Best Running Movies: Movies Runners Will Absolutely Love!
Dec 16, 2024
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Best Running Movies: Movies Runners Will Absolutely Love! www.runnerclick.com As any runner will tell you, there are times when you are either sidelined by injury and need a great flick to keep you sane. Maybe you are not injured at all. What better activity after a long run than to curl up with a good running movie?
To help our readers find the best running movies of all times, we turned to some running communities to compile this list.
In case you are wondering where to find great running movies, look no further. You can find running movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime, as well as other places.
1. Where Dreams Go to Die (2017)
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This is a documentary about one runner’s quest to complete the Barkley Marathon. Please take note, the Barkley is far longer than a marathon.
Don’t let the name deceive you. It chronicles the experiences of Gary Robbins, a Canadian ultra runner.
2. Overcomer (2019)
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In this movie, a high school basketball coach finds himself coaching the cross country team. First, he is not a running coach. Even more interesting, only one student shows up to join: a troubled teenage girl.
3. Prefontaine (1997)
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Prefontaine is another biographical movie about a great distance runner. It covers his running career and unfortunate, untimely death at only 24 years of age.
Runners and non-runners alike are certain to be inspired by this movie.
4. The Long Green Line (2008)
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For 50 years, coach Joe Newton coached cross country and used his simple mantras and lessons to turn boys into men.
More specifically, the movie documents the school’s 2005 cross country season as the team seeks their 25th state title in 50 years.
5. Fast Girls (2012)
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This British drama pits a fast but entitled runner against one with far fewer advantages but a whole lot of spunk.
Although the ladies have differences of opinion and butt heads, they figure out how to work together to perfect their handoff for a high-stakes relay race.
This movie is sure to touch your heart and also get you itching to hit the track!
6. Spirit of the Marathon (2007)
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This movie features five runners, two elites and three average runners, as they go through their journey of preparation and running a marathon.
Recommended by Runnerclick Pro member Cristian Vicencio, he says this, “Real stories and testimonies of ordinary people preparing to run a marathon. As soon as you finish watching the movie, you feel the need to put on your shoes and go for a run.”
7. McFarland USA (2015)
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Inspired by the true story of a group of runners in 1987, McFarland follows a group of rag-tag runners.
Coached by Jim White, a coach new to their Latino community, the team uses grit, teamwork and a lot of determination to transform their group of young people into champions.
Ingrid Sell-Boccelli of the Sub-30 Club for runners, “based on a true story, about how running brings new life to some unexpected heroes.”
8. Race (2016)
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Race is the Jesse Owens Story. A biographical story about Owens’s struggle as an elite, black athlete in the 1930s. While Owens went on to win 4 gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, there was nothing easy about the journey.
Runner and friend Zoe Hill highly recommends this movie, “It is a seriously excellent movie about his induction into running, including initial discipline issues, and his running in the Olympics in Nazi Germany.
It also chronicles his receiving an award and having to enter through the worker’s door because of his race. I love this movie for its historical story-line, as well as social justice issues. As well as Owens’ own personal journey.”
9. Run, Fatboy, Run! (2007)
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- Amazon
- Google Play
- A romantic comedy that features an overweight guy who attempts to win his fiance back five years after leaving her at the alter by running a marathon, Run, Fatboy, Run is hilarious and also spot on.
Tim Kowols, a runner and pacer from the Runnerclick Pro community, “I watch Run Fat Boy Run before every marathon!”
10. Cool Runnings (1993)
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Put on this list of great running movies by friend and runner Paul Meka, he says this: “I’ll throw a bit of a curveball – with three of the team being sprinters first, Cool Runnings is at least an honorary running movie.
With the obstacles they face just to earn the right to toe the starting line, the contrasting of the win at all costs/seeking glory for glory’s sake mentality vs letting your best honest effort speak for itself, and the way they finish the race at the end… it definitely speaks to the runner in me.
(It doesn’t hurt that a coach once quoted the “I see pride! I see power!” speech to me when I was limping my way through the last few miles of a half marathon.)
Wrap all that up in a laugh-out-loud comedy with an awesome soundtrack.”
11. Chariots of Fire (1981)
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Based on the true story of two athletes during the 1924 Olympics, two very different athletes from completely different backgrounds are both trying to reach the same goal: Olympic gold.
One a devout Catholic and one a Jew, they hold true to convictions while still doing the thing they are so good at, running.
12. The Athlete (2009)
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A combination of fiction and actual race footage, this movie is a portrait of an Ethiopian marathoner. Running barefoot and as an unknown, Abebe Bikila becomes a sports legend when he winds the Olympic gold in the marathon in 1960.
Tragically, he is injured in an accident that leaves him paralyzed. His journey to rehab from his injuries is truly inspiring.
13. Running Brave (1983)
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This biographical sports drama is based on the life of the incredible Native American runner, Billy Mills.
Born on a reservation, this movie takes you through Mills’ early days, college experience and gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics were in a historic race, Mills goes from third place to first.
14. Breaking2 (2017)
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National Geographic creates a brilliant movie that covers some of the world’s fastest runners trying to break the 2:00 hour marathon.
More of a sports documentary than an actual movie, this one still needs to be on the list of “must-see.”
The 14 Best Movies for Runners Chosen by Runners!
We get it. That is quite a list to choose from, which is why you should not waste any time at all!
Grab your popcorn and comfy blanket, pick a movie and click the remote. You deserve it.
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