20 Best Sport Movies on Max 2026
Explore 20 top sports movies on Max, from Hoop Dreams and When We Were Kings to Marty Supreme and The Smashing Machine, with dramas and docs.
If you’re hunting for the best sport movies on Max, this watchlist brings together hard-hitting documentaries, inspiring true stories, and fictional dramas that still feel ripped from real life. You’ll find modern standouts like Marty Supreme (2025) and The Smashing Machine (2025), plus classics such as Hoop Dreams (1994) and When We Were Kings (1996), each showing a different side of competition. The lineup also reaches beyond the obvious with titles like At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal (2019), Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off (2022), Kansas City Bomber (1972), and Jugada Peligrosa (2022). Across drama, sport, documentary, crime, and biography, these films capture pressure, obsession, scandal, and the thrill of chasing greatness. With 20 picks on the page, there’s plenty here whether you want something gritty, emotional, or purely inspiring.
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01
Marty Supreme
drama · sport
Marty Mauser, a young man with a dream no one respects, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness.
Directed by Josh SafdieCast Timothée Chalamet, Larry 'Ratso' Sloman, Mariann Tepedino, Odessa A'zion, Ralph ColucciMax -
02
When We Were Kings
documentary · sport
It's 1974. Muhammad Ali is 32 and thought by many to be past his prime. George Foreman is ten years younger and the heavyweight champion of the world. Promoter Don King wants to make a name for himself and offers both fighters five million dollars apiece to fight one another, and when they accept, King has only to come up with the money. He finds a willing backer in Mobutu Sese Suko, the dictator of Zaire, and the "Rumble in the Jungle" is set, including a musical festival featuring some of America's top black performers, like James Brown and B.B. King.
Directed by Leon GastCast Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Don King, James Brown, B.B. KingMax -
03
At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal
documentary · crime · sport
A look inside the USA gymnastics sexual abuse scandal that shook the sports world in 2017 depicting a landscape in which women spend their youth seeking victory on a world stage, juxtaposed against a culture where abuse prevails and lives are damaged forever.
Directed by Erin Lee CarrCast Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber, Racheal DenhollanderMax -
04
Hoop Dreams
documentary · drama · sport
Every school day, African-American teenagers William Gates and Arthur Agee travel 90 minutes each way from inner-city Chicago to St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois, a predominately white suburban school well-known for the excellence of its basketball program. Gates and Agee dream of NBA stardom, and with the support of their close-knit families, they battle the social and physical obstacles that stand in their way. This acclaimed documentary was shot over the course of five years.
Directed by Steve JamesCast Steve JamesMax -
05
Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off
documentary · biography · sport
A wide-ranging, definitive look at Hawk’s life and iconic career, and his relationship with the sport with which he’s been synonymous for decades, featuring unprecedented access, never-before-seen footage, and interviews with Hawk and prominent figures in the sport including Stacy Peralta, Rodney Mullen, Mike McGill, Lance Mountain, Steve Caballero, Neil Blender, Andy MacDonald, Duane Peters, Sean Mortimer, and Christian Hosoi.
Directed by Sam JonesCast Rob Roy Fitzgerald, Rob 'Sluggo' Boyce, Tas Pappas, Danny Way, Giorgio ZattoniMax -
06
Kansas City Bomber
drama · sport
Roller-derby skater K.C. Carr tries to balance her desire for a happy personal life and her dreams of stardom.
Directed by Jerrold FreedmanCast Raquel Welch, Kevin McCarthy, Helena Kallianiotes, Norman Alden, Jeanne CooperMax -
07
The Smashing Machine
action · biography · drama · history · sport
In the late 1990s, up-and-coming mixed martial artist Mark Kerr aspires to become the greatest fighter in the world. However, he must also battle his opioid dependence and a volatile relationship with his girlfriend Dawn.
Directed by Benny SafdieCast Dwayne Johnson, Kenny Rice, Jerin Valel, Andre Tricoteux, James McSweeneyMax -
08
Jugada Peligrosa
documentary · history · sport
Copa Libertadores, 1989. A true story about football, corruption and the power of Pablo Escobar and his cartel, told by its protagonists: five referees who resisted the dramatic weight of an era.
Directed by Matías GueilburtMax -
09
The Fastest Woman on Earth
documentary · sport
Filmed over more than seven years beginning in 2013, the film chronicles the extraordinary life of professional racer and TV personality Jessi Combs.
Directed by Christopher Otwell, Graham SuorsaCast Jessi Combs, Kitty O'NeilMax -
10
Gran Turismo
action · adventure · drama · sport
The ultimate wish-fulfillment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won him a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional racecar driver.
Directed by Neill BlomkampCast David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Takehiro Hira, Darren BarnetHuluMax -
11
Battle of the Sexes
biography · comedy · drama · history · sport
The true story of the 1973 tennis match between world number one Billie Jean King and ex-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs.
Directed by Jonathan Dayton, Valerie FarisCast Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Andrea Riseborough, Natalie Morales, Sarah SilvermanMax -
12
The Survivor
biography · drama · history · sport · war
Harry Haft is a boxer who fought fellow prisoners in the concentration camps to survive. Haunted by the memories and his guilt, he attempts to use high-profile fights against boxing legends like Rocky Marciano as a way to find his first love again.
Directed by Barry LevinsonCast Ben Foster, Billy Magnussen, Vicky Krieps, Peter Sarsgaard, Saro EmirzeMax -
13
What's My Name: Muhammad Ali
documentary · biography · sport
Explore Ali’s challenges, confrontations, comebacks and triumphs through recordings of his own voice. The two-part documentary paints an intimate portrait of a man who was a beacon of hope for oppressed people around the world and, in his later years, was recognized as a global citizen and a symbol of humanity and understanding.
Directed by Antoine FuquaCast Stephen Stanton, Phuc Cao, Jackie GleasonMax -
14
BS High
documentary · sport
Follows the investigation which occurred when the Bishop Sycamore Centurions, a presumed high school football team from Columbus, Ohio, took on perennial prep powerhouse, IMG Academy.
Directed by Travon Free, Martin Desmond RoeMax -
15
Say Hey, Willie Mays!
documentary · biography · sport
Follow Willie Mays’ life both on and off the field over five decades as he navigated the American sports landscape and the country’s ever-evolving cultural backdrop, all while helping to define what it means to be one of America’s first Black sports superstars. He left an indelible mark in New York City and San Francisco, building a love affair with both cities’ fans.
Directed by Nelson GeorgeCast Jeffrey Wright, Darrin Reaves II, Jordan Keith, Roger SmithMax -
16
Christy
biography · drama · history · sport
Christy Martin never imagined life beyond her small-town roots in West Virginia—until she discovered a knack for punching people. Fueled by grit, raw determination, and an unshakable desire to win, she charges into the world of boxing under the guidance of her trainer and manager-turned-husband, Jim. But while Christy flaunts a fiery persona in the ring, her toughest battles unfold outside it—confronting family, identity, and a relationship that just might become life-or-death.
Directed by David MichôdCast Sydney Sweeney, Coleman Pedigo, Merritt Wever, Ethan Embry, Jess GaborMax -
17
Soccer Soul
documentary · sport
It narrates the epic title obtained by the Argentine National Team in the World Cup Qatar 2022 with testimonies of the protagonists, told from the intimacy and in first person.
Directed by Gonzalo Arias, Martín MéndezCast Ricardo DarínMax -
18
We Beat the Dream Team
documentary · sport
Discover the little-known story of a group of college basketball players who were tasked with preparing Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan and the rest of the legendary "Dream Team" for their Olympic debut in 1992.
Directed by Michael TolajianCast Grant Hill, Chris Webber, Penny Hardaway, Bobby Hurley, Jamal MashburnMax -
19
The Unbreakable Tatiana Suarez
documentary · sport
Follow the exceptional spirit and drive of mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Tatiana Suarez as she prepares to reenter the cage after nearly four years away from the sport. Suarez reflects on her journey from wrestling prodigy to professional athlete and the legacy she leaves young women, particularly those in the Latina community.
Directed by Cassius CorriganCast Andrew Galpin, Ariel Helwani, Bobby Pinto, Dana WhiteMax -
20
LFG
documentary · sport
Three months before the 2019 World Cup, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation. At the center of this no-holds-barred account are the players themselves–Megan Rapinoe, Jessica McDonald, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O'Hara and others–who share their stories of courage and resiliency as they take on the biggest fight for women's rights since Title IX.
Directed by Sean Fine, Andrea NixCast Sam Mewis, Kelley O'HaraMax
Wrapping Up
This collection makes it easy to find a sports movie that fits your mood, whether you want a buzzy new release, a revealing documentary, or a classic underdog story. From the intensity of Hoop Dreams to the legacy of When We Were Kings, these picks show how wide the genre can be. Bookmark this page and come back when you want a fresh recommendation, because it’s updated regularly as new titles arrive and older favorites rotate in and out. With so many angles on competition, ambition, and resilience, there’s always another great watch waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this list updated?
We refresh this list regularly as titles are added or removed from streaming catalogs, so rankings and availability stay current.
Do I need a Max subscription to watch these?
Yes — every title on this list is currently available on Max. Availability can change, so we recommend checking the streaming link on each title before you start watching.
How are these sport movies ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the sport titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.
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Last updated: September 10, 2026