They are not always faster and stronger than their opponents, and there are moments of despair and periods of failure in their lives. But what can’t be taken away from athletes is their fortitude and perseverance on the way to their dreams. Overcoming themselves sometimes turns out to be much more important than first place. Sports movies of 2023 will show the viewer the real life of champions with ups and downs, difficulties and long-awaited victory.
Next Goal Wins
- Genre: Drama, Comedy, Sports
- Production: UK, USA / 2023
- Director: Taika Waititi
- Starring: Michael Fassbender, Oscar Kightly, Caymana, David Fain, Rachel House, Bela Coale, Taika Waititi, Will Arnett, Elisabeth Moss, Uli Latukefu
The American Samoa soccer team in the early 2000s was considered the weakest in the world. Time after time the team suffered defeats in competitions. And then the Dutch soccer coach Thomas Rongen is invited to save the situation. The main goal of the team and its coach is to gain admission to the 2014 World Cup.
The story is based on real events. Rongen and the Samoan national team had previously been the subject of a documentary with the same title in 2014.
Maidaan
- IMDB rating – 7.9
- Genre: Drama, biography, history, sports
- Production: India / 2023
- Director: Amit Ravindernath Sharma
- Starring: Ajay Devgan, Priyamani, Gajraj Rao, Abhinay Raj Singh, Bhavesh Lohar, Sanny Yadav, Allan Basil Monteiro, Max Taylor, Spa Milan Dunwich, Peter Daniel Adams
This Indian sports biographical film is directed by Amit Sharma in Hindi language. The plot takes viewers to the middle of the last century. A relatively short period of time from 1952 to 1962 is considered the golden era of Indian soccer. Coach Syed Abdul Rahim was called the architect of Indian soccer, and it is he who becomes the main character of the movie.
They started filming the picture back in 2019, but then the work was suspended for a while due to the pandemic of covida. As a result, the movie was ready in May 2022, but its release was postponed.
Big George Foreman
- IMDB Rating – 6.6
- Genre: Drama, Biography, Sports
- Production: USA / 2023
- Worldwide box office receipts: $6,031,202
- Directed by George Tillman Jr.
- Starring: Chris Davis, Jasmine Matthews, Sullivan Jones, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Sonja Sohn, Forest Whitaker, John Magaro, Sam Trammell, Shein Mompremier, Robert Cicchini
Legendary American heavyweight boxer and Olympic champion George Foreman grew up in a poor family. The difficult years of childhood and youth did not break George, he directed his energy to achieving victories in the ring.
The athlete repeatedly won high titles, but at some point he gave up everything and became a Christian priest. However, life forced him to return to the ring, and this return was triumphant.
The working title of the new boxing movie was “Heart of a Lion”. Director George Tillman Jr. also acted as one of the screenwriters of the film.
Dream
- IMDB Rating – 6.8
- Genre: Sports, Comedy
- Production: Korea South / 2023
- Budget: $10,000,000
- Worldwide Box Office: $8,096,085
- Director: Lee Byung-hoon
- Starring: Park So-joon, Lee Ji-eun, Kim Jong-soo, Ko Chang-seok, Jung Seung-gil, Lee Hyun-woo, Yang Hyun-min, Hong Wan-pyo, Ho Joon-seok, Lee Ha-ni
The events take place in South Korea. Soccer player Yoon Hong Dae is involved in an incident and receives a disciplinary penalty. Now he has to coach a team of homeless people. None of these people have even held a ball in their hands, and they are to take part in the World Homeless Football Championship.
Filming of the movie took place in South Korea and Hungary. The film was released in April 2023. One of the main roles was played by South Korean singer, composer and actress Lee Ji-Eun, also known under the pseudonym IU (Ayu).
Sweetwater
- IMDB Rating – 5.8
- Genre: Drama, Biography, Sports
- Production: USA / 2023
- Budget: $10,000,000
- US box office receipts: $541,633
- Director: Martin Gigi
- Starring: Everett Osborne, Cary Elwes, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Pollack, Richard Dreyfuss, James Caviezel, Eric Roberts, Ernest Harden Jr.
Basketball player Nathaniel Clifton became the first black athlete on the roster of an American basketball league club. He signed a contract with the National Basketball League of America in the fall of 1950, previously the door for African Americans in big basketball was closed.
Clifton had been interested in basketball since high school, and during World War II he participated in battles in Europe. In the late 1940s, Sweetwater performed brilliantly as a member of the small club Harlem Globetrotters, where he was noticed by coach Joe Lapchick…
Legenda o sambo
- Genre: Adventure, sport, biography
- Production: Russia / 2022
- Director: Andrei Bogatyrev
- Starring: Wolfgang Cerny, Dmitry Pavlenko, Alexey Shevchenkov, Anton Vokhmin, Olga Stashkevich, Pavel Abramenkov, Vyacheslav Shikhaleyev, Denis Kuznetsov, Alexander Davydov, Giya Peradze.
Two outstanding personalities, Viktor Spiridonov and Vasily Oshchepkov, stood at the origins of the Soviet art of self-defense. However, their joint work gradually turned into a confrontation.
Viktor Spiridonov, a former white officer who became a member of the NKVD, is a master of martial arts. Soviet intelligence officer Vasily Oschepkov long time studied judo in Japan. Great athletes will have to pass many tests, face betrayal and intrigue…
Alexander F. Sklyar wrote the song “Teacher” especially for the movie.
Champions
- IMDB Rating – 6.7
- Genre: Comedy, Sports, Drama
- Production: USA / 2022
- Worldwide Box Office: $18,862,732
- Director: Bobby Farrelly
- Starring: Woody Harrelson, Caitlin Olson, Matt Cook, Ernie Hudson, Cheech Marin, Madison Tevlin, Joshua Felder, Kevin Iannucci, Ashton Gunning
Another fresh basketball movie. Marcus Marakovic is an assistant coach of not the most successful basketball team. His temperament and big ambitions lead him to a quarrel with the head coach. After getting drunk, he gets behind the wheel and crashes into a police car on his way home.
As a result, Marcus is fired from his job and the court sentences him to community service. Now he has to coach a team of players with special needs.
The film was cast by a nonprofit organization that works with people with developmental disabilities and autism.
1947 Boston
- Genre: Sports, Biography, Drama
- Production: Korea South / 2023
- Director: Kang Jae-gyu
- Starring: Ha Jung-woo, Bae Sung-woo, Im Shi-wan, Kim Sang-ho, Park Hyo-ju, Jung Mi-nam, Park Ki-ryun, Lee Seung-joon, Kim Min-kyung, Park Eun-bin
The Boston International Marathon in 1947 was the first international race after World War II. Director Kang Je-kyu depicts the story of Korean athletes who participated in the marathon.
The prestigious event in Boston has been held every year since 1897. It was very important for Koreans to participate for the first time since the country’s liberation from 35 years of Japanese colonial rule.
The movie is scheduled to be released in September 2023, when South Korea’s largest traditional harvest festival, Chuseok, takes place.
Air
- IMDB Rating – 7.5
- Genre: Drama, Biography
- Production: USA / 2023
- Budget: $90,000,000
- Worldwide Box Office: $89,960,106
- Director: Ben Affleck
- Starring: Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Chris Messina, Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, Damien Delano Young, Chris Tucker, Matthew Maher, Gustaf Skarsgard.
In 1984, things were not going well for sportswear and footwear firm Nike. But in the company, in the basketball department, at that time worked an enterprising salesman Sonny Vaccaro. The firm planned to sign advertising contracts with three players, but Sonny was convinced that the choice should stop at only one athlete – Michael Jordan.
The rising basketball star usually plays in the sneakers of another famous company, so Sonny prepares Jordan an offer that is impossible to refuse. He intends to develop a line of Air Jordan shoes especially for the athlete.
While working on the project, its author Ben Affleck consulted with Michael Jordan. It was the athlete who asked to invite Viola Davis to play the role of his mother. Another request was to include in the story the role of his old friend Howard White.
One Win
- Genre: Drama, Sports
- Production: South Korea / 2023
- Director: Shin Young-shik
- Starring: Song Kang-ho, Park Jong-min, Jang Yoon-ju, Park Myung-hoon, Lee Min-ji, Lee Ju-young, Koo Shi-young
The Pink Storm women’s volleyball team has long been considered an outsider and is at the bottom of the standings. Promising athletes go to other teams, and the remaining girls do nothing to win.
Club owner Kang John Won decides to change the situation and launches a campaign – if Pink Storm wins, its fans present at the match get a cash prize. He gives the management of the team to the not so successful coach Kim Wo Jin.
Filming lasted no more than four months – from November 2020 to February 2021. The premiere didn’t take place until January 2023.
80 for Brady
- IMDB Rating – 5.8
- Genre: Drama, Comedy, Sports
- Production: USA / 2023
- Worldwide Box Office: $40,337,294
- Director: Kyle Marvin
- Starring: Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Sally Field, Tom Brady, Billy Porter, Harry Hamlin, Guy Fieri, Alex Moffat, Rob Corddry
Four not-so-young girlfriends are avid fans of the New England Patriots soccer team, and quarterback Tom Brady is their idol. The Super Bowl, the most important competition for the athletes, is approaching.
One of their friends, Lou, offers to go to the game, but the others refuse, citing the high cost of tickets. Lou wins the tickets in a raffle, and the cheerleaders go on their way, where they will encounter many interesting twists and turns
Two days before the movie was released, Tom Brady announced his retirement from the National Football League.
White Men Can’t Jump
- IMDB Rating – 5.0
- Genre: Drama, Comedy, Sports
- Production: USA / 2023
- Directed by: Kalmatic
- Starring: Sinqua Walls, Jack Harlow, Lance Reddick, Teyana Taylor, Laura Harrier, Miles Bullock, Vince Staples, Zack Steiner, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Aidan Shute
Jeremy and Kamal are street basketball players. They would have dreamed of being in big sports, but Jeremy was once prevented by an injury, and Kamal ruined his career by his own actions. The athletes try to make money from sports and enter into an unspoken rivalry. But later they join forces and become friends.
The role of Jeremy was played by American rapper Jack Harlow. Filming lasted from May to July 2022. The picture was a remake of the movie of the same name, released in 1992.
Gran Turismo
- Genre: Action, Drama, Adventure, Sports
- Production: USA, Japan / 2023
- Director: Neill Blomkamp
- Starring: Archie Madekwe, Orlando Bloom, David Harbour, Djimon Hounsou, Darren Burnett, Emilia Hartford, Josh Stradowski, Geri Halliwell, Bianca Bardot, Andrea Vasiliu
Teenager Jann is passionate about cars and the racing video game Gran Turismo. The young gamer achieves great success in his virtual world. After meeting with a talented mentor Jack Salter and hard training he manages to prove himself in real competitions. Become a professional and successful racer guy helped, among other things, and his gaming skills.
The movie is based on the video game series of the same name. The plot is partly based on the real story of Yann Mardenborough, who from childhood dreamed of becoming a car racer and as a result realized his dream.
Another great movie in our collection of the best racing movies.
The Boys in the Boat
- Genre: Drama, Military, Biography, Sports
- Production: USA / 2023
- Director: George Clooney
- Starring: Joel Edgerton, Courtney Hengeler, Chris Diamantopolos, Callum Turner, James Wolk, Alec Newman, Hadley Robinson, Peter Guinness, Jack Mulhern, Laurel Lefkow
The film was an adaptation of the book of the same name by Daniel James Brown. The main characters are boys from the University of Washington. The team of amateur rowers was sent to participate in the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936.
The students were mostly from simple working families. The fate of Joe Rantz, whose mother died early and he was brought up first by his father and stepmother, and then he was left to fend for himself.
The movie was directed and produced by George Clooney. The story is based on a true story.
Shooting Stars
- IMDB Rating – 6.5
- Genre: Drama, Biography, History, Sports
- Production: USA / 2023
- Director: Chris Robinson
- Starring: Marquis Mookie Cook, Wood Harris, Caleb McLaughlin, Avery Serell Wills Jr., Khalil Everedge, Sterling Henderson, Dermot Mulroney, Kathleen Nichol, Natalie Paul, Algie Smith.
The movie by American director Chris Robinson presents the dramatic and happy moments of the biography of professional basketball player LeBron James.
One of the strongest players in the history of sports was called “King James”. The best scorer of the American National Basketball Association twice became an Olympic gold medalist, and this is not counting the other titles. But once he was an ordinary high school student – it is about this period of the athlete’s life tells the movie.
The picture is based on LeBron James’ memoir, which he co-authored with writer and journalist Buzz Bissinger.
The Hill
- Genre: Drama, Biography, Sports
- Production: USA / 2023
- Director: Jeff Celentano
- Starring: Dennis Quaid, Joel Carter, Scott Glenn, Colin Ford, Bonnie Bedelia, Wilbur Fitzgerald, Mila Harris, Jim Devoti, Justin Miles
Rick Hill, a talented baseball player, dreams of making it to the Major Leagues. However, the young man will have to overcome a number of obstacles on the way to his dream. Rick’s relationship with his father, a traveling pastor, is not easy. The guy is worried about his own physical shortcomings. But he shows perseverance and willpower. In addition, Rick meets people who are ready to support and help him.
The movie reflects facts from the biography of athlete Rick Hill. Filming took place mainly in the state of Georgia and the District of Columbia.
True Spirit
- IMDB Rating – 6.8
- Genre: Drama, Adventure, Family, Biography, Sports
- Production: Australia, USA / 2023
- Director: Sarah Spillane
- Starring: Alila Brown, Teagan Croft, Cliff Curtis, Josh Lawson, Anna Paquin, Bridget Webb, Vivienne Turner, Chris Hiller
The year 2023 has pleased us with a good movie about sea travel. Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson from Australia dreams of traveling around the world alone. Many people around her doubt that this is possible. But the main people in the girl’s life – parents and coach – believe in her.
Jessica carefully prepares for the voyage and finally begins to implement the plan. Her dangerous journey lasts 210 days.
The events described in the movie took place in reality. From October 2009 to May 2010, a young Australian girl made a non-stop round-the-world voyage.
Challengers
- Genre: Drama, Melodrama, Sports
- Production: USA / 2023
- Director: Luca Guadagnino
- Starring: Zendea, Josh O’Connor, Mike Feist, Jake Jensen, Faith Faye, Scottie DiGiacomo, Keanu Ham, Cornel Bradford, Andre Gadbois, Lizzie Kircher.
In the center of the plot is a former tennis player Tasha Donaldson, played by actress Zendaya. The girl works as a coach, and one day she has a serious and difficult task. She has to prepare her own spouse Mike for the competition.
The athlete has long been unlucky, defeats follow one after another. Tasha advises her husband to take part in the Challenger, where he must meet his wife’s former boyfriend.
The tennis movie is directed by Italian director Luca Guadagnino, known for his work on “The Whole,” “Suspiria.”
Ferrari
- Genre: Drama, Biography, History
- Production: USA, UK, Italy, China / 2023
- Budget: $80,000,000
- Director: Michael Mann
- Starring: Shailene Woodley, Adam Driver, Sarah Gadon, Penelope Cruz, Jack O’Connell, Patrick Dempsey, Valentina Belle, Gabriel Leone, Massy Furlan, Tommaso Basili
The film directed by Michael Mann introduces the viewer to the biography of Enzo Ferrari, Italian car racer and founder of the car company “Ferrari”. The action takes place in 1957.
Enzo Ferrari is going through a family crisis. In addition, during the auto race there is an accident that takes the lives of several people, drivers and spectators. The Ferrari company is named as the culprit of the tragedy, and a scandal breaks out.
The role of Enzo Ferrari was played by Adam Driver, while the car racer’s wife Laura was played by Penelope Cruz.
