Sports is often driven by the undercurrents of a hero’s narrative, bolstered by inspiring moments of great courage, bravado, and determination. Naturally, this translates well into Hollywood, as evidenced by the many iconic Olympic movies you can watch, in conjunction with the Paris Olympic games.
The 2024 Olympic Games is just a week away and fans are excited to root for their home countries. The internet has been abuzz with criticism and praise about each country’s uniforms. It’s safe to say that everyone loves Mongolia’s look while Thailand’s is just meh. As the world gears up for Paris 2024, there’s no better time to start watching some of Hollywood’s movies surrounding the Olympics. From Taron Egerton playing a legendary British ski jumper to a classic film that gave us one of the most iconic themes of all time, these are the Olympic movies that you need to add to your list.
[Hero image: 20th Century Fox]
Olympic movies you need to watch ahead of Paris 2024
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Not including this classic on this list would be a grave mistake. The film follows the story of two real-life athletes, Eric Liddel and Harold Abrahams, who compete in the 1924 Olympics, and each has their reasons for competing. Abrahams, a Jew, wants to compete to shun prejudice, while Liddel runs for the glory of God as a Christian. The movie itself is inspiring but it’s also perpetually etched in everyone’s minds, even if some may not be aware of it, thanks to the iconic theme by Vangelis.
Eddie the Eagle (2016)
Hugh Jackman and Taron Egerton join forces to tell the story of British ski jumper Michael “Eddie the Eagle” Edwards, the athlete responsible for representing Great Britain in the sport since 1928. The movie is a funny and heartwarming tale of how the demeaned Edwards overcame opposition even from amongst the British Olympic committee and became hailed as a national hero.
Watch it here
Foxcatcher (2014)
While still based on a true story, this movie is more of a thriller than it is about a sport. John du Pont, played by Steve Carrell, recruits two brothers, played by Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo, to recruit and train wrestlers who will eventually compete on an Olympic level. But du Pont grows a little more and more erratic each day causing concern for those around him until he eventually snaps.
The Cutting Edge (1992)
A great sports movie inspires. Combined with a terrific love story, it gives you all the feels. Kate, played by Moira Kelly, is a primadonna figure skater who has refused all potential partners after her former partner humiliated her. Doug, played by D.B. Sweeney, is a sidelined hockey player who used to be the captain of the Olympic hockey team. The two are put together to compete as a pair, and though their personalities clash, sparks begin to fly.
I, Tonya (2017)
Before she was Barbie, Margot Robbie was Tonya Harding, the controversial skater who became infamous after being an accomplice to an attack on a competitor. What makes the film interesting is that it leaves it up to the audience whether Harding is trustworthy or not and whether she was actually the victim or played a part in the wrongdoing.
Munich (2005)
Steering a little into more serious and non-inspirational territory, this Steven Spielberg film is a poignant story about vengeance that’s based on two real historical events: the Munich Massacre in the 1972 Summer Olympics and the assassinations carried out by Mossad as retaliation. The lines of who’s right and wrong get blurred as the agents carrying out the mission question the morality of what they’re doing, which is actually timely for what’s happening in the world right now.
Watch it here
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Written by
Eric E. Surbano
Senior Writer | Entertainment & Tech
Eric can be found lost in his own world jamming with headphones on while writing when he's not prepping for a DnD session or researching 'Star Wars' galactic history on Wookiepedia. A proud Ravenclaw, he loves playing (and writing about) video games, humming the 'Doctor Who' theme under his breath, and rewatching 'Friends', 'New Girl', and 'The West Wing'.
