While big sports movies won't be in contention at this weekend's Oscars, debate continues over the best examples of this genre in film history. What are the most searched sports movies of all time in the US? Since Google Trends data began in 2004, these are the most searched sports news stories in America.
1. “Car”
Released in 2006, this Pixar classic was a hit with all ages and grossed $462 million worldwide. A hot new racer named Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) gets stranded in a run-down town and learns that winning isn't everything. The film is still popular nearly 20 years after its theatrical release. Over the years, “Cars” and its successful sequels have spawned countless memes that introduced new audiences to the magic.
2. “Rocky”
Rocky is the ultimate underdog story. Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is a Philadelphia boxer who gets the chance to fight the heavyweight champion of the world. This film spawned the most successful sports series of all time. The original was released in his 1976 year, but Hollywood still pumps out spin-off movies set in this world (Creed, Creed II, Creed III).
3. “Space Jam”
At the height of Michael Jordan's popularity, the NBA legend teamed up with the Looney Tunes for this live-action/animated film. The Looney Tunes must defeat the Monsters (who steal the basketball abilities of Charles Barkley, Muggsy Bogues, Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, and Shawn Bradley) to gain freedom and seek Jordan's help. . The film earned him $231 million worldwide and became a classic thanks to its entertaining story and great soundtrack. A sequel (“Space Jam: A New Legacy'') starring LeBron James was released in 2021.
4. “The Karate Kid”
“The Best Kid,” released in 1984, is the story of a teenager who moves to a new town and learns karate from a martial arts master in order to stand up to bullies. The film was a huge success, leading to three sequels, a 2010 remake, and a recent spinoff TV series (“Cobra Kai'').
5. “Sandlot”
“The Sandlot” only made $32.4 million at the box office, but it became a cult classic and is still talked about more than 30 years later. The film is set in his summer of 1962 and follows a group of children as they play baseball and experience a series of adventures.
6. “Creed”
Almost a decade after the last film in the “Rocky” series was released, “Creed” served as a modern-day spinoff. Balboa (Stallone) is the mentor and trainer of Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), the son of his late friend Apollo Creed. The film grossed him $174 million worldwide and spawned two sequels.
7. “Rocky Balboa”
The final Rocky movie takes place 30 years after the original. Balboa (Stallone) comes out of retirement for another fight against reigning heavyweight champion Mason “The Line” Dixon (Antonio Tarver). When this movie was released, it led to a lot of hype because no “Rocky” work had existed in his 16 years. It ultimately grossed $156 million.
8. “Blindside”
“The Blind Side'' tells the purported true story of Michael Oher, a homeless kid who, with the support of his adoptive family, became an All-American football player and first-round NFL draft pick. The Oscar-winning film grossed $309 million. In fact, Ms. Oher recently claimed that the Toohey family never adopted her, but instead tricked her into a conservatorship that allowed them to use her likeness to get rich. Last year, a judge ended the conservatorship.
9. “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”
Back in 2006, comedies starring Will Ferrell were a surefire hit, and Talladega Nights was no exception, grossing $163 million at the box office. The film follows NASCAR's top-ranked driver Ricky Bobby (Ferrell) and his teammate Cal Norton Jr. (John C. Reilly) as they rise to the top of the world, but French F1 driver (Sacha Baron) This is the story of how Cohen) changed everything.
10. “Don't forget the Titans”
This is the true story of Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) and his Virginia high school football team who band together after the school board forces an all-white school to integrate with an all-black school. The film grossed him $137 million worldwide and has been a sports favorite in the years since its release.
