15 movies for fans stuck indoors
With the sports world halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, fans around the world will have to find other ways to stay connected to the games they love.
Since most of us are going to be spending lots of time indoors, there’s no better time to sit on the couch and check off that movie list.
That’s why USA TODAY has decided to make a guide for all of the best sportsrelated films you might not know. Each selection was nominated by one of our reporters or editors, and they’re all intended to provide maximum distraction – and enjoyment – for fans who don’t know what to do with their newfound free time.
1. Aspen Extreme (1993)
Two skiing buddies uproot their Detroit lives to move to Colorado and become Aspen ski instructors. One becomes the big shot instructor who falls into a love triangle of sorts. The other struggles to find his place on the mountain. – Tim Gardner
2. 61* (2001)
Directed by Billy Crystal, this film often gets overlooked among the best baseball movies. “61*” centers around the many ups and downs of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle and their pursuit of MLB’s single-season home run record during the 1961 season. – Casey Moore
3. The Cutting Edge (1992)
The premise is great: An injury leaves an NHL-caliber player unable to play hockey and a figure skating coach decides to turn him into a pairs skater. He’s matched up with an Olympian who’s also an incredible diva, and she’s also super rich while he is decidedly blue collar. The juxtaposition between the two is great, and the dialogue is sharp and witty. – Nancy Armour
4. When We Were Kings (1996)
This iconic documentary gives fans a front-row seat to perhaps the most famous match in boxing history – 1974’s “Rumble in the Jungle.” “When We Were Kings” follows boxers Muhammad Ali and George Foreman from the buildup to the aftermath of their legendary bout. An added bonus for music fans: The film is peppered with prefight concert footage
from artists like James Brown and B.B. King. – Lex Pryor
5. Win Win (2011)
This a story that has a mix of psychological depth and character-driven triumphs, all with the backdrop of wrestling. It captures a teenager’s struggle to fit in and uses the platform of wrestling to capture his resiliency. – Scott Gleeson
6. Blue Chips (1994)
“Blue Chips” takes a fictitious look at corruption and scandals in big-time college basketball. The actors (Nick Nolte, Ed O’Neill, Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, Bob Cousy, Marques Johnson) and cameo appearances (Jerry Tarkanian, Jim Boeheim, Kevin Garnett, Allan Houston, Dick Vitale, Rick Pitino) help make this an enjoyable way to blow 108 minutes. – Jeff Zillgitt
7. Little Giants (1994)
It’s a story about neighborhood kids who form a ragtag football team, led by the “vicious” Ice Box, to challenge the town’s elite peewee squad. As the Little Giants prepare for the big game, NFL names like John Madden, Bruce Smith, Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith all make cameos. A fun family movie that’s worth
a few hours.
– Tim Gardner
8. Hoop Dreams (1994)
10. Long Gone (1987)
With reality TV on the verge of inundating pop culture, along came one of the greatest sports documentaries ever, following two Chicago-area prep basketball players, their divergent paths to the next level and the many struggles along the way. Reserved and raw all at once. – Gabe Lacques
9. BASEketball (1998)
South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone star as outcast friends who turn a completely made-up backyard game – mixing baseball and basketball – into a national phenomenon. Watch for cameos from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dale Earnhardt, Bob Costas and Al Michaels. – Casey Moore
“Long Gone” is funny and irreverent. The 1987 HBO movie based on a 1979 novel by the same name tells the story of the Tampico Stogies, a fictional 1950s minor league baseball team. It’s got great characters from cantankerous veteran player-manager Dixie Lee Boxx (Virginia Madsen) to “Jose” Brown (Larry Riley), a black catcher masquerading
as a Venezuelan to avoid trouble from the KKK. – Cesar Brioso
11. Above The Rim (1994)
Starring the late Tupac Shakur, “Above The Rim” might be better known for its soundtrack, but its story is just as riveting. The film follows Kyle Watson (played by Duane Martin), a gifted high school basketball player, who struggles to navigate relationships with a local drug dealer (Shakur) and a former starturned-security guard (Leon Robinson). This coming-of-age story is always worth a watch. – Lex Pryor
12. Two For The Money (2005)
Looking to satisfy your gambling fix with the games on hiatus? Check out this Matthew McConaughey and Al Pacino flick that focuses on a former college football player who becomes the hottest handicapper in the game – until he isn’t. – Tim Gardner
13. Teen Wolf (1985)
“Teen Wolf ” is not a basketball movie per se. It’s about a teen (played by Michael J. Fox) who happens to play on the high school basketball team. He also transforms into a wolf. While the team is horrible, when Fox’s character becomes a wolf on the court, he is unstoppable. But would his game be suited for today’s NBA? Put it this way: Teen Wolf likes buckets. – Jeff Zillgitt
14. The Hurricane (1999)
“The Hurricane” is a tale of race, trauma and redemption. Starring Denzel Washington, this movie follows the wrongful conviction of real-life middleweight boxer Rubin “The Hurricane” Carter. Clocking in at a little over two hours, this film is a compelling look into how sports intersects with society.
– Lex Pryor
15. Everest (2015)
Jake Gyllenhaal and Jason Clarke lead an all-star cast in “Everest,” a movie about one of the most disastrous seasons in the history of summiting the world’s highest peak. In 1996, two guides – Rob Hall of Adventure Consultants and Scott Fischer of Mountain Madness – were among eight people who died in a two-day period. In a nailbiting, emotionally wrought two hours, viewers feel as if they are on the mountain with the climbers in the deadly conditions. – Heather Tucker