Looking to dive deeper into sports stories than what TV typically shows? Sports documentaries offer a closer look at the lives of athletes, both on and off the field. Whether it’s about football, combat sports, or something for those who aren’t traditional sports fans, these films reveal the personal struggles, mental challenges, and cultural significance behind the action.
They provide a unique glimpse into the worlds of athletes, teams, and the games they dedicate their lives to. From tales of hard-fought victories to inspiring stories of resilience, these documentaries showcase the immense effort and dedication behind achieving greatness. If you’re ready to be inspired, here are 10 of the best sports documentaries to stream right now!
List of the 10 Best Sports Documentaries
Check out the 10 of the best sports documentaries that show the challenges, victories, and inspiring stories of athletes both on and off the field.
Advertisement 1. The Last Dance (2020)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Cast | Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr, Phil Jackson |
| Director | Jason Hehir |
| Genre | Sports, Documentary, Biography |
| IMDb Rating | 9.0/10 |
This documentary series focuses on Michael Jordan‘s final season with the Chicago Bulls during the 1997-1998 NBA season. It gives a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s journey, their challenges, and the determination it took to win their sixth championship. The series also dives into Jordan’s career, the Bulls’ legacy, and the relationships between the players and management. Also, check the Worst NBA Players of All Time.
2. Senna (2010)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Cast | Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Frank Williams |
| Director | Asif Kapadia |
| Genre | Sports, Documentary, Biography |
| IMDb Rating | 8.5/10 |
Directed by Asif Kapadia, Senna is the best sports documentary 2023 commemorating the life and times of Brazilian Formula driver Ayrton Senna. It combines archive footage with interviews about his rise to fame, rivalry with Alain Prost, and untimely death at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994. Senna captures the skill, passion, and spirit of one of motor racing’s all-time greats and is currently the best sports documentaries to stream.
While watching athletes’ exciting wins and deep challenges in documentaries like The Last Dance and Senna, it’s interesting to see how their efforts and victories reach beyond the sports field. They don’t just change the sports world but also affect how much money athletes can make.
A great example is Usain Bolt, whose amazing speed has helped him earn a lot of money outside of racing. Check out how Bolt’s amazing sports career has led to a big net worth.
3. The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young (2014)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Cast | Lazarus Lake (Gary Cantrell), race participants |
| Director | Annika Iltis, Timothy James Kane |
| Genre | Sports, Documentary, Adventure |
| IMDb Rating | 7.7/10 |
The Barkley Marathons is one of the best sports documentaries of 2023 about one of the most physically demanding ultramarathons in the world. This film, directed by Annika Iltis and Timothy James Kane, follows some runners who want to run and complete 100 miles at the frozen Head State Park mountains in Tennessee during the annual Barkley Marathon race.
The Barkley Marathons are unique in that they differ from other races, but simultaneously, those races are considered the most difficult trials for human strength and the best sports documentaries to stream right now.
4. Free Solo (2018)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Cast | Alex Honnold, Sanni McCandless |
| Director | Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin |
| Genre | Sports, Documentary, Adventure |
| IMDb Rating | 8.1/10 |
Free Solo is one of the best sports documentaries of 2023. Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin directed it and narrated how Alex Honnold climbed El Capitan without ropes or protective gear. The movie has stunning scenery that brings out the beauty of Yosemite National Park while capturing this mental and physical journey through Alex’s own eyes.
Free Solo provides an electrifying narrative of one person’s fight for greatness when all appears impossible, making it the best sports documentary streaming.
5. The Dawn Wall (2017)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Cast | Tommy Caldwell, Kevin Jorgeson |
| Director | Josh Lowell, Peter Mortimer |
| Genre | Sports, Documentary, Adventure |
| IMDb Rating | 8.1/10 |
This documentary follows climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson as they try to climb the Dawn Wall, one of the hardest rock faces in the world, in Yosemite National Park. The film shows their preparation, struggles, and determination as they attempt to reach the top. It also looks at Tommy Caldwell’s personal story, including the challenges he faced in his life.
6. O.J.: Made in America (2016)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Cast | O.J. Simpson, Marcia Clark, Johnnie Cochran |
| Director | Ezra Edelman |
| Genre | Sports, Documentary, Crime |
| IMDb Rating | 8.9/10 |
O.J.: Made in America looks at O.J. Simpson’s life, from his success as a football player to his famous trial for killing his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman. It also looks at the cultural, racial, and social issues around his life and trial, showing how his fame and race influenced public opinion and the legal system.
7. The Two Escobars (2010)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Cast | Andrés Escobar, Pablo Escobar, various interviewees |
| Director | Jeff and Michael Zimbalist |
| Genre | Sports, Documentary, Crime |
| IMDb Rating | 8.1/10 |
The Two Escobars is the best sports documentaries of all time. It tells two stories: one about Colombian soccer player Andrés Escobar and another about Pablo Escobar, a drug lord. The movie examines the connection between organized crime and soccer during the 1980s-1990s in Colombia, where Andres was murdered after scoring himself an own goal during the World Cup finals (FIFA 1994).
This gripping movie draws individuals glued to its plot. Through interviews with players, journalists, and law enforcement agents, it gives experiences of sport within political unrest-marked regions, making it the best sports documentary streaming. Discover the documentary of an American politician and former professional basketball player, Bill Bradley, among these documentaries.
8. Icarus (2017)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Cast | Bryan Fogel, Grigory Rodchenkov |
| Director | Bryan Fogel |
| Genre | Sports, Documentary, Thriller |
| IMDb Rating | 7.9/10 |
Icarus, directed by Bryan Fogel, is one of the best sports documentaries of all time. It uncovers the extensive utilization of performance-enhancing substances in professional cycling and beyond. As such, it tracks the filmmaker and amateur cyclist Bryan Fogel as he sets out to experiment with doping to determine if he can avoid detection in amateur competitions.
However, this investigation takes an astonishing twist when Fogel finds himself ensnared in a worldwide doping scandal involving Russian sportsmen and government officials. This has been confirmed through secret meetings and hidden cameras used in making Icarus, which exposes the unending extent of corruption and deception within sports doping.
Thus, it causes international anger towards these acts, which need to be reformed, making it one of the best sports documentaries streaming.
9. Lorena, Light-footed Woman (2019)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Cast | Lorena Ramírez |
| Director | Rodrigo Reyes |
| Genre | Sports, Documentary, Biography |
| IMDb Rating | 7.0/10 |
This documentary follows Lorena Ramírez, an indigenous Mexican woman who became a celebrated ultramarathon runner. Despite coming from a rural, traditional community, she defied expectations by competing in long-distance races, including the tough 50-kilometer events. The film highlights her strength, determination, and the cultural challenges she faces, showcasing her journey to break barriers in the world of sports.
10. Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2004)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Cast | Jack Johnson, various interviewees |
| Director | Ken Burns |
| Genre | Sports, Documentary, Biography |
| IMDb Rating | 8.3/10 |
It tells the story of Jack Johnson, the first African American to win the heavyweight boxing title. It chronicles his rise to fame, his struggles with racism, and his controversial relationships both in and out of the ring. The film highlights Johnson’s defiance of the racial norms of his time and the personal and professional challenges he faced, ultimately leading to his fall from grace.
FAQS
Icarus won the Oscar.
30 for 30: Broke. Director Billy Corben explores the harsh truths behind the flashy careers of athletes, many of whom go bankrupt after retiring.
The 2022 documentary, The Phenomenon, is named after Ronaldo himself and charts his career, including the devastating injuries he experienced.
Home Game is the Netflix series about extreme sports.
Trump: An American Dream is the best documentary at the moment.
Michael Jackson’s This Is It is the most viewed documentary.
Conclusion
Best sports documentaries of all time inspire, inform, and entertain viewers from all walks of life. From documenting the triumphs of iconic athletes to capturing extreme endurance events or showcasing breathtaking sceneries across nature’s wonders, these movies offer a sneak peek into diverse sporting worlds.
They help the audience better appreciate what humanity is made of concerning physical strength and possibilities pertaining to competing hard in athletics and currently the best sports documentaries to stream.