While the teen genre of films might not earn critical acclaim on a regular basis, they do conquer the impossible by winning over the hearts of angsty adolescents around the world. Over the years, the teen genre has managed to cross over into almost every other genre of film. From horrors to teen romantic comedies, there is nothing this genre hasn't conquered.
One of the more underrated hybrid genres is the teen sports genre. These films not only cater to teen audiences but they also feature teenagers tackling a variety of sports. From the high-stress world of competitive cheerleading and elite gymnastics to the laidback world of backyard baseball and a true underdog hockey film, the teen sports genre truly tackles it all.
Bring It On (2000) - 6.0
Released in 2000, Bring It On not only introduced the world to competitive high school cheerleading but it also kicked off the iconic teen franchise of the same name. The film starred Kristen Dunst and Gabrielle Union as rival captains hoping to win a cheerleading competition to prove they are the best team.
The film made a modest profit during its initial run and has since become a cult classic amongst audiences of all ages. In addition to depicting the world of high school competitive cheerleading, the film also attempted to comment on racial and social issues that differed between the two fictional schools in the film.
Ice Princess (2005) - 6.0
In 2006, Walt Disney Studios tackled the world of figure skating. The film starred Michelle Trachtenberg as Casey Carlyle, a teenager who is gifted in physics but also has a secret love for the world of figure skating. In order to merge her two interests, Casey decides to figure out how understanding physics can help figure skaters land harder tricks. The news comes as a disappointment to her mother (Joan Cusack) who does not approve of figure skating.
Unfortunately, Ice Princess was considered a box office flop making only $27.5 million against a $25 million budget. However, the film did inspire Zahra Lari to pursue the sport.
She's The Man (2006) - 6.3
In 2006, the teen sports genre revised the world of soccer with the release of She's The Man. The film starred Amanda Bynes, a young woman obsessed with soccer who pretends to be her brother to attend his boarding school. While at the school, Viola (Bynes) joins the soccer teams and befriends the soccer team captain Duke (Channing Tatum).
She's the Man is not only a sports film but its also a romantic comedy with Viola navigating her complicated feelings for Duke while she parades around as her brother.
Stick It (2006) - 6.4
For most audience members, the world of gymnastics is something they visit every four years when the event dominates Summer Olympic coverage. However, in 2006 the teen genre managed to explore the competitive world of elite gymnastics.
Stick It centered on Haley (Missy Peregrym) a once gifted gymnast who gave up the sport and instead spends her days getting into trouble with her two best friends. After getting caught by the police, Haley is set to an elite gymnastic academy as a form of punishment issued by the courts.
The Mighty Ducks (1992) - 6.5
Arguably one of the best underdog stories of all time, Walt Disney Studios released The Mighty Ducks in 1992. The film starred Emilio Estevez as Gordon Bombay, a former star hockey player who left the sport after costing his winning team another championship. After getting into legal trouble, Gordon is sentenced to coach a Pee-Wee hockey team that is horrible.
The Mighty Ducks was a massive success for the House of Mouse. In fact, it encouraged the company to found its own National Hockey Team, the "Mighty Ducks of Anaheim."
Bend It Like Beckham (2002) - 6.6
Before She's the Man was released, there was another teen soccer romantic comedy winning over the hearts of viewers everywhere. Bend It Like Beckham was released in 2002 and centered on Jess Bhamra (Parminder Nagra), an 18-year-old Indian-America woman who is barred from playing organized soccer despite being an adult. When Jess is recruited by Jules (Keira Knightley) to join her semi-pro team, Jess must lie to her parents in order to keep playing.
Bend It Like Beckham was a major commercial and critical success. It is currently the highest-grossing sports film that focuses on the world of organized soccer.
Whip It (2009) - 6.9
Whip It introduced audiences to the relatively unknown world of roller derby. The film starred Ellen Page as Bliss Cavendar, a young woman who became infatuated with the world of roller derby after encountering the Hurl Scouts, a roller-derby team. Bliss quickly realizes this is the sport for her and will stop at nothing in order to make the team and prove herself on the track.
Whip It marked Drew Barrymore's directorial debut. Barrymore also starred in the film opposite Page.
Soul Surfer (2011) - 7.0
Based on a true story, Soul Surfer centers on Bethany Hamilton, a gifted young surfer who becomes a victim of a shark attack that causes her to lose her arm. Over the course of the film, Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb) struggles with learning to adapt to her new life while also navigating her complex feelings about returning to the ocean.
Though the film was met with mixed reviews from critics, it was a commercial success, earning $47.1 million against an $18 million budget. In addition, it showcased the world of surfing in a more authentic light.
The Karate Kid (1984) - 7.2
Martial arts got to be the shining star of Hollywood in 1984 when The Karate Kid hit theaters. The film starred Ralph Macchio as Daniel, a young boy who befriends Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki "Pat" Morita), a repairman who is also a martial arts master. The two begin training together after Daniel is the victim of bullying at school. Daniel takes to the sport and eventually begins competition under Mr. Miyagi's direction.
The Karate Kid was a massic success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 1984. In addition, it marked Macchio's break out role and earned Morita an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
The Sandlot (1993) - 7.8
While there have been a lot of films centered around the game of baseball, The Sandlot remains one of the best of all time and certainly the best teen sports film ever. It centers on Smalls (Thomas Guiry), a young boy who moves to a new town and befriends a group of boys who play baseball at the local sandlot.
The film was created on a $7 million budget but when on to earn $34.3 million worldwide. In addition to being a commercial success, the film launched a franchise of its own and is now considered to be a cult classic.