Last weekend, The Smashing Machine, a biographical drama film about the life of MMA fighter Mark Kerr (played by Dwayne Johnson in the film), smashed into theaters.
Athletes lead very interesting lives, and they can, in turn, be turned into exceptional films. From the family tragedy at the center of The Iron Claw to the rise and fall of a volatile underdog in I, Tonya, there are plenty of exceptional sports biopics to check out.
The team at Watch With Us pooled together four of our favorite sports biopics and where to stream them. Read on to see if your favorites made the cut.
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‘The Iron Claw’ (2024)
The tragic real-life story of the Von Erich brothers is brought to life by director Sean Durkin in this harrowing true family drama about love and loss. During the 1980s, the Von Erich family was a formidable presence in the world of wrestling, but they were “cursed” by numerous tragedies in their family. Despite the unthinkable losses that they endure (which is to the extent that one death actually had to be cut from the film), they remain committed to one another and to wrestling stardom.
The film features a gut-wrenching performance from Zac Efron in the role of Kevin Von Erich, who proves that he is well past his teen heartthrob era and has evolved into a genuinely talented actor. The sharp, nuanced script is powerful and affecting, and will leave you a puddle of tears by the end (or, perhaps, through much of the film).
Watch The Iron Claw now on HBO Max.
‘I, Tonya’ (2017)
In 1994, figure skater Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) is implicated in a plot to injure her competition, and the life that the working-class athlete struggled to achieve since she was a child suddenly comes crashing down. I, Tonya takes things all the way back in Harding’s life, showing her difficult childhood and reputation as “white trash,” which forces her to fight her way to being taken seriously in the figure-skating world.
Robbie’s portrayal of Harding was hailed as strong and weighty, while Allison Janney’s performance as Harding’s abusive mother, LaVona, earned her an Academy Award. With a killer soundtrack and superb direction from Craig Gillespie, I, Tonya is both supremely entertaining while being a scathing takedown of classicism in America.
‘Raging Bull’ (1980)
In 1980, director Martin Scorsese brought the controversial life of boxer Jake LaMotta to the screen, with Robert De Niro in one of the best roles of his career. Adapted from LaMotta’s own memoir, Raging Bull tells the rise-and-fall story of the middleweight boxer: how he rises through the ranks to take home the middleweight crown and is eventually destroyed by his own personal demons.
While it met with polarized reviews when it was released, the film has come to be recognized as one of Scorsese’s best works. Often difficult to watch, the film is a no-holds-barred examination of masculinity, repression and the occasional impossibility of human redemption. In addition to De Niro as LaMotta, the film features an excellent performance from Joe Pesci.
Watch Raging Bull now on Amazon Prime Video.
‘Ford v. Ferrari’ (2019)
In the 1960s, automotive designer Caroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and British racer Ken Miles (Christian Bale) team up to build a car that will obliterate the competition of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. A determined team of Americans and Englishmen, commissioned by Henry Ford II and Lee Iacocca, works together to build a race car that may finally defeat Ferrari’s ruling racing team. With the odds (and corporate interference) stacked against them, it’s a race to get to the race.
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This gripping underdog story is led by terrific performances from Damon and Bale, and confident direction from James Mangold (A Complete Unknown). Ford v. Ferrari is a real “dudes rock” dad film, but it’s got a little something for everyone. A compelling story with captivating drama and exciting racing sequences makes this film a must-watch even for non-racing enthusiasts among us.
Watch Ford v. Ferrari now on Hulu.
