There's a certain level of drama to sports. Athletic events are filled with controversy, Cinderella stories and the agony of defeat, so much so that it's almost like each game is something out of Hollywood.
Perhaps that's why sports figures, events and scandals often make their way to the big screen one way or another. Whether it's a feel-good movie about overcoming odds or a documentary about what really went down behind-the-scenes of that headline-grabbing moment in sports, Hollywood has probably documented it in its own special way.
With #DeflateGate, Katy Perry's sure-to-be-ridiculous Halftime Show performance and who knows what other surprises, this year's Super Bowl promises to continue the great tradition of sporting events as basically live theater. So as you're making your final preparations for the big game this weekend, get out the old Netflix and stream these sports-themed movies and TV shows to get you pumped up and in the rah-rah spirit.
1. Friday Night Lights (2006-2010)
Friday Night Lights was a successful book and a movie, but the TV show is the most beloved iteration of the story of a high school football team's impact on a small Texas town. When a show gives you a catchphrase like "Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can't Lose," you know it's something special.
2. Ali (2001)
Will Smith received an Oscar nomination for his role as the boxing legend in this 2001 biopic. Ali shows how an athlete can change the world in more areas than just sports.
3. The Big Green (1995)
Most people might not consider The Big Green a classic, but if you're a Millennial, then you definitely do. In this live-action Disney movie, the down-and-out kids of a small Texas town have newfound hope when a new teacher from the U.K. teaches them soccer and gets them ready for a big game. Sometimes you just need some good, clean fun.
4. Rudy (1993)
Long before Sean Astin played the little hobbit Sam in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, he played a scrawny Notre Dame student who dreamed of playing on the school's legendary football team. Judging from the movie's poster on the Netflix website, you can probably tell that things work out pretty well for him.
5. The Bad News Bears (1976)
An old, drunk, apathetic former coach made to coach a kids' baseball team sounds like a recipe for disaster. And it is. But it also makes for a funny and ultimately inspiring movie.
6. The Summit (2012)
On Aug. 1, 2008, 11 people died while climbing the second highest mountain in the world, K2. The Summit is a haunting documentary that examines what went wrong on the deadliest day in the mountain's history.
7. Jerry Maguire (1996)
Jerry Maguire, the romantic movie that spawned a zillion catchphrases, is also a sports movie deep down inside. Though Tom Cruise's title character is a sports agent and not an athlete, he still gets quite the workout as he tries to keep his career afloat after being fired from his agency.
8. Hoop Dreams (1994)
This epic sports documentary follows two Chicago high school basketball players as they try to make it on to college teams. If that wasn't drama-filled enough, the film goes deeper to touch on issues of family and race.
9. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Yes, Silver Linings Playbook is mostly an intimate look at living with mental illness. But let's not forget that main characters Pat (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) team up to train and later compete in a ballroom dancing competition. There are probably better movies to watch if you want to see some really amazing dancing, but this is just a really great film all around.
10. Baseball: A Film By Ken Burns (1994)
This is from Ken Burns, so you know it's got to be good. This iconic 11-part documentary chronicles the history of America's favorite pastime, including the people, places and events that shaped it.
11. Cool Runnings (1993)
Nobody makes feel-good sports movies like Disney, and Cool Runnings is no exception. I'm sure you've had the joy of experiencing this film, but in case you've lived a deprived life, Cool Runnings is loosely based on the real story of the first Jamaican bobsled team, which appeared in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada. And the hilarity ensues.
12. The League (2009-2013)
Anyone that has participated in a fantasy sports league knows that it is just as competitive, cutthroat and exhausting as playing the actual sport. The League is a semi-scripted TV comedy that captures the real excitment of victory and the heartbreak of defeat of fantasy sports.
13. 30 For 30: The Price of Gold (2014)
Last year marked the 20th anniversary of one of the biggest scandals in sports history: the clubbing of Nancy Kerrigan's leg right before the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and Tonya Harding's involvement. This documentary, part of ESPN's acclaimed series, takes a new look at the controversy and how it has impacted Harding's career and life.
14. The Karate Kid (1984)
The Karate Kid basically needs no introduction. Yes, it's a martial arts movie, but it's also about teen Daniel LaRusso finding the strength and self-confidence to stand up to his bullies.
