“Bull from the Bronx” and “King of Football”: 9 best biographical movies about great athletes

The heroes of these movies are real people who have reached incredible heights in world sports. Their names are legends, their records cannot be broken to this day. And each of them had to go through a difficult path to declare themselves and become famous.

“Raging Bull”, USA, 1980.

Žanr: Draama

Režissöör: Martin Scorsese

Peamised näitlejad: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci.

Vanusepiirang: 16+

When the famous boxer Jake Lamotta saw the film, he was shocked to realize what a terrible, tough and fiery man he was. Not only in the ring, but around his family. Robert De Niro so authentically reflected the character of the boxer that he received for this role “Oscar”. To fit into the image, the actor gained 20 kg, spent a couple of sparring with Lamotta himself, reviewed a lot of videos with fighting techniques.

Martin Scorsese took as a basis for the memoirs of Lamotta “Raging Bull: My Story”. Lamotta was nicknamed Lamotta for a reason – his indomitable temper frightened even the bravest opponents in the ring. In a 13-year career, he was knocked down only once. It seemed no one could break the Bull from the Bronx. Alas, got from the boxer and home, the athlete was married seven times – some spouses simply ran away from the fiery Jake. The famous athlete did not become in September 2017, he was 95 years old.

“Ali”, USA, 2001

Žanr: draama

Režissöör: Michael Mann

Peamised näitlejad: Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight

Vanusepiirang: 18+

Will Smith initially refused to play the role of the famed boxer. Later, the actor admitted that he realized what kind of preparation (not only moral but also physical) he would have to undergo. All decided one call from Mohammed Ali. He said that he sees in the role of young himself only Will and no one else. Smith could not refuse the legendary athlete. And began the most difficult annual training. For seven hours Will boxed in the hall, and evenings spent studying the biography of Ali. By the time of filming the actor’s weight reached almost 95 kg.

The movie touched not only the sporting side of Mohammed Ali, but also his problems in his personal life and refusal of military service. Boxer categorically did not want to fight in Vietnam, declaring himself a pacifist. For this, the government stripped him of his boxing license and all titles and sentenced him to five years in prison.

“Legend #17”, Russia, 2012

Žanr: draama

Režissöör: Nikolai Lebedev

Peamised näitlejad: Danila Kozlovsky, Oleg Menshikov, Svetlana Ivanova

Age Restrictions: 6+

One of the best Russian sports films, which was honored with six Golden Eagle Awards. Valery Kharlamov is a true legend of world hockey, his career was not easy, but the ambitious athlete was on his way to his goal. A landmark event for Kharlamov and, among others, for the whole country was a series of friendly matches with the Canadian national team in 1972.

Then the Canadians were too arrogant about the USSR national team, believing that they would win with a crushing score on one or two. But Valeri quickly shattered their expectations. Our team won and rubbed the Canadians’ noses in it. By the way, some spectators noted that the players of the Canadian team portrayed too caricatured. Long-haired, sideburns, chewing gum hockey players played without helmets and felt like kings on the ice. But if you watch the videotape of the actual 1972 game, that’s exactly what they looked and acted like!

“The Fastest Indian”, New Zealand, Japan, USA, 2005.

Žanr: Draama

Režissöör: Roger Donaldson

Peamised näitlejad: Anthony Hopkins, Aaron Murphy, Chris Williams

Vanusepiirang: 12+

Burt Monroe is a famous New Zealand motorcycle racer, whose image was brilliantly embodied on screen by Anthony Hopkins. The athlete has spent 25 years building and modifying his motorcycle to realize his dream of setting a record and winning a race in the Bonneville Flats desert in the American state of Utah. Bert makes an incredible journey and reaches his destination. He believes in himself and in his victory. The real Monroe recorded more than a dozen records, which no one has never been able to break.

“The Fighter”, USA, 2010

Žanr: draama

Režissöör: David O. Russell

Peamised näitlejad: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams

Vanusepiirang: 18+

The movie follows the rise of Micky Ward Jr. as a professional boxer. He was forced to put his career on pause due to a serious surgery. A compound fracture in his right arm led to surgeons using Mickey’s pelvic bones to reassemble his arm. A return to the ring was out of the question.

But Mickey’s older brother Dicky, also a former boxer and now an ex-convict who served time for possession of illegal drugs, had a different opinion. Dicky himself undertakes to train his brother for the important match for the world championship.

By the way, to play exhausted by addiction Dickie, actor Christian Bale specially lost 20 kg. But he is not used to it – for his career, he then extreme weight loss, then gain.

“Race”, UK, USA, 2013

Žanr: draama

Režissöör: Ron Howard

Peamised näitlejad: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl, Olivia Wilde

Vanusepiirang: 18+

Ron Howard directed this film about the real-life rivalry between two drivers – Austrian Niki Lauda and Briton James Hunt – during the 1976 Formula One Championship. Lauda had already established himself as a famous racer and a holder of titles. Hunt got into the team of Formula 1 completely by accident as a replacement for the retired pilot. But no one suspected that the newcomer will be a serious competitor Lauda and other famous racers.

As a result, the whole world watched the confrontation of the two athletes who saw no obstacles on the way to victory. In one of the races Nicky got into a terrible accident. His car hit the fence, then he flew into the car of another participant of the race, Brett Lander. Both cars caught fire. Bret managed to jump out of the car, and Lauda was trapped in the fiery wreckage. During the accident from the head of Nick’s helmet flew off, and more in the flames suffered head and face of the athlete. In addition, he inhaled toxic fumes.

At the hospital, Nicky was put into a coma and prepared for the worst. But Lauda not only came to himself, but, barely recovered a month and a half later, again sat behind the wheel of the car and took part in the competition. Auto racer subsequently made only one plastic surgery, and terrible scars remained forever. Nicky hid them under a red cap, which became his business card.

“Sagittarius”, Russia, 2020

Žanr: draama

Režissöör: Ilya Uchitel

Peamised näitlejad: Alexander Petrov, Stasia Miloslavskaya, Alexander Yatsenko

Age Restrictions: 6+

The fate of one of the famous Soviet footballers, a striker for Torpedo Moscow, the 1965 USSR champion and 1968 USSR Cup winner, is tragic. He was called “Russian Pele” and wanted to get foreign clubs, Eduard Streltsov even got into the top ten candidates for the “Golden Ball”. But at the age of 22, he went to prison – the footballer was accused of rape.

Many believed that the case was fabricated. Several versions were put forward, why the athlete decided to break his career and life. According to one of them Streltsov rejected the daughter of Ekaterina Furtseva and married his fiancée Anna, who later gave birth to his daughter (when Eduard was sent to prison, the little girl was four months old). They say that insulted Furtseva thus decided to take revenge.

Another version said that officials from the world of sports were afraid that the young star would eventually prefer a foreign club and leave the country. 23 years ago, the Streltsov Committee was formed, which demanded a review of the criminal case to whitewash the athlete’s name. But so far to no avail.

The movie reveals his vision of that high-profile case, forever crossed out the brilliant career of “Russian Pele”.

“Fox Hunter”, USA, 2014

Žanr: Draama

Režissöör: Bennett Miller

Peamised näitlejad: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo

Vanusepiirang: 18+

The story of brothers Mark and Dave Schultz, who accept an offer from eccentric philanthropist John Dupont to be on his wrestling team. Both brothers already possessed an Olympic gold medal by then, but Mark needed finances and training to compete in the next games. However, none of the athletes knew that Dupont suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. A strange collaboration with the philanthropist would eventually lead to tragedy.

“Pele: Birth of a Legend”, USA, 2015

Žanr: Draama

Režissöör: Jeff Zimbalist, Michael Zimbalist

Peamised näitlejad: Kevin de Paula, Leonardo Lima Carvalho, Seu Jorge.

Vanusepiirang: 12+

The movie covers the childhood and adolescence of the future King of Football. From a simple boy from a poor family he would become a legend in world sport. Already at the age of seven, he showed great ability playing in the local children’s club. Coaches even then realized that such talent should not be missed. But the path to success was not so simple – Pele had to face not only professional, but also with personal problems.

He had both supporters and friends, and detractors and enemies. By the way, the legendary footballer himself played a cameo in the picture. His character appears in the frame for only a few minutes – he is dining in a restaurant when his table flies into the ball.