Cover The upcoming ‘Dodgeball’ sequel has us thinking about all the non-mainstream sports that have been immortalised in sports movies. (Photo: IMDB)
The upcoming ‘Dodgeball’ sequel has us thinking about all the non-mainstream sports that have been immortalised in sports movies. (Photo: IMDB)
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Non-mainstream sports movies remind us that greatness isn’t always about medals. It’s about grit, weirdness and the joy of playing the game, no matter how bizarre it might be
Forget the gridiron glory and centre-court drama—true sporting cinema magic lies not in touchdowns or slam dunks, but in curling stones, competitive dodgeball and arm-wrestling showdowns set to ’80s power ballads. Yes, we’re talking about those underdog films that dared to champion the weird, the wild and the wonderfully niche. These aren’t just sports movies—they’re cinematic love letters to the unsung athletes of non-mainstream arenas.
These sports movies may not feature billion-dollar franchises or touchdown finales, but what they lack in mainstream muscle, they more than make up for in heart, hilarity and pure off-the-wall charm.
Also read: 10 basketball movies that will have you rooting for the underdog
1. ‘Men with Brooms’ (2002)
Sport: Curling
When a ragtag Canadian team reunites to honour their fallen coach with a curling championship, brooms clash and maple syrup metaphors abound. Starring Leslie Nielsen and Paul Gross, this charming ode to the gentlemanly sport of stones and ice is quirky, heartfelt and 100-per cent unapologetically Canadian.
Why it works: It’s a rom-com, a sports film and a nationalistic fever dream rolled into one chilly sweep.
2. ‘Cool Runnings’ (1993)
Sport: Bobsledding
Inspired by the true story of the Jamaican national bobsleigh team’s unlikely debut at the 1988 Winter Olympics, this film is the ultimate warm-hearted tale of tropical ambition on icy tracks. As far as sports movies go, Cool Runnings has earned a cult following through the years.
Why it works: John Candy delivers one of his most memorable performances, and the film’s underdog spirit still gives us chills.
Also read: 10 inspirational sports films to watch
3. ‘Hidalgo’ (2004)
Sport: Long-distance desert horse racing
Viggo Mortensen gallops through sweeping Arabian dunes in this historical epic about a 3,000-mile endurance race. The film is less about sport and more about survival and pride, but it absolutely deserves a spot on this list.
Why it works: The race scenes are thrilling, the horse is majestic and Viggo (post Lord of the Rings) embodies rugged romanticism.
4. ‘Kingpin’ (1996)
Sport: Bowling
You don't see a lot of sports movies about bowling. The Farrelly brothers’ cult classic follows a washed-up pro bowler (Woody Harrelson, prosthetic hand and all) mentoring an Amish bowling prodigy. It’s raunchy, absurd and absolutely glorious. Watch out for the scene when their hair is doing all the acting.
Why it works: Bill Murray’s villainous comb-over deserves an Oscar. And bowling has never felt so high-stakes.
5. ‘The Colour of Money’ (1986)
Sport: Pool
Paul Newman reprises his The Hustler role to mentor a young, hotheaded Tom Cruise. Chalk flies and egos clash in this Scorsese-directed dive into the shadowy art of cue sports.
Why it works: Stylish, smouldering and scored with tension—this isn’t just about pool, it’s about power. The Oscars love sports movies and they finally gave Newman his long-awaited Academy Award for this role.
6. ‘Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story’ (2004)
Sport: Dodgeball
The movie features Ben Stiller versus Vince Vaughn in a gym-versus-globo-corporation showdown for dodgeball supremacy—ridiculous, quotable and somehow emotionally resonant.
Why it works: It made dodgeball cool for adults and taught us all the five Ds—dodge, duck, dip, dive and…dodge. Really, these rules are a metaphor for life.
7. ‘Over the Top’ (1987)
Sport: Arm wrestling
Sylvester Stallone has starred in perhaps one of the most famous sports movies of all time, Rocky, but here, he turns a backwards baseball cap into a weapon of war in this trucker-meets-family-drama-meets-arm-wrestling epic.
Why it works: It’s peak ’80s testosterone with a surprisingly sweet father-son arc. Plus: the training montages are everything.
8. ‘Balls of Fury’ (2007)
Sport: Ping-pong
This kung-fu/spy/ping-pong hybrid stars Dan Fogler and Christopher Walken (in full Fu Manchu regalia) and is as bonkers as it sounds.
Why it works: It makes table tennis feel like life or death, because in this movie, it literally is.
9. ‘Whip It’ (2009)
Sport: Roller derby
Drew Barrymore directs this indie coming-of-age gem starring Elliot Page as a rebellious teen who finds liberation and empowerment in a brutal, all-female roller derby league.
Why it works: Gritty, empowering and surprisingly stylish, it’s the feminist sports flick we didn’t know we needed.
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10. ‘Eddie the Eagle’ (2016)
Sport: Ski jumping
The lovable story of Michael “Eddie” Edwards, a British ski jumper with more heart than skill, who soared into Olympic history with sheer determination and zero aerodynamic grace.
Why it works: Taron Egerton charms as Eddie, and Hugh Jackman oozes charisma as his reluctant coach. Sports movies always have a hearty ending, but this goes beyond that. It’s the feel-good film of the decade.
