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Underdog Sports movies

Against-the-odds sports movies about growth, perseverance, teamwork, and defying expectations in competition.

Facing the Giants

1. Facing the Giants

Drama Underdog Sports
6.5
20061h 51min

Overview

A losing coach with an underdog football team faces their giants of fear and failure on and off the field to surprising results.

Themes

Underdog perseverance, Faith driven leadership, Mentorship and coaching philosophy, Adversity driven discipline, Community pressure and support, Teamwork and effort

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Rookie

2. The Rookie

Drama Family Underdog Sports
6.9
20022h 7min

Overview

Jim Morris never made it out of the minor leagues before a shoulder injury ended his pitching career twelve years ago. Now a married-with-children high-school chemistry teacher and baseball coach in Texas, Jim's team makes a deal with him: if they win the district championship, Jim will try out with a major-league organization. The bet proves incentive enough for the team, and they go from worst to first, making it to state for the first time in the history of the school. Jim, forced to live up to his end of the deal, is nearly laughed off the try-out field--until he gets onto the mound, where he confounds the scouts (and himself) by clocking successive 98 mph fastballs, good enough for a minor-league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Jim's still got a lot of pitches to throw before he makes it to The Show, but with his big-league dreams revived, there's no telling where he could go.

Themes

Financial strain, Dream pursuit under pressure, Community support and doubt, Ambition vs family, Responsibility and opportunity, Parental approval tensions

Available on

Disney Plus
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Gladiator

3. Gladiator

Drama Underdog Sports
6.5
19921h 41min

Overview

Tommy Riley has moved with his dad to Chicago from a 'nice place'. He keeps to himself, goes to school. However, after a street fight he is noticed and quickly falls into the world of illegal underground boxing - where punches can kill.

Themes

Racial tension, Underground boxing, Boxing promoter, Tournament pressure, Gambling debts, Sports ethics

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.