Are you in need of a good show to watch? With a bowl of popcorn in hand, we’ve compiled a list of our top ten favorite movies about running for your viewing pleasure.
1. Chariots of Fire (1981) – Drama
This renowned historical play by Hugh Hudson depicts two British Olympians competing in the year 1924 for the sake of their own personal religious views. To achieve Olympic glory, Eric Liddle and Harold Arbahams use their athletic abilities to overcome adversity.
2. Forrest Gump (1994) – Drama
It’s an Oscar-winning performance by Tom Hanks, who plays a humble man from Alabama who happens to get caught up in the most important events of the 20th century. This includes motivating others to exercise through a cross-country jog.
3. Spirit of the Marathon (2007) – Documentary
This film follows the preparation and race of six marathon runners at the 2005 Chicago Marathon. From Frank Shorter and Dick Beardsley through Paula Radcliffe and Dick Beardsley, the video features a diverse group of marathon runners.
4. Unbroken (2014) – Biopic
Angelina Jolie directs this biopic based on Laura Hillenbrand’s nonfiction book of the same name. Louie Zamperini, a former Olympian and army lieutenant, is arrested by the Japanese during World War II and imprisoned in several prison camps.
5. Race (2016) – Biopic
James plays Jesse Owens, the rising star of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, who takes on Adolf Hitler and becomes a worldwide hero in the process.
6. I Am Bolt (2016) – Documentary
Usian Bolt, the world’s fastest man, is the subject of I Am Bolt, a documentary about his life. His record-breaking career and his nine gold medals from three different Games are profiled in this behind-the-scenes documentary.
7. Brittany Runs a Marathon (2019) – Comedy
Brittany Forgler, a 28-year-old New Yorker, embarks on a life-altering adventure to reduce weight and prepare for the city’s annual marathon in order to raise money for a cancer charity.
8. Run Fatboy Run (2007) – Comedy
Friends director David Schwimmer stars as an out-of-shape British man who attempts to win back his ex-fiancée by running a marathon.
9. Desert Runners (2013) – Documentary
Four non-professionals attempt to complete the most daring Ultramarthon on the planet: four 155 mile (250 km) races in deserts around the world. This film tracks their journey In this fascinating tale, you’ll get a glimpse into the brains of ultrarunners and the nuanced ways in which people deal with both loss and accomplishment.
10. Saint Ralph (2004) – Comedy
For the sake of his school’s cross-country squad, Ralph Walker, a Canadian adolescent, is forced to join. But the loss of his father inspires him to run in the Boston Marathon despite the threat of expulsion from school.
