I love watching sports as much as the next person. But sometimes a change of pace is refreshing. That’s when I turn to another entertaining form of media–sports documentaries.
While I’m in no way a sports film connoisseur, I’ve been watching them with enjoyment for several years. On that note, here is a list of my favorite sports documentaries, in no particular order of recommendation.
1. “The Last Dance”
I’d be hard-pressed to name a more captivating sports documentary. Following Michael Jordan’s career with the Bulls (with a focus on the 1997-1998 championship season) the 10-episode series harnesses an impressive amount of interviews, game footage and archived videos to tell an extraordinary story.
Basketball legends such as MJ, Scotty Pippen, Dennis Rodman and Steve Kerr are all featured. Other celebrities including Carmen Electra and Phil Jackson also make appearances.
Even if you don’t like basketball, “The Last Dance” is wildly entertaining, suspenseful and well-formatted. Anyone with the slightest interest in sports will find themselves staying up late to binge all of the episodes.
2. “Quarterback” and “Receiver”
Though these are technically two documentaries, Netflix’s “Quarterback” and “Receiver” go hand-in-hand. Produced by football legends including Peyton Manning and Patrick Mahomes, the two series follow current NFL players.
One of my favorite parts of this series is the early-July release date. Nothing gets me excited for the upcoming NFL season like one of these episodes, and they recap the previous one, which I find helpful.
Very few documentaries accomplish what “Quarterback” and “Receiver” do. The filmmakers strike a perfect balance between the actual sport and the personal lives of players. You can learn everything about Joe Burrow’s game-day strategy while simultaneously discovering his love of fossils and Batman.
3. “Beckham”
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve never followed professional soccer, but after one episode of this Netflix documentary following the career and personal life of David Beckham, I was hooked.
The film stands out amongst other sports documentaries because it explores the mental and emotional challenges professional athletes face. That, and the English accents are fun to listen to.
By watching “Beckham,” not only do you get an inside-scoop on a superstar athlete, but you also begin to understand the confusing European soccer system and see interviews from Victoria Beckham of the Spice Girls.
4. “Athlete A”
While “Athlete A” is a sports documentary, it mainly has social justice implications. The film follows the stories of multiple USA gymnasts who were sexually assaulted at the hands of trainer Larry Nassar. The abusive behavior and toxic environment of the USA gymnastics organization is also exposed, making this film crucial to the fight for the well-being of high-level athletes.
With trial footage, competition performances and interviews from decorated gymnasts, “Athlete A” was created to improve gymnastics culture and find justice for abuse victims. The investigative, impactful and interesting documentary is important not just to the sports world but all people.
Anyone interested in this documentary should be warned that it deals with sensitive subjects such as sexual harassment and assault as well as emotional abuse.
5. “Golden: The Journey of USA’s Elite Gymnasts”
Whenever I watch gymnastics, I find myself in awe. How do those athletes get their bodies to move like that when I’m scared to do a forward roll? “Golden” certainly didn’t boost any confidence in my abilities, but I did have fun watching gymnasts compete at the highest level imaginable.
Filmed prior to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, this gymnastics documentary followed the lives of Sunisa Lee, Konnor McClain, Morgan Hurd, Laurie Hernandez and MyKayla Skinner as they trained for the Olympic Trials with the goal of securing a spot on the USA team.
I personally watched “Golden” before the Olympics began, and it immensely improved my viewing experience of the international competition. Getting a glimpse inside the minds of gymnasts and then watching them dominate on a world stage was extremely satisfying. And when Team USA took gold for gymnastics, I felt as if I’d been with them every step of the way.
