50 Best Sports Movies Ever

9. Bull Durham

Year: 1988
Sport: Baseball
Starring: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins
Director: Ron Shelton

As this slideshow is progressively proving, Kevin Costner is one of the true kings of sports-related movies. He’s been stellar in a number of roles, but if one character’s name rings bells in the minds of sports fans, it’s Crash Davis.

Roughly a year removed from breaking out as the star of The Untouchables, Costner made his name in the sports world with his performance in Bull Durham.

Costner, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins helped make Bull Durham one of the most recognizable sports films of all-time. Although identified by IMDB as a romantic comedy, the brilliant work on the field is what makes it such an easy selection for this list.

Davis is the veteran catcher assigned to helping develop Robbins’ Ebby LaLoosh as a star pitcher during his stint in the minor leagues. The results are comedically brilliant.

The chemistry between Costner and Robbins alone makes Bull Durham one of the Top 50 sports movies of all-time.

Sarandon’s Annie Savoy brings an important element to the film as something of a baseball groupie who helps Costner’s Davis prepare Robbins’ LaLoosh for the major leagues. A love triangle complicates things and makes the relationship between teammates even more combustible than ever before.

Bull Durham does an outstanding job of pairing comedy, romance, and genuinely entertaining sports while maintaining a believable story. It’s an all-time great for that very reason.

Next: 8. Remember The Titans