10 of the Best Movies About the Olympics

The modern Olympic Games have evolved into a platform inherently tied to film and TV, with each event broadcast live to audiences worldwide, reaching billions of viewers.

It’s fascinating to see how, for every Olympics, the International Olympic Committee entrusts a talented director from the host nation to craft an official film. These storied documentaries, beginning back in 1912, are designed to showcase the unique cultures of the host city and the games themselves. Forget what you know about typical sports documentaries; Olympic films are a genre of their own, merging art, technology, and culture. They're so esteemed that the Criterion Collection holds them in high regard.

at the top Canadian casino destinations. 100 Years of Olympic Films ” set to memorialize them.

Most recently, in 2023, 'The Boys in the Boat,' a film about the University of Washington rowing to victory in 1936 Berlin, resonated with audiences and proved successful at the box office. Films like 'I, Tonya' and 'Munich' further solidify the Olympics as a treasure trove for filmmakers.

With a vast collection of Olympics cinema to explore,

an exhaustive dive into the history of Olympic films leads us to spotlight 10 notable titles. Together, they transport us into the heart of the Olympic legacy. For perspective, we've included IMDb ratings and Metacritic scores. CasinoBonusCA A fascinating fact: the International Olympic Committee had the vision to assign director Kon Ichikawa to film 'Tokyo Olympiad,' banking on his imaginative storytelling seen in highly acclaimed films like 'Brother' and 'Odd Obsession,' competitors at the Cannes Film Festival.

Tokyo Olympiad (1965)

• Director: Kon Ichikawa
• IMDb user rating: 7.8
• Metascore: Data not available
• Run time: 170 minutes

The 1964 Olympics were of paramount importance to Japan, as it was the first since the cancelled 1940 games due to wartime events. Ichikawa poetically captured the significance of this moment for Japan, framing the gripping sports scenes with a cultural lens.

While celebrated today, upon its initial release, Ichikawa faced demands for a traditional reshoot from the committee—demands that, thankfully, never materialized.

Directors: Milos Forman, Kon Ichikawa, Claude Lelouch, Yuriy Ozerov, Arthur Penn, Michael Pfleghar, John Schlesinger, Mai Zetterling

Visions of Eight (1973)

• Kon Ichikawa revisited sports documentaries with 'Visions of Eight,' joining forces with icons like Milos Forman, known for 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,' among others.
• IMDb user rating: 6.8
• Metascore: Data not available
• Run time: 110 minutes

In this anthology, each filmmaker crafted a unique short inspired by the 1972 Munich Olympics, wielding full creative control. Though filmmakers like Federico Fellini and Ingmar Bergman were approached but passed on the project, Ousmane Sembène’s piece was included yet ultimately cut.

The tragic Munich 1972 Olympic attack, which targeted Israeli athletes, is poignantly explored by John Schlesinger in the poignant short, 'The Longest.'

Photo by Warner Bros./Archive Photos/Getty Images

Chariots of Fire (1981)

• Director: Hugh Hudson
• IMDb user rating: 7.1
• Metascore: 78
• Run time: 125 minutes

Almost everyone knows the classic theme This narrative film, inspired by true events, tells of Jewish athlete Abrahams facing antisemitism and missionary child Liddell adhering to his faith even as the Olympics posed challenges. Hugh Hudson’s directorial debut, 'Chariots of Fire,' exemplifies British cinema’s impact.

While 'Visions of Eight' focuses on eight stories, '16 Days of Glory' ambitiously weaves together 18, chronicling the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. Crafted by Bud Greenspan, who was an Olympic film maestro, once producing a 22-hour series titled 'The Olympiad.'

16 Days of Glory (1985)

• Director: Bud Greenspan
• IMDb user rating: 7.7
• Metascore: Data not available
• Run time: 284 minutes

Greenspan’s signature idealism shines through in '16 Days of Glory,' preferring to highlight the triumphs—beyond medalists and stars, to those who dared to compete.

SPIN THE REELS WITH NO DEPOSIT NEEDED in his own words Chris Stokes, a former Jamaican bobsleigh Olympian,

Cool Runnings (1993)

• Director: Jon Turteltaub
• IMDb user rating: 7.0
• Metascore: 60
• Run time: 98 minutes

Choosing bobsleigh was novel for Jamaica due to a lack of cold climate and facilities, recruiting members with military ties. Despite the 1988 crash, they captured global admiration, casting Jamaica in a positive light. critic Roger Ebert as Billy Crudup struts the red carpet at the 2000 New York Awards on a Reddit Ask Me Anything event .

Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Without Limits (1998)

• Director: Robert Towne
• IMDb user rating: 7.2
• Metascore: 71
• Run time: 117 minutes

Photo Credit: Lee Celano/WireImage for Hollywood Reporter // Getty Images

Like 'Without Limits,' the 2004 film 'Miracle' narrates an Olympic tale—but through a coach’s lens rather than athletes’. The 1980 Winter Olympics were seismic as the U.S. hockey team toppled the dominant Soviets, reigning four consecutive Olympic victories.

Miracle (2004)

• Director: Gavin O’Connor
• IMDb user rating: 7.4
• Metascore: 68
• Run time: 135 minutes

Known for feel-good hits like 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' Steven Spielberg took a more intense route with 'Munich' in 2005.

The film is a gripping account set against the backdrop of the 1972 Munich Olympics tragedy, paralleling 'Visions of Eight.' It adapts George Jonas’s 'Vengeance,' chronicling Israel’s response to the tragic event.

Munich (2005)

• Director: Steven Spielberg
• IMDb user rating: 7.5
• Metascore: 74
• Run time: 164 minutes

Spielberg’s film faced scrutiny for perceived

liberal tendencies and morality questions, yet critics like New York Times’s Manohla Dargis praised it as

“a riveting triumph brimming with standout sequences and striking visuals.” We delve into a captivating list of the top 10 Olympic-themed films that blend cinematic excellence with historical significance, showcasing tales of unexpected triumphs, significant stakes, and unwavering optimism. Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage // Getty Images describing it In contemporary times, the grandeur of the Olympic Games has become intricately intertwined with the realms of film and television. These sporting spectacles are broadcast live to audiences numbering in the billions across the globe.

I, Tonya (2017)

• Director: Craig Gillespie
• IMDb user rating: 7.5
• Metascore: 77
• Run time: 119 minutes

Furthermore, as part of the preparatory phase for each Olympic Games, the

International Olympic Committee appoints

Richard Jewell (2019)

• Director: Clint Eastwood
• IMDb user rating: 7.5
• Metascore: 68
• Run time: 131 minutes

It's important to note that the Olympic films transcend typical sports documentaries. These films are profound explorations of art, technology, and culture, earning a place in the prestigious Criterion Collection as a testament to their excellence.

within Canada’s top-notch online casino platforms. The fascination with Olympic documentaries naturally paved the way for the emergence of narrative films, often major studio hits, that dramatize the remarkably inspiring stories emerging from the Games. Take for instance the 1988 Calgary Olympics, which inspired the beloved film \"Cool Runnings,\" centered on Jamaica’s inaugural bobsled team, and the 2015 movie \"Eddie the Eagle,\" recounting Britain’s first ski jumper at the Winter Olympics. As recently as 2023, the Olympics-themed film \"The Boys in the Boat\" delivered box-office success with its straightforward portrayal of the University of Washington rowing team’s journey to clinching gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Acclaimed films like \"I, Tonya\" and \"Munich\" further solidify the Olympics as potent and inspirational material for cinematic storytelling.