It’s that time of year. The days are short, the temperature drops, and a blanket of fresh snow coats the ground most mornings. For some people, the prospect of shoveling driveways and cold toes has them dreading the coming of winter like a member of the Stark family; for others, there is no time of year more magical or wonderful. One thing one both groups can usually agree on is these months are infinitely better curled up under a blanket while holding a warm cup of coca watching a good movie.
If you’re a fan of sports films, it seems like a good summer flick is always readily available. Remember the Titans, Rocky, The Sandlot, Friday Night Lights, Glory Road, Happy Gilmore, The Blind Side… even Space Jam. All great films, all definitely with more of a summer/fall vibe. With the Winter Olympics currently taking place in Milano-Cortina and historic snowstorms around the world, there is no better time to break out some of these amazing winter sports movies that sometimes get overlooked. Each one has two things in common: a winter vibe and a great story. Definitely worth a couple hours in-between snowball fights and after you finish binging Heated Rivalry. Whether you’re looking for a family comedy or a intense sports drama, this list of some of the best winter sports films is sure to have something you love!
1) Miracle (2004)
The movie ‘Miracle’ is one of the OG winter sports films that captured audiences imaginations at the turn of the 2000s. Miracle features the true story of former pro hockey player Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) who turned coach and led the 1980 U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team. The U.S. team were the underdogs at the time and seemed doomed to fail against a dominate four-time gold medal defending Soviet hockey team.
During the Winter Olympics in New York, the team came back from behind to defeat the Soviets during an iconic game now known as the “Miracle on Ice” (roll credits). Brooks took the young players and through his leadership and their determination, they were able to overcome the odds and take home the gold for Team USA. Truly one of the most inspiring sports films of all time. If you love hockey or are looking for a movie about an underdog team overcoming the odds, this one is for you.
2) Everest (2015)
Everest is a biographical survival film that is going to have you gripping your blanket unable
to look away – even if you want to. While indoor rock-climbing gyms playing ambient music can make it seem like rock-climbing is just a relaxing weekend hobby, rock climbing movies like 127 Hours and Free Solo have shown audiences how extreme the sport can really be. You can add ‘Everest’ to that canon of intense rock-climbing films. For many climbers, summiting Mount Everest represents the peak (pun intended) of their sport. The film is based on the 1996 Mount Everest disaster that left eight climbers dead across two separate expedition groups. It features an all-star ensemble cast including: Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, Keira Knightley, Jason Clarke, and Robin Wright. If you’re a fan of winter-themed suspenseful survival films, this is the winter sports film for you.
3) Blades of Glory (2007)
Not every winter sports movie has to be uplifting or intense, some can just be a hilariously good time. Many people don’t immediately think ‘comedy’ when they are looking for a sports film to watch and vice versa but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some great ones out there. As serious as many of us take sports, they really are just big games and there’s a lot to make fun of there – even at the Olympic level. Blades of Glory does just that.
The movie has some of the best comedic actors of our time including Will Ferrell (Elf), Jon Heder (Napolean Dynamite), Will Arnett (Arrested Development), and Amy Poehler (30 Rock) and is full of side-splitting moments from start to finish as they poke fun at Olympic figure skating. It’s one of the greatest comedic sports movies of all time, right up there with Happy Gilmore and Dodgeball. Definitely worth a watch (or a rewatch) this winter!
4) Cool Runnings (1993)
There are few sports stories as inspirational as that of the 1988 Jamaican Olympic bobsled team. Jamaica had no snow, no ice,
no training facilities, and no winter sports tradition but the young Jamaican athletes became determined to proudly represent their country at the highest level on the world stage. The team was founded by George Fitch and William Maloney who looked for and recruited Jamaican sprinters who were talented athletically but had no previous bobsledding experience.
Despite the fact that the team did not medal and their bobsled actually crashed before the final heat of the four-man event, the athlete’s resilience and perseverance led the world to become enamored with them and cheer them on through their struggles. Their story was captured and legacy lives on through Disney’s ‘Cool Runnings’ which is one of the first winter sports films to reach significant critical and commercial success. Wholesome, funny, and still a great watch for the whole family.
5) Eddie the Eagle (2016)
If you don’t know the incredible tale of Olympic ski jumper Eddie “the Eagle” Edwards, then
you have to watch this film. It’s the kind of movie that, if it weren’t based on a documented true story, would be unbelievable. 1988 was truly a wild year for the Winter Olympics as Eddie Edwards was functionally Great Britain’s equivalent of the Jamaican bobsled team – albeit a little more goofy. After realizing Great Britain didn’t have an athlete representing them in the Olympic ski jump and noticing the lax rules surrounding qualification, Eddie put his name in the hat – despite not having a great deal of skiing experience and poor-quality, mismatched gear. He finished dead last. Still his unique look and and indomitable spirit led him to be an Olympic fan favorite and British icon for years to come.
The film features Taron Egerton (Rocketman) as the titular Eddie and has a stellar backup cast featuring Hugh Jackman (Logan), Christopher Walken (King of New York), and Jim Broadbent (The Iron Lady). Just like the original Eddie the Eagle, critics and audiences alike found this film intriguing and amusing. This is a Winter Olympic story that you’re going to have to see to believe!
6) The Mighty Ducks (1992)
Another family-friendly winter sports movie classic. While this movie might not be as critically acclaimed as some of the others on the list, if you need a movie your kids are sure to love – this is your pick. Maybe it’s the nostalgia talking, but ‘The Mighty Ducks’ actually holds up a lot better than many other older sports movies. It may not have won any Oscars but it has heart, an underdog story, and more than a couple lines that’ll make you chuckle still. What more could you want? Plus, many of the other movies on this list would not even exist if it weren’t for the commercial success of ‘The Might Ducks’ and ‘Cool Runnings’ in the early 90’s. Definitely worth a watch!
7) Marty Supreme (2025)
Listen, hear it out. We know that table tennis isn’t technically a winter sport. But, I’d argue that a sport that is played indoors where it’s nice and warm has to be an honorary winter sport. Or at least a year-round sport, right? Plus the film takes places primarily during winter months and features a lot of great cinematography of snowy New York City. Like Die Hard becoming a classic Christmas movie, I think ‘Marty Supreme’ will end up in the pantheon of great winter sports movies. Anyways, we have to throw out at least one bone to the people who hate the cold and the snow right?
The movie is directed by the visionary Josh Safdie (Uncut Gems) and stars Timothée Chalamet (Dune) as the obsessively driven table tennis player Marty Mauser on his quest to become world champion. Safdie began developing the film after reading a copy of The Money Player: The Confessions of America’s Greatest Table Tennis Champion and Hustler by Marty Reisman and is loosely based on his life. While table tennis may seem as benign as sports can get, ‘Marty Supreme’ dives into the darker and more drama-filled side of the sport and serves as an example of how far the drive to succeed can take someone. Definitely check it out!
Now, while the snow comes rolling in, you have a list of some of the best winter sports movies you can curl up and binge in between cheering on your favorite athletes at the Winter Olympics. Whether you’re looking for a family friendly comedy, a survival thriller, or an inspiring underdog story, there is a winter sport movie on this list for you. Stay warm, stay safe, and enjoy your winter!
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