Sports have a unique way of connecting people, with the most popular one, soccer, standing at around 3.5 billion fans, as per WorldAtlas. With such a widespread reach, it’s not surprising at all that the impact of sports can be felt in other forms of entertainment.
We can even see the popularity of sports breaching sectors other than movies, such as that of online casinos. For instance, one can find slingo casino games like Slingoooal Championship and Slingo Racing, along with others that follow sports themes. This just reaffirms the powerful effect sports have on pop culture.
After all, we all enjoy cheering on the underdog, and there are few movie genres that depict this theme as well as sports movies do. Following the trials and tribulations, along with the triumphs, of athletes can be both a heart-warming and heartbreaking experience. This constant juxtaposition of emotions within such movies is one of the reasons why viewers are so captivated by these stories.
Athletes often find themselves in the spotlight, be it as incredible newcomers like Lamine Yamal in soccer, or long-standing titans such as Lewis Hamilton in F1. This has inspired filmmakers to create narratives around them, be it as a documentary, a true story movie, or one that is complete fiction but gives off the same vibes as a live sporting event. With billions of fans around the world, this translates to critically acclaimed movies.
These stories resonate with audiences or even inspire them to pursue said sport. For instance, such movies are also able to create more popularity for less-followed sports, such as women’s soccer. Bend It Like Beckham stands out as a clear example, which depicted what a girl will do to pursue her love of football. While the movie followed many themes, it helped people see that women and girls can be just as enamoured by the game as men can.
This change in perception can lead generational mindsets to transform and become more modern. After all, movies can have a deep impact on audiences, even when they’re completely fictional. Moreover, now athletes have found themselves being able to cross over into acting. Their charisma and dramatic qualities on the field can often translate very well to the big screen.
The relationship between sports and movies is as interesting of a collaboration as it is a fruitful one. As time goes on, their symbiotic relationship is bound to continue, providing us with more incredible movies that give us insight into both sports and athletes.