Sporty movies with inspiring female athletes
With ‘Christy’, the story of US boxer Christy Salters, at the cinema recently, here are some other movies to inspire and enlighten.
A League of Their Own
Probably one of the most famous films featuring female athletes, it may be a work of fiction, but ‘A League of Their Own’ is based on real life events. Set during WWII, these women face many of the issues that women’s sport faces today: kit that’s too revealing, low crowd numbers and a lack of respect. It’s gritty, funny in places and has all the highs and lows of women’s sport today. Who will win the World Series?
Battle of the Sexes
Depicting the real-life events of when tennis legend Billie Jean King played Bobby Riggs, you might find yourself screaming at the TV… and not just at the tennis! Houston, Texas, 1973, 50 million Americans watching and 90 million worldwide, women’s tennis was serving! There have been other Battle of the Sexes games (Riggs v Margaret Court was a Riggs win which led to him challenging all female tennis players, a challenge King accepted) and on 28th December 2025, Aryna Sabalenka takes on Nick Kyrgios. This game has stirred up controversy as to whether it will harm women’s tennis.
Bend it like Beckham
A feel-good British film telling the story of two teens and their love of football … and David Beckham. Fighting against traditions and perceptions of female footy players, the friends battle to succeed on the pitch and off it too. It leaves you with a great feeling especially when you stop and think how far women’s football has come.
I, Tonya
Not for the faint hearted, this ice-skating film is a hard watch based on the story of American Tonya Harding and the scandal around the incident with Nancy Kerrigan. Harding was a two-time Olympian but the truth behind the career is difficult to comprehend.
King Richard
Image: Alamy
While we’re used to seeing the Williams sisters living it up all over the world - including watching Chelsea Women FC (above) - it wasn’t always that way and ‘King Richard’ tells us the sisters’ story. From their childhood in Compton, California under the tennis tutelage of their father Richard Williams to Florida, this is a fantastic BTS insight into the lives of two of the greats.
No Woman No Try
OK, a change of pace and this isn’t a film but a documentary. If you love rugby or love women’s sports, this is a must watch as it shows the highs and lows of women’s rugby. It’s impossible not to be touched by Shaunagh Brown’s emotional plea at the end.
Nyad
A story of determination beyond belief, ‘Nyad’ is the story of Diana Nyad and her swim through swim shark-infested waters from Cuba to Florida. It was her fifth attempt to swim the 110-mile route, with a dedicated support team who regularly question her ‘madness.’ It’ll inspire you to keep going with whatever you haven’t achieved yet.
The Swimmers
A swimming movie with similar grit and perseverance, ‘The Swimmers’ follows the journey of two Syrian refugee sisters aiming for the Olympic Games. This is harrowing at times and emotional, but a powerful story to remind us that behind the headlines, there are real people with dreams and ambitions.
