Sports movies you can stream right now

In the United States, we don't know much about Le Mans. Fortunately, "Ford v. Ferrari" explains that pretty well. Mostly, it's a chance to see two excellent actors, Matt Damon and Christian Bale, in action. The movie is a solid sports film that checks all the boxes you want from a movie like this.

If you don’t consider professional wrestling a sport, you might be annoyed by this. But we’re trying to help people fill their down time so we aren’t listening to your quibbles. “Fighting With My Family” is a biopic of the wrestler Paige, who grew up in a family of wrestlers before joining the WWE. The film got pretty solid reviews and was one of the breakout movies of Florence Pugh. “Fighting With My Family” is on Amazon Prime and Hulu.

If you want real fighting and also a serious critical darling, there’s “Raging Bull.”  The movie stars Robert De Niro as boxer Jake LaMotta, who undergoes a physical transformation through the movie. Scorsese shot it beautifully in black and white. As far as sports movies go, this is one of the most cinematically admired, and many feel that Martin Scorsese and his boxing film were both robbed at the Oscars. Currently you can only find it on the Tribeca Shortlist app.

While watching Tom Hanks right now might only make you think about the coronavirus (get well soon Tom and Rita!), this is still a movie worth watching. The story of a women’s baseball league that sprung up during World War II, “A League of Their Own” is funny and sweet in equal measures. Hanks is great, and so is Geena Davis as star Dottie Hinson. You can stream the film if you have sling, or on the USA app.

Adam Sandler is a polarizing figure, but of his silly comedies, “Happy Gilmore” is clearly the best of the bunch. Even if you despise, say, “Little Nicky,” there is a lot to like in this goofy romp. Sandler stars as a man-child who fails as a hockey player but finds success as a golfer thanks to his big drive. But can he get his temper in check? “Happy Gilmore” is on Cinemax and DirecTV.

Do you believe in miracles? Well you do now, because the Miracle on Ice did indeed happen. We saw the United States beat the Russians at the 1980 winter Olympics in men’s hockey. Unsurprisingly, “Miracle” tells the story of one of the biggest upsets in sports history. It’s a bit by the numbers but a solid sports flick. Watch it on Disney+.

A movie about a baseball GM working the angles to try and win on a budget? Can that really be turned into a good movie? Evidently yes, because people love “Moneybal, " which was also a critical darling. The movie was nominated for Best Picture, and Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill both got acting nominations. Not too shabby for Billy Beane, who got to be played by Pitt. “Moneyball” is on Starz.

Tonya Harding will live on in infamy forever. “I, Tonya” knows that, but it also has at least some sympathy for Harding’s tumultuous life. The figure skater isn’t let off the hook for her actions, including playing a role in an attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan, but the movie plays it fair by admitting that the whole situation is a muddled mess. Margot Robbie is excellent as Harding, and Allison Janney won an Oscar for playing her mother. Check it out on Hulu.

Will Ferrell has made some really good sports comedies. “Semi-Pro” isn’t probably on the level of, say, “Talladega Nights,” but it’s pretty fun. Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, the owner and star of the Flint Tropics, an ABA team. Want some jokes about the ‘70s and some goofy hairdos? “Semi-Pro” has it, and Peacock has the movie.

Oliver Stone and Al Pacino making a football movie together? You better believe it will be pretty out there. Stone doesn’t really believe in restraints, and Pacino loves to ham it up. However, “Any Given Sunday” is fun if you enjoy football and excess. Pacino’s character, a football coach, also gives a famous movie speech. It’s on Hulu.

Need something to watch with the family? Try “The Mighty Ducks.” It’s the usual kids sports movie, with a bunch of ragtag kids joining together to learn how to be a team and take on the big guns of…Minnesota peewee hockey? The movie is on Disney+, and so are the sequels. You only really need to watch “D2: The Mighty Ducks” though. Skip the third one.

Kevin Costner loves making baseball movies. Some prefer “Field of Dreams,” but “Bull Durham” has its supporters as well. Costner plays a catcher at the end of his career, Tim Robbins is a raw prospect, and Susan Sarandon is the woman who ties them together. You can watch “Bull Durham” with the Starz app, but if you are OK with ads it’s on Tubi as well.

“Jerry Maguire” is part sports movie, part romantic comedy. Tom Cruise plays the titular sports agent, but much of the movie is about him courting Renee Zellweger, who he had at hello. Still, Cuba Gooding Jr. won an Oscar for playing football star Rod Tidwell, so there’s plenty of good sports content in there as well. Check it out on DirecTV or TNT.

It’s back-to-back Tom Cruise! Also, it’s about pool, but that’s close to a sport. It’s been on ESPN! Or at least ESPN2. Paul Newman returns to the role of “Fast” Eddie Felson from “The Hustler." This is the movie that finally won Newman an Oscar. It didn’t get director Martin Scorsese one, though. What a crew on this film. It’s now on Amazon Prime.