by Thomas Glare

Everyone can agree that 2020 has been a tough year for the movie industry. Since going to the cinema wasn’t possible for a long period, the plans of big movie producers got affected, and many titles that were announced for 2020 were either postponed or canceled altogether. However, there are still some top sports films that were already launched or are coming to movie theaters later this year. So, if you’re looking for some good sports films, we made a list of the most promising productions launched this year. The offer isn’t exactly rich. However, it will take it’s no flash lightning either. 

The Way Back – One of the Best Films for Basketball Fans

The Way Back opens this list of sports movies released in 2020, and it tells the story of Jack Cunningham, played by Ben Affleck. Jack is a former basketball player that lost everything after his wife died. Losing his foundation, he succumbed to addiction and decided to face his issues by returning to basketball as a coach. He manages to land a coaching job at his old high school that proves to be more about his fight to get back on his feet. The teenage students put Jack through several challenges, and the result is one of the best sports movies released this year. 

The Main Event

Sports fans also appreciate a good mix between sci-fi and sports movies, and The Main Event promises just that. Launched in April 2020, this movie tells the story of an 11-year-old kid that finds a wrestling mask with magical powers. He uses the mask to baffle everyone and enter a WWE competition with the support of his grandmother. Even though sports films based on true stories are usually what the directors go for in this genre, The Main Event comes with a different approach that fans appreciate. It proves that inspirational sports films don’t necessarily have to be based on a true story.

High Flying Bird

Even though it was launched in 2019, High Flying Bird won its place on this list. The unique collaboration between Netflix and Steven Soderbergh resulted in an excellent sports-drama. With loads of sports films on Netflix, High Flying Bird comes with a fresh approach exploring the story of Ray Burke, a sports agent in a company that goes through a lockout. Afraid that he will lose his job, Ray looks for a way to make himself valuable for the company. He comes up with the idea that does not only save his company but can change the way sports look. High Flying Bird is an intense drama that also asks a lot of questions about how things happen around the entire sports culture. While Soderbergh is known for his innovative plots and watertight development of the story, he outdid himself in this collaboration with Netflix. 

Ride Like a Girl

If you were expecting to find upcoming British films about sports on this list, we are afraid you will be disappointed. The British movie industry doesn’t seem to draw much inspiration from their rich sporting culture. However, we end the list of top sports films with Ride Like a Girl, an Australian biographical sports drama. The movie is inspired by the life story of Michelle Payne, the first woman in history to win the Melbourne Cup in 2015. Even though the film received mixed critics from fans, it offers a glimpse into the struggles of a woman in a sport dominated by men. Sure, it doesn’t approach a lot of the controversy surrounding the horse racing industry altogether. However, it’s still a great title to watch if you’re looking for determinations, passion, and grit displayed by an athlete.  

If you were expecting more sports films to be launched in 2020, you’re not the only one. Unfortunately, 2020 isn’t a good year for the movie industry altogether. However, with all the changes to sports events in 2020, we should enjoy a much richer 2021. 

What’s your favorite sports movie? We encourage our readers to reply in the comments section and share their go-to sports films. As you know, sharing is caring, and you can help lots of other readers watch movies they missed for various reasons.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas Glare is a freelance copywriter that focuses on the movie industry mostly. However, with not so many movies being launched recently, you may find him looking for lightning link free coins on the internet. He’s collaborating with several online publications, and the legend says there’s no sports film he didn’t watch.