You don’t have to be a stat-headed games fan to like sports films. Perfectly set up to drive a narrative, they instantly add an element of excitement to the final scenes. We’ll never forget the whole cinema chanting “Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!” as the titular hero bashed up Ivan Drago for his fourth outing. What’s interesting is that the type of sport isn’t a barrier to success. In fact many of the best of the genre have been about baseball which, let’s face it, is rounders without the accompanying picnic. Here’s six of the genre’s winners.

Raging Bull
Not just one of the best sport movies, but probably Martin Scorsese’s finest, and so one of the best films of all time. A tense and brutal, yet beautifully shot, period piece, everyone shines, especially Joe Pesci. But obviously this is the De Niro show. Though he famously put on more than four stone to play the slovenly fighter in later life, that was just a fraction of what he put into his career-defining performance. Even though there are just a few minutes of boxing, the hyper-real feel means that when you think of boxing what you see is grainy black and white. (JK)

Rollerball
Six years from now, in a world run by all-powerful corporations, poverty and war have been replaced by a clinical utopia full of amphetamine-fuelled yuppies and sumptuous 70s decor. The only outlet for the old urges is a futuristic version of roller derby involving motorbikes, spiked gloves and frequent casualties. Flitting between brutal action scenes and a semi-surrealist portrayal of a decadent society hooked on the spectacle of violence, the film’s startling climax manages to both undermine the hero’s plight and implicate us, the audience. Director, Norman Jewison, was appalled at plans to start a real-life version of the sport. He must’ve been equally upset by the dumb-as-fuck 2002 remake ‘starring’ LL Cool J. (BB)

Bull Durham
“Oh Crash, you do make speeches!” says Susan Sarandon’s aging groupie after Kevin Costner gives his famous “I believe in the small of a woman’s back…” spiel. But actually this story of minor league baseball is rather understated and gentle. Much better than Costner’s ridiculous Field Of Dreams, this might have the same story as nearly every baseball movie (rag-tag team of no hopers gets good) but it doesn’t blindly stumble towards the final win. Ron Sheldon – a minor league baseball player himself – had a great run of sports movies, as did Kevin Costner. The two hit gold again with Tin Cup. (JK)

The Wrestler
Is wrestling a sport or a branch of pantomime? The Wrestler certainly paints a world that’s every bit as tough on the body as traditional bouts. Plasticine-faced former boxer Mickey Rourke, in a dream comeback gig, plays Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson, an 80s star so far past his prime success is a distant memory. Rather like De Niro’s Jake LaMotta, Robinson can’t handle the fight of real life. So The Ram can’t escape the ring. His struggling relationships with a stripper he’s fallen for and his estranged daughter are almost as painful to watch as his failure to manage menial work. (JK)

Dogtown & Z-Boys
The dawn of modern skateboarding was bound to be an interesting story but the fact that the people involved were such street-tough outsiders makes this an incredibly powerful documentary. Director Stacy Peralta was a Z-Boy which gave him both access – to the protagonists and a wealth of visual material – and an insider’s viewpoint. The descent of Jay Adams’ raw talent to drugs and prison gives the latter part of the film an emotional heart you wouldn’t expect from the energy of the first half. Stacey’s Bones Brigade documentary drops any day, so get ready for chapter two. (JK)

Caddyshack
Chevy Chase and Bill Murray deliver classic performances in this golfing comedy from 1980. The cleverly-crafted script and use of several divergent yet interwoven story-lines really sets this apart from the average American farce. Rodney Dangerfield is on top form as an obnoxious nouveau riche golfer who constantly spits hilarious one-liners, while Bill Murray’s madcap battle with the gopher provides even more laughs. This gem is considered by many to be one of the finest sports comedies ever. Watching golf has never been so fun. (JD)

And another, in case of a draw…

Run Fatboy Run
A classic tale of ‘anything you can do, I can do better’. When Dennis discovers his old girlfriend (whom he abandoned at the altar) is planning to remarry, he decides to run in the same race as her new man, in order to prove he isn’t just a useless lump. Watching him wheeze his way through training, accompanied by mild physical abuse from his ‘assistant coach’ reminds most of us why the sofa will remain our BFF. (TT)

Words by Ben Bailey, Joel Dawes, James Kendall and Thirza Tooes

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