List of films about the sport of athletics

The following is a list of films featuring the sport of athletics, including track and field.

List

Year Title Genre Event(s) Notes1927CollegeComedySilent film with Buster Keaton trying multiple sports.Olympic GamesComedyOur Gang children's version of the Olympics.1931Local Boy Makes GoodComedySprintsShy librarian (Joe E. Brown) joins a college track team to impress a girl.1932Million Dollar LegsComedyShot putW. C. Fields fable of team from "Klopstokia" competing at the 1932 Summer Olympics.1937A Million to OneDramaDecathlonAfter his dad is stripped of an Olympic gold medal, Johnny Kent trains to win one.1954The Bob Mathias StoryBiographical Decathlon A look at career of two-time Olympic gold medalist Bob Mathias.1955GeordieComedyHammerStory of Scotsman out to get to the Summer Olympics.1962It Happened in AthensComedyMarathonJayne Mansfield in story set at 1896 Olympics in Greece.The Loneliness of the Long Distance RunnerDramaDistance runningAcclaimed film from UK starring Tom Courtenay.1965BillieComedySprintsPatty Duke as a high school athlete who competes with boys.1966Walk, Don't RunComedyRace walkingFinal film of Cary Grant, set during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.1970The GamesDramaMarathonRyan O'Neal and Michael Crawford as fictional distance runners.1973The World's Greatest AthleteComedyTrackDisney tale of a jungle boy who becomes a star athlete.1976The Loneliest RunnerDramaMarathonMade for TV, written and directed by Michael Landon.1978See How She RunsDramaMarathonMade for TV1979CrossbarDramaHigh JumpMade for TVThe Jericho MileDramaMileMade for TV about a prisoner trying to qualify for the Olympics.Our Winning SeasonDramaMileStory of a high school senior during time of the Vietnam War.RunningDramaMarathonMichael Douglas as fictional Olympic distance-running hopeful.GoldengirlSci-fiSprintsA scientifically enhanced girl (Susan Anton) trains for the 1980 Moscow Olympics.A Shining SeasonBiographicalRunningTrue story of John Baker, a girls' track coach dying of cancer.1981Chariots of FireDrama Sprints True story set during 1924 Olympics. Four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.Graduation DayHorror Track Slasher film about school's track athletes being murdered.1982Personal BestDramaTrackMariel Hemingway in fictional story of women's track and field.1983Running BraveDrama 10,000 m Biographical film on the life and career of Billy Mills, starring Robby Benson.1985On the EdgeDrama Trail runningA distance runner (Bruce Dern) fights for amateurs' rights during California's Dipsea Race.The Jesse Owens StoryBiographicalSprints, long jumpTrue story of legendary 1930s athlete Jesse Owens, portrayed by Dorian Harewood.1987Cracked UpDramaTrackA high school athlete has a serious problem with cocaine.1988Run for Your LifeDrama/ThrillerMarathonItalian-British production starring David Carradine.The Four Minute MileBiographicalMileRecord-breaking run of Roger Bannister, made for television.1991Across the TracksDramaTrackBrad Pitt and Rick Schroeder as brothers who compete in high school track and field.1994Forrest GumpComedy-dramaRunningForrest Gump, among other things, runs repeatedly across the continental United States.PentathlonThrillerPentathlonAn East German pentathlete (Dolph Lundgren) defects to USA, where his former coach, now a neo-Nazi, finds and harasses him.1996Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers StoryBiographical100m HTrue story of hardships and success of great U.S. athlete Gail Devers. 1997 Prefontaine Biographical Running True story of Oregon middle distance runner Steve Prefontaine, played by Jared Leto.1998Without LimitsBiographical RunningAnother version of life and death of Steve Prefontaine, starring Billy Crudup.1999EnduranceDrama Distance runningBiographical film about Haile Gebrselassie. 2000 The Long Run Drama Ultramarathon Story of the Comrades Marathon, an annual 55-mile foot race in South Africa.2002PumpkinComedyChristina Ricci in story about a developmentally challenged youth.2004Hitler's Pawn – The Margaret Lambert StoryDocumentaryHigh JumpTrue story of Gretel Bergmann, kept out of 1936 Olympics for being Jewish, replaced by an athlete who turned out to be a man. Later dramatized in Berlin 36.Miracle RunFamilyCross countryA young autistic boy (Zac Efron) becomes interested in cross-country running.2005Four Minutes Biographical Mile Made for TV. Chronicles the successful quest of Roger Bannister to break the four-minute barrier in the mile.The RingerComedyJohnny Knoxville bad-taste spoof of Special Olympics.Saint RalphDramaMarathonA 15-year-old boy attempts to run in the 1954 Boston Marathon. Terry Documentary Road running Made for TV. Documents the Marathon of Hope, 1980 attempt of cancer patient and amputee Terry Fox to run across Canada.2007Run Fatboy RunRomantic comedyMarathonDavid Schwimmer-directed comedy about an out-of-shape British man (Simon Pegg) who enters a marathon.Spirit of the MarathonDocumentaryMarathonFollows six runners training for the 2005 Chicago Marathon2008Racing for TimeTrackMade for TV. Based on a true story about youths in a correctional facility.SaluteDocumentary Multiple events Australian film looking back at 1968 Mexico City Olympics, focusing on Peter Norman, who stood alongside Tommie Smith and John Carlos in support of their protest after winning medals in the 200 metres. Directed by Norman's nephew Matt Norman.The One Man OlympicsBiographicalTrackBiographic of China's first ever Olympian Liu Changchun and his journey to compete in 1932 Summer Olympics.2009Berlin 36DramaHigh jumpTop athlete Gretel Bergmann is excluded from Berlin Olympics for being Jewish.Chasing a DreamDramaMile runTV film on emotionally scarred boy who attempts to run a sub-4-minute mile.The Runner Ultra Trail 2010 Into the Wind Documentary Road running Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Another look at Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope, co-directed by NBA's Steve Nash, who followed Fox's run as a child. Marion Jones: Press Pause Documentary Sprints Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. On career of Marion Jones, her 2007 admission of performance-enhancing drug use, and subsequent prison sentence.The RobberDramaMarathonGerman film about an Austrian bank-robbing runner.2012Paan Singh TomarDramaSteeplechaseIndian film based on the true story of an athlete Paan Singh Tomar. 9.79* Documentary 100 m Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. On men's 100 metres of 1988 Olympics, where Ben Johnson set world record but was disqualified after positive test for steroids.Fast GirlsDramaSprintsBritish film about two women sprinters.2013Ethir NeechalComedy/DramaMarathonIndian film about a man who tries to accomplish something in life by running a marathon.Bhaag Milkha BhaagDramaRunningIndian film based on true story of an athlete Milkha Singh.RunnerDocumentaryDistance RunningMade for TV as part of ESPN's Nine for IX series. The stunning collision that defined the one thing missing from the otherwise brilliant career of distance runner Mary DeckerSpirit of the Marathon IIDocumentaryMarathonRunners train for the 2012 Rome Marathon2014UnbrokenBiographicalRunningAn Olympic runner becomes and survives being a World War II prisoner of war4 Minute MileDramaMile RunA coach decides to train a student with natural athletic talent. Tragedy strikes, forcing the student to confront everything that has been holding him back.2015McFarland, USABiographicalCross countryKevin Costner portrays Jim White, who built the predominantly Latino McFarland High School into a California cross country power.2016RaceBiographicalSprintsA new dramatization of the life of Jesse Owens, highlighted by the 1936 Summer Olympics. Tracktown Drama Long distance running Training for the Olympics 2020 The Infinite Race Documentary Ultramarathon Made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. The story of the Tarahumara, an indigenous people in Mexico famed for their long-distance running culture who inspired an worldwide ultrarunning craze, while at the same time being ravaged by the country's drug wars. The Life and Trials of Oscar Pistorius Documentary Sprints Four-part film made for TV as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series and premiering on the ESPN+ streaming service. Examines Oscar Pistorius from his childhood in the last days of apartheid, to worldwide celebrity as the first double-leg amputee to compete in the able-bodied Olympics, to convicted murderer.2021Zero to HeroBiographicalSprintsHong Kong film based on true story of para-athlete So Wa Wai Never Stop Sprinting Retired sprinter Hao Chaoyue competes with his protégé Wu Tianyi in the 100-meter dash. On Your Mark Drama Marathon A father and son participate in a marathon and thus come to understand and improve themselves. 2023 Listen Documentary Multi-event ESPN+ film documenting the multiple failures of University of Utah officials to address concerns raised by Utes heptathlete Lauren McCluskey, culminating in her 2018 murder.

List of highest grossing athletics films The following is a list of athletics films thar surpass $1 million. 73.7% of the films were released after 1975 and films that have not played during this period do not appear on the chart because of ticket-price inflation, population size and ticket purchasing trends not being considered.

+ Rank Film Gross Year Ref 1 Forrest Gump $678,226,465 1994 https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0109830/ 2 Unbroken $161,459,297 2014 https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1809398/ 3 Chariots of Fire $59,318,980 1981 https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0082158/ 4 McFarland $45,710,059 2015 https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt2097298/ 5 The Ringer (2005 film) $40,442,443 2005 https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0267891/ 6 Run Fatboy Run $33,478,921 2007 https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0425413/ 7 Race $25,070,261 2016 https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt3499096/ 8 Graduation Day $23,894,000 1981 https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Graduation-Day#tab=summary 9 The World's Greatest Athlete $22,583,370 1973 https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Worlds-Greatest-Athlete-The 10 Personal Best $5,672,311 1982 https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0084489/ 11 Running Brave $3,000,000 1983 https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0086220/ 12 Billie $1,500,000 1965 Anticipated rentals accruing distributors in North America. See "Top Grossers of 1965". Variety. January 5, 1966. p. 36. 13 Walk, Don't Run $7,500,000 1966 https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Walk-Dont-Run 14 The Games $4,895,000 1970 Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. 15 Goldengirl $3,000,000 1979 Epstein, Andrew (April 27, 1980). "The Big Thuds of 1979—Films That Flopped, Badly". Los Angeles Times. Calendar, p. 6. 16 Running $2,800,000 1979 Richard Nowell, Blood Money: A History of the First Teen Slasher Film Cycle Continuum, 2011 p 258 17 Saint Ralph $1,881,975 2004 https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0384488/ 18 Fast Girls $1,207,241 2012 https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1700808/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 19 Our Winning Season $1,000,000 1978 https://archive.org/details/americanfilmdist0000dona/page/301/mode/1up

See also

List of sports films List of highest grossing sports films

References