Some of us think of sports as not very compelling until it's given the right context — stories of personal triumph, impossible odds, national pride, fierce rivalries — and then suddenly sports have all the ingredients of great drama.
With the climax of that drama – the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, aka Paris 2024 – fast approaching, it seems only fitting to take a look at some of the greatest Olympic films to have ever graced the silver screen. These films showcase unimaginable heights of human physical, mental and emotional endurance, and display them in all their thrilling glory for the whole world to see.
The Olympic movies on this list capture all that's great about the Olympics – the rivalry, pride, patriotism, and glamour – with their own unique depth, surprises, and humor, but they also explore darker, equally disturbing themes like doping, sex, class warfare, and crime – after all, art and sport can be all of these things at the same time.
Please note: you cannot see Chariots of Fire This list doesn't include any Olympic movies. Sure, it's an iconic movie. Sure, it's a movie that was filmed at the last Paris Games, 100 years ago. Sure, it's the only Olympic movie to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards (1982). But you already know all about it and can probably hum the soundtrack by heart. Instead, think of this as a list of the best Olympic movies you haven't seen yet, or should definitely watch multiple times.
