Some of the most awesome and inspiring sports movies are not based on a true story. Although some sports movies are authentic and emotional enough to feel like they were derived from real-life teams and athletic scenarios, not every outstanding sports movie is based on true events. It's a common assumption that every great sports movie is likely based on an actual player, coach, or group of teammates who defied the odds to become champions in their given field.
Surprisingly, a significant handful of the greatest sports films ever made are entirely works of fiction. Sports movies that are not inspired by true events are not creatively inhibited by historical accuracy, allowing in some cases for more dynamic characters, bigger comeback stories, and more thoughtful plot developments. Although sports films that are based on true events carry a certain spark, the following twelve works of fiction do well to maintain their lifelike legitimacy while crafting a robust and entertaining original sports narrative.
12 Hustle (2022)
Hustle stars Adam Sandler as a professional basketball scout named Stanley Sugerman. Stanley works for a fictionalized version of the real-life NBA team, the Philadelphia 76ers, and discovers an outstanding talent in NBA-hopeful player Bo Cruz (Juancho Hernangómez). Stanley does everything in his power to mentor Bo into becoming a contender in the NBA and finding him a spot on one of its 32 teams. Hustle may feel like a true story because Hernangómez is a real-life street basketball player in Spain, but the film's story is completely fictional.
11 Major League (1989)
Major League is an original sports movie starring Charlie Sheen as a professional baseball pitcher who plays for a fictionalized version of the Cleveland Indians. Ricky Vaughan (Sheen), also known as "Wild Thing" in the movie, is a former convict recruited by the Indians along with a variety of inadequate players. The Indians' owner plans to tank the team so she can move it to another city. Wild Thing and his teammates including Jake Taylor (Tom Berenger) and Willie Mays Hayes (Wesley Snipes) develop a plan to start winning just to spite the team's owner.
10 He Got Game (1998)
He Got Game stars Denzel Washington as Jake Shuttlesworth, a dangerous murderer serving a lengthy prison sentence for killing his wife. His son Jesus (Ray Allen) is a basketball prodigy who is deciding where to play in college. Jake is given temporary release from prison in order to convince Jesus to play for the governor's alma mater so that he can get a reduced prison sentence. Although the movie stars real-life NBA Hall-of-Famer Ray Allen, He Got Game is not based on true events.
9 Bad News Bears (1976, 2005)
Bad News Bears was originally released in 1976 and was remade in 2005. The baseball film stars Billy Bob Thorton as Morris Buttermaker, a problematic Little League coach with a drinking problem who's desperate for extra money. Morris recruits a star pitcher who is the 12-year-old daughter of one of his ex-girlfriends to give the team of misfits a fighting chance in the competitive league championship. Both the original and the remake of Bad News Bears feature an eccentric cast of youthful and hilarious baseball players.
8 Caddyshack (1980)
Caddyshack is one of the most recognized and best sports comedies of all time. The hilarious movie stars Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, and Bill Murray as or employees of a prestigious fictional golf community called Bushwood Country Club. A young caddie named Danny Noonan (Michale O'Keefe) must compete in a prominent golf tournament held by the country club in order to win a scholarship and get his life back on track. Meanwhile, an eccentric groundskeeper (Murray) must find a solution to exterminate a pesky gopher that is ruining the luxurious golf course.
7 Like Mike (2002)
Like Mike follows the fictional story of Calvin, a young orphan who finds a pair of basketball legend Michael Jordan's basketball sneakers and magically develops powers to play basketball exactly like Mike. Calvin, played by Shad Moss or "Lil Bow Wow", is able to become the youngest NBA player in league history because of the magical sneakers. His success is threatened by the orphanage manager Stan Bittleman (Crispin Glover) who tries to exploit Calvin's abilities for his own self-interest. While the story nears the line of a childlike fantasy, the sports film is a feel-good watch from start to finish.
6 The Longest Yard (1974, 2005)
Both the 1974 original and 2005 remake of The Longest Yard star Burt Reynolds, although he plays different characters in each. The 2005 version stars Adam Sandler as Paul Crewe, a former successful NFL quarterback who ends up in prison. Paul rallies up a group of prisoners to take on the prison guards in a football game as instructed by the Warden. Reynolds played Paul in the original version but returns in the remake to play the coach of the prison inmate team. This would never happen in real life, but the story makes for a classic sports movie.
5 The Way Back (2020)
Ben Affleck directs and stars in The Way Back, which is not based on a true story but parallels closely to Aflleck's personal struggles with alcoholism. Jack (Affleck), a former high school basketball phenom who once had a chance to play professionally, decided to walk away from the game he loved due to his complicated relationship with his father. Jack drowns his sorrows with alcohol until he is given the opportunity to coach a struggling varsity team at his former high school, allowing him one final shot at redemption and purpose. The film is a deeply sentimental portrait of addiction that highlights the power of hope and resiliency.
4 Rocky (1976)
Rocky is a classic boxing movie written, directed, and starring Sylvester Stallone. The iconic sports movie tells the origin story of a struggling boxer whose ambitions to become a champion put him in the ring against his toughest opponent yet. The beloved film spawned five sequels and a spin-off trilogy of films that became its own Rocky-inspired franchise, titled Creed. While none of the Rocky or Creed films are based on true events, their tales of hard work and chasing greatness remain timeless and applicable to all athletic competitors.
3 White Men Can’t Jump (1992)
White Men Can't Jump is another iconic and timeless tale of competition and camaraderie found on the basketball court through a shared love of the game. Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson) and Sidney Deane (Wesley Snipes) team up to play 2-on-2 street basketball in order to win some much-needed money. While not based on a true story, the fictional tale encomes the true essence of teamwork and friendship that can develop both on and off the court. It also accurately depicts the streetball culture and sensibilities of the 90s era.
