Sport has been inspiring humanity to great achievements for thousands of years. He pushes people to find new strength in themselves and overcome themselves. The embodiment of this was the Olympics, to which many powerful films are dedicated. We have selected feature films about this most exciting sporting event, after watching which you will want to immediately go to the stadium or gym. It just so happens that filmmakers love running more, which is what most of the films on this list are dedicated to.
Pulse (2021)
This is the only domestic film in the selection based on real events and tells about the talented Ukrainian athlete Oksana. She is involved in athletics and dreams of competing at the Olympics. However, all her plans collapse after an accident, as a result of which the girl partially loses her sight. After this, a lot of time is spent on rehabilitation, during which she does not lose strength of spirit and, as a result, decides to continue the path to her dream.
Downhill Racer (1969)
An ordinary farmer from Colorado named David Chappellet set his goal to take part in the Olympic Games. He comes to the Swiss city of Wengen, where he wants to join the American ski team, which is preparing for the Olympic Games. David does not know how to work in a team and is completely obsessed with his own success. This leads to conflict with the coach. At the same time, the purposeful protagonist is trying to build a romantic relationship with an attractive girl. However, his selfish, supportive nature in sports completely ruins his attempts to achieve reciprocity in romantic matters.
Prefrontaine (1997)
The biopic starring Jared Leto (Suicide Squad) is about legendary runner Steve Prefrontain. He set a number of records and earned fame as an athlete who has no equal on the treadmill. However, on the way to high achievements, the athlete had to go through a lot of drama. To this day, Prefrontain is considered one of the most tragic stars in world sports.
The Cutting Edge (1992)
Hockey player Doug, who is distinguished by his impudence and determination, performs at the Winter Olympic Games. He plays in the American national team and one of the matches ends in injury for him. At the same Olympics, the capricious figure skater Kate, who strives for a medal, also performs under the US flag. However, the competition also ends unsuccessfully for her – one of the performances fails, after which she breaks up with her ice partner. Over the next years, Kate tries to find a new partner to compete at the next Olympics, but the relationship with each new candidate does not work out. And one day she reaches the last name on the list of candidates to perform with her – Doug, who has given up hockey, but is still full of strength and energy.
The Weight of Gold (2020)
Among the many documentaries about the Olympic Games, we chose this one due to the fact that it is dedicated to a very little-known side of the lives of athletes: the period after the competition. What happens after the Olympic gold medal is already hanging on your wall? After all, life does not end there, and the resources to live on are almost completely exhausted. Athletes who have just demonstrated their superhuman strength on the track and in the swimming pools of the Olympics appear very fragile and vulnerable in front of the camera. Just like anyone else, they need support and restoration of resources.
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)
Another film, based on real events, tells the story of the legendary Indian sprinter who represented his country at three Olympics. However, before achieving heights in the sport, he experienced a lot of drama. His parents were killed during the armed conflict. After this, the boy went to Delhi, where he began stealing. Then he ended up in the army, where he became interested in sprinting. He began to develop these abilities in himself. True, he still had many difficulties to live through.
The Boys in a Boat (2023)
1930s. USA. Students at the University of Washington dream of achieving great results in rowing. To do this, they trained every day, finding time between studies and overcoming many difficulties in their personal lives. Their cherished dream was to compete at the Olympics in Berlin. True, finding money to travel to Germany turned out to be a real challenge, because the United States in those years was trying to recover from the Great Depression.
Chariots of Fire (1981)
The most titled film in this collection. He received four Oscars, including for best film, two Cannes Film Festival awards, as well as a number of other prestigious awards. The film tells the story of two talented runners. One of them is the religious Scot Eric Liddell, who approaches ecstasy during the races. And the other is Cambridge student Harold Abrahams. Both of them improved their athletic performance at the English championships and entered the Olympic team, which went to Paris in 1924. Their goal is not only to win the championship, but also to defend their personal principles that give them strength. An inspiring picture that prompted many of its viewers to go for a run immediately after watching it.
Eddie the Eagle (2016)
Another film based on real events. The main roles were played by Hugh Jackman (“Wolverine”) and Taron Egerton (“Kingsman”). The story centers on a British skier obsessed with competing at the Olympics. Before he started skiing, he tried many sports in which he achieved no results. To improve his skills in ski jumping, he began training with an experienced coach, who, like everyone else, at first did not believe in the guy’s success. However, persistently continuing his training, he still chose a ticket to the Olympics.
Without Limits (1998)
The second in this collection is a biopic about the life of Steve Prefontaine. He entered the sport as a long-distance cross-country runner. The athlete was ready to do anything to compete at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. In his native Oregon, he set several speed records, entered a sports university, and Bill Bowerman took over his training. At the same time, he meets classmate Mary Marks, who becomes his sports muse.
Miracle (2004)
Military-political tension between the USA and the USSR reached its peak in 1980. Against this background, the hockey teams of these two countries meet in the final match of the Olympic Games. At the same time, the USSR national team is considered the undisputed favorite. And American hockey players have to brace themselves for one of the toughest tests of their lives. Can they pull it off considering Team USA is made up of young student players. This picture, among other things, perfectly shows how a strong, cohesive team was formed from completely different players.
Race (2016)
Legendary black athlete Jesse Owens changed the world of sports with his appearance on the track at the 1936 Olympics. Then the competitions were held in Berlin and the ruling Hitler in Germany hoped to turn the Olympics into propaganda of Nazism. The dictator’s dream was the absolute triumph of German athletes. But it was Jesse who challenged these Fuhrer plans.
I, Tonya (2017)
The controversial American figure skater of the 90s, Tona Harding, confidently developed her sports career. However, her path to fame turned out to be not so smooth and honest. At one of the decisive moments, Tony’s main rival receives a serious leg injury, which is inflicted on her by Tony’s associates. This fact turns the heroine of the film from a national legend into an outcast. This picture showed in detail the grueling training, inspiring performances at competitions and the intricate intrigues in which Tonya finally became entangled.
Cool Runnings (1993)
This most positive film in the selection tells about the seemingly impossible: a bobsled team from Jamaica. Since childhood, they have dreamed of performing at the Olympics in Albertville in 1992. At the same time, the guys on the team have to train without snow and none of them have been in the cold before. The fat man Irving undertakes to train them, who in this way strives to show his skills. This picture not only charges with positivity, but also once again proves the truth that the main thing is not victory, but participation.
