10 Best Sports Movies Of The 21st Century

Released: 2006

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 76%

Let’s face it; you can’t make a list based on the best sporting films without including arguably the greatest sporting movie character of all time.

Having been retired from boxing for 16 years and living a quiet life, Rocky Balboa now runs a small Italian restaurant, struggles to connect with his son and is still grieving over the death of his wife. He battles his demons and returns to the ring for one last fight, in possibly one of the most cliched storylines every presented.

However, after many people doubted the decision to bring back the Italian Stallion, not only did Rocky Balboa exceed expectations, but Sylvester Stallone pulled out one of his best performances in years. Rather than focusing on Rocky’s career, the film focuses on an older Balboa trying to overcome the death of his wife and find a purpose in life and it was that Rocky who would go on to be such an integral part of Creed.

To quote the man himself ‘It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward’ and after previous Rocky sequels took a few shots from critics, this movie is a triumph.