Top 10 80s Sports Movies
February 15th 2009 22:00
The best around
The 80s wasn’t exactly rich with sporting-movie moments, but there were certainly a few shining stars.
It’s probably not too hard to tell that I’m the editor of a fighting magazine from some of my selections – and while some wouldn’t count them as ‘sport films’, I couldn’t leave them off the list...
SPORTS MOVIES
Caddyshack – 1980
Long before Happy Gilmore ‘rode the bull’ on the greens, Chevy Chase (as his best character), Rodney Dangerfield and Bill Murray were hamming it up in this classic 80s goofball sportathon. This baby deserves its own post, so look out for it soon. “Hey, everybody, we're all gonna get laid!”
Major League – 1989
One of my all time favourite movies from the 80s and definitely one of the best sport films of all time. Check out our post on Ricky ‘Wild Thing’ Vaughn, Jake Taylor, Willy Mays-Hays and the rest HERE
The Natural – 1984
I don’t love Glenn Close, but Redford is always on the mark and here he hit another homerun with the help of ‘Wonderboy'. One of The Simpsons’ all time classic episodes, and probably my favourite, incorporated several scenes from the film – including Homer making his own ‘Wonderbat’.
Karate Kid – 1984
It’s actually safe to say I wouldn’t be where I am today without this movie. I was one of a million kids who decided to take up karate lessons after seeing Daniel-san single handedly kick the crap out of Cobra Kai back in ’85. It was one of my first posts HERE
Thrashin’ – 1986
Josh Brolin grinds it up in this 80s sk8 classic. I had to pick this over Gleaming the Cube, as it included actual sporting scenes, not a murder mystery. All the young skate heroes make appearance too – Tony Alva, Tony Hawk, and Steve Caballero. The movie was almost completely duplicated in the 90s rollerblade movie Airborne, which is also pretty sweet.
Check out our post on 80s Sk8ing
Over the Top – 1987
Sylvester Stallone is a genius. Only he would think of, and make, an entire film about the sport of arm wrestling. Killer soundtrack and a heart-felt father and son story make this 80s gold. Actually a huge guilty favourite for my Mrs.
Bloodsport – 1988
There’s no sport like blood sport, that’s for sure. This was the launching pad for Van Damme’s career (thanks) and was actually based on the life of Frank Dux – who like most martial artist’s claiming to be a ninja, drags a long line of controversy and lawsuits behind him.
Field of Dreams – 1989
This was the second of Costner’s ‘baseball trilogy’, and while it’s not exactly a sports move per se, I liked it a lot more than Bull Durham. Some say it is the male equivalent of the chick flick. “If you build it, they will come.”
Rocky IV – 1985
Wins over III because of its superior set of montages! Plus III has way too much man love. I’m a huge Rocky fan – the first and last probably being my favourite films of all time. Check out our Rocky post
BMX Bandits – 1983
Every kid had a BMX in the 80s and every kid in Australia wanted to be a BMX Bandit. RAD was another similar film, but I had to choose this for the early acting talents of Nicole Kidman and the home town flavour. An early Aussie classic.
"Being number one is everything. There is no second place. Second sucks."
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Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Comment by Nomad
Awesome Food
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
The Natural is great as is Field of Dreams - so good choices there as well.
Add Raging Bull and Bull Durham and Hoosiers plus Chariots of Fire and you've got a pretty good package going.
Cheers
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
You had me at The Natural, which in my opinion was one of the best ever, although I loved Caddyshack too (who wouldnt) *lol*
Unfortunately Rocky never did it for me, at all, but I did enjoy Will Smith playing Mohammed Ali and again (was it) Melanie Griffith in that film based on a true story, where she trained a prize winning boxer, against all convention?
Im sure Ill think of more as the day goes on now.
Interesting post,
Lilla
Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
Lilla -- Mellanie G certainly wasn't in any boxing film I know of, maybe it was someone else?
Nice Guy -- I did a post on Raging Bull not to long ago and Bull Durham is a class act. If you want another great Kevin Costner baseball film, check out For Love of the Game (1999) its an underrated gem.
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
Its about that crazy blonde Jackie Kallen, who is actually a kick ass manager in real life, but a bit too 'Don King' for my liking LOL. Believe it or not, she is actually up there with the biggest of them.
Not exactly Oscar winning film, but a great little story.
Comment by Anonymous
Youngblood!!!!!