In the, shall we say, “cloudy” environment that is the United States political landscape in 2025, it can be difficult to ride for America as hard and as consistently as you might for the Broncos or Avalanche.
As the Fourth of July closes in, those warm, patriotic feelings may not come as easily as they used to (or even exist at all anymore, for some). But a yearly nostalgia for the country you thought you knew may rise to the surface on Independence Day for whatever reason, especially for sports fans who can find evergreen things to appreciate or be thankful for.
Sometimes you need a little inspiration. Fiction certainly helps as reality continues to feel more daunting. That’s why, in this writer’s opinion, movies can perfectly harness the magic of sports, blending it with an Americana we still search for and providing hope for what we could be.
Or, at the very least, it can be a fun distraction. Try these five sports movies (and a couple of documentaries. My list, my rules.) this Fourth of July.
5. “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”
When creating this list, naturally, I knew I’d have to put Talladega Nights either first or last. It’s my favorite Will Ferrell movie, and as much as I love John C. Reilly as Cal Naughton Jr. and Gary Cole as the hilarious Reese Bobby, it just couldn’t be first. So, it had to be last.
This is just a silly take on the brash American cowboy trope, a sort of goofy John Wayne as an unlikely racecar star. It pits Ferrell against Sacha Baron Cohen’s French driver character Jean Girard, who humbles Ricky Bobby and forces him to learn a flurry of unexpected lessons. What begins as an arrogant (and hilarious) American pissing contest on the track becomes a feel-good movie that makes you want Applebee’s. Take a break from the news and go fast.
Where to watch: Hulu, Tubi, Amazon Prime Video
4. “The Redeem Team”
Admittedly, the Olympics and the World Cup are some of the only events that truly make me feel patriotic. The original super team was the 1992 Olympic men’s basketball team, led by Michael Jordan and 11 other future Pro Basketball Hall of Famers.
The Dream Team set an impossible standard of godly excellence, dominating the competition en route to an easy gold medal. Fast forward to 2004, and the U.S. finished with a disappointing bronze medal. This rallied the world’s best players (LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and more) to unite and restore glory to the United States as the pinnacle of the basketball world in 2008.
Growing up as a diehard NBA fan, I was born too late to enjoy the original Dream Team. But when “The Redeem Team” was released in 2022, I watched wide-eyed as the superheroes of my childhood united like The Avengers to win the gold. If you need a reason to feel patriotic, just look to LeBron.
Where to watch: Netflix
3. “A League of Their Own”
One of the more inspiring aspects of America is the avalanche of positivity and attention snowballing in women’s sports in recent years. When the Colorado High School Activities Association sanctioned girls flag football in the 2024-25 season after a three-year pilot program, I couldn’t help but think of “A League of Their Own.”
This self-deprecating comedy perfectly laughs at itself while celebrating the best of baseball: inclusivity and toughness, hot dogs and fireworks. It wholeheartedly embraces the grittiness of female athletes and solidifies their seat at the table. It is also an early precursor to the idea that if you give women’s sports a platform, people will watch. Just look at the WNBA ratings lately.
Based on true events, this flick has undeniable cast chemistry and delivers a poignant message that rings even truer today.
Where to watch: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video
2. “Miracle“
What’s better than an underdog success story? One that actually came true. That’s why Miracle makes the top two. Kurt Russell delivers the performance of a lifetime as a former player-turned-coach in an unlikely rally of ragtag players joined together to take down Goliath.
The players, who made up the 1980 U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team, juggled ego, adversity and loss while preparing to take on the Soviets, who were largely favored in the Olympics as the heat of the Cold War loomed.
“If we played them 10 times, they might win nine. But not this game.”
“When you pull on that jersey, the name on the front is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back.”
Where to watch: Disney+, Amazon Prime Video
1. “The Sandlot“
Was there ever any doubt? This is the perfect sports movie. Whether it’s the endless quotability, the endearing budding friendship between the neighborhood kids in the film or the picture-perfect Fourth of July game at the finale, this movie just gets to you.
“There was only one night game a year. On the Fourth of July, the whole sky would brighten up with fireworks, giving us just enough light for a game. We played our best then, because, I guess, we all felt like the big-leaguers, under the lights of some great stadium.”
It’s a film made by dreamers for dreamers. Sports-lovers can place themselves back in their childhoods, hitting that last shot in the driveway to win the championship or smashing the winning home run to walk off the game. Similarly, this movie transports you there again, asking your mom for permission before grabbing your glove and ball, the only two things you’d need as a kid to have fun.
It’s a flashback to the cul-de-sac culture of a lost America, when the youth would ride bikes to the ballpark or community pool instead of hopping on Fortnite or watching YouTube. It’s a neighborhood block party. It’s a tear-jerking wave of nostalgia that carries you off like a pop-fly for an hour and a half.
It was my late father’s favorite movie, and one of the best gifts I inherited from him. As much as America frustrates me, I felt that “The Sandlot” was the perfect idea of what the nation could be: a place for dreamers.
Where to watch: Disney+, Amazon Prime Video
Honorable Mention: “Shawn White: The Last Run”
Another inspiring angle on someone I consider a childhood hero, this one is a must-watch. Shawn White is a Mount Rushmore-level American athlete who put snowboarding on the biggest stage. White, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, put the country at the peak of snowboarding. His documentary not only provides an intimate look at his legacy and impact on the sport, but it also follows White as he tries one last run at the Olympics.
It’s not exactly a Fourth of July watch, but it will inspire you and give you a new lens on what it means to be an international athlete representing America.
Did I leave off your favorite summertime sports movie, perfect for the Fourth of July? Disagree with some of my choices or explanations? Email me at john@cotln.org with your thoughts and questions.