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Eric Liddell (played by Ian Charleson) is hoisted onto his classmates’ shoulders after a race in the film “Chariots of Fire.”
Every two years, we are rewarded with another rendition of the Olympic Games. Whether it be summer or winter, we can expect a slew of amazing and inspiring stories from athletes around the world as they represent their countries and compete for the gold medal. These tales are often so compelling that they warrant a cinematic recreation—with the results sometimes being legendary. Over the years, many films have originated from the Olympics, but a select few have stood above the rest. From dramatic features to landmark documentaries, these revered tales have recreated and immortalized the momentary magic we witness from the historic event. It’s an amazing feat to pull off, and this list aims to honor the best of the best. Below, you’ll find what I believe to be the 20 greatest Olympic movies ever made. Throughout this journey, you’ll not only gain insight into some of cinema’s most compelling sports stories, but you’ll also learn about some journeys you never knew and athletes you’ve never heard of. If you’re a novice to the genre, or even if you’re a connoisseur, then this list can server as your end-all-be-all to the most important cinematic moments in Olympic history.
**Top Olympic Movies**
Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson (second from left) wins the final of the 100 Meters event at Seoul Olympic Stadium during the Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, September 24, 1988.
Before we get to the official rankings, let’s review what you can expect to find from this list. While there are a couple fictional stories mixed in here, the narrative features largely focus on true stories from some of the most famous athletes of our time (or were at least inspired by real-life athletes). For the feature films, the most famous athletes featured include Jim Thorpe (the first Native American to win a gold medal for the United States), Steve Prefontaine (who set numerous American track records in the 1970s) and Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams (runners who famously competed in the 1924 Paris Olympics). For the documentaries, the most prominent athletes include Michael Phelps (a swimmer who holds the all-time record for most gold medals), Tommie Smith and John Carlos (runners known for their iconic protest during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics) and Kevin Pearce (a snowboarder who suffered a career-ending injury). Dozens of countries are represented on this list, from both a narrative and directorial standpoint. It should be no surprise, given that Hollywood produced many of these films, that the United States is most represented. But you will also find numerous stories from other nations, including a Best Picture winner that centers on Great Britain, a revered documentary about a water polo match between Hungary and the Soviet Union and a famous comedy about a Jamaican bobsledding team—as well as features directed by filmmakers from Japan, Germany, France and Russia (as well as several other countries).
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While Olympic movies don’t generally smash at the box office, there have been a handful of winners. The highest grossing Olympic movie of all time is the family-friendly film Cool Runnings with its $154.8 million worldwide gross, which just ekes out the absurdist comedy Blades of Glory’s $145.7 million. When it comes to domestic gross, however, Chariots of Fire holds the record. While its $58.9 million gross doesn’t match Blades of Glory’s $118.5 million earnings, when adjusted for inflation that total jumps to $198.7 million. Other top grossing movies include Miracle ($64.4 million worldwide), I, Tonya ($53.9 million) and The Cutting Edge ($25.1 million). And now for the rankings. Below I have gathered together 20 films—ten of which are narrative features, ten of which are documentaries. Those two categories will switch off one by one as we move closer towards the #1 movies. This way, you’ll get a nice variety of Olympic movies that can satisfy your tastes at any given moment. These rankings are purely based on my personal tastes, with some historical significance taken into account. So without further ado, let’s rank the top Olympic movies of all time.
**20. The Weight of Gold (2020)**
You’ve done it. You’ve reached the pinnacle of your athletic career. You’re standing at the starting line of the racetrack, or at the center line of the hockey rink or on the starting block of the swimming pool. Seemingly, this is the height. But, mentally,
