Ranking the 20 most memorable sports movie franchises

The Paul Newman hockey comedy classic is pure old school: hard-living tough guys who spend their off-ice time day drinking and chasing women. The profanity and raunchy language makes for some legendary fun as one of the all-time best sports comedies. Oh yeah, and the movie was written by a woman: Academy Award-winning screenwriter Nancy Dowd. That said, there was no need for direct-to-video sequels Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice (2002) and Slap Shot 3: The Junior League (2008) to even be considered, let alone made. Even the antics of the Hanson Brothers couldn't save either sequel.

This is not your mother's surf movie. Blue Crush (2002) showcased the surfing scene on Oahu's North Shore, and did so from the point-of-view of a once-promising young female wave rider. That would be former teen surfing star Anne Marie Chadwick (Kate Bosworth), who is trying to make a comeback following a serious wipeout. It's also got a rom-com feel and plenty of captivating photography from one of the world's best surf spots, so there's enough to take the movie seriously. And, like Slap Shot, we won't go into Blue Crush 2 (2011).

The word "beloved' gets thrown around a lot when discussing a film that's stood up well over time and one that just about anybody can enjoy. That's The Sandlot in a nutshell. Scotty, Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez, "Ham," "Squints," and the rest of the gang delivered a funny, endearing, and entertaining summer to remember for any baseball fan who ever played ball in an open field or empty lot. Fans of the movie might forget — and rightfully so — there were two direct-to-video sequels -- The Sandlot 2 (2005) and The Sandlot: Heading Home (2007)

Let it be known, the two Surf's Up animated films are creative, if nothing else. In the 2007 original, penguin Cody (Shia LaBeouf) dreams of becoming a superstar surfer. However, he's still a little immature, and needs some wisdom to keep him on the right track. This Academy Award-nominated animated film was a hit, eventually spawning 2017's direct-to-video Surf's Up 2: WaveMania. Now sans LaBeouf, the sequel is dominated by WWE stars (the movie is co-produced by the company) such as John Cena, The Undertaker, Triple H and even Vince McMahon himself, who all voice a group of extreme surfing penguins, a puffin, and an otter, known as "The Hang 5."

Back in the 1970s and into the '80s, the Dallas Cowboys were widely considered to be "America's Team." Almost as popular as the players themselves was the team's famed cheerleading squad. So, why not make a made-for-TV movie — and a sequel — about it? In the first installment from 1979, Jane Seymour stars as a newspaper reporter who goes undercover to try out for the squad and gets a juicy story on the lifestyle of a professional cheerleader. Seymour was not part of the sequel Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders II (1980), which focused on the ins and outs of how leader Suzanne Mitchell (Laraine Stephens) prepares the squad for game days.

The unlikely professional and personal pairing of dogged hockey star Doug Dorsey (D.B. Sweeney) and uppity figure skater Kate Moseley (Moira Kelly) made for a cult classic back in the early 1990s with the original film. What some fans of the sports romance movie might not realize is that three made-for-television/direct-to-video sequels followed. Though Sweeney and Kelly never reprised their roles, their fictional daughter Jackie Dorsey proved the basis for the first two follow-ups: The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold (2006) and The Cutting Edge:
Chasing the Dream (2008). None of the sequels came close to the matching the popularity of the original, but there are worse such films out there.

From 2011, the hockey comedy Goon became an underdog favorite that has since earned cult status. Co-written by Canadian funnymen Jay Baruchel and Evan Goldberg, Goon told the tale of dimwitted bouncer Doug (Seann William Scott) who becomes a popular enforcer for a minor league hockey team. Both Scott and Liev Schreiber, who played the movie's antagonist, returned for the 2017 sequel Goon: Last of the Enforcers. It wasn't as popular as the original, but it's more entertaining than other sequels on this list.

For those not in the know, there are seven total movies in the Bring It On franchise, six of which went direct-to-video: Bring It On Again (2004), Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006), Bring It On: In It to Win It (2007), Bring It On: Fight to the Finish (2009), Bring It On: Worldwide Cheersmack (2017) and Bring It On: Cheer or Die (2022). Of course, like just about every franchise on this list, the first or original movie in the series is the best of them all. In fact, the 2000 OG, starring Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford, and Gabrielle Union, is arguably one of the best teen comedies of all time and the go-to when it comes to competitive cheerleading films.

The first of two Space Jam movies were born in 1996. Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny, along with the rest of the legendary Looney Tunes gang, try to save the world against a group of aliens who want to turn them into amusement park attractions by winning a basketball game. Bill Murray and Patrick Ewing also star in the live-action/animated comedy that's one of the most beloved sports movies of all time. Then in 2021, Space Jam: A New Legacy, served as a standalone sequel, starring LeBron James to reach a new generation of fans. It did not achieve the same box office success at the original, but it's fun for the current fans of the AI generation.

The versatile Buddy might be the greatest animal athlete in the history of fictional film. Whether starring on the hardcourt in 1997's Air Bud or via the gridiron from Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1989), Buddy the dog is one exceptional athlete. The first two movies are pretty entertaining. However, that changes with the other films in the Air Bud series. But, the now-Disney Air Buddies series, which began in 2006 and focuses on Buddy's puppies, has been successful direct-to-video fare for the company. 

As of 2025, there were seven Kickboxer films, with the most recent coming out in 2018. Most fans of the franchise will note that the 1989 original starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as Kurt Sloane is the best of the lot. Now, that proved to be the only Kickboxer movie that Van Damme was part of as a scripted character — installments two through four followed Sloane's brother David, played by Sasha Mitchell. Van Damme, however, returns in a new role in the reboot of the original series spanning the first five films.

It can be argued the role of Alex Grady is the defining character amid Eric Roberts' lengthy acting career. Grady and Tommy Lee (Phillip Rhee) are the stars of the first two movies within the franchise, with the 1989 original — pitting martial arts teams from the United States and South Korea against each other, with plenty of drama ensuing — still regarded as the best. Roberts appears in the second film Best of the Best II (1993), along with Rhee, who is also in the other two — Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back (1995), and Best of the Best 4: Without Warning (1998). 

No doubt, the first installment of the Major League (1989) franchise of movies is one of the greatest sports comedies of all time. The quotable lines from that film — about the Cleveland Indians' improbable run to the division title — are endless. Sadly, the sequels (Major League II and Major League: Back to the Minors) never came close to living up to the original, though the second movie is at least somewhat tolerable — but also a sign that bad things were to come.

Goal! (2005) is the first in a trilogy of films, followed by 2007's Goal II: Living the Dream and 2009's Goal III: Taking on the World. The consensus is that the first installment is the best of the lot — surely a surprise to those of you following along this far. It's the story of Santiago Muñez (Kuno Becker), a budding soccer star who hails from one of the more impoverished areas of Los Angeles. Over time, Santi gets noticed for his skills and eventually earns a tryout with England's Newcastle United. From there, Santi's trials and tribulations are detailed. Over the years, Goal! has earned cult-like status, especially from Newcastle supporters.

Sure, the 1976 original was crass and inappropriate for fans of Little League baseball, but that's why it's a classic. Featuring Walter Matthau and Tatum O'Neal, The Bad News Bears is beloved among audiences of a certain age. We also like the 1977 sequel The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training, complete with that trip to the famed Houston Astrodome. Yet, The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978), remains highly forgetful, much like the 2005 remake (Bad News Bears) of the original, starring Billy Bob Thornton.

Technically, the Creed movies are a franchise, or perhaps more of a spin-off within a franchise, that being Rocky (more, of course, to come on that). The story of Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the illegitimate son of Rocky's famed opponent-turned-friend, Apollo Creed spanned three films: Creed (2015), Creed II (2018) and Creed III (2023) are all solid films that fit well within the iconic Rocky legacy.

The original 1992 story of a popular Twin Cities youth hockey team captivated audiences with some wholesome comedy. But the movie not only resurrected Emilio Estevez's acting career and kickstarted a franchise with two solid sequels (D2: The Mighty Ducks [1994], D3: The Mighty Ducks [1996]), but also led to the creation of an NHL franchise known currently as the Anaheim Ducks. Let it be known that Charlie Conway (Joshua Jackson) and Adam Banks (Vincent LaRusso) are two of the best fictional hockey players of all time.

When it comes to animated sports heroes, Lightning McQueen is among the greatest. Owen Wilson could have made a living solely from voicing one of the most beloved characters in the history of the Disney/Pixar universe. The hero of the three Cars films, Lightning McQueen is iconic as a popular stock car racer who goes from a self-absorbed star-in-the-making to a caring and focused speedster. The 2006 original is still the best, while Cars 2 (2011) is a fun ride where Lightning McQueen, along with buddy Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), takes part in a prestigious international World Grand Prix. Cars 3, from 2017, again follows McQueen, who must prove he can hang with the young generation of sleeker, souped-up race cars with improved technology. 

A stellar work of sports fiction from 1984, one that gives social outcasts hope that they can make it. The Karate Kid is a film that stands the test of time, especially today, with bullying and social anxiety in the spotlight. Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) used karate as a tool for acceptance and, more importantly, self-confidence. Daniel will always be Macchio's defining role, and sequels The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and The Karate Kid Part III (1989) are also strong films. Now, there are other movies within the franchise — with and without Macchio — that don't live up to the first three. But, the 2018 Cobra Kai television series proved to be an addictively entertaining extension of the original trilogy.

This is an easy one. The Rocky franchise has spawned several movies (six with Rocky at the forefront and the aforementioned three in Creed series) — some good, some bad. However, the original is still the best and most realistic. It's easy to like the underdog, undereducated Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) of the first film. Yet, Rocky II (1979), Rocky III (1982) and Rocky IV (1984) are all special in their own right. Obviously, Balboa is the defining character amid Stallone's legendary career.