Plenty of moviegoers have found a sports film that they truly enjoy, only to look it up online and discover that the reviews from critics were pretty harsh on it. There are obvious standouts like Rocky or The Blind Side that became major award winners but far too many sports movies get undervalued.
That's where the ratings found on IMDb come into play as casual audience members can dish out their feelings on a movie. These often don't coincide with the views of critics, leading to sports films that scored way higher there than they did on Rotten Tomatoes, where they were labeled "rotten."
For Love Of The Game (1999) - RT: 46%/IMDb: 6.4
Stream On Peacock
If you really think about it, Sam Raimi has one of the most diverse filmographies of any director. He's most known for horror flicks and the Spider-Man trilogy but he also has an emotional sports drama to his name in For Love of the Game.
Based on a novel of the same name, it focuses on an aging pitcher for the Tigers in the midst of throwing a perfect game in Yankee Stadium, intercut with a story about his romantic life. It flopped at the box office and Kevin Costner was nominated for Worst Actor at the Razzies but audiences who saw it found it to be an above-average sports tale.
Space Jam (1996) - RT: 44%/IMDb: 6.5
Stream On HBO Max
The '90s was arguably the best time for sports films. There are so many beloved ones from the decade in nearly every sport you can think of. The most popular one for basketball is Space Jam, which brought together the Looney Tunes and NBA icon Michael Jordan.
The cartoons bring MJ to their world and recruit him to play a basketball game against a group of aliens. While the critics didn't like it, Space Jam has become a '90s staple. Fans still watch it to this day for everything from the comedy to the memorable soundtrack. It even spawned a 2021 sequel.
Hardball (2001) - RT: 39%/IMDb: 6.4
Stream On Paramount+ & IMDb TV
Given the recent slew of adoration for Keanu Reeves, it feels like a lot of folks should go back and give Hardball another chance. It's one of Reeves's more overlooked movies, following his protagonist as he agrees to coach a team of African-American little leaguers.
The movie is helped by solid performances from Reeves and Diane Lane and though reviews weren't strong, fans will never forget moments like the team singing "Big Poppa" or talking about "going to the ship." Plus, this movie offers an early look at the career of future star Michael B. Jordan.
The Waterboy (1998) - RT: 35%/IMDb: 6.1
Stream On TNT
Up until his lauded performance in Uncut Gems, Adam Sandler had a rough go from critics throughout his career. There are a few exceptions out there but a lot of his films have been critically-panned despite the fact that casual viewers make sure they pull in big box office numbers.
That was the case in 1998 with The Waterboy. It tells the story of a socially inept waterboy who channels his inner rage into becoming a hard-hitting football player. It is filled with quotable lines and memorable characters played by the likes of Henry Winkler and Kathy Bates.
Little Giants (1994) - RT: 36%/IMDb: 6.4
Rent On Apple TV
While it's true that the '90s were a great time for sports movies, it was even better for ones that are centered on children. Little Giants puts a football spin on that idea, following a ragtag team who comes together to challenge the squad of kids who are considered the favorites.
Once again, this is a situation where the kids bring the laughs but the performances of the veteran actors help in a major way. Watching Rick Moranis chase Ed O'Neil in a go-kart will always be fun. Despite the fact that kids from the era adore this flick, critics dissed it for being unoriginal.
Angels In The Outfield (1994) - RT: 33%/IMDb: 6.2
Not Currently Available To Stream
1994 was a rough time to be a baseball fan. A league-wide strike led to the MLB canceling the season, including the playoffs and World Series. So, audiences had to rely on movies to get their baseball and one movie to fill that void was Angels in the Outfield.
A remake of a 1951 film, this focuses on an orphan who begins to see angels on the field helping his favorite team turn their rough season around. It was filled with established actors (Danny Glover, Tony Danza) and future stars (Matthew McConaughey, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Adrien Brody), which makes it worth a watch even if critics didn't appreciate it.
Mystery, Alaska (1999) - RT: 38%/IMDb: 6.7
Rent On Vudu
It feels like there aren't enough movies out there about hockey. That makes it even more disappointing that Mystery, Alaska remains such an under-the-radar flick. The premise feels like something critics would enjoy but they found that the lack of hockey action was a mistake.
Still, the dramatic scenes were appreciated by audiences since the likes of Russell Crowe and Burt Reynolds were handling them. The story is also heartwarming as a hockey team who plays on a frozen pond brings their small town some recognition by playing a game against the NHL's New York Rangers.
Rocky IV (1985) - RT: 38%/IMDb: 6.9
Stream On HBO Max & Max Go
The Rocky franchise is one of the biggest in all of sports. The first entry actually won Best Picture at the Oscars and the two follow-up installments were met with solid praise. However, Rocky IV changed that, receiving negative reviews and having the second-lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of the series.
Despite that, this is likely the most memorable outside of the original. It sees Rocky avenge the death of his friend Apollo at the hands of the brutal Ivan Drago in a fight in Russia. This actually helped set the stage for the Creed spin-off films and was especially prominent for Creed II.
Stick It (2006) - RT: 31%/IMDb: 6.3
Rent On Apple TV
Gymnastics is yet another sport that is somewhat overlooked on the big screen. There aren't many films about it but a lot of fans would agree that Stick It is one of, if not the best. It follows a prodigy in the sport who returns to it after she runs into trouble with the law.
Reviews weren't totally negative but critics didn't seem to really see how it stood out in any aspect. They did like the leading performance by Missy Peregrym and the supporting part from Jeff Bridges, while audiences had a blast with the fun scenes and catchy soundtrack.
The Mighty Ducks (1992) - RT: 21%/IMDb: 6.5
Stream On Disney+
Is there any kids' sports film more beloved than The Mighty Ducks? It's likely that The Sandlot is the only one that comes close. The original film tells the expected underdog story as a group of misfit kids come together as a hockey team behind their reluctant-at-first coach.
Critics may have found it predictable but audiences still love it and rewatch it today. It was so successful that it spawned numerous sequels, an ongoing Disney+ series, and The Mighty Ducks even became an official NHL franchise in Anaheim, California.