25. When We Were Kings (1996)
As you can see in the picture below, the great Muhammad Ali is featured within this fantastic documentary. Even if you aren’t a boxing fan, the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ match featuring Ali and George Foreman is certainly one that the average person has at least heard of before. This iconic bout took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The documentary aims to cover the varying storylines emanating from this world spectacle. This includes global and local politics, as well as the fight for civil rights/racial equality (which Ali fought so strongly for).
24. The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki (2016)
This is a period documentary, where footage comes from the early ’60’s. The focus of the film is revolving around a boxer from Finland named Olli Maki. Essentially, this is a real-life Rocky situation — where the pressure around Maki is quite fierce. There’s a newfound media presence chronicling the hype before the fight. There’s also the component of his relationship with his girlfriend. Without a doubt, this is a must-watch documentary for those who are big-time boxing fans.
23. Racing Dreams (2009)
You’ve probably never heard of the World Karting Association’s National Pavement Series. Essentially, it’s go-kart racing…but on steroids. There actually is a competitive world of go-kart racing, as this documentary details. The movie specifically focuses on three young racers wanting to earn eternal glory through their go-karting ways. While not everyone achieved their ultimate dreams, it’s more so about the journey rather than the destination.
22. The Hustler (1961)
Pictured here are two giants in the film industry. Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason can steal the silver screen individually. When together, there’s a magic which can be nearly impossible to replicate. Newman’s character is a pool hall hustler — traveling from place to place. Gleason’s character was the ‘big dog’ within the pool industry at the time. Of course, both square off in what will be one famous scene. We like this film for its grittiness, but also perspective for the protagonist to come to grips with.
21. Undefeated (2011)
Everyone loves an underdog story. For whatever reason, when it revolves around a high school football team, the interest increases ten-fold. In this case, we’re looking at a high school football program based in Memphis. As you’d expect from an inspiration documentary, you gain insight into many players from this setting — including coaches and family members as the group aims to win at the highest level. It’s even more special when you have a program not known for winning. The documentary chronicles the team’s aim to win its first-ever playoff game.
20. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
The world of gaming — and specifically competitive gaming — has really exploded in recent years. There are tournaments all over the world where avid players can test their skills versus equally as enthused peers. This documentary gives us a peek into that world. It also centers around a rivalry between two guys who have a penchant for the game Donkey Kong. While we see the actual competition live, we also see the behind-the-scenes aspect of someone who struggles with a multitude of things other than video games.
19. Win Win (2011)
We love us some Paul Giamatti. The highly versatile actor decided to take on a role in which he was a wrestling coach. Ultimately, he takes a young, troubled teen and helps in cultivating a set of wrestling skills the teen never really knew he had. There are some more dramatic elements to this film which don’t really speak of sports at all. While this is true, Giamatti’s ability as an actor truly shines here. You like/dislike his character at the same time, and the prominent themes of family are all over this picture.
18. Next Goal Wins (2014)
This is story of a tiny island nation who dreamed of something greater. No one thinks of American Samoa as a soccer powerhouse. Yet, despite all of the odds against this team, the goal was to try and quality for the 2014 World Cup. You saw a group of player connect with one another — realizing the bigger picture. It wasn’t about qualifying for the tournament as much as it was representing their home nation with tremendous class and effort. Former U.S. coach Thomas Rongen was the man behind this project.
17. Rocky (1976)
This film is a classic, and one which translates to any generation. You see an underdog, poor Italian-American boxer trying to change the fortunes of his family. Hailing from Philadelphia, Rocky Balboa — with the help of his veteran trainer — triumphs from obscurity and eventually does what no one believes he can do. Sylvester Stallone is fantastic as both the film’s writer and as the main protagonist. Among sports fans, this movie is viewed as royalty.
16. Horse Feathers (1932)
Slapstick humor has a major crossover with sports in this film. The Marx Brothers came up with this idea where two fictional colleges were slated to play against one another in a major rivalry football game. Of course, any measures possible are taken to win the game. While not realistic in the slightest, the humor is rather funny. Then again — you probably know that going in with a project involving the Marx Brothers.
15. Changing The Game (2019)
Changing The Game is a very heartfelt and interesting documentary. In short, it speaks about the rise of transgender athletes competing in high school sports. The documentary interviews these athletes, and the audience gains real insight into the issues these athletes face — whether it be verbal abuse, discrimination, or the threat of physical violence. From there, the story expands beyond the athletes in the documentary, and into a bigger, more sweeping discussion about equality and acceptance.
14. Murderball (2005)
Yet another documentary, this once focused on a sport called quad rugby. As you can see in the picture below, these athletes competed in wheelchairs. The film itself interviews some of the competitors, and you learn about their backstories prior to competition. Along the way, you get a real glimpse into the sport itself — as well as the meaning behind it. Once watching this documentary, you’ll have a hard time not being motivated in some shape, form or fashion.
13. Raging Bull (1980)
This film is one of Martin Scorsese’s masterpieces — and that’s truly saying something. We have to admit…it’s also one of the better acting performances given by Robert De Niro in a career which has been categorized as transcendent. You’re watching a boxer navigate through life and all that it has to offer both in the ring and outside the ring. Scorsese’s methods of filming the boxing scenes were truly brilliant. Duly, De Niro’s ability to transform his body in all sorts of ways was also beyond striking. It’s no surprise this film won a multitude of awards.
12. Hoop Dreams (1994)
Hoop Dreams is a transcendent sports documentary. It focuses on the gritty underbelly of basketball — where kids from tough backgrounds are hoping to change the fortunes of their families by earning college scholarships. This particular tale focuses on two kids/families hailing from Chicago. Filmed over a four-year span, you really get an inside look as to how much the sport means to some people as a potential lifeline.
11. The Endless Summer (1966)
You’ve seen the movie poster from this film splashed across t-shirts and other artistic mediums. Simply put, this is a beautiful documentary which follows two surfers looking for the best waves possible. As the title concludes, the duo travel all over the world to different continents in search of satisfying experiences. Of course, it takes the duo all summer long. It also highlighted surfing as something for those not living in coastal communities to enjoy.
10. Bull Durham (1988)
Bull Durham was an ’80’s movie relying on a very strong script. The love triangle between a veteran minor leaguer (Kevin Costner), a hot shot prospect on the cusp of the Majors (Tim Robbins), and a local baseball fan/philosopher (Susan Sarandon) was truly gripping. The sport of baseball itself was simply the backdrop for a deeper story, which involved three adults seeking some sort of validation in life. Once the three of them came into their own, so to speak, they all got what they wanted by the end of the film.
9. Maiden (2018)
Despite airing in 2018, this documentary actually focused on footage from 30 years prior. A woman named Tracy Edwards led the first all-female crew in the World Yacht race in 1989. The group dealt with criticism and sexism en route to the start of the journey. From there, the documentary captures stunning scenes as the group of women make their away around the world in nine months time. A truly inspirational story, to be sure.
8. National Velvet (1944)
Elizabeth Taylor, Angela Lansbury, and Mickey Rooney are the three heavy-hitters here in this film. A young Taylor loves horses, and is someone who wants to enter the world of competitive horse racing. Disguised as a male jockey (with the help of Rooney’s character), Taylor’s character gets to live out her dream. The ultimate commentary here speaks more so to the love of animals, as well as gender equality for traditionally gender stereotyped activities.
7. Moneyball (2011)
Moneyball was a movie which may have surprised some in terms of the popularity it’s garnered. Brad Pitt played the role of an Oakland Athletics executive who swerved to the left when everyone else went right. Approaching his personnel choices with an atypical statistics-based decision-making process, Pitt’s character revolutionized not only baseball, but also all other major sports in terms of how people view them. The data-driven model is widely used all over the world.
6. Free Solo (2018)
Alex Honnold is probably the best athlete you’ve never heard of. This documentary chronicles Honnold climbing massive mountains without the presence of ropes or safety harnesses. Yes — aims to complete these feats ‘free soloing’ — something very few in the world would even dream of — let alone attempt. We not only learn about Honnold as a person, but this inspirational story gives us insight into his will to succeed, as well.
5. Fighting With My Family (2019)
Fighting With My Family tells the real-life story of professional wrestler Saraya and the rest of her family. Hailing from England, Saraya ultimately worked her way to the pinnacle of the profession: Becoming an WWE Superstar (though now she’s on the AEW roster). The story shows her journey — along with the one her brother simultaneously was taking. There’s some comedic elements in this film, as well as some heartbreak along the way.
4. The Wrestler (2008)
Mickey Rourke spent a good chunk of years out of Hollywood’s limelight. However, his career was seriously revived with this role. Rourke plays an over-the-hill wrestler named “The Ram” Robinson. At some point, the mortality of every athlete’s career comes into frame. Robinson was grappling with who he was as a person, especially with his wrestling fame hanging on by a thread. Rourke’s connection with love interest Marisa Tomei was truly marvelous.
3. I, Tonya (2017)
Margot Robbie played somewhat of an atypical role here as famed figure skater Tonya Harding. Shying away from some of the racier roles she’s encountered, Robbie was brilliant as the tortured athlete. You learn about Harding’s upbringing — as well as the scandal revolving around herself and fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan. The acting across the board in this film was top-notch. Duly, it was a story many knew — though not to this level of depth.
2. Creed (2015)
Creed is a spin-off of the famed Rocky franchise series. We see the son of the late Apollo Creed (Michael B. Jordan) aiming to pave a path of his own as a professional boxer. Seeking out the help of Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), the duo embark on a journey which reveals plenty about both protagonists. It’s a refreshed take on the original series, though still maintains the heart and perseverance which made it a hit in the first place.
1. Ford v. Ferrari (2019)
Interestingly enough, this 2019 film is pegged by Rotten Tomatoes as the best sports-centric movie of all-time. Set in the ’60’s as a period piece, it chronicles the rivalry between Ferrari and Ford — two entities competing with one other in different continents. The starpower in this film is nothing short of spectacular. Matt Damon and Christian Bale spar back-and-forth in a way that’s truly captivating on screen.
25 of the Weirdest Text Messages You Will See
25. Paying Homage to Your Favorite Superhero
Someone here is clearly a Batman fan! And by fan, we mean super fan. It would be one (weird) thing to name your baby Batman. Bruce would clearly be more acceptable. But, going even deeper and using the corrupt setting as your baby’s name…well that’s dedication.
24. Mom Has a Weird Sense of Humor
You’d think a traumatic experience would necessitate a little bit of compassion from your parent. Especially your mom — the person you always turn to in moments of stress and crisis. In this case, Mom decided to rib her daughter Courtney over the unfortunate running over of a bunny. How would your mom react to something like this?
23. THE MUFFIN MAN!
Everyone loves Shrek. It’s a movie which appeals to so many different generations. There are a number of one liners which people still quote to this day. Even though he’s not a major character, fans seem to love the monologues from the angry Gingerbread Man. We’ve got a perfect text relating back to the past for this one.
22. Dr. Seuss…is that you?
We love a good rhyme — whether intentional or not. Sometimes, there are hilarious moments when people within text messages unintentionally rhyme when giving some sort of serious point/when talking about drama. As for this person, we can tell they’re both creative and humorous.
21. He’s Not Not My Drug Dealer
We’re hoping the person with the phone doesn’t have a significant other who likes to snoop. If I saw that name listed as a contact, I’d be pretty suspicious to say the least. Why not use a generic name like “William” or “Brittany”? Or — use the the name of a friend! Just be sure to remember to look at the actual phone number before shooting off a text. Otherwise, your friend might be getting some surprising messages.
20. Oof…Caught in a Lie!
Yikes. The basis of any good relationship is trust. When said trust is broken, there’s a high likelihood the relationship will fail to progress in a positive way. In this case, we’re guessing the couple involved in this text chain probably didn’t get married, have kids, or buy a house with a white picket fence.
19. You Need to Stay 100 Yards Away From Me
Well, the first thing we notice is the name under the phone contact. Being called ‘Weirdo’ is probably not a good sign when its coming from the girl you’re trying to woo. Even after the person opened up their heart with some kind words (that could be construed as creepy to be fair), they got shut down rather quickly. A restraining order probably limits the other person’s ability to go and sing for her in person.
18. Show That Bird Who’s Boss!
This is a showdown between man and beast. In terms of beast, we’re talking about a small, little nondescript bird. The bird does appear to be glaring into the window as if to say “where my bird feeder and bird bath?” As a way to intimidate the bird, these jokers speculated about making scrambled eggs.
17. Dad With The Jokes
We love a good Dad joke. They’ve slowly become more and more integrated into the fabric of comedy within this country. Sometimes the jokes can be cringeworthy, but they’re also endearing, harmless, and thoughtful all the same. Funnily enough, this dad paints a scenario in which his kid looks like the oddball Mr. Bean (portrayed by the terrific English actor Rowan Atkinson).
16. Pizza Water
We’re all over the map with this one. Of course, anyone would respond to some sort of click-bait phone-centric ad with…a piece of pizza sitting at the bottom of a boiling pot of water. We’re not sure how the pizza will taste after being treated in such an egregious manner. However, we do find it hilarious that T-Mobile confirmed to the interested party that they also do not offer the ability to boil pieces of pizza.
15. Keep The Edibles Away From Mom
Surely, you’ve heard (or experienced) situations where parents ‘accidentally’ stumble onto someone’s stash of marijuana. This could be in plant form, or in some sort of edible. Invariably, said parents tries it — and then acts utterly goofy having little to zero tolerance built up. In this case, mom clearly had more than just a couple bites of that special cupcake you were saving.
14. Always a Good Time For a Sandwich
Why not kill two birds with one stone? You have some big news to deliver to your friend. You’ve pinpointed where your friend will be. In the process, you learn the friend is setting up shop at a sandwich establishment. Give him the good news, grab a sub, and be on your merry way!
13. You’re Too Young, Jeffrey
Nice try, Jeff. You sly little teen. You almost got away with presumably hanging out with a group of much older women. We give you credit for at least shooting your shot, even if it was rejected at the rim like a shot attempt versus Dikembe Mutombo.
12. Meme It
It’s always fun when you can communicate with someone exclusively using memes. It’s even better when you stumble upon such a friendship unexpectedly — where both of you undeniably have a similar sense of humor.
11. A Future Dad Joke King
Pop off, prince! One day we can see you becoming a King among Dads who love making Dad jokes. The delivery was solid, there was a bit of relaxed whimsy to the language, and the snarky grin — along with the finger pistols — makes this text chain funnier than it should be.
10. Yikes
When you’re slated to miss school — especially at higher levels — normally proof is required for the absence. This happens all the time in high school and sometimes even in college. In this case, this one student apparently has a decently close rapport with her professor to the point they’re texting one another. Unfortunately for the student, the required proof of missing school was accidentally replaced by that hilarious pencil drawing.
9. You Hate When This Happens
Poor Nate.
There’s really nothing else left to say.
8. Auto-Correct Can Be Problematic
Molly, Molly, Molly…
The first rule of texting: Read over what you type before sending it! Otherwise, as in this case, things can get severely lost in translation. On the other hand, kudos to Auto-Correct for providing us with a rather hilarious anecdote.
7. Once a Cheater…
Well…this isn’t a good scenario for the wife in this equation. She accidentally admitted to cheating on her husband with someone else. Then when caught red-handed, she pretended like she texted the ‘wrong person’ and tried to pass it off as if it were a mistake. To top it off for good measure, she used the old ‘I’m in a meeting” excuse to get out of further conversation. Talk about an egregious lack of respect.
6. How Are You Marinating a Chicken?!
Again…read your text messages! Auto-Correct has a mind of its own — and in this case it opted to be both raunchy and naughty simultaneously. A woman named Sara just wanted some help in knowing how to marinate a chicken. Drew, on the other hand, gave her more than she bargained for.
5. More Corny Than a Corn Festival in Lincoln
A Dad must’ve been behind this joke. It’s quintessentially a ‘cringe’ joke where the architect of the gag felt as if he was bring quite clever and smooth. Based upon Emily’s response, he was being anything but. Guys — know your audience before you break out the Dad jokes. Some are responsive to them…and some aren’t.
4. The Wires Are Crossed on This One
Clearly, these two people were not on the same page. All it takes is for one to voice some level of displeasure — which can galvanize the other partner to be more forthright with their own frustrations. In this case, Jason’s phone played a trick on him — which enabled his presumed girlfriend to seek the time apart that his…phone (?) requested.
3. “Does This Mean You Like Me?”
Back in the ’90’s, you saw countless examples of under-the-radar high school kids who had a crush on someone presumed to be out of their league. Ultimately, word gets out and the crusher freaks out. Imagine sending your crush a text message in which you admit to having a crush on them! Talk about awkward…especially if it’s not properly reciprocated. Fortunately for Rachel, it seems as if Will likes her back!
2. DOUBLE BURN
If you poke the proverbial bear, be prepared to get poked back. This happens all the time with people are either close friends or adversaries. When the internet/texting is involved, all hell will break loose with people intentionally trying to belittle others. We’re guessing these two guys are friends, but it gets too personal in a very short amount of time.
1. Spider-Man Means Something Different to Tony
This is one of those situations where you read the text exchange, audibly gasp, and shake your head out of both embarrassment and sadness for our main man Tony.