The best sports documentaries of all time
The top 3 according to 734 votes from people: Hoop Dreams (1994) · When We Were Kings (1996) · Senna (2010). (Updated Feb 20, 2021.)
Hoop Dreams, Senna, The Last Dance: the sports documentaries and docuseries that critics and fans rank highest (The Manual, Stacker, IMDb).
Top 13
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1
Hoop Dreams (1994)
Two Chicago teenagers chase the NBA over five years.
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2
When We Were Kings (1996)
Ali, Foreman and the Rumble in the Jungle; Oscar winner.
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3
Senna (2010)
Ayrton Senna's career told only with archive footage.
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4
O.J.: Made in America (2016)
Nearly eight hours on O.J. Simpson and America; Oscar winner.
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5
Icarus (2017)
A cyclist's doping experiment uncovers Russia's state scheme; Oscar winner.
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6
The Last Dance (2020)
Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls.
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7
Diego Maradona (2019)
Asif Kapadia on Maradona's Naples years.
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8
Free Solo (2018)
Alex Honnold climbs El Capitan without ropes; Oscar winner.
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9
Pumping Iron (1977)
Arnold Schwarzenegger before Hollywood.
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10
Undefeated (2011)
An underfunded Memphis high school football team; Oscar winner.
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11
Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019)
The Netflix series that made F1 popular in America.
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12
Man on Wire (2008)
Philippe Petit's walk between the Twin Towers; Oscar winner.
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13
Murderball (2005)
Wheelchair rugby players heading to the Paralympics.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 13… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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14
The Two Escobars (2010)
Pablo and Andrés Escobar, Colombian football and the cartel.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (14)
O.J. Made in America is less a sports doc and more the best documentary about America, period
Man on Wire isnt really sports? still love it
No Untold? The Malice at the Palace episode is incredible
Drive to Survive got me into F1 so it deserves the spot even if the later seasons are worse
When We Were Kings > everything else on this list. Ali was magnetic.
Icarus starts as a goofy experiment and turns into a spy thriller, wild
Hoop Dreams at #1 is the only correct answer. Three hours and it never drags.
Free Solo had my palms sweating the whole time, I couldn't watch some parts
Senna destroyed me and I don't even like F1
Same here, I went in knowing nothing and spent the last 20 minutes in pieces
The Last Dance is great TV but it's basically Jordan's version of history
This. Every episode ends with him getting the last word lol
Still fun as hell though
The Two Escobars is my favourite and nobody ever talks about it