7 movies to watch if you love Netflix's The Long Game

The 2023 historical drama The Long Game has captivated audiences with its inspiring true story about how people get along in the face of crisis. Julio Quintana directed the film, featuring Jay Hernandez, Julian Works, Jaina Lee Ortiz, Brett Cullen, Oscar Nuñez, Paulina Chávez, Gregory Diaz IV, José Julián, Cheech Marin, and Dennis Quaid.

The Long Game is an adaptation of Humberto G. Garcia's novel Mustang Miracle published in 2010, which follows events surrounding a group of Mexican-American boys, who, against all odds, became state golf champions in Texas during the 1950s. Just like The Long Game, there are many more sports dramas based on real life that interested viewers can watch.

Exploring 7 more movies to watch after Netflix's The Long Game

The Long Game is a movie based on real-life events and showcases how even in such dire times hard work, motivation, and sticking with each other can help achieve anyone's dreams. Here are seven such movies fans can watch if they liked The Long Game:

McFarland, USA (2015)
42 (2013)
The Miracle Season (2018)
Race (2016)
The Way Back (2020)
Ford v Ferrari (2019)
King Richard (2021)

1) McFarland, USA (2015)

McFarland, USA (2015) (Image Via Disney Movie)

Directed by Niki Caro, McFarland, USA tells the true story of a cross-country team from a predominantly Latino high school in California. Coach Jim White (played by Kevin Costner) helps his team defeat cultural and financial difficulties to accomplish something unprecedented.

White sees his job at McFarland High School as a mere stepping-stone at first but eventually learns to appreciate what makes his students unique.

This film explores the rich culture of a community and its students’ persistence and becomes an emotional tale about working hard and always having faith in oneself. Viewers can stream it on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

2) 42 (2013)

Just like The Long Game, 42 is a sports-biographical film directed by Brian Helgeland on Jackie Robinson, who was the first African-American player in Major League Baseball during modern times.

Chadwick Boseman delivers an outstanding performance as Robinson, demonstrating how courageous he was given the outpouring of racism he faced as an athlete.

Harrison Ford plays Branch Rickey, an executive of the Brooklyn Dodgers who helped him overcome racial discrimination on the baseball field. The movie 42 reflects the tough criticism and hatred Jackie Robinson faced while revealing his determination to win regardless of all that was happening around him.

The movie is available to stream on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

3) The Miracle Season (2018)

The Miracle Season (2018) (Image via Netflix)

Sean McNamara directed The Miracle Season, which is based on the true story of the West High School girls’ volleyball team. Kathy Bresnahan (played by Helen Hunt), the coach of this team, leads her students to win a state championship for their dead friend Caroline Line Found, and also stars Erin Moriarty.

In this film, viewers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster where they learn about grief, hope, and resilience as well as the power of playing games.

This touching tale highlights how important it is to have people who love and care for you, especially during trying moments, it is available to watch on Netflix.

4) Race (2016)

Race is a biographical sports drama directed by Stephen Hopkins that tells the life story of African-American athlete Jesse Owens who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Stephan James plays Owens who fights against racial discrimination both in America and Nazi Germany just like in The Long Game.

This movie focuses on Owens' extraordinary victories over political and social obstacles that showed he could defy Hitler’s Aryan supremacy propaganda.

Race is a powerful testament to perseverance, bravery, and how one person can change world history. Interested viewers can watch the movie on Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube.

5. The Way Back (2020)

The Way Back (2020) (Image Via Prime Video)

Gavin O’Connor directed The Way Back stars Ben Affleck as Jack Cunningham, a former high school basketball star who suffers from alcoholism. Once given a coaching post in his old school, Jack seeks redemption.

In the movie, Jack has to overcome personal issues that hinder him from attaining an alcohol-free lifestyle and life as a redeemable individual through mentoring and coaching.

Ben Affleck plays the role of Jack with sincerity and truthfulness regarding his addiction struggles and attempts to get back on track with his life. This is a reflective tale of redemption through sports. It is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.

6) Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Ford v Ferrari (2019) (Image Via Prime Video)

James Mangold directed Ford v Ferrari, a sports drama about the competition between Ford and Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1966.

In this film, Matt Damon played Carroll Shelby, a car designer, while Christian Bale acted as Ken Miles, the driver.

The film's intense racing sequences, combined with its strong character development, make it a thrilling and emotional journey.

Ford v Ferrari showcases the triumph of innovation and teamwork in the face of overwhelming odds. It is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

7) King Richard (2021)

King Richard is a biographical movie directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green that tells a story about Richard Williams who became an exceptional father to famous tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.

The role of Richard is portrayed by Will Smith and the film is a story of how the family made their way from the streets of Compton to professional tennis, and teaches themes such as family, discipline, and resilience.

It’s an inspiring movie that shows us how important it is to have one’s vision in life and support from relatives to achieve success.

For the unversed, The Long Game is available on Amazon Prime Video. The Long Game was released on April 12, 2024 and is about 112 minutes long.

Edited by Prem Deshpande