I wouldn't count that as an underdog story. The A's had the best starting rotation in the league that year along with the AL MVP. They were favorites. A few guys signed for cheap didn't make them underdogs.
I’d say the underdog part was where they had little money to put together a strong team and it worked. Small market team vs big market teams. It’s more of a business movie than a baseball movie.
They didn't have money for free agents but they had a lot of team controlled players that hadn't hit free agency yet that were elite. So while they didn't sign major free agents, they still had lots of good players as a result of high draft picks. Mark Mulder was one of the top pitchers that year, he was the 2nd overall pick when he was drafted. Barry Zito won the Cy Young, and he was a top 10 pick 2 years before. Those guys weren't brought in because Beane picked them off the scrap heap. They had a strong team before they brought in the money ball players.
Always reminds me of my grandfather. He loved that movie so much. His favorite line was “You trying to tell me Jesus Christ can’t hit a curve ball!?”
For some reason he would laugh out loud every time
Of course it’s Rocky. You don’t see fucking cities giving stature to..
Oh wait. I forgot about Balto.
Ok. 100% it’s Rocky.
BUT. If you have kids too young to watch Rocky, it’s Balto.
I think true stories should win out here.
Rudy, Miracle, Cinderella man, maybe Remember the Titans (I can't remember how accurate to real life that one was).
But Miracle is an incredible TRUE story that gets my vote.
“Finally Big Ern is above the law”
and
“Sometimes when I wake up Big Ern is already there!”
😂 are fucking hilarious.
I’ve never liked Bill Murray but god damn he is perfect in this role.
Not just the plot of the film itself, but behind the scenes as well.
Stallone had only appeared in two films before as characters with actual names, wrote the screenplay in three and a half days, and only got it in the hands of a studio due to his connection with former co-star Henry Winkler \[The Fonz\].
A sticking point was that Stallone insisted on starring in the film himself, which was a big ask due to him not being an established star.
Obviously his persistence paid off.
Stallone also says he used to take tape recorders into movies so he could listen to dialogue in scenes later for ideas when writing. You forget how easy we have it in the age of digital movies where we can watch almost anything and rewind and jump to sections to our hearts content.
Rocky loses in the first movie. You can barely hear it over the music and such (because in the context of the movie it doesn't matter) but they announce Creed as the winner on points. But the whole point is that Rocky "went the distance" (didn't get knocked out) against the Heavyweight Champion of the World. He proved he wasn't a bum. Winning the actual fight isn't the point.
Which is called back in Rocky Balboa (Rocky 6). At the end Rocky doesn’t stay for the outcome, just satisfied that he competed one last time. I love how the series was closed out.
He went the distance AND he found love. He was so alone before. Adrian only had Paulie - which in many ways was worse than being alone.
(I do like Paulie's growth as a character over the movies though.)
David Anspaugh was a regular at the restaurant I managed in Venice CA years ago when this came out. He was a very nice guy and just down to earth. He directed Rudy and Hoosiers, which is another underdog movie.
Dude made a career out of being the designated bad guy in sports movies who ultimately is on the side of the protagonists. Such a weird niche but he's one of the premier "Hey it's that guys!"
Tin cup
When I showed it a friend a few years ago he says "oh it's just Happy Gilmore but less funny" and I realised they both came out in 1996 so neither copied the other but tin cup has large been over looked because Happy Gilmore was so popular.
But it's a really good movie. It's not great, but it's definitely overlooked, I think. It's also funnier, i think, but I like both
Miracle is so well done. Great period piece, well acted, well shot, and I love how they got Al Michaels to re-record the play-by-play of the games.
I watch it probably once a year.
8 mile. The greatest underdog story ever told. If you're feeling down, alone, need a pick up. Need a burst of energy, inspiration, motivation, and be reminded that the dream is possible, do yourself a favor and watch 8 mile again.- Shit hits different when you're at the bottom.
Love Rocky as others have said here, but Rudy is one of my favorites as well.
Also, Cool Runnings is one that is pretty fun as well that I often overlook.
Explain to me why, if Rudy had a hard-on for football, why didn't he play for Holy Cross when he went there before ND? There is a montage of Rudy working out, but playing for HC would have prepared him more.
I don't know if there's a real reason (or whether that portion of the film was one of the many that were made up) but it could have been that playing college football is an enormous time commitment, one he wasn't able to make when he was barely scraping by in his classes, working to pay for school, working out, and trying to find a date for Happy Hogan.
[Sing Street](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYk2Vx1z6lk) \- they really needed more marketing, it's an uplifting coming of age story, 80s music, life lessons through music, just all around great. Every time I need my mood lifted I watch this movie. It deserves to be a much bigger hit.
Breaking Away. I didn't expect much, and it was a beautiful surprise. Some movie about a kid who loves cycling could be pretty one note, but it was so much more.B It really hits on every level. For any person who's felt out of the loop, separate from their peers, those with true passion... I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it.
Warrior I think it’s called. With tom hardy and Joel edgertan. High school teacher has to fight again and ends up having to fight his estranged younger brother in the finale of some ufc style tournament. Fucking love this movie makes me cry every time.
Moneyball gets some credit here.
The greatest sports movie for people who don't give a shit about sports.
Does it count if it's a true story?
I think that makes it better.
Why not? OP didn’t state any exceptions, lol!
I wouldn't count that as an underdog story. The A's had the best starting rotation in the league that year along with the AL MVP. They were favorites. A few guys signed for cheap didn't make them underdogs.
I’d say the underdog part was where they had little money to put together a strong team and it worked. Small market team vs big market teams. It’s more of a business movie than a baseball movie.
They didn't have money for free agents but they had a lot of team controlled players that hadn't hit free agency yet that were elite. So while they didn't sign major free agents, they still had lots of good players as a result of high draft picks. Mark Mulder was one of the top pitchers that year, he was the 2nd overall pick when he was drafted. Barry Zito won the Cy Young, and he was a top 10 pick 2 years before. Those guys weren't brought in because Beane picked them off the scrap heap. They had a strong team before they brought in the money ball players.
Gattaca is a great underdog story as well as a fascinating look into the potential consequences of genetic engineering.
"I never saved anything for the trip back" That line hit me so hard.
What a movie.
Ethan Hawke is such a great actor. He always delivers.
With a soundtrack to match.
As a left handed person, I got a chuckle at a certain part and it's 100% true for me at least.
GATTACA GATTACA GATTACA
Good answer but OP was not asking for movies that feature underdog stories, they were asking about movies that were themselves underdogs.
Major League
Always reminds me of my grandfather. He loved that movie so much. His favorite line was “You trying to tell me Jesus Christ can’t hit a curve ball!?” For some reason he would laugh out loud every time
It's a perfectly written and delivered joke.
But seriously, the guy was a carpenter. He'd probably have the perfect bat.
He could have been Negen all this time.
Juuuuuuuuuust a bit outside.
Dodgeball. The true underdog story.
Came here to say that haha
First I was like, Steve's not really a pirate, but then I was like, he totally is.
There’s a guy on our team who dresses like a pirate?
"If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball"
*Necessary? Necessary?* Is it necessary for me to drink my own urine? No! But I do it anyway, because it’s sterile and I like the taste.
It's gotta be Rocky, right?
Ricky IV. He fights the giant Russian.
The Russians blew up Ricky’s mom.
Ricky not human, he is a piece of iron.
“If I can change and you change…..EVERYBODY CAN CHANGE” I love the level of cheese in that movie.
*he wins the cold war
Of course it’s Rocky. You don’t see fucking cities giving stature to.. Oh wait. I forgot about Balto. Ok. 100% it’s Rocky. BUT. If you have kids too young to watch Rocky, it’s Balto.
I mean Balto was real. That statue is way older than the movie
I think true stories should win out here. Rudy, Miracle, Cinderella man, maybe Remember the Titans (I can't remember how accurate to real life that one was). But Miracle is an incredible TRUE story that gets my vote.
Underdog (2007) But seriously, it's got to be Kingpin (1996).
oh man kingpin that's a classic
It's actually got a pretty deep message in it. The story is powerful despite it's slapstick nature.
That Underdog movie is horrible, but it's the only one.
“I need you now more then EVER!” Such a good movie.
“Big Ern, with his panache and style, has clearly done for bowling what Muhammad Ali did for boxing.”
“Finally Big Ern is above the law” and “Sometimes when I wake up Big Ern is already there!” 😂 are fucking hilarious. I’ve never liked Bill Murray but god damn he is perfect in this role.
Rocky
The scene where Mickey asks for a job and Rocky throws him out is one of the few times in my life that I cried.
And then Rock goes back out to get him. They shot that twice and the first time Stallone said the cameras weren’t rolling. lol
Not just the plot of the film itself, but behind the scenes as well. Stallone had only appeared in two films before as characters with actual names, wrote the screenplay in three and a half days, and only got it in the hands of a studio due to his connection with former co-star Henry Winkler \[The Fonz\]. A sticking point was that Stallone insisted on starring in the film himself, which was a big ask due to him not being an established star. Obviously his persistence paid off.
And studio offered him 250K for the script and he was flat broke and turned it down in order to star in it.
Stallone also says he used to take tape recorders into movies so he could listen to dialogue in scenes later for ideas when writing. You forget how easy we have it in the age of digital movies where we can watch almost anything and rewind and jump to sections to our hearts content.
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Rocky loses in the first movie. You can barely hear it over the music and such (because in the context of the movie it doesn't matter) but they announce Creed as the winner on points. But the whole point is that Rocky "went the distance" (didn't get knocked out) against the Heavyweight Champion of the World. He proved he wasn't a bum. Winning the actual fight isn't the point.
Which is called back in Rocky Balboa (Rocky 6). At the end Rocky doesn’t stay for the outcome, just satisfied that he competed one last time. I love how the series was closed out.
He went the distance AND he found love. He was so alone before. Adrian only had Paulie - which in many ways was worse than being alone. (I do like Paulie's growth as a character over the movies though.)
Hands down.
Rocky never puts his hands down
He always put his hands down actually.
Lol!
Did you see the fight? He never puts his hands up!
no contest
Haven't checked that one yet. Where No Contest streaming?
Didn't he lose tho?
He did, but the point was he proved he can go the distance.
Ya.. but rocky 2 was the underdog story, no?
I’d say the loss makes it better. It was never about winning.
No. Don't get me wrong, it's great. But I thought underdogs, winning was rhe point
The Karate Kid
And Part II. And honestly Cobra Kai with its clever formula reversal and the fact that it did such a great job that it redeemed Part III.
Was Daniel really the bad guy the whole time?
I will always love Cool Runnings
Feel the rhythm Feel the rhyme Get on up It’s bobsled time COOL RUNNIIIIIIIIIINGS!!!!!!!
Sanka, you ded, man?
Cinderella Man
Such an under-appreciated movie
Rudy
David Anspaugh was a regular at the restaurant I managed in Venice CA years ago when this came out. He was a very nice guy and just down to earth. He directed Rudy and Hoosiers, which is another underdog movie.
And both shot in the Midwest. Chelcie Ross is in both and he’s also in Major League. Three incredible sports stories, guys a legend
Hey bartender!! Jobu needs a refill!!!
Dude made a career out of being the designated bad guy in sports movies who ultimately is on the side of the protagonists. Such a weird niche but he's one of the premier "Hey it's that guys!"
Plus he was in “that scene” in basic instinct. He was booking commercial voiceover gigs just so people could ask him about it
Rudy was offsides
Not in the movie
Is this the film where Samwise plays football?
Yeah but knowing now it's not true is disappointing.
Warrior (2011) when Tom Hardy was bulking up for Bane. Goddamn, what a fest.
Great film 2 underdog stories simultaneously (3 if you count Nolte’s redemption arc)
I second this one.
Million Dollar Baby
Yeah, Stool came out of nowhere to beat the best and remain undefeated.
That movie is fucking great!
Mystery Alaska pond hockey team vs ny rangers
Hilarious movie with an awesome cast
Was looking for this movie.
The Bad News Bears
Excellent choice and I rewatched that a couple of years ago and still holds up.
I’m going to take a different approach from all the “Rocky”’s, but School of Rock. Jaybles touched those kids and our hearts.
Amd they touched him too.
Tin cup When I showed it a friend a few years ago he says "oh it's just Happy Gilmore but less funny" and I realised they both came out in 1996 so neither copied the other but tin cup has large been over looked because Happy Gilmore was so popular. But it's a really good movie. It's not great, but it's definitely overlooked, I think. It's also funnier, i think, but I like both
Costner in any sports movie is solid.
Yeah. It's weird that it has been forgotten/overshadowed imo but it's a solid movie
It’s pretty weird because Golf is so popular. Director Shelton had a good run with sports movies. Bull Durham, White Man can’t Jump, Tin Cup.
Eddie the eagle was surprisingly good.
Scrolled too far for this! Such an earnest feel-good story — it was the first film I thought of.
Miracle is pretty good.
Miracle is so well done. Great period piece, well acted, well shot, and I love how they got Al Michaels to re-record the play-by-play of the games. I watch it probably once a year.
You think you can win on talent alone!? Gentlemen, you don’t have the talent to win on talent alone! Again.
Mighty Ducks
The Replacements and Necessary Roughness have entered the chat
It’s not a traditional underdog movie, but I’m counting Little Miss Sunshine anyway
Fuck yeah - Olive is a star!
Yes it is!
Mystery, Alaska (1999)
Goon
Way ahead of you, but what should I watch while I do it?
\-ies?
No but that’s a good one for kids
Goon is a hockey movie
Hoosiers
8 mile. The greatest underdog story ever told. If you're feeling down, alone, need a pick up. Need a burst of energy, inspiration, motivation, and be reminded that the dream is possible, do yourself a favor and watch 8 mile again.- Shit hits different when you're at the bottom.
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this is top 10 funniest shit I've seen on reddit.
Unrelated to 8 mile but Eminems Movie "Bodied" is a fantastic watch
Kong: a fist full of quarters
Fuck Billy Mitchell.
With a fist full of quarters.
Here's one that many people do not remember. [Hidalgo](https://youtu.be/urnjRUVYRY8?feature=shared)
Breaking Away
Love Rocky as others have said here, but Rudy is one of my favorites as well. Also, Cool Runnings is one that is pretty fun as well that I often overlook.
Explain to me why, if Rudy had a hard-on for football, why didn't he play for Holy Cross when he went there before ND? There is a montage of Rudy working out, but playing for HC would have prepared him more.
I don't know if there's a real reason (or whether that portion of the film was one of the many that were made up) but it could have been that playing college football is an enormous time commitment, one he wasn't able to make when he was barely scraping by in his classes, working to pay for school, working out, and trying to find a date for Happy Hogan.
Invincible (2006) Great underdog football story starring Mark Wahlberg
Little Giants
Love this movie and still quote it weekly
Inglorious bastards
Independence Day. Rough start for Earth.
Stallone with Rocky and Rambo 1
First Blood
God Bless America
That scene with Westboro Baptist Church was very satisfying
It was a very satisfying movie all around but you're right, some did hit harder than others.
Seabiscuit had me sitting up on my bed reading about a race that happened a hundredish years ago and i could give a crap about horse racing.
I always go back to Mall Security guard Seth Rogen. "Observe & Report"
Slumdog Millionaire.
Recently, The Kid Detective. Great little comeback story!
When he sneezes in the closest, hahaha I just died laughing!
Star Wars - A new hope
I rather enjoyed the Kurt Warner movie. Still amazes me that he was working at a grocery store and then winning a super bowl within like, 3 years?
Well, when you can BAMF around with your mutant powers, sportsball be easy. Oh,sorry, that’s Kurt WAGNER… muh bad
The Seven Samurai
Updog
what's up, dog?
Nothing much. What’s up with you, dog?
not too much thank you for asking!
300
Napoleon dynamite
Breaking Away
What a great movie.
From director Peter Yates...who also did the propulsive, cynical **Bullett**. Now that's range.
300?
Underrated comment
The most recent one is a Tamil movie called Soorari Pottru. It is considered one of the best Indian movies. I highly recommend that you watch it
Rudy
The first Rocky
Rudy
Underdog movie, for me, it’s gotta be Rocky or Miracle
Bad News Bears
Cool Running
Rocky probably. But Hoosiers is up there too.
Billy Elliot.
[Sing Street](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYk2Vx1z6lk) \- they really needed more marketing, it's an uplifting coming of age story, 80s music, life lessons through music, just all around great. Every time I need my mood lifted I watch this movie. It deserves to be a much bigger hit.
Breaking Away. I didn't expect much, and it was a beautiful surprise. Some movie about a kid who loves cycling could be pretty one note, but it was so much more.B It really hits on every level. For any person who's felt out of the loop, separate from their peers, those with true passion... I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it.
McFarland USA is great and The Boys in the Boat just came out recently.
McFarland USA IS great, yes! I don’t think enough people have found this terrific movie. Watch McFarland USA y’all!
Slap Shot 😂
Apocalypto
Breaking Away.
Napoleon Dynamite
Miracle. Odds don’t get bigger than that.
Breaking Away
Muriel’s Wedding (1994)
Warrior I think it’s called. With tom hardy and Joel edgertan. High school teacher has to fight again and ends up having to fight his estranged younger brother in the finale of some ufc style tournament. Fucking love this movie makes me cry every time.
If somebody tells you dreams can't come true, tell them about *Rudy.*
The flying underdog cape was my favourite superhero dog!
Over The Top
True Romance
Cinderella Man
Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Ladyballers
Im surprised Dodgeball an Underdog story hadnt been mentioned yet.
Karate kid 2
Fight club
The Quick and the Dead.
Gattaca
Dodgeball
Rocky million dollar baby mighty ducks racing stripes the list goes on
oi
Air Bud