Netflix's Hustle is so good, many folks believe the fictional Stanley Sugerman and Bo Cruz are based on real sports figures, but they're not. Even though their characters are totally made up, their story strikingly reflects the real world of basketball.
Some sports flicks are so easy to get into, it's hard to decipher where reality collides with fiction. The fictional stories seem real and biopics often get passed over as fake. No matter which end of the spectrum they fall on, some of the best sports flicks are based on real-life stories.
23 Blast (2013)
This is the incredible true story of Travis Freeman (Mark Hapka), an average Kentucky teen with huge dreams of becoming a football player. When Travis suffers a series of migraines and later survives a bout of bacterial meningitis, he suddenly goes blind.
Initially, Travis wants to give up, which is completely understandable, given the grim circumstances he's facing. But once the shock of his new normal wears off, Travis does what many believe to be impossible: he rises up and learns to play football despite his blindness.
The Blind Side (2009)
Considered one of the best movies based on a true story, sports drama The Blind Side stars Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy, adoptive mother of football sensation Michael "Big Mike" Oher (Quinton Aaron), who overcame a traumatic childhood to be drafted into the NFL.
The Blind Side was a commercial success, raking in over $300 million against a $29 million budget (per Box Office Mojo). Bullock and Aaron had an undeniable chemistry that played believably onscreen, which became the backdrop for the film's inspirational tone.
A League of Their Own (1992)
Not many of the best movies about baseball center on women, but A League of Their Own is a fictionalized account of the true story of how women saved baseball during World War II.
Tom Hanks and Gina Davis head up the cast of the comedy, which recounts the history of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). Although Davis' character, Dottie Hinson is actually the only factual-based character in the film, the history of the league holds true.
I, Tonya (2017)
Ice skater Tonya Harding's 1994 attack on gold medal frontrunner Nancy Kerrigan has been recounted many times before in film and on television; however, none of the previous outings told the story the same as I, Tonya.
As one of the best sports movies with a female lead, I, Tonya sees Oscar nominee Margot Robbie in the role of Tonya Harding, and Best Supporting Actress winner Allison Janney as Tonya's abusive mother LaVona Golden. I, Tonya is loosely based on the facts in the case. It's up to viewers to decide which of the unreliable sources is telling the truth.
Brian's Song (1971)
Viewers are advised to get tissues ready for this one. Brian's Song is one of the most simple, poignant tearjerkers ever to be made about sports. At times, the script feels as if the main characters are fictionalized; however, it's based on a true story.
After being drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1965, Brain Piccolo (James Caan) is forced to room with black teammate Gayle Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) in a racially charged climate. Eventually, the two become best friends, but tragedy strikes when they learn Brian has been diagnosed with cancer.
Friday Night Lights (2004)
"Gentlemen, the hopes and dreams of an entire town are riding on your shoulders. You may never matter again in your life as much as you do now." This quote from Coach Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) perfectly sums up the totality of Friday Night Lights.
From pee-wee leagues to the NFL, Texans take their football seriously. This true story about the small town of Odessa, Texas, and their obsession with football. So, when the Permian High School Panthers make a bid for the state championship, the town rallies around them, even as the players' worlds crumble.
Remember The Titans (2000)
In 1971, Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) accepts a job as head coach at T.C. Williams High School in Virginia, despite the school having been recently integrated and racial tensions running high. This sets the scene for the true story of Remember the Titans.
Although some fictional events were integrated into the script, the main plight of the Titans' struggles to come together in the midst of the stark differences the team had and the personal struggles they faced remains intact. A few "extras" are added for dramatic effect; however, it's a gripping watch rooted in truth.
Greater (2016)
11 days after being drafted as a third-round pick for NFL, walk-on college All-American Brandon Burlsworth (Christopher Severio) dies in a car crash. The excruciating aftermath of his death is a test of faith, and a testimony of his strength prior to dying.
Told in flashback from the time Brandon began to dream about playing football, Greater connects the audience with who he was as a person, and how others received him throughout his short life. His story unfolds as more of a celebration of life than a tragedy while tugging at the heartstrings.
Invincible (2006)
It's the 1970's, and the Philadelphia Eagles football team is in turmoil. New head coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) goes on television to announce open tryouts for the team. That's when 30-year-old Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg) decides to live his dream and try out.
Although there are differences in the way Papale's football career is depicted in the film as opposed to reality, Invincible sticks closely to the true story. Once he makes the team, Papale's amazing journey from wannabe to winner is uplifting to witness.
The 5th Quarter (2010)
The 5th Quarter is arguably one of the best tear-jerking sports movies of all time. When popular Wake Forest High School athlete Luke Abbate (Stefan Guy) tragically dies in a car accident caused by a reckless teammate, his brother Jon (Ryan Merriman) is determined to help his legacy live on.
The way the Wake Forest rallies behind the Abbate family as they work through grieving Luke is touching. When he comes across a personal trainer who advises him to play for two, Jon is inspired to refer to the fourth quarter as the fifth, in honor of Luke's #5 jersey. From there, the team believes Luke's presence is helping them win during the fourth quarter.