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WeirdThe 20 Best Sports Movies On Netflix
By Jade Budowski
@jadebudowski
Published
July 11, 2017, 9:00 p.m. ET
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Throw hooks, shoot hoops, and hit that home run. These are the highest-rated sports flicks on Netflix.
Photos: Everett Collection ; Illustration: Dillen Phelps
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All This Mayhem
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
This groundbreaking documentary follows Aussie pro-skateboarder brothers Tas and Ben Pappas as they navigate the dark side of the world behind this wild sport and the drugs and reckless behavior that led to their fall from grace. Whether you're familiar with skateboarding or are too afraid to get near one, you're bound to find this tumultuous tale riveting.
[Stream All This Mayhem]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
This groundbreaking documentary follows Aussie pro-skateboarder brothers Tas and Ben Pappas as they navigate the dark side of the world behind this wild sport and the drugs and reckless behavior that led to their fall from grace. Whether you're familiar with skateboarding or are too afraid to get near one, you're bound to find this tumultuous tale riveting.
[Stream All This Mayhem]
Photo: Netflix
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No No: A Dockumentary
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Controversial Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis is the subject of this mind-boggling documentary, and you're bound to have your mind changed about baseball by the end of it. Perhaps best known for having once pitched a no-hitter while high on LSD, Ellis led a prolific career until his death in 2008. No No manages to capture the fascinating facets of Ellis' life and the changing world of the 1960s and 70s.
[Stream No No: A Dockumentary]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Controversial Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis is the subject of this mind-boggling documentary, and you're bound to have your mind changed about baseball by the end of it. Perhaps best known for having once pitched a no-hitter while high on LSD, Ellis led a prolific career until his death in 2008. No No manages to capture the fascinating facets of Ellis' life and the changing world of the 1960s and 70s.
[Stream No No: A Dockumentary]
Photo: Netflix
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Team Foxcatcher
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
While drama flick Foxcatcher may have earned well-deserved critical buzz and awards love, this unsettling documentary makes things unflinchingly real. The Netflix original film takes things one step further and examines the life of Dave Schultz, one of the members of Team Foxcatcher who eventually paid for his loyalty to the paranoid, unpredictable John DuPont with his life.
[Stream Team Foxcatcher]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
While drama flick Foxcatcher may have earned well-deserved critical buzz and awards love, this unsettling documentary makes things unflinchingly real. The Netflix original film takes things one step further and examines the life of Dave Schultz, one of the members of Team Foxcatcher who eventually paid for his loyalty to the paranoid, unpredictable John DuPont with his life.
[Stream Team Foxcatcher]
Photo: Netflix
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T-Rex
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
You don't need to know a damn thing about boxing to enjoy this thrilling documentary. T-Rex follows 17-year-old Claressa 'T-Rex' Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan with dreams of becoming the first woman to ever win a gold medal in Olympic boxing. As one would expect, the road to victory - both in and outside the ring - is not an easy one, but this fearless teen is willing to do anything to get there.
[Stream T-Rex]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
You don't need to know a damn thing about boxing to enjoy this thrilling documentary. T-Rex follows 17-year-old Claressa 'T-Rex' Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan with dreams of becoming the first woman to ever win a gold medal in Olympic boxing. As one would expect, the road to victory - both in and outside the ring - is not an easy one, but this fearless teen is willing to do anything to get there.
[Stream T-Rex]
Photo: Netflix
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The Battered Bastards of Baseball
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
A so-crazy-it's-hard-to-believe-it's-true underdog story, this documentary chronicles minor league baseball team the Portland Mavericks during their five season-run from 1973-1977. Beloved actor Kurt Russell's father Bing owned the team, and Kurt acted as vice president and also played for them. Delightful for both sports-lovers and film-lovers alike, this celebration of determination and spirit is one you won't want to miss.
[Stream The Battered Bastards of Baseball]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
A so-crazy-it's-hard-to-believe-it's-true underdog story, this documentary chronicles minor league baseball team the Portland Mavericks during their five season-run from 1973-1977. Beloved actor Kurt Russell's father Bing owned the team, and Kurt acted as vice president and also played for them. Delightful for both sports-lovers and film-lovers alike, this celebration of determination and spirit is one you won't want to miss.
[Stream The Battered Bastards of Baseball]
Photo: Netflix
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The Endless Summer
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Perhaps the surfing documentary to begin and end all surfing documentaries, this 1966 film helmed by Bruce Brown sees Brown and his friends to follow summer around the globe and surf waves across continents. Featuring an amazing surf-rock soundtrack by The Sandals, this revolutionary doc will warm you up on even the coldest of days.
[Stream The Endless Summer]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Perhaps the surfing documentary to begin and end all surfing documentaries, this 1966 film helmed by Bruce Brown sees Brown and his friends to follow summer around the globe and surf waves across continents. Featuring an amazing surf-rock soundtrack by The Sandals, this revolutionary doc will warm you up on even the coldest of days.
[Stream The Endless Summer]
Photo: Netflix
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The Only Real Game
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Melissa Leo, this moving documentary puts a spotlight on the magic of baseball for people living in remote, troubled areas of the world like Manipur, a tragedy-ravaged border state in northeast India. When a group of baseball pros and baseball loers team up with the citizens of Manipuri to play, however, there seems to be hope for the first time in a long time.
[Stream The Only Real Game]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Melissa Leo, this moving documentary puts a spotlight on the magic of baseball for people living in remote, troubled areas of the world like Manipur, a tragedy-ravaged border state in northeast India. When a group of baseball pros and baseball loers team up with the citizens of Manipuri to play, however, there seems to be hope for the first time in a long time.
[Stream The Only Real Game]
Photo: Netflix
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Surfwise
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
Legendary surfer Dr. Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz (now 85 years old) takes center stage in this extraordinary documentary, giving an intimate glimpse into his life and the lives of his wife and nine children, who were all home-schooled and raised surfing every day of their lives, wherever they lived. The film takes a long, hard look at this mythic man who surfed the world and dragged his family to catch waves with him.
[Stream Surfwise ]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
Legendary surfer Dr. Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz (now 85 years old) takes center stage in this extraordinary documentary, giving an intimate glimpse into his life and the lives of his wife and nine children, who were all home-schooled and raised surfing every day of their lives, wherever they lived. The film takes a long, hard look at this mythic man who surfed the world and dragged his family to catch waves with him.
[Stream Surfwise ]
Photo: Netflix
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Bigger, Stronger, Faster
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
Fantastic or fraud? Champion or cheater? Hero or hoax? These are the questions director Christopher Bell asks in this enlightening documentary. Bigger, Stronger, Faster is a multi-faceted exploration of the cultural phenomenon behind anabolic steroid use in Bell's brothers (and the high-profile figures whose iconic bulkiness inspired it).
[Stream Bigger, Stronger, Faster]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
Fantastic or fraud? Champion or cheater? Hero or hoax? These are the questions director Christopher Bell asks in this enlightening documentary. Bigger, Stronger, Faster is a multi-faceted exploration of the cultural phenomenon behind anabolic steroid use in Bell's brothers (and the high-profile figures whose iconic bulkiness inspired it).
[Stream Bigger, Stronger, Faster]
Photo: Netflix
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Undefeated
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
This inspiring documentary will give you as much hope as your favorite football movie (or NFL game). Coach Bill Courtney turns around the Memphis Manassas Tigers, an underprivileged football team, after several years of losses. A stunning portrait of these young men's lives on and off the field, this documentary will make you laugh, cry, and cheer.
[Stream Undefeated]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
This inspiring documentary will give you as much hope as your favorite football movie (or NFL game). Coach Bill Courtney turns around the Memphis Manassas Tigers, an underprivileged football team, after several years of losses. A stunning portrait of these young men's lives on and off the field, this documentary will make you laugh, cry, and cheer.
[Stream Undefeated]
Photo: Netflix
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Touching the Void
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
Gripping, moving, and absolutely breathtaking, this adventurous documentary follows the famous story of Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, two climbers who set off to ascend the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985. The climb down, however, proved to be more difficult than they ever imagined, and the incredible story of their journey will almost certainly make your jaw drop.
[Stream Touching the Void]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
Gripping, moving, and absolutely breathtaking, this adventurous documentary follows the famous story of Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, two climbers who set off to ascend the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985. The climb down, however, proved to be more difficult than they ever imagined, and the incredible story of their journey will almost certainly make your jaw drop.
[Stream Touching the Void]
Photo: Netflix
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Pumping Iron
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
This iconic 1977 docudrama chronicles the battle of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno for the title of Mr. Olympia, and in the wake of its release managed to popularize the fitness craze of the 1980s. Full of much more heart than you might expect, there's a reason this flick is considered a classic.
[Stream Pumping Iron]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
This iconic 1977 docudrama chronicles the battle of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno for the title of Mr. Olympia, and in the wake of its release managed to popularize the fitness craze of the 1980s. Full of much more heart than you might expect, there's a reason this flick is considered a classic.
[Stream Pumping Iron]
Photo: Netflix
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Million Dollar Baby
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
It's not hard to see why Hilary Swank won an Oscar for her portrayal of Maggie Fitzgerald, a determined young boxer, in this heart-wrenching drama flick. Young Maggie works hard with her trainer (Clint Eastwood) to become a professional in the ring, and while her career evidently skyrockets, the events that ensue are absolutely devastating.
[Stream Million Dollar Baby]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
It's not hard to see why Hilary Swank won an Oscar for her portrayal of Maggie Fitzgerald, a determined young boxer, in this heart-wrenching drama flick. Young Maggie works hard with her trainer (Clint Eastwood) to become a professional in the ring, and while her career evidently skyrockets, the events that ensue are absolutely devastating.
[Stream Million Dollar Baby]
Photo: Everett Collection
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Sunshine Superman
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
There's no other word to describe Sunshine Superman except "thrilling". This awe-inspiring documentary paints a picture of Carl Boenish, the man who essentially fathered the BASE-jumping movement after realizing he could turn his love for skydiving into something even more heart-racing. Told in-part with beautiful 16mm footage and flooring aerial shots, you might want to hold onto something when this one gets started.
[Stream Sunshine Superman]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
There's no other word to describe Sunshine Superman except "thrilling". This awe-inspiring documentary paints a picture of Carl Boenish, the man who essentially fathered the BASE-jumping movement after realizing he could turn his love for skydiving into something even more heart-racing. Told in-part with beautiful 16mm footage and flooring aerial shots, you might want to hold onto something when this one gets started.
[Stream Sunshine Superman]
Photo: Netflix
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Fastball
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
Did you know it only takes 396 milliseconds for a fastball to reach home plate? Well now you do. With the help of Hank Aaron, Derek Jeter, Kevin Costner, and a slew of baseball legends and experts, the magic of the fastball is deconstructed and the mystery of who threw the fastest pitch of all time is investigated.
[Stream Fastball]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
Did you know it only takes 396 milliseconds for a fastball to reach home plate? Well now you do. With the help of Hank Aaron, Derek Jeter, Kevin Costner, and a slew of baseball legends and experts, the magic of the fastball is deconstructed and the mystery of who threw the fastest pitch of all time is investigated.
[Stream Fastball]
Photo: Netflix
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Happy Valley
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
This harrowing documentary chronicles the year that followed the arrest of Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky on child sex abuse charges. While it's hard to watch at times, the raw emotions at play and the community's journey of recovery make it essential viewing.
[Stream Happy Valley]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
This harrowing documentary chronicles the year that followed the arrest of Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky on child sex abuse charges. While it's hard to watch at times, the raw emotions at play and the community's journey of recovery make it essential viewing.
[Stream Happy Valley]
Photo: Netflix
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Neon Bull
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
A big change of pace from the rest of the flicks on this list, this Portuguese flick tells the story of Iremar, a Brazilian cowboy who works at a rodeo and dreams of much, much more. While his aspirations aren't necessarily athletically-inclined, the spirit in our protagonist and the way his life in the rodeo changes things is incredibly compelling.
[Stream Neon Bull]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
A big change of pace from the rest of the flicks on this list, this Portuguese flick tells the story of Iremar, a Brazilian cowboy who works at a rodeo and dreams of much, much more. While his aspirations aren't necessarily athletically-inclined, the spirit in our protagonist and the way his life in the rodeo changes things is incredibly compelling.
[Stream Neon Bull]
Photo: Netflix
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Glass Chin
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
Featuring the talents of Billy Crudup, Corey Stoll, Katherine Waterston, and more, this engaging drama/thriller follows a down-and-out former boxing champ who sees his life upended when he's framed for murder. Forced to choose between ambition and friendship, no matter which way he goes, things will change forever. Stylishly shot and beautifully acted, Glass Chin is a sneaky little movie that deserves your time.
[Stream Glass Chin]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
Featuring the talents of Billy Crudup, Corey Stoll, Katherine Waterston, and more, this engaging drama/thriller follows a down-and-out former boxing champ who sees his life upended when he's framed for murder. Forced to choose between ambition and friendship, no matter which way he goes, things will change forever. Stylishly shot and beautifully acted, Glass Chin is a sneaky little movie that deserves your time.
[Stream Glass Chin]
Photo: Netflix
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The Short Game
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
Bound to offer fun for the whole family, this documentary follows the best grade-school aged golfers in the entire world as they gather at the infamous North Carolina Pinehurst Golf Course to battle for the title of world champion - or next golf legend. These prodigies - many of whom have been golfing since they could stand on their own two feet - may make you feel slightly inadequate, but the thrill of watching them succeed makes it all worthwhile.
[Stream The Short Game]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
Bound to offer fun for the whole family, this documentary follows the best grade-school aged golfers in the entire world as they gather at the infamous North Carolina Pinehurst Golf Course to battle for the title of world champion - or next golf legend. These prodigies - many of whom have been golfing since they could stand on their own two feet - may make you feel slightly inadequate, but the thrill of watching them succeed makes it all worthwhile.
[Stream The Short Game]
Photo: Netflix
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The Longest Yard (1974)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%
No, no, not the Adam Sandler attempt at this story. We're talking about the 1974 Burt Reynolds hit, a flick that sees a twisted warden make a former pro quarterback assemble a team of inmates to take on the guards in a game of good ol' football. Filled with laughs, thrills, and unexpectedly moving moments, The Longest Yard will leave no question in your mind as to why it's still a classic.
[Stream The Longest Yard]
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%
No, no, not the Adam Sandler attempt at this story. We're talking about the 1974 Burt Reynolds hit, a flick that sees a twisted warden make a former pro quarterback assemble a team of inmates to take on the guards in a game of good ol' football. Filled with laughs, thrills, and unexpectedly moving moments, The Longest Yard will leave no question in your mind as to why it's still a classic.
[Stream The Longest Yard]
Photo: Netflix
