Inspirational Movies to Watch Ahead of the Summer Olympics
By Movieguide® Staff
The COVID-19 pandemic may have forced the Summer Olympics to be postponed for one year, but the virus doesn’t quench our excitement to watch the games come July. In preparation, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite inspirational Olympic movies that will have us ready to cheer for our team on the track, on the beam, or in the pool.
+4Biblical, usually Christian, worldview, with no questionable elements whatsoever.
In this Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Eric Liddell is a Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of Jesus in the 1924 Olympic games and who believes that Christ is his trainer.
UNBROKEN is a harrowing story of the Christian Olympic athlete and World War II POW Louis Zamperini, who endured unimaginable hardship. UNBROKEN is an immensely powerful story filled with faith, hope and forgiveness. Extreme caution is due to some intense, brutal war elements and foul language.
+3Some minor questionable elements. (Media-wisdom is suggested to discuss.)
THE GABBY DOUGLAS STORY is an inspirational biographical movie of the perseverance of Gabby Douglas from humble beginnings and her road to Olympic gold in gymnastics. THE GABBY DOUGLAS STORY is entertaining with an inspiring story of faith, sacrifice and perseverance, as well as Christian and redemptive themes and only light questionable elements.
-1Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
EDDIE THE EAGLE is the true story of Eddie Edwards, a young British man who overcame severe athletic ineptitude, the scorn of other athletes and lack of support from his own father to become a national hero in the 1988 Olympics. EDDIE THE EAGLE is a delightful movie about redemption and overcoming obstacles, with a very strong moral worldview, but there is some drunkenness and mild, very brief suggestive content. So, caution is advised for older children.
+1Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)
MIRACLE is a splendid, inspirational re-telling of the U.S. hockey team’s hard-earned road to victory play at the 1980 Olympic games in Lake Placid, New York. Though it contains some light obscenities, it is a fine, entertaining, and positive movie which shows that the success of the 1980 hockey team was not just some fluke or happy coincidence, but was the result of hard work, persistence, and detailed preparation.
-1Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
UNBROKEN: PATH TO REDEMPTION picks up where Angelina Jolie’s 2014 movie UNBROKEN ends, but showcases Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini’s faith journey toward Jesus back in America. UNBROKEN: PATH TO REDEMPTION is an emotionally stirring tear jerker, with great production values and a powerful ending, though caution is advised for older children due to some mature content, such as alcohol addiction.
-3Excessive sex, violence, immorality, and/or worldview problems. (Sometimes excessive content such as violence is in otherwise redemptive movies.)
In the movie RACE from India, the pursuit of success by two heirs of a horse racing business in South Africa leads to greed, envy, betrayal and murder, padded with musical production numbers circa 1960. There is not much redemptive about this disappointing movie, which includes some sexual hanky panky.
-1Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
After the disastrous outcome of a 1988 Olympic qualifying trial he was destined to win, Jamaican sprinter Derrice Bannock decides his only chance to follow in his father's footsteps to the Olympic games is as a member of the yet-to-be-formed Jamaican bobsled team in the new Disney adventure comedy COOL RUNNINGS. A small amount of mild foul language mars this otherwise fun, enjoyable film which promotes friendship, acceptance, integrity, and teamwork.
-1Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
PREFONTAINE chronicles the true story of University of Oregon track star, Steve Prefontaine, who exhibits the determination to run for his own personal glory. Overcoming the perception that he is too small to compete at a world class level, Prefontaine shows the naysayers his abilities. This movie contains a few obscenities.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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