Libby Geist, a renowned film producer, once stated, “People seem to assume they know the stories, but a filmmaker can step back and offer reasons why and how, which the everyday story of sport frequently lacks.” Everyone who enjoys sports would enthusiastically concur.
Sports documentaries are only one of the incredible documentaries that have been released on the main streaming services in recent years. The top ten documentaries about sports and its culture are listed below in order.
Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker (2023)
The Apple TV+ documentary tells the tale of German tennis player Boris Becker, who earned a name for himself in the sport as a teenager by capturing the Wimbledon title at the age of 17. Bang, bang The World vs. Boris Becker focuses on numerous facets of Becker’s life, including his sensational mixed-race marriage, his concealment of assets during the bankruptcy declaration in court, and his eventual facing of a two-year prison sentence, to name just a few.
When filmmaker Alex Gibney appears in the documentary as a voiceover, it gets more interesting; an overly dramatic narrative was avoided, giving the 20th-century tennis icon a measure of authenticity.
Cheer (2020)
The uplifting tale of cheer coach Monica Aldama, who works hard and demands perfection from her cheerleading proteges on the Navarro College Cheer Team, is the subject of this two-season Netflix series. The film dispels the myth that cheerleading is a “dumb blonde sport” and emphasises the talent and grit needed to succeed in it.
Cheer emphasises each cheerleader’s challenges as well as Aldama’s story. The documentary series explores the moral ambiguities of participating in a sport that is becoming more dangerous, with some stunts being prohibited because of their complexity and shattered bones being pushed to their limit, which raises concerns about Coach Aldama’s morals.
Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019)
Formula 1: Drive to Survive, another Netflix series, explores the sport’s unmatched speed and access. The series is regarded as the most eagerly awaited sports documentary series, and over the past few years, it has won over a new generation of F1 enthusiasts. Drive to Survive shows the ongoing drama of which driver will win the upcoming Formula One championship by taking viewers behind-the-scenes of each Grand Prix.
The series focuses on the injustices Daniel Riccado experienced right from the start, the GOAT Lewis Hamilton losing his record-breaking eighth championship, the teenager Max Verstappen breaking through and earning the ire of many fans for his demeanour, and more. Every season, the audience grows thanks to contract extensions, the emergence of competitors within the same team, the hiring of new players, unforeseen issues with the race vehicles, and the jaw-dropping commentary.
Free Solo (2018)
This Disney+ documentary chronicles the heroic journey of Alex Honnold, the first person to successfully free solo climb the 3200-foot-tall granite monolith El Capitan. The accomplishment of climbing a vertical hill without the use of safety ropes was regarded as the greatest athletic feat of any type.
Honnold’s fortunate chance involved a difficult journey while he faced the very real possibility of dying. Honnold is featured in close-ups in drone footage taken during the athletic success, depicting the terrifying moments of almost failing. Although the portrayal of Honnold and his girlfriend Sanni McCandless in Free Solo is sweet, it is terrible to watch others close to him watch the climb knowing the stakes are so high. This is because free solo climbing is a terrifying reality.
Full Swing (2023)
This eight-episode Netflix series provides a glimpse at the 2022 PGA Tour amid the most extraordinary year in golf history. The intense competition on today’s top players creates high stakes situations where even a minor error can have disastrous results and golfers might leave with millions of dollars… or nothing at all.
The tragedy worsens as the PGA makes hard decisions that might make LIV the future of golf, for better or worse (depending on who you ask). Each episode focuses on a different athlete’s career, experience, and drama during the four major golf tournaments of the season as the professional golfers battle it out in the game.
Reggie (2023)
This documentary on baseball legend Reggie Jackson, who fought for his respect, dignity, and a place at the table as a Black athlete in the 1970s, was made available on Amazon Prime Video. Jackson’s hardships and troubles led to a documentary that portrays a gloomy backstory in which Jackson was denied the benefits of stardom accorded to his white contemporaries.
Jackson’s interactions with the media were frequently in the spotlight because of his admissions of acting quite aggressively while being interviewed. Reggie’s issue stems less from the movie’s plot than from the omission of his instructors and the original players who played a significant role in his career.
Shane (2022)
An iconic leg spinner who played cricket for Australia, Shane Warne, is the subject of this Prime Video documentary. The movie Shane is especially meaningful to the cricket legend’s followers because it was released just weeks before he passed away from a heart issue. Warne was a genius at his sport of spin bowling, but fame and success often brought scandals. Along the years, he was the subject of rumours about gambling, drugs, and infidelity. His marriage and his cricket career were all put under stress as a result of this.
The late Warne speaks openly about his acts and how they might have impacted both his children and his ex-wife. Notwithstanding the problems, the unique cricketer’s family and teammates in the sport had nothing but positive things to say about him.
Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In (2021)
This Prime Video documentary is about the greatest football manager in history, not an athlete. One of the major football clubs, Manchester United, player Sir Alex Ferguson, suffered a catastrophic cerebral haemorrhage. Never Give Up chronicles the author’s journey from his modest origins to his 26-year reign as manager of Manchester United. It is an emotional trip that demonstrates the transformative power of memory.
Ferguson’s son Jason directed the film, which authentically depicts every facet of his father’s career and the battle with his health condition that took place in 2018. The charisma, tenacity, and brilliance of the legendary Manchester United manager are key components of his comeback.
The Last Dance (2020)
The Final Dance explains the cultural phenomena that occurred when Michael Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls and changed the face of basketball. The Jordan dynasty, which included his colleagues Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and coach Phil Jackson, won six championships in eight years, is the subject of a ten-part Netflix documentary series. The Bulls Dynasty’s road was not without its bumps, particularly because of the managerial choices made after Jerry Krause took over as head coach, the pressure to win a second consecutive title, the animosity among teammates, and the enormous expectations Michael Jordan brought with him.
The Swimmers (2022)
The Swimmers is a Netflix documentary that follows two sisters as they travel from fleeing Syria’s never-ending civil war to the 2016 Rio Olympics as refugees. The Mardini sisters leave their home and embark on an unusual boat trip to Germany in search of a better life.
Yusra Mardini and Sarah’s harrowing journey, where they had to put their swimming prowess to the test at sea in order to survive, was an inspirational one, but it did not stop her from thriving as refugees. Thanks to her tenacity, she was able to qualify for the Summer Olympics at the age of 17 and pursue her dreams.
