Sports movies are popular among movie goers because they generally center on a sports event or player, rather than some type of political drama or social dilemma. A sports film is usually a film genre which makes use of sports as the main theme of the movie. It’s often a fictional creation where a fictional sport, athlete, political party, or supporter of a sports team are largely involved, and that rely heavily on sports to an extent for their plot resolution. As such, it’s often considered one of the more lighter genres compared to dramas or films with more complex themes.
One of the earliest sports films, and probably the most famous, is the “Lion King” (also known as the “Nursery School”), which tells the story of a young prince who is afflicted by a curse that causes him to have the strength and agility of a tail that lions have, but none of their features. He is forced to train by means of wrestling and gymnastics in order to be able to defeat his enemies and live a normal life. The film has a fairly successful cast, with standout players like Meryl Streep, James Earl Jones, and Steve McQueen. However, it’s often said that Streep’s performance is perhaps her best ever, simply because she’s able to overcome physical handicaps and physical discomfort to still come out on top.
The late Michael J. Fox also had a role in the first of the X-Men films, which pitted Fox against Charles Xavier. Although he didn’t win over anyone, his role was notable for the amount of physical skill he displayed, and he did perform rather well in the role, bringing his acting chops to the role, which gave him the chance to hone his acting skills and talent for coming out on top.