When you want to make a blockbusting movie that will be a box office smash, sports movies are often a reliable genre to do it in. A good sports movie will rake in millions at the box office. “Rocky,” which took more than $117 million in the US alone, and “Million Dollar Baby,” which generated more than $217 million worldwide, are proof of that.

Sports movies are highly relatable to many out there. A lot of people practice sports and understand how hard it is to train, play and become the best, precisely because they’ve either made it or to the top or because they haven’t.

But what makes a good sports movie? Below is a look at the ingredients of a successful movie and at themes and elements directors should consider when making a sports movie.

Creating a sublime sports movie

To make a sports movie people will love requires some essential ingredients.

The underdog

Whether it’s a team at the bottom of NFL standings travelling the full road to the Super Bowl or an amateur fighter battling all the way to a title, everyone loves an underdog. “Rocky” is the epitome of the underdog, an indispensable element of sports movies. An underdog can be an inexperienced but talented rookie who could go all the way if they harness their talent correctly. They could be an unskilled regular person who has the passion and work ethic to fight for their dreams. Or a fallen champ coming back from injury or out of retirement and battling their way back to the top. Ultimately, it’s someone the audience see themselves in.

A believable villain

All sports have bad guys. In a sports movie, this doesn’t necessarily have to be a question of good versus evil, but there must be some kind of opposing force in the movie. Conflict is key. The Rocky movies deliver dislikable, fearsome bad guys in the form of Clubber Lang (Rocky III) and Ivan Drago (Rocky IV). The buffoon bad guy Shooter McGavin in golfing comedy “Happy Gilmore” and Mick McAllister, the star basketball player in 80s comedy “Teen Wolf” are also notable villains.

A motivational speech

Great sports movies often feature powerful motivational speeches, normally delivered by a coach or mentor. Usually, these speeches will be one of the most memorable moments of the film. Hope feels lost, but then the coach/mentor steps up and fires up the protagonist(s) with a rousing speech that makes them then go out and smash the opponents into oblivion. The Karate Kid III showdown between Daniel LaRusso and Mike Barnes, when LaRusso wants to quit but Mr Miyagi guides him through his fear, is one example. Rocky Balboa’s “It ain’t about how hard you hit” speech is another fine motivational speech.

The victory/happy ending

This is the reason the audience is watching. The hero overcomes their emotional or physical battle and is now ready to win. Success doesn’t always have to be a literal title win. It can be a moral one, the protagonist learning lessons that pay off in the final scenes.
The original Karate Kid movie sees the bullied Daniel LaRusso compete against his bully, who is also the local karate champion, and win, whereas in the first “Rocky” movie Balboa accomplish his goal of going the distance against the heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed, and, despite losing, is in this sense a win. “The Bad News Bears” sees a lousy kids baseball team end the season on a high, again despite not actually winning a title, whereas “The Fighter” sees the family of the protagonist finally united as he steps into the ring for a title fight, which is a victory but not a literal one.

Themes and elements for new directors to consider when making a sports movie

The underdog is one theme to consider when intending to make a sports movie, but other themes include redemption and also true stories (the lives of sporting legends ooze biopic potential). Other possible themes include struggles against prejudices.
As ridiculous as it sounds, when making a sports movie, directors must be sure to include the sports. Typically, this means a training montage and, tinged with moments of suspense, the big game / big event. The film shouldn’t be just about winning, about the underdog and the big game, however. Ideally, there should also be a sense of romance, if possible, to help the audience to connect emotionally with the film (and with the idea of winning love).
Sports movies feature vital elements that allow the film to resonate with the audience. A sense of struggle is crucial because the protagonist(s) can then battle through the obstacles and towards the satisfying conclusion of a victory or happy ending, which is what the audience wishes to see.