5 Best Sports Documentaries Of All Time
Sometimes, the best way to learn is to watch an expert at their craft. Documentaries can teach you anything from worldbuilding tips to what it’s like being a filmmaker. With more than 500 documentaries about sports in existence across television, film, Blu-ray, and streaming services across the globe, thousands of hours of knowledge are available for eager know-it-alls just waiting to be discovered.
Free Solo
Documentaries about solo sports are always fascinating. They offer a unique insight into the athlete's mind as they push themselves to the limit, often with life-or-death consequences.
Free Solo is one of the best examples of this genre of documentary. It tells the story of Alex Honnold, a free solo climber who attempts to scale the 3000ft El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without any ropes or safety gear. It won the Academy Award that year for Best Documentary Feature.
The film follows Honnold as he prepares for and then makes his attempt, providing an incredible amount of tension and excitement along the way. It's truly gripping stuff, and it's impossible not to be impressed by what Honnold achieves.
Free Solo is undoubtedly one you should check out if you're looking for an edge-of-your-seat sports documentary.
When We Were Kings
In 1996, director Leon Gast set out to make a documentary about the "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali. The result was When We Were Kings, one of the most acclaimed sports documentaries of all time.
The film chronicles the build-up to the historic 1974 bout, which took place in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). Through archival footage and interviews with those who were there, When We Were Kings paints a vivid picture of both Ali and Foreman in their primes. It also captures the excitement and sense of possibility surrounding the event, billed as "The Greatest Fight of All Time."
When We Were Kings went on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It is widely considered one of the best sports films ever made, and it remains an essential document of one of the most important moments in 20th-century popular culture.
Hoop Dreams
Hoop Dreams is one of the best sports documentaries of all time. It tells the story of two young African-American men who are trying to make it in the world of professional basketball.
The film follows their journey from high school to college and then to the NBA, showing both the highs and lows of their careers. Hoop Dreams is an inspiring film that will leave you cheering for its subjects. Extremely dramatic and heartbreaking, Hoop Dreams is a great film.
It is also listed in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, which only contains movies that have been given a lot of cultural worth.
Icarus
Icarus's debut caused a wave of shock and anger around the world. In "Icarus," director Bryan Fogel sets out to explore the world of doping in sports. The documentary Icarus follows amateur cyclist Bryan Fogel as he prepares to race in the 2015 Haute Route and sets out to experience the effects of performance-enhancing chemicals and expose how simple it is to evade anti-doping testing.
As he delves into the topic, he discovers far more than he bargained for, and his investigation has far-reaching implications.
Through interviews with athletes, doctors, and other experts, "Icarus" paints a picture of a global system of doping that is incredibly sophisticated and deep-rooted. It's a must-watch for any sports fan or anyone interested in the inner workings of the international Olympic Games.
No, No: A Dockumentary
No, No: A Dockumentary is a fascinating and informative look at the life of Pittsburgh Pirates baseball player Dock Ellis. The film chronicles Ellis' career, from his early days as a hot-shot rookie to his turbulent years with the team in the 1970s. It also covers his drug use and eventual recovery, which led to him becoming an outspoken advocate for substance abuse education.
The 2014 film, directed by Jeff Radice, is one of the most popular sports documentaries of all time. This is an essential film for any baseball fan or anyone interested in learning more about one of the game's most flamboyant and controversial figures.
Conclusion
Sports documentaries are some of the most inspirational, heartwarming, and downright motivating films out there. They showcase the human spirit at its best — the ability to overcome impossible odds, strive for greatness, and to come together as a team. If you're looking for a little motivation in your life or just want to relive some amazing sporting moments, then be sure to check out one (or all) of these five sports documentaries. You won't be disappointed.