Ah, Netflix, the rabbit hole that is a library of binging entertainment. While it is very easy to get lost in an endless stream (excuse the pun) of movies and television series, there is a large selection of great movies that can be used to help inspire aspiring athletes and even weekend warriors to achieve more.
Whether you crave the underdog battling against all odds, the strength of teamwork, or the tale of an individual with an unyielding spirit, Netflix’s library of incredible sports stories will have you cheering, reaching for the Kleenex, and wanting to grab your gym bag with some of the most uplifting stories of human achievement. You can check more sports news and content in this website.
My All American (2015)
Growing up, Freddie Steinmark dreamed of playing college football, however, his passion and dreams would face a giant obstacle as he was deemed to be too small by most coaches to play past his high school season.
When University of Texas Longhorns head coach Darrell Royal gives Steinmark a chance to play NCAA Division I football, it provides him with a new hope. Unfortunately, Steinmark’s health would take a turn for the worse. Despite yet another obstacle thrown in front of him, the diminutive gridiron hopeful continued to persevere, helping the Longhorns to the 1969 National Championship.
Greater (2016)
Offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworth was not a naturally gifted athlete, but through hard work, determination, and faith, he managed to accomplish his football goals. Although he failed to secure a scholarship to the University of Arkansas, his dream school, Burlsworth joined the team as a walk-on.
Undersized and lacking in strength to play his position at the Division I level, Burlsworth, with the support of his family, continued to prove everyone wrong, eventually earning a scholarship and a starting spot with the Razorbacks. Ultimately, Burlsworth would be drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft, only to have his life tragically come to an end eleven days later.
First Match (2018)
Not only did Monique have to deal with living in the rough Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, but she also had to do so while bouncing around from foster home to foster home and trying to reconnect with her estranged father, a former wrestling champion.
Hoping to grab his attention, Monique joins her high school wrestling team, an all-boys program. While her mission appears to be successful, her father has ulterior motives, using his daughter’s talent to compete for cash in underground fights. Yearning for a relationship with her father, Monique finds success in both worlds through her inner strength and resilience.
Hustle (2022)
Known mainly for his comedy roles, Adam Sandler makes a slam dunk playing the part of Stanley Sugerman, a struggling scout for the Philadelphia 76ers. As the job takes a toll on Sugerman’s family, he soon finds himself converting to becoming a player agent. Connecting with Bo Cruz, a Spanish basketball hopeful, the player and agent find themselves on a journey together.
Through dedication and relentless work ethic, Sugerman and Cruz persevere through adversity as both the agent and player look to prove that they belong in a better place among their peers. Filled with countless NBA and streetball players and coaches, Hustle is not just one of the best inspirational sports movies, but one of the best basketball movies of all time, because of the realness of the story and the on-court action.
Warrior (2011)
Warrior is the story of two troubled brothers united by the world of mixed martial arts. Growing up with an alcoholic father, Tommy and Brendan went their separate ways with Tommy joining the U.S. Marines and Brendan becoming a high school teacher. As both use fighting as an outlet for their personal issues, they find themselves connecting with people from their past, including Tommy asking their father to be his coach and Brendan seeking the guidance of an old family friend.
Motivated by the $5 million grand prize at the MMA tournament Sparta to help change their respective lives, the brothers not only find answers to their strained relationship but eventually find themselves squaring off against each other in the tournament finale.
Rush (2013)
The story of F1 drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda, two individuals who approach racing from opposite ends of the spectrum is told in this Ron Howard-directed biographical sports film. While Hunt relies on his instinct and dare-devilish driving approach, Lauda counters with a more methodical strategy based on precision and technical mastery.
As the Brit and Austrian battle for supremacy in the rankings, a tragic racing accident, which could have easily been avoided had it not been for Hunt’s competitiveness, puts Lauda on the shelf. Despite doctors’ orders, Lauda returns to the track in search of the 1976 title and the continued battle with his rival as the two drivers push each other to their limits while forging an unbreakable bond.
Nyad (2023)
It is 110 miles to swim from Havana, Cuba to Key West, Florida. There have only been three people on record to successfully complete the journey through the treacherous shark and jellyfish filled waters, the latest being Diana Nyad. Starring Annette Bening as Nyad, the 2023 film details the American swimmer’s multiple attempts at accomplishing the amazing feat.
From 2010 to 2013, Nyad made five different attempts to complete her mission, failing on the first four for a variety of reasons, most due to Mother Nature. At the age of 64, Nyad and her team completed the journey without the assistance of a shark cage. Battling both physical and mental hurdles, Nyad’s tale of grit and resiliency proves that age is nothing but a number and that you are never too old to chase your dreams.
