Study Sports History with Movies

Teach with movies to bring to life many of the popular and relevant moments from sports history.

Use this list of vetted, family-friendly movies as a basis for your teen’s study of our society.

If you are looking for ways to bring history and sociology to life for your teens, try using these sports history movies.

Create a sociology half credit for your high schoolers with this list of sports and sports history movies. Our culture’s values are often easy to identify in movies that are based on true stories from the sporting world.

There are a lot of baseball and football movies out there, so I tried to select the ones that most closely match the actual true story upon which they are based. I also tried to make sure that there was a wide variety of sports in these “based on a true story” sports movie selections, so that there would be something of interest for everyone. So there are stories about a high-diving horse, a chess player, golfers, drag racers, and surfers, just to name a few.

Teaching Sociology Through Sports History: A Vetted List of Movies

I have selected these sports movies as appropriate for middle & high school students (ages 12 and older). Most are rated G or PG; some are PG-13. Quite of few of these movies are Disney live-action (from back in the day when they made feel-good family movies).

Parents should preview any movie that they feel is questionable for their children, however, as family preferences may differ. Common Sense Media and Plugged In are helpful sources of movie reviews.

JustWatch is a good website for finding on which platforms a particular movie is currently streaming.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you click on them, I may make a tiny commission, at no extra cost to you. For more info, check our privacy policy.

Teaching with Sports History Movies

Early 20th Century Sports History Movies

The Greatest Game Ever Played 2005 PG Set in 1913, this story is about a golf caddy/ amateur golfer Francis Ouimet who pursued his dreams and played in the 1913 U.S. Open against British champion Harry Vardon.

The Babe 1992 PG Set in the 1920s, George Herman Ruth is considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time. This film about his life and career is “mostly” accurate. During his lifetime, his actions were considered to be eccentric at best. Talk to your teens about how his actions compared to most professional athletes today.

The Natural 1984 PG (but probably more like PG-13) Set in early 1920s, this film follows the life of baseball player Roy Hobbs, who was shot and injured right after trying out for the major leagues. He gets a random chance 16 years later to try out again. He has the natural talent to play in the show, but does he have the emotional and spiritual fortitude?

Chariots of Fire 1982 PG Set in1924 at the World Olympics in Paris, France. This true story is based on two Olympic track and field athletes from Great Britain, Eric Liddell and Harold Abrams. Liddell refused to run his race due to religious convictions when he discovered it was to be held on a Sunday. This film won 4 Academy awards, including Best Picture.

The Pride of the Yankees 1943 G Set in 1920-30s, this film follows the life of baseball great, Henry Louis Gehrig, who played for the New York Yankees for 17 seasons. You may recognize his name because it is associated with the disease he had, ALS, which is often called Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken 1991 G Set in 1930s The first time I saw this movie, I couldn’t believe it was based on a true story! I mean, who’s ever heard of a high-diving horse and rider before? Not only is it a true story, but it’s a great movie too. Your kids will love it.

Seabiscuit 2003 PG-13 Set during the Great Depression, the racehorse Seabiscuit was considered too short and bow-legged to become a champion. Despite being an unlikely contender, he is entered into a race by the three men who have care of him, the owner, the trainer, and the jockey. A great story! My oldest daughter read and re-read the book by Laura Hillenbrand several times as a teen.

42 2013 PG-13 Set in 1946, Brooklyn Dodgers manager Branch Rickey signs a new player, Jackie Robinson, who became the first black man to play in the major leagues. A compelling movie starring Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford that you’ll be glad you watched!

1950s, 1960s and 1970s Sport History Movies

Hoosiers 1986 PG Set in early 1950s in a small Indiana town, a washed-up basketball coach takes a team to the state championship, against all odds. The quintessential sports movie!

The Perfect Game 2009 PG Set in 1957 Mexico, this authentic film tells about a Little League team and its pitcher Angel Marcias, who was the only pitcher to ever pitch a perfect Little League championship game. Learn more about it here.

61* 2001 (NR, but probably PG-13) Set in 1961, baseball greats Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris were both trying to break Babe Ruth’s 1927 single season home run record, which should have made them rivals, but they also were friends and teammates. Presents a good opportunity to talk to your teens about the behavior of sports fans and reporters.

Heart like a Wheel 1983 PG In the 1960s, no woman had driven a NHRA top-fuel dragster until Shirley Muldowney decided she would. This Oscar-nominated movie can be found on YouTube.

The Express 2008 PG (but has quite a bit of cuss words for PG, so maybe more like PG-13) Set in early 1960s California, this story follows the life of Ernie Davis from childhood, being raised by his grandparents to playing high school football. He goes on to win the coveted Heismann Trophy in college.

Rudy 1993 PG Set in late 1960s to early 70s, this story is about Rudy Ruettiger, a young boy who dreams of one day playing football for Notre Dame. Very solid movie with great themes of having faith, perseverance, and patience.

Brian’s song 2001 G Set in Chicago in the late1960s, this true story is about a friendship between Brian Piccolo, a running back for the Chicago Bears football team, who is battling cancer, and his teammate, Gale Sayers, who has suffered a debilitating knee injury. FYI: this one is a tear-jerker.

Prefontaine 1997 G Set in late 69 to early 70s about the long distance runner, Steve Prefontaine, who was a favorite American athlete at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Steve was quoted as saying, “You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back.” This movie does briefly cover the Olympic Palestinian terrorist attack upon some of the athletes (killing some and taking others hostage). Other biographical movie about Prefontaine’s life, Without Limits, is also good, but I thought it was a bit less family-friendly.

We Are Marshall 2006 PG Set in 1970, West Virginia. Matthew McConaughey plays Jack Lengyel, the new head football coach at Marshall University after a plane crash killed all of the school’s football and coaches, who has to rebuild the football program from scratch after the devastating loss. I think you’ll like this movie even if you aren’t much of a football fan.

Remember the Titans 2000 PG Set in 1971 and 1981, this sports history movie stars Denzel Washington as Herman Boone, who integrated the high school football team in Alexandria VA amid rising racial tensions. During one game, officials are bribed to ensure the team loses, which will give you the chance to talk to your teens about standing up for what is right and just.

Secretariat 2010 PG Set in 1973, this is a story of patient endurance and a race horse known as Big Red, who was widely known as the greatest race horse of all time, winning the Triple Crown and setting records that still haven’t been beaten to this day. This is a wonderful movie, and your teens may also enjoy reading the book.

Invincible 2006 PG Set in 1976, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where a bartender named Vince Papale becomes an Eagles football player. A great underdog story starring Mark Wahlberg (so you know it’s a good movie!).

1980s and 1990s Sports Movies

Miracle 2004 PG-13 Set in 1980 at the Winter Olympics, this story about the US Hockey team (all amateur players) when they played the much favored USSR team at the height of the Cold War. Kurt Russell stars as head coach Herb Brooks (who was cut from the 1960 gold medal-winning Olympic team–oh the irony!) in this feel good hockey movie.

Quarterback Princess 1983 NR (Made for TV) Set in the early 1980s in Oregon, a girl wants to play football on her high school team. She not only becomes the quarterback, but also the homecoming queen.

Searching for Bobby Fischer 1993 PG Set in early 80s, this is the story of the child chess prodigy, Bobby Fischer, who discovers what a rough world he must live in if he want to be competitive at the world-class level of chess.

Big George Foreman 2023 PG-13 Before George Foreman became famous for selling his “lean green grilling machines” on TV in the 1990s, he was a heavyweight champion boxer. He left all of the fame to become a preacher. This is a very inspirational movie that your family won’t want to miss.

Double Teamed 2002 G Set in 1985, identical twins Heidi and Heather are forced to switch schools to improve their scholarship chances. They join the volleyball team at first, but the basketball coach soon wants them to play because of their height. Based on a true story, although, IRL, the twins never play against each other on WNBA teams as the movie shows at the end. Presents a good opportunity to talk to your kids about not pretending to be someone that you aren’t.

McFarland USA 2015 PG Set in 1987 in McFarland, CA, a mostly Latino community. Jim White (played by Kevin Costner) is a coach with a history of having a bad temper who moves to McFarland to become the track and field coach for athletes whose parents would rather that they were working in the fields, instead of participating in after-school sports. This is another feel-good movie with a solid performance from Costner.

The Rookie 2002 G (but probably really more like PG) Set in late 90s, this is a baseball movie starring Dennis Quaid as Jim Morris. Morris is the coach of a losing high school team who gets one last chance to make it as a pitcher in the major leagues, but only if his team wins the district championship. Another great baseball movie about an underdog who makes it to the “show”.

Miracle in Lane 2 2000 G Set in late 90s, this movie is based on the true story of Justin Yoder (played by Frankie Muniz), a young boy in a wheelchair who wants to be able to participate in a soap box derby race. This movie was originally released under the name, Wheelies.

American Underdog 2021 PG (This film was nominated for a GMA Dove Award) When Kurt Warner does not get selected for the NFL draft, he ends up homeless and stocking shelves at a grocery store. He is offered a position as a quarterback in the newly created Arena football league and takes it. This movie based on Warner’s real life story is a great way to start a conversation with your teens about how one’s success is found in how one reacts to their situation, not in how much money they make, or the job they have.

2000s Sports Biography Movies

Soul Surfer 2011 G Set in early 2000s, this is a biographical movie about Bethany Hamilton and her courageous comeback as a surfer after she lost an arm in a shark attack. Starring AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt, and Dennis Quaid, this faith-based movie won the Crystal Dove Seal Award.

The Blind Side is a 2009 PG-13 (Sandra Bullock won an Academy Award for Best Actress for this movie) Set in 2004, Michael Oher is a homeless teen who goes to live with the Tuohy family, who help him win a college scholarship to play football at Ole Miss. Very inspirational movie!

But wait, Jenn, you forgot to include a great sports movie!

If you know of a good, wholesome sports history movie that is at least based on a true story, that I didn’t include in this list, please email me at jenn at wholechildhomeschool.com and let me know about it so I can add it.

Be sure to follow my Pinterest board Middle & High School History. You’ll get more great hands-on activities and ideas for teaching History, Culture, and Sociology to your homeschool teens!

Don’t forget to pin this post about Teaching with Movies so you can refer back to it later!