Whether it’s an individual sport like track and field or a team sport such as football, sports movies can provide some of the most emotionally compelling storylines the film industry has to offer. And they’re all unique, with each sport offering a different perspective on their respective characters. Stepping into a boxing ring, for instance, symbolizes a much different kind of battle than the quarterback of afootball teamleading his peers to victory. But in the end, these movies deliver on emotional resonance in ways that can only be done on a field, a court, or inside of a ring.
This list will span a variety of sports from some of the most popular directors on the Hollywood block, and every movie will be from the 2000s. Most of them will tug at your heart strings, too, like few other films from the decade. And plenty of these titles were nominated — if they didn’t win the awards entirely — for several Oscars, Golden Globes, and more. Considering those associations tend to favor the more poignant efforts the industry has to offer, that goes to show the level of emotion these films were operating on. With all that said, though, these are the ten most emotionalsports moviesof the 2000s.
10Invincible (2006)
Sure,Invincible(2006) featured its share of comedic moments and general lightheadedness. It is a Disney film, after all. But the character development undergone by Vince Papale — played by Mark Wahlberg — eventually showcased the emotional themes that this football stint was willing to tackle. After Vince’s wife Sharon leaves him and essentially states that, well, he’ll never amount to anything in life.
And the pain of losing his significant other was quickly overcome by the general fear of going down as a failure. Even when he got accepted as a walk-on for the Philadelphia Eagles, one of the biggest teams theNational Football Leaguehas to offer, Vince fights an interior battle larger than ever before. And that struggle culminates when he wins his first game with the Eagles (against the New York Giants) and settles down with his new love interest, a fellow bartender played by Elizabeth Banks. Despite some emotional setbacks, Vince truly did go down as invincible.
9Ali (2001)
Directed by Michael Mann, this biographical boxing drama definitely made waves in theaters, but it sort of polarized critics upon release. Starring as the titular Muhammed Ali — widely considered to be the greatest pugilist to ever live — Will Smith received a nomination for Best Actor at the Academy Awards. His dedicated and earnest performance was agreed upon by critics as the perfect faculty for emotion. Plus, Jon Voight also received praise for his work as journalist Howard Cosell.
Mann had a particular passion for this subject that shined through each frame of cinematographic ambition, and ultimately, if there’s one thing that will resonate with audiences regardingAli(2001) by the time the film is said and done, it will undoubtedly bethe emotional performancesput on by its cast.
8Remember the Titans (2000)
This was the final movie of Denzel Washington’s short-lived but well-received streak of sports films, and undoubtedly the most popular thereof. As Herman Blume, the new head coach of T.C. Williams High School, he instills confidence into his team around every corner of the film’s inspirational plot. And when everything is said and done, this story of racial tensions will hit home as the characters overcome the hardships produced therefrom.
And if the plot isn’t enough to make you grab a fresh box of tissues, its emotional soundtrack of classic American tunes in tandem with a slew of brilliant performances — from the likes of Washington, Ryan Gosling, Donald Faison, and Hayden Panettiere — will surely be enough to draw a tear in your eye. And of course, an injury within the plot ofRemember the Titans(2000) may beas clichédas story beats can come, but it did stir up even more emotions from the audience.
Related:10 Teen Movies From the 2000s That Will Be Remembered Forever
7Invictus (2009)
Throughout the 2000s, American actor and filmmaker Clint Eastwood directed several award-winning performances, like from Sean Penns and Tim Robbins fromMystic River(2003) who were nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. Here withInvictus(2009), Morgan Freeman picked up the nod forBest Actor, while famous actor Matt Damon went home with a nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
This was Freeman’s third collaboration with Eastwood following their work onUnforgiven(1992) andMillion Dollar Baby(2004), and although it’s probably their least-appreciated work of the three films, it could very well be their most emotional. The film is about rugby on the surface, but with Morgan Freeman playing anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela, the story’s thematic overtones of racial injustice conquers just about everything your emotions can stand for.
6Cinderella Man (2005)
This title isn’t quite as intense in a physical fashion as other films on this list. Sure, it’s the story of a boxer who also works as a longshoreman in New Jersey amid the Great Depression. So, it’s safe to saythe primary characterplayed by Russell Crowe does take his fair share of punishment. ButCinderella Man(2005) is ultimately a harrowing emotional journey of family man James J. Braddock as he deals with struggles within his marriage in tandem with his various economic difficulties.
Oh, and, yeah: he also gets frequently punched in the face. It’s hard not to feel for Braddock at some point or another, and that emotion is only intensified by the awe-inspiring performances from Crowe, Renée Zellweger as his wife Mae Braddock, and Paul Giamatti as his coach Joe Gould. If the harrowing plot isn’t enough to tug at your heartstrings, those acting efforts will surely do the trick.
Related:The Top 10 Very Best Modern Boxing Movies
5Friday Night Lights (2004)
Following the true story of 1988 Permian High School Panthers football team,Friday Night Lights(2004) was directed by Peter Berg in perhaps the best film of his career. And the inciting incident where James “Boobie” Miles injures his ACL is intensity personified. He’s the star running back of the Permian Panthers, and they’re all on their way to winning a state championship under the guidance ofhead coachGary Gaines — played by Billy Bob Thornton.
As a team, the Panthers rely on Miles — he’s the perfect conduit for moving the ball down the field. But they also rely on him as a boost for general morale, as he’s essentially the star player. And when he’s forced off the field early in the season, the team must channel the proper inspiration to continue in tandem with the sense of honor that the city itself develops under the leadership of Coach Gaines.
4The Blind Side (2009)
This one hits home on a wide variety of emotional levels, as it follows the true story of a young man named Michael Oher, who’s in foster care and startsplaying football. He’s an offensive lineman, and gets accepted into Ole Miss after overcoming an overbearing, spirit-crushing upbringing. Seeing the emotional turmoil manifest itself in Michael’s general demeanor is one thing, but after he forms a bond with a well-off couple (with two kids of their own) named Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, the budding superstar’s touching journey of athletic prowess culminates into one of familial affection.
This resulted in a (somewhat controversial) Best Picture nomination forThe Blind Side(2009) itself, while Sandra Bullock picked up nods (and several wins, including one at the Oscars) for Best Actress. Ultimately, though, the film’s biggest highlight will forever be the bonds created by its many star players.
3We Are Marshall (2006)
Obviously, one thing that makes these narratives so emotionally taxing is the fact that several of them are based off true stories. And in the case ofWe Are Marshall(2006), the film follows the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team who loses a significant amount of staff, boosters, and players late one night duringa plane crashwhile coming home from an away game.
The plane crash reverberated throughout the community of Huntington, West Virginia in a way that has rarely been see before on screen. After going 3-6 in the regular season, it was clear the football team had work to do if they had championship aspirations, but win or lose, their fans were always there. And the tragedy just brought the community closer together. The script’s emotional resonance is without a doubt the film’s biggest highlight, and it all stems back to the intensity of the opening plane crash.
2Million Dollar Baby (2004)
All of the primary actors inMillion Dollar Baby(2004) such as Hillary Swank, Morgan Freeman, and even director Clint Eastwood put on particularly poignant performances. Each of their characters shared unique dynamics with one another, and their individual personalities were perfectly portrayed. But the film shined on just about every level of filmmaking — including the more technical elements.
The whole project exuded a particular passion in its manywell-placed shots of the camera, its many well-written lines of dialogue, and its many well-timed choices of editing. The most emotional moment in the film came with the climactic sequence in which Swank’s primary character Maggie Fitzgerald breaks her neck due to a cheap shot from her opponent when returning to her corner. The audience grew with Maggie as a character on a deeply emotional level up to this point, and this injury hit everyone like a knockout blow.
1The Wrestler (2008)
As Mickey Rourke slams his head against metal chairs and tosses his body around with no remorse for the damage being done to every inch of his body,The Wrestler(2008) by Darren Aronofsky is physical intensity epitomized. But it’s also a truly heartfelt performance from Rourke as agingprofessional wrestlerRandy “The Ram” Robinson. And costars like Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood put forth valiant efforts as well, with the former receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
The two women appear as Randy’s love interest (Tomei) and daughter (Wood), with both dynamics adding greatly to the emotional trauma suffered by Randy that come as a byproduct of the life-changing heart attack he endured in the ring. Aronofsky is known for his psychological dramas, and through various filmmaking tactics on top of the grueling plot, this one will undoubtedly mess with your mind.
