50 Best Sports Movies Ever

33. The Fighter

Year: 2010
Sport: Boxing
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Mickey O’Keefe
Director: David O. Russell

Starting with The Fighter in 2010, David O. Russell has firmly supplanted himself as one of the premier directors in Hollywood. He broke out with Three Kings in 1999 and I Heart Huckabees in 2004, but made his current name on The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook, and American Hustle.

The Fighter isn’t your conventional sports film, but the story of Micky Ward was more than fascinating enough to earn a spot in the Top 50.

Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo were all nominated for acting at either the Academy Awards or Golden Globes. The film itself was nominated for Best Motion Picture at both, and Russell was up for Best Director.

Forgive me for boring you with the award season talk, but the critical response was accurate to how well-made this movie was. Warning: NSFW.

Mickey O’Keefe, Ward’s real-life trainer, appearing as himself throughout the film was the icing on the cake.

This film was heralded more for the look into Ward’s life than the boxing itself, but the fight scenes were more than acceptable. Some have criticized the punches for being unrealistic, but even the in-ring action was shot in a way that stressed accuracy.

Seven Academy Award and six Golden Globe nominations later, The Fighter deserves to be recognized as one of the greatest sports films ever made.

Next: 32. Cinderella Man