The Undisputable Success of Sports Movie Genre

Based on true life or completely fictitious, Sports movies always connect with audiences because they chart our journey's to reach success by showing us our true selves

Paul Giamatti in 'Win Win' (CREDIT: Twentieth Century Fox/Fox Searchlight)

by Jack Linsdell

To achieve (or not) success, whether that be in career, relationship or recreational terms, is something we all certainly aim for in life and a journey we all definitely embark on. And, the genre of movies (I say genre here as more of a thematic grouping than a series of conventions/tropes) that most reflects this are the sports-drama movies. Although some hit big at the box office (think the Rocky series $1.6 billion worldwide), most of these movies are underperformers and so from a studio point-of-view are "risky" investments. However, these flicks tend to be the most inspiring movies around, transcending cultural and language barriers because they hit a sweet point of relatability to our lives that no other movies ever do. So, why are these movies so successful, yet not at the same time?

Most drama movies tend to leave audiences feeling a little down on life when the credits start rolling because they are...yes, you guessed it. Dramatic. The comedy flicks tend to leave audiences smiling from ear to ear because they are funny. But, sports drama films have their cake (giving us the tear-jerking, hard-hitting drama) and get to eat it (leaving us smiling and feeling inspired) too. It's a winning formula and a rare narrative structure because by the end we're feeling so inspired to go into the world and conquer everything that this genre provides us the best "pick me up" films around. That's partly why their successful. But, also the character's journey of achieving a goal (that's often sports related) and overcoming all the obstacles (fitness, tough opponents, lack of support etc.) in their way, mirrors our own lives. Whilst they may have to contend with an evil opponent (think Karate Kid) in the dojo, we may have to fight against the bully's in the classroom or workplace. The point is that sports-dramas are so successful with audiences time after time because they remind us of ourselves and our own struggles, but through the metaphorical representation of sports. These flicks are normally underdog stories, and who hasn't been an underdog in their life, right? 

Recently, I've been exploring many sports-drama movies, and the thing that struck me was that no matter what the sport being shown (American football, football, golf, wrestling, boxing, karate, kung-fu etc.), the relatability remains consistently deep and the endings always so inspiring. And, yes, most of these movies are at least partly inspired by true stories. To name but a few of these; Stephen Merchant's WWE movie Fighting with My Family, Will Smith's American football political drama Concussion, Taraji P. Henson's starring turn in the golfing-themed biopic From The Rough, Tom McCarthy's excellent part wrestling, part domestic drama Win Win and Sandra Bullock's Oscar-winning turn in The Blind Side. If you've not watched any of these movies, then do so now. I guarantee you, these will all end up on your DVD shelf or in your online catalogue as your new "pick me up" movies. They're all different budgets, all different stories and all different sports - some were Oscar winners, some weren't even cinema releases - but all of them moved me emotionally with heartfelt, realistic and character-led drama and left me with feeling fulfilled and re-motivated. So, these movies click with audiences because they give us this feeling time and time again. 

And, I can't not mention sports films without The Karate Kid. Yes, I love the original so much, but it's the 2010 Will Smith-produced remake starring his son Jaden Smith and as Mr Han Jackie Chan that is not only one of my favourite movies of all time, but is perhaps the finest example of why sports dramas are successful with audiences. It's the perfect parable for the outsider kid, the victim of bullying and one who wants respect from others, yet giving out no respect himself. Coupled with one of James Horner's finest scores, it's very dramatic and hard-hitting throughout, with scenes of Jaden's Dre being brutally beaten by the bullies, Mr. Han's emotionally poignant confession of regret and Dre's Mother struggling with the Chinese culture being the obstacles to overcome, whilst the ending "character gets everything but learns truth about themselves" always leaves me feeling inspired and provides the greatest level of joy from any movie on my shelf. It's more than just a film about kung-fu and it's more than "character wants revenge on bullies" mantra also. It's an amazing movie, and one that shows why these films are so good. 

But, maybe this genre's commercial success is done to the popularity of the sport depicted. For example is boxing more popular than wrestling? If so, does that explain why Creed earns $173 million on a $35 million budget, whilst Fighting with My Family barely scrapes $39 million globally and Win Win only earns $10 million? Probably not. Maybe, it's about how extensively escapist the movie is. For example The Karate Kid (2010) is more entertaining in terms of Hollywood action and spectacle than the more politically-dialogue heavy Concussion or the more melodramatic Win Win. So, perhaps that makes the former sail past $300 million worldwide and the latter two struggle to top $50 million global. But, then The Blind Side, an Oscar winner and $309 million on a $29 million budget grossing picture is not really escapist-ly entertaining at all, mostly acting as family drama based around a homeless boy's love and talent for American football, yet still became a big hit. 

The truth is that there is no reason why these movies differ commercially. What remains consistent is that filmmakers keep writing them, and studios keep making them because audience's love the sports drama. They inspire us in ways most movies can't. They use the parable of sports (whether it be a direct competition/fight/match or as the background/subtext to the story) as a metaphor for our own journey's to achieve success in whatever form, and therefore become the most relatable to whatever audience. Adding in the entertainment that comes from the sports that are depicted (who doesn't fid a boxing or football match thrilling), and their usual narrative nature as an underdog story, then it's no surprise why these films are always successful with audiences. Whether you like sports or not, the movies that are based around them are perhaps the greatest parables to our lives on the big or small screen. If they were as successful at the box office as they are with post-theatrical audiences, then it'd be game set and match.