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Channel your inner Olympian with our list of films celebrating athletes
As the Olympic games draw to a close, check out our list of films that celebrate athletes to get ready for the Paris 2024 Paralympics. From underdog triumphs to the relentless pursuit of excellence, our list includes sport-filled films for all ages.
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Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
very mild slapstick, language
An Artificial Intelligence captures a basketball player and his son and challenges the man to a match involving cartoon characters. This follow-up to the 1996 original features comic slapstick suitable for all ages.
violence
There are several scenes of very mild comic slapstick, which include scenes in which characters are kicked and struck with objects
threat and horror
There are comic scenes in which characters are chased by fantastical creatures and characters.
language
There is very mild bad language (for example, 'freakin', 'damn', 'hell', 'butt', 'God') and a use of unidentifiable mouthed bleeped language.
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Panga (2020)
very mild bad language
PANGA is a Hindi language family drama in which a retired Kabbadi champion makes a comeback with the support of her husband and son.
language
There is infrequent very mild bad language (eg 'hell', 'damn').
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Rumble (2020)
mild violence, very mild threat, rude humour
RUMBLE is a children's animation in which a young woman attempts to save her town's monster wrestling stadium by training the son of a famous monster wrestler.
violence
There are scenes of wrestling violence that takes place between monsters. The violence is fantastical and comic.
threat and horror
There are brief scenes of very mild threat when a parrot monster threatens another monster with a sharp nail file. Monster wrestlers also exchange threats as part of their sports performances.
rude humour
Rude humour includes a reference to 'monster puberty', a gag about 'puke' and some innuendo over a person mishearing the word 'tentacle'. There's also a comic use of 'booty'. A monster burps loudly. There are also wrestling moves involving monsters squishing other monsters with their bottoms or bellies.
There are sensitive references to the fact that a teenage character has lost her dad.
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threat and horror
There are a few scenes of mild threat in which the tiny snail characters are placed in danger. A couple of the scenes involve crows, who are seen swooping down from the sky to pluck up snails. There are some quite intense moments on the race-track, when the tiny snail speeds between the wheels of the racing cars, narrowly avoiding being squashed. The scenes of mild threat are short and we are never in any doubt that the snail hero will escape and triumph.
The film also contains some very mild slapstick violence, when another snail headbutts the hero, to get him on the move.
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Eddie The Eagle (2016)
mild sex references, mild bad language
Eddie The Eagle is a British comedy drama based on the true story of an underdog ski jumper trying to reach the 1988 Winter Olympics.
language
Mild bad language includes uses of 'shit', 'bloody, 'bugger' and 'crap'.
sex
There are mild sex references as a ski coach tells his pupil to treat ski jumping as if he were having sex with a film star. The scene includes comic references to 'foreplay' and 'rhythm' as the coach pulls comic faces and imitates comic sex noises to demonstrate. Other references include a woman making a suggestive comment about sharing a cupboard with a man.
Other issues include partial natural nudity as men sit in a sauna. There is some mild violence as a man is punched on the nose during a very brief bar fight. Bruises and cuts are seen on a man's face after a skiing accident. Some characters are seen to smoke cigarettes.
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Race (2016)
infrequent racist language, mild bad language, sex references, violence
Race is a biographical drama about the athlete Jesse Owens, the world record holder who made his name at the Berlin Olympics in 1936.
violence
There is mild violence in scenes that show Nazi soldiers roughly shoving people into trucks in Berlin.
language
There is use of mild bad language (eg 'shit', 'piss', 'crap', 'ass').
sex
There are mild sex references, which include dialogue about getting a woman into bed.
discrimination
There is infrequent racist language in a scene in which a white character tells a black character, "You n****rs can wait your turn". There are brief references to the persecution of Jews under Hitler.
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Cool Runnings (1994)
mild violence and language
A disgraced coach and a disqualified sprinter team up to form the first Jamaican Bobsled Team in the Olympics.
violence
There is a comic scene of violence in which men brawl in a bar, punching one another and smashing glass bottles over one another's heads.
language
Mild bad language includes 'bugger', 'asshole' and 'badass mother'.
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Champions (2023)
moderate sex references, discrimination, infrequent strong language
A failing basketball coach is court-ordered to train a team of disabled players in this uplifting US comedy. Although comic in tone, the film takes on big issues and challenges discriminatory attitudes.
violence
There is brief mild violence, and verbal references to an accident leaving a young man with a brain injury. A man is seen drinking and driving, but subsequently crashes and is reprimanded for his behaviour.
language
There is infrequent strong language ('f**k'), middle finger gestures, and milder terms including 'prick', 'ass', 'asshole', 'shit', 'bullshit', 'bastard', 'dick', 'balls', 'damn', 'hell', 'God',
sex
Comic references are made to erections, sex and innuendo around 'balls'. There is undetailed mention of a threesome. In one scene, a man attempting to avoid swearing exclaims "fist me" to express surprise, but without any sexual intention.
discrimination
Characters display discriminatory attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities, including infrequent use of the term 'retarded'. However, these attitudes and language are clearly challenged and condemned throughout the film.
injury detail
There is a comic moment of injury detail in which a man's finger is dislocated and sticks out at an abnormal angle. He doesn't show any pain and quickly relocates it.
rude humour
Occasional rude humour includes fart jokes and a man vomiting over a stranger.
There is a comic moment of injury detail in which a man's finger is dislocated and sticks out at an abnormal angle. He doesn't show any pain and quickly relocates it. There is brief mild violence, and verbal references to an accident leaving a young man with a brain injury. A man is seen drinking and driving, but subsequently crashes and is reprimanded for his behaviour. Occasional rude humour includes fart jokes and a man vomiting over a stranger.
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The Boys In The Boat (2023)
moderate bad language
Occasional moderate bad language features in this uplifting and otherwise family-friendly US sporting drama, telling the underdog story of the University of Washington rowing team's bid to compete at the 1936 Olympics.
violence
A man grabs another by the shirt, abruptly pulling him from his seat; the men seem ready to exchange blows but are quickly separated by others.
language
There is moderate bad language ('prick') along with milder terms which include 'shit', 'ass', 'assholes', 'nuts', 'screw', 'Jesus', 'Christ', 'God', 'damn' and 'hell'.
sex
A woman playfully propositions her husband and it is implied they are going to have sex. Characters gently flirt with one another.
discrimination
Swastika flags line the streets of a German city. A black American athlete alludes to the racism he has encountered in the US; this moment is brief and undetailed.
injury detail
There is sight of very mild injury detail, such as blisters on rowers' hands.
rude humour
A man vomits over the side of a boat as he trains; we do not see this in any detail.
theme
A young man briefly talks about the death of his mother years earlier and also about his father leaving him as a teenager during The Great Depression in order to find work.
alcohol and smoking
Adults drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes.
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Fighting With My Family (2018)
moderate bad language, sex references, violence
Fighting With My Family is a sports comedy drama in which a young woman follows her dream of becoming a professional wrestler.
violence
There is a pub brawl in which pool balls and cues are used as weapons. Wrestling violence includes a body slam onto drawing pins, as well as other violence which takes place within the context of wrestling matches. There is no blood or injury detail.
language
There is use of moderate bad language ('bitch', 'prick', 'cock', 'wanker'), as well as milder terms such as 'bloody', 'hell', 'bugger', 'screw', 'dick', 'crap', 'God', 'bollocks', 'arse', 'shit', 'damn', 'bastard', 'piss', 'butt', 'Jesus Christ' and 'freaking'.
sex
There are frequent sex references, including to oral sex, masturbation, porn, 'boners', strippers and a use of the phrase 'up the duff'.
There are fleeting references to drugs and suicide.
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Free Solo (2018)
infrequent strong language
Free Solo is a documentary about rock climber Alex Honnold and his plans to scale Yosemite's El Capitan Wall without a safety rope.
language
There is infrequent strong language ('f**k'), alongside milder terms like 'fricking', 'shit', 'asshole', 'jerk', 'damn' and 'screw'.
There are tense rock climbing sequences in which climbers' lives are at risk.
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Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
moderate bad language, sex references
The daughter of orthodox Sikh rebels against her parents' traditionalism and joins a football team.
language
There is moderate bad language, including uses of 'bitch', 'wanker' and 'slag'. Other language includes milder terms such as 'bloody', 'bollocks' and 'Jesus'. There is also discriminatory language including terms such as 'paki' and 'dyke'.
sex
There are references to 'shagging' and 'sleeping with' people. It is implied a couple have sex in a car. There are also comic references to body parts, including breasts and testicles.
Discrimination occurs when a British Asian woman is called a 'paki' and also when a woman's mother believes her daughter to be a lesbian. The film as a whole clearly condones such attitudes. There is mild violence and brief injury detail.
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Challengers (2023)
strong language, sex, sex references
Complex relationships between three tennis professionals come to the boil during a competitive match between two old friends in this intense and nail-biting US drama which includes frank sexual descriptions and activity.
violence
Brief scenes of violence include one in which a person is slapped, and another in which a character spits in a person's face.
language
Strong language ('motherf**ker', 'f**k') occurs, as well as milder terms ('bitch', 'pussy', 'shit', 'screw', 'Jesus', 'Christ', 'God').
sex
There is a prolonged sex scene in which a character straddles her boyfriend and places her hand inside his underwear. There is a scene featuring a threesome, but without strong sexual detail. In one scene, adolescent curiosity regarding masturbation is recalled by two young men. This scene includes graphic descriptions of ejaculation; however, there is a comic context.
suicide and self-harm
There are brief verbal suicide references.
injury detail
A character sustains a knee injury on a tennis court, and there is brief close-up sight of the joint twisting in its socket.
nudity
There are non-sexual scenes of genital and buttock nudity.
theme
A person cries after sustaining a painful sporting injury.
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The Iron Claw (2023)
strong language, drug misuse, suicide
With scenes involving mental health, addiction and suicide, this emotional sports biopic follows the fortunes of the Von Erich family, a professional wrestling dynasty whose meteoritic success ended in a series of tragedies.
violence
Moderate wrestling violence features kicks, punches, body slams and suplexes, occasionally resulting in brief bloody detail. Another scene contains a sequence of non-fatal strangulation.
language
There is use of strong language (‘f**k’). Milder terms include ‘son of a bitch’, ‘bastard’, ‘ass’ and ‘shit’.
sex
A short comic sequence shows a man masturbating vigorously in the shower, but there is no visible nudity. A woman rides a man in the backseat of a car in undetailed silhouette. There are also mild verbal sex references.
discrimination
A disabled person in a state of distress describes themself as 'deformed'.
drugs
People are shown snorting or injecting drugs. There are also verbal references to drug addiction. Drug misuse is not condoned by the film.
suicide and self-harm
A wrestler in a state of emotional turmoil is shown training excessively, including by repeatedly slamming himself against the ropes and onto the floor of the ring.
suicide and self-harm
There are upsetting scenes involving suicide and references to suicide, without graphic visual detail.
injury detail
There is occasional moderate injury detail, including sight of blood smeared on professional wrestlers’ faces and torsos.
theme
The film addresses complex issues including mental health, difficult family relationships, grief and suicide.
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The Swimmers (2022)
sexual assault
The Swimmers is a drama, based on a true story, in which two sisters flee war torn Syria with dreams of competing at the Olympic Games.
sexual violence and sexual threat
A man attempts to rape a teenage girl, throwing her to the floor and getting between her legs before intervention comes. A soldier gropes teenage girls under the pretence of searching them.
flashing/flickering lights
This work contains flashing images which may affect viewers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy.
There are scenes of moderate threat in which a dinghy starts to sink, and also when an artillery shell lands near a young woman. There are real bloody images and undetailed war violence in footage of conflict in Syria. There is infrequent use of moderate bad language ('bitch'), and other terms such as 'shit' and 'ass'. There are brief scenes of discrimination.
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I, Tonya (2017)
very strong language, scenes of domestic violence
I, Tonya is a US black comedy drama about former Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding, who was prosecuted in 1994 for an attack on her team rival Nancy Kerrigan.
violence
Occasional scenes of domestic violence include a man punching and slapping a woman, sometimes resulting in bruising and minor nose bleeds. A man fires a gun at a woman, resulting in sight of blood on her face, but she is not seriously injured. One woman throws a knife at another, resulting in moderate bloody detail as the knife becomes lodged in the victim's arm. A woman repeatedly strikes a crying child with a hairbrush. A man gropes a woman's breast and she responds by striking him.
language
There is infrequent use of very strong language ('c**t') and frequent use of strong language ('f**k'). Milder terms include 'whore', 'pussy', 'bitch', 'shit', 'crap', 'asshole', 'ass', 'fricking', 'frigging' and 'balls', in addition to use of the rude 'middle finger' gesture. There is also infrequent use of discriminatory terms including 'bull-dyke' and 'retard'; the work as a whole does not condone discriminatory attitudes or language.
Brief, infrequent sex scenes include a man thrusting on top of a woman in bed, with rear nudity. There are infrequent images of a semi-nude woman dancing in a bar. There are also occasional moderate verbal sex references. There is a scene in which a rabbit appears to be shot. However, the action was monitored by the American Humane Association who confirm that a dummy was employed and no real rabbit was harmed. Other issues include a non-graphic verbal reference to suicide, and scenes in which characters smoke and drink to excess.
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Goon (2011)
strong bloody violence, language and sex references
Goon is a 2011 comedy in which an underachieving bouncer overcomes the odds and leads a misfit group of semi-pro hockey players to victory.
violence
There are frequent scenes of strong violence, involving a series of conflicts on the ice as part of hockey games. These typically involve him punching opponents in the face, resulting in bloody mouths and noses. Although these fights are strong, with loud impacts, they are presented as being part of the sport, with referees observing the action and stepping in when things are about to go too far. In a couple of scenes, there is slow motion focus on large sprays of blood.
language
There is frequent strong language ('f**k').
sex
There are also some strong verbal sex references, with sexual language being used to describe sporting moves. In one scene, a man says "I'm predicting this game becomes an absolute ass-raping". However, these are clearly over the top and comic.
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Murderball (2005)
strong language, sex references
Murderball is a documentary following the experiences of wheelchair rugby players.
language
There is use of strong language ('f**k', 'motherf**ker'), as well as milder terms including 'shit', 'pissed', 'crap', and 'asshole'. There is also use of the term 'retard'.
sex
There are references to oral sex, erections, masturbation and different sexual positions.
People describe their experiences of injuries, amputations and illness, but the work focusses on the triumph and determination of those involved to overcome their difficulties.