlasher film about school's track athletes being murdered.
Personal Best 1982DramaTrack Mariel Hemingway in fictional story of women's track and field.
Running Brave 1983Drama10,000 mBiographical film on the life and career of Billy Mills, starring Robby Benson.
On the Edge 1985DramaTrail runningA distance runner (Bruce Dern) fights for amateurs' rights during California's Dipsea Race.
The Jesse Owens Story 1985BiographicalSprints, long jumpTrue story of legendary 1930s athlete Jesse Owens, portrayed by Dorian Harewood.
Cracked Up1987DramaTrackA high school athlete has a serious problem with cocaine.
Run for Your Life 1988Drama/ThrillerMarathonItalian-British production starring David Carradine.
The Four Minute Mile 1988BiographicalMileRecord-breaking run of Roger Bannister, made for television.
Across the Tracks 1991DramaTrack Brad Pitt and Rick Schroeder as brothers who compete in high school track and field.
Forrest Gump 1994Comedy-dramaRunningForrest Gump, among other things, runs repeatedly across the continental United States.
Pentathlon 1994ThrillerPentathlonAn East German pentathlete (Dolph Lundgren) defects to USA, where his former coach, now a neo-Nazi, finds and harasses him.
Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story1996Biographical100m HTrue story of hardships and success of great U.S. athlete Gail Devers.
Prefontaine 1997BiographicalRunningTrue story of Oregon middle distance runner Steve Prefontaine, played by Jared Leto.
Without Limits 1998BiographicalRunningAnother version of life and death of Steve Prefontaine, starring Billy Crudup.
Endurance 1999DramaDistance runningBiographical film about Haile Gebrselassie.
The Long Run 2000DramaUltramarathonStory of the Comrades Marathon, an annual 55-mile foot race in South Africa.
Pumpkin 2002Comedy Christina Ricci in story about a developmentally challenged youth.
Hitler's Pawn The Margaret Lambert Story2004DocumentaryHigh JumpTrue story of Gretel Bergmann, kept out of 1936 Olympics for being Jewish, replaced by an athlete who turned out to be a man. Later dramatized in Berlin 36 .
Miracle Run 2004FamilyCross countryA young autistic boy (Zac Efron) becomes interested in cross-country running.
Four Minutes2005BiographicalMileMade for TV. Chronicles the successful quest of Roger Bannister to break the four-minute barrier in the mile.
The Ringer 2005Comedy Johnny Knoxville bad-taste spoof of Special Olympics.
Saint Ralph 2005DramaMarathonA 15-year-old boy attempts to run in the 1954 Boston Marathon.
Terry 2005DocumentaryRoad runningMade for TV. Documents the Marathon of Hope, 1980 attempt of cancer patient and amputee Terry Fox to run across Canada.
Run Fatboy Run 2007Romantic comedyMarathon David Schwimmer-directed comedy about an out-of-shape British man (Simon Pegg) who enters a marathon.
Spirit of the Marathon 2007DocumentaryMarathonFollows six runners training for the 2005 Chicago Marathon
Racing for Time 2008TrackMade for TV. Based on a true story about youths in a correctional facility.
Salute 2008DocumentaryMultiple eventsAustralian film looking back at 1968 Mexico City Olympics, focusing on Peter Norman, who stood alongside Tommie Smith and John Carlos in support of their protest after winning medals in the 200 metres. Directed by Norman's nephew Matt Norman.
The One Man Olympics2008BiographicalTrackBiographic of China's first ever Olympian Liu Changchun and his journey to compete in 1932 Summer Olympics.
Berlin 36 2009DramaHigh jumpTop athlete Gretel Bergmann is excluded from Berlin Olympics for being Jewish.
Chasing a Dream 2009DramaMile runTV film on emotionally scarred boy who attempts to run a sub-4-minute mile.
The Runner2009Ultra Trail
Into the Wind2010DocumentaryRoad runningMade for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Another look at Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope, co-directed by NBA's Steve Nash, who followed Fox's run as a child.
Marion Jones: Press Pause2010DocumentarySprintsMade for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. On career of Marion Jones, her 2007 admission of performance-enhancing drug use, and subsequent prison sentence.
The Robber 2010DramaMarathonGerman film about an Austrian bank-robbing runner.
Paan Singh Tomar 2012DramaSteeplechaseIndian film based on the true story of an athlete Paan Singh Tomar.
9.79*2012Documentary100 mMade for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. On men's 100 metres of 1988 Olympics, where Ben Johnson set world record but was disqualified after positive test for steroids.
Fast Girls 2012DramaSprintsBritish film about two women sprinters.
Ethir Neechal 2013Comedy/DramaMarathonStory about a Common Young man having talent as a runner, who strives to make his identity into a pride one.
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag 2013DramaRunningIndian film based on true story of an athlete Milkha Singh.
Runner2013DocumentaryDistance RunningMade for TV as part of ESPN's Nine for IX series. The stunning collision that defined the one thing missing from the otherwise brilliant career of distance runner Mary Decker
Spirit of the Marathon II 2013DocumentaryMarathonRunners train for the 2012 Rome Marathon
Unbroken 2014BiographicalRunningAn Olympic runner becomes and survives being a World War II prisoner of war
4 Minute Mile 2014DramaMile RunA coach decides to train a student with natural athletic talent. Tragedy strikes, forcing the student to confront everything that has been holding him back.
McFarland, USA 2015BiographicalCross country Kevin Costner portrays Jim White, who built the predominantly Latino McFarland High School into a California cross country power.
Race 2016BiographicalSprintsA new dramatization of the life of Jesse Owens, highlighted by the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Tracktown 2016DramaLong distance runningTraining for the Olympics
The Infinite Race2020DocumentaryUltramarathonMade for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. The story of the Tarahumara, an indigenous people in Mexico famed for their long-distance running culture who inspired an worldwide ultrarunning craze, while at the same time being ravaged by the country's drug wars.
The Life and Trials of Oscar Pistorius2020DocumentarySprintsFour-part film made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series and premiering on the ESPN+ streaming service. Examines Oscar Pistorius from his childhood in the last days of apartheid, to worldwide celebrity as the first double-leg amputee to compete in the able-bodied Olympics, to convicted murderer.
Zero to Hero2021BiographicalSprintsHong Kong film based on true story of para-athlete So Wa Wai
Listen2023DocumentaryMulti-eventESPN+ film documenting the multiple failures of University of Utah officials to address concerns raised by Utes heptathlete Lauren McCluskey, culminating in her 2018 murder.

See also

Related Research Articles

English usually refers to:

The following outline provides an overview of and topical guide to entertainment and the entertainment industry:

<i>Raging Bull</i> 1980 film directed by Martin Scorsese

Raging Bull is a 1980 American biographical sports drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana and Frank Vincent. The film is an adaptation of former middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta's 1970 memoir Raging Bull: My Story. It follows the career of LaMotta, played by De Niro, his rise and fall in the boxing scene, and his turbulent personal life beset by rage and jealousy.

<i>Jerry Maguire</i> 1996 sports film by Cameron Crowe

Jerry Maguire is a 1996 American romantic sports comedy-drama film directed, written, and co-produced by Cameron Crowe and starring Tom Cruise in the title role with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Renée Zellweger. The film also stars Kelly Preston, Jerry O'Connell, Jay Mohr, Bonnie Hunt and Regina King. Co-produced by James L. Brooks, it was inspired by an experience sports agent Leigh Steinberg had with client Tim McDonald during the 1993 NFL season when free agency was introduced to the league. The film was also partly inspired by a 28-page memo written at Disney in 1991 by Jeffrey Katzenberg. It was released in North American theaters on December 13, 1996, produced by Gracie Films, and distributed by TriStar Pictures.

No or NO may refer to:

<i>Rudy</i> (film) 1993 film by David Anspaugh

Rudy is a 1993 American biographical sports film directed by David Anspaugh. It is an account of the life of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, who harbored dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame despite significant obstacles. It was the first film that the Notre Dame administration allowed to be shot on campus since Knute Rockne, All American in 1940.

<i>XXX</i> (2002 film) American action film directed by Rob Cohen

XXX is a 2002 American action film directed by Rob Cohen, produced by Neal H. Moritz and written by Rich Wilkes. The first installment in the XXX film series, the film stars Vin Diesel as Xander Cage, a thrill-seeking extreme sports enthusiast, stuntman and rebellious athlete-turned-reluctant spy for the National Security Agency. Cage is sent on a dangerous mission to infiltrate a group of potential Russian terrorists in Central Europe. The film also stars Asia Argento, Marton Csokas and Samuel L. Jackson. Cohen, Moritz and Diesel had previously worked on The Fast and the Furious (2001) as director, producer and cast member respectively. The film grossed $277.4 million worldwide and was followed by two sequels, XXX: State of the Union (2005) and XXX: Return of Xander Cage (2017).

<i>Miracle</i> (2004 film) 2004 film by Gavin OConnor

Miracle is a 2004 American sports film about the United States men's ice hockey team, led by head coach Herb Brooks, portrayed by Kurt Russell, who won the gold medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics. The American team's victory over the heavily favored Soviet professionals in the medal round was dubbed the "Miracle on Ice". Miracle was directed by Gavin O'Connor and written by Eric Guggenheim and Mike Rich. It was released on February 6, 2004, where it grossed $64.5 million on a $28 million budget and received positive reviews, with Russell's performance garnering the most praise from critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports film</span> Film genre

A sports film is a film genre in which any particular sport plays a prominent role in the film's plot or acts as its central theme. It is a production in which a sport or a sports-related topic is prominently featured or is a focus of the plot. Despite this, sport is ultimately rarely the central concern of such films and sport performs primarily an allegorical role. Furthermore, sports fans are not necessarily the target demographic in such movies, but sports fans tend to maintain high following and esteem for such movies.

<i>Bull Durham</i> 1988 US romantic sports comedy movie by Ron Shelton

Bull Durham is a 1988 American romantic comedy sports film. It is partly based upon the minor-league baseball experiences of writer/director Ron Shelton and depicts the players and fans of the Durham Bulls, a minor-league baseball team in Durham, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HBO</span> American pay television network

Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based at Warner Bros. Discovery's corporate headquarters inside 30 Hudson Yards in Manhattan's West Side district. Programming featured on the network consists primarily of theatrically released motion pictures and original television programs as well as made-for-cable movies, documentaries, occasional comedy, and concert specials, and periodic interstitial programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Dragon Film Awards</span> South Korean film awards

The Blue Dragon Film Awards is an annual awards ceremony that is presented by Sports Chosun for excellence in film in South Korea.

<i>30 for 30</i> Series of documentary films airing on ESPN from 2009

30 for 30 is the title for a series of documentary films airing on ESPN, its sister networks, and online highlighting interesting people and events in sports history. This includes four "volumes" of 30 episodes each, a 13-episode series under the ESPN Films Presents title in 2011–2012, and a series of 30 for 30 Shorts shown through the ESPN.com website. The series has also expanded to include Soccer Stories, which aired in advance of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and audio podcasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drama (film and television)</span> Film and television genre

In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-genre, macro-genre, or micro-genre, such as soap opera, police crime drama, political drama, legal drama, historical drama, domestic drama, teen drama, and comedy-drama (dramedy). These terms tend to indicate a particular setting or subject matter, or they combine a drama's otherwise serious tone with elements that encourage a broader range of moods. To these ends, a primary element in a drama is the occurrence of conflict—emotional, social, or otherwise—and its resolution in the course of the storyline.

<i>Moneyball</i> (film) 2011 film by Bennett Miller

Moneyball is a 2011 American biographical film directed by Bennett Miller with a script by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin from a story by Stan Chervin. The film is based on the 2003 nonfiction book, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis. The book is an account of the Oakland Athletics baseball team's 2002 season and their general manager Billy Beane's attempts to assemble a competitive team. In the film, Beane and assistant general manager Peter Brand, faced with the franchise's limited budget for players, build a team of undervalued talent by taking a sophisticated sabermetric approach to scouting and analyzing players. Philip Seymour Hoffman also stars as Art Howe.