5 sports biographies to watch if you liked ‘Unbroken’

Unbroken, directed and produced by Angelina Jolie, follows the story of American Olympian and US Army Air Force officer Louis Zamperini (played by Jack O'Connell). The movie details the events of Zamperini's life as he survives for 47 days on a raft with two other US soldiers after his plane crashes into the ocean during the Second World War. Viewers follow his experiences till he is captured by the Japanese and sent to a string of prison camps.

The movie, released in 2014, shows the gritty survival story of an Olympian who becomes a prisoner of war. If you enjoyed watching Unbroken, here are five other sports documentaries that should be next on your watch list.

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The Iron Claw, Ford v Ferrari, Rudy, and more

1) The Iron Claw (2023)

The Iron Claw is written and directed by Sean Durkin. (Image via A24 and Lionsgate)

The Iron Claw follows the story of the Von Erichs, a family of professional wrestlers. It especially focuses on the Von Erich brothers, who struggle to see success in the field of wrestling, which is what their father had been training them for from 1979 to the early 1990s.

The movie stars Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich. The film is named after the Von Erich brothers' signature move within the ring, the "iron claw."

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2) Young Woman and the Sea (2024)

Gertrude Ederle was the first woman to swim across the English Channel. (Image via Disney Enterprises)

Young Woman and the Sea follows the story of Gertrude Ederle, played by Daisy Ridley, an American competitive swimmer who created history by becoming the first woman to swim across the English Channel.

The movie is based on the 2009 book by Glenn Stout and is an inspirational watch for all sports biography fans who loved Unbroken.

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3) Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Ford v Ferrari has won two Academy Awards. (Image via 20th Century Fox)

Directed by James Mangold, Ford v Ferrari is an American sports drama starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale. The film revolves around how car designer Carroll Shelby and race car driver Ken Miles tackle challenges such as corporate interference and technical limitations to build a fast race car for Ford.

This car aimed to defeat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1966. The movie showcases the rivalry between the two racing giants, Ford and Ferrari. The film has won Academy Awards for Best Film Editing and Best Sound Editing.

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4) Remember the Titans (2000)

Remember the Titans was released on September 29, 2000. (Image via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)

If Zamperini's undaunting spirit kept you hooked on Unbroken, then you will love this 2000 biographical sports drama film. Remember the Titans is loosely based on the true story of coach Herman Boone, who tried to integrate the T.C. Williams High School football team in Alexandria, a city in Virginia, in 1971.

The movie shows how Herman Boone's character creates a racially diverse team of players who go from clashing with each other to exhibiting great team spirit and ultimately winning the state championship.

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5) Rudy (1993)

Rudy stars Sean Astin and Jon Favreau in pivotal roles. (Image via TriStar Pictures)

Rudy is a 1993 American sports biographical film that details the journey of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiguer, a young boy who dreamed of playing football at the University of Notre Dame.

The story follows Rudy as he overcomes various obstacles to ultimately play football at the University of Notre Dame. The story is extremely heartwarming and will keep fans of Unbroken hooked to the edge of their seat till the very end.

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These are some of the best sports-related biographical films that should be on your watchlist if you liked Unbroken.