Underdogs, locker rooms, and the big game.
Best Picture, written by its unknown star
the profane hockey comedy every locker room quotes
the rematch, and the one that made it a franchise
Scorsese and De Niro at their most punishing
Best Picture, and that score
Mr. T, 'Eye of the Tiger', pure 80s
the underdog sports formula, fixed in place
indefensible and completely irresistible
the small-town basketball film all others copy
the best-written baseball film
sentimental on purpose, and it works
the sports comedy in permanent rotation
no crying in baseball
the kids' sports canon, passed down intact
trash talk as choreography
the underdog film other underdog films are measured against
the mainstream drama done right
Lee and Allen, uncomfortable and great
four quarters, two lives, and a film a generation shares
Best Picture, and it earns the turn
the 1980 US hockey team, and Russell's best performance
the boxing crowd-pleaser, played straight
the sports-and-education film with real teeth
savaged on release, now recognised as visionary
Mandela, the Springboks, and Eastwood's steadiest late film
a sports film about spreadsheets that works
archive footage only, and thrilling
the MMA film that's really about brothers
Robinson, Boseman, and a film that plays for everyone
Howard's best in years
the franchise revival done right
one of the highest-grossing non-English films ever made
the Drago rematch, a generation later
the last great studio adult drama
