In this blog for the Herald, I mark the opening of Eddie The Eagle by citing the five most uplifting sports movies that ever were made. According to me. It’s a short list. Lots miss out. But these five are all pretty uplifting. 

All sorts of movies attempt to provide some sort of emotional uplift, but one sub-genre especially associated with the sensation is the sports movie.

Offering both literal and emotional uplift, Eddie The Eagle is a fine addition to this tradition. To mark its release, I shall cite here the five most uplifting sports movies ever, encompassing both fictional and non-fictional tales.

To prevent this list from being entirely comprised of films starring Stallone, Van Damme and Macchio, I am excluding movies featuring boxing or martial arts. And arm-wrestling. And quidditch. And golden retrievers.

5. The Bad News Bears (1976)

This cult classic about a scrappy Little League baseball team coached by a curmudgeonly drunk played to perfection by Walter Matthau is a great example of how sports films don’t need to climax with a win to be uplifting.