10 Best Sports Movies Of The 21st Century
5. Senna
Released: 2010
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
Charting the life of Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna, the BAFTA-winning documentary focuses on the Brazilian's rivalry with Alain Prost, right up until his tragic death during his final race at the San Marino Grand Prix on May 1, 1994.
Those of you who follow F1 will remember Senna as the man who won three world championships for McLaren in 1988, 1990 and 1991. Regarded by many as the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time, not only was Senna a genius in the rain, but also possessed the willingness to take risks that fellow drivers couldn’t help but sneer at.
The term documentary doesn’t really do this movie justice, Senna feels like more, and certainly feels more immediate. In fact, you could be forgiven for forgetting that this rivalry took place almost two decades ago. The sheer amount of superbly edited archive footage pulls this movie straight from the past into the present.
This is not just a movie about a racing driver, but a movie about rivalry, tragedy and the determination to succeed. Regardless of your interest in Formula 1, Senna is a fascinating watch.