Hoosiers (1986; Directed by David Anspaugh): No other basketball movie has come close to Hoosiers in terms of its inspirational story line. The film, set in 1951, follows Norman Dale (Gene Hackman), a coach with a checkered past, who teams with the town's drunk (Dennis Hopper) to lead the Hickory Huskers, an underdog Indiana high school team, to an unlikely run for the state championship.
Achievements: Best Supporting Actor Nomination (Hopper); Best Original Score (Jerry Goldsmith
Jerry Maguire (1996; Directed by Cameron Crowe): This part-comedy, part-drama features Tom Cruise as Jerry Maguire, a high-profile sports agent who is fired from his firm after writing a mission statement about how the sports management business should be run. Dorothy Boyd (Renee Zellweger) is the only one who follows Jerry outside his firm and joins forces with him as he attempts to rebuild his damaged ego and career. The only client who sticks with him is Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), a high-energy Arizona Cardinals wide receiver who gives Jerry fits but rewards him in the end. The film is responsible for many memorable quotes, including "Show me the money!"
Achievements: Best Supporting Actor win (Gooding, Jr.); Best Actor nomination (Cruise); Best Picture nomination; Best Original Screenplay nomination(Crowe)
Rocky (1976; Directed by John G. Avildsen): Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is a small-time Philadelphia boxer who gets the biggest shot of his life when he's set to fight the current world champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) in a publicity stunt. Rocky sees this as his only opportunity and takes full advantage in this inspirational film that featured the tagline "His whole life was a million-to-one shot." This film was followed by five other installments but none came near to matching the original. The Rocky theme lives on, more than 30 years later.
Achievements: Best Picture win; Best Director win (Avildsen); Best Actor nomination (Stallone); Best Original Screenplay nomination (Stallone)
Hoop Dreams (1994; Directed by Steve James): This powerful documentary follows the journeys of two inner-city African-American Chicago high school students as they work towards their dreams of becoming professional basketball players. William Gates and Arthur Agee are both recruited to play for St. Joseph High School, Isiah Thomas' old high school and one renowned for its basketball program. The film shows five years in the lives of the players as they both achieve and struggle along with their families. NBA players Jalen Rose, Chris Webber and Juwan Howard can all be seen at a high school basketball camp that Gates and Agee attend.
Achievements: Best Film Editing nomination; Audience Award winner at Sundance Film Festival
Bull Durham (1988; Directed by Ron Shelton): The film follows "Crash" Davis (Kevin Costner), a veteran minor-league catcher brought to the Durham Bulls single-A team to teach hot shot pitcher Ebby "Nuke" LaLoosh (Tim Robbins) about what it takes to make it to the major leagues. In addition to their battles on the diamond the two of them are also involved in a romantic triangle with baseball groupie Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon), simply adding to the tension and comedic element.
Achievements: Best Original Screenplay nomination (Shelton); Writers Guild of America Best Screenplay win (Shelton)
