5 best movies based on the Olympics

As the 2024 Paris Olympics gets underway, some of the best athletes in the world across multiple sports will be vying to snag medals for their nations. The Olympics, that returns every 4 years, comes with its own set of upsets, surprises and stories of inspiration. This year's competition commenced on 26th July and will end on August 11.

Apart from the thrill and drama of real-life, the Olympics, over the years, has also inspired a variety of movies. Some among them have done well, garnering praise from both critics and audiences. We attempt to trace the five best movies in Hollywood, that have been based on the Olympics.

5 movies to watch, related to the Olympics

1. Chariots of Fire (1981)

The 1981 film, Chariots of Fire, revolves around the characters of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, who were both British athletes participating in the 1924 Olympics. Liddell, belonging to a Scottish Christian family, and Abrahams, who was Jewish, had different reasons that motivated them as runners in the Olympics.

The former did so because of his belief in god, while the latter wanted to overcome the discrimination and prejudice he faced for being Jewish. The movie, which is not simply a sports-based narrative, focuses on their respective journeys, full of struggle.

2. Miracle (2004)

Miracle can be watched on Amazon Prime. (Amazon Prime)

Miracle, released in 2004, revolves around the US men’s Ice Hockey team that participated in the 1980 Winter Olympics. A group of inexperienced and young athletes found themselves going against the much older, veteran Russian team that was dubbed ‘Miracle on Ice.’

With Kurt Russell in the lead, the US team fought against the odds to emerge as the gold medal winners. Russell played the role of head coach Herb Books, and the movie recounts USA's historic win during the Cold War era.

3. I, Tonya (2017)

I, Tonya, a 2017 movie, is based on Tonya Harding’s real-life story. One of the best figure skaters in the history of the sport, Harding survived various obstacles and an abusive mother, in order to emerge as a professional Olympic athlete.

However, the movie primarily focuses on her connection to the assault on her rival Nancy Kerrigan, as an assailant had been hired by Harding’s ex-husband to take out her competition. The movie stars Margot Robbie and has been shot as a hilarious mockumentary.

4. Cool Runnings (1993)

Cool Runnings can be watched on Amazon Prime. (Amazon Prime)

Cool Runnings is another narrative based on Olympics and the myriad emotions that revolve around it. It focuses on the Jamaican bobsleigh team that competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics.

It follows Irving Blitzer, the fictional team coach enlisted to help Jamaica, the underdogs, who eventually manage to qualify for the finals. A mix of real life and fiction, Cool Runnings delves into everything that Olympic sports is about.

5.Race (2016)

The 2016-released Race,delves into the story of one of the greatest track-and-field athletes of all time. It focuses on former American superstar Jesse Owens, who was a black athlete and won the gold medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

His win came at a time when Adolf Hitler’s Germany was in full power. Jesse Owens underwent a difficult journey in order to make it to the event, and the movie delves into the kind of obstacles he had to go through in order to compete and win the gold medal.

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The movies discussed above, are among the most impressive ones that delve into the world of Olympics, and can be a stellar watch for viewers, as the 2024 Paris Olympics continues to unfold.