Top Sports movies that Feature Characters with disabilities
Top Sports Movies That Feature Characters with Disabilities | socaladaptivesports.org
With determination, hard work, and a willingness to push themselves to the limit, people with disabilities can take home medals just like anyone else. Here are a few movies where disabled athletes are the MVPs. Some are fictional; some are based on true stories; all are amazing.
23 Blast (2013)
PG-13, Sports, Drama, Comedy, Family
Starring: Stephen Lang, Alexa PenaVega, Mark Hapka
Based on a true story, "23 Blast" centers around a high school football player who goes blind from bacterial meningitis. With the help of a no-nonsense mobility coach, he learns how to adapt to his new circumstances and return to the field, proving to the naysayers that he's still got it.
Stream “23 Blast” on Amazon Prime, Peacock, and Tubi.
Murderball (2005)
R, Action, Documentary
Starring: Mark Zupan, Keith Cavill, Andy Cohn, Scott Hogsett
"Murderball" is a documentary that offers real-life inspiration for athletes with disabilities. It follows the rivalry between the American and Canadian quad rugby teams as they make their way to the 2004 Paralympic Games. Frank, unfiltered, and at times uncomfortably real, it's a look at what full-contact wheelchair rugby is actually like bloody noses and all.
Stream “Murderball” on fuboTV, Peacock, and Tubi.
Soul Surfer (2011)
PG, Sports, Family
Starring: AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid, Carrie Underwood, Kevin Sorbo, Ross Thomas
"Soul Surfer" tells the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a 13-year-old surfer who had her arm bitten off by a shark. Within a month, she was back in the water with a modified surfboard, kick-starting a lucrative career on the competition circuit. The film also follows her discovery and passion for philanthropy, showing that sports alone aren't the only way that people with disabilities can make a difference.
Stream “Soul Surfer” on Prime Video.
We Could Be Heroes (2018)
PG-13, Drama, Documentary, Foreign
Starring: Azeddine Nouiri
"We Could Be Heroes" takes place in Morocco, but it tells a story that could happen anywhere. The subject of the film, Azeddine Nouiri, is an athlete in a wheelchair trying to qualify for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. Despite his skills, he's living in poverty and denied access to the stadium where he needs to practice. It should come as no surprise that he defeats his challenges, gets to the games, and proves to the world that they shouldn't have underestimated him. Did we mention that it's based on a true story?
Stream “We Could Be Heroes” on Prime Video and Vudu.
Zero to Hero (2021)
PG-13, Drama, Sports, Foreign
Starring: Kai-Chung Cheung, Sandra Kwan Yue Ng
If you don't mind subtitles, "Zero to Hero" is a Chinese film that'll transcend language. It tells a fictionalized version of a true story that inspired an entire country. The hero in question is So Wa Wai, the first Hong Kong athlete to ever win gold at the Paralympics, who overcomes impossible odds to get the medal around the neck. It's also a heartwarming family film since he achieves greatness through the unwavering support of his mother.
Stream “Zero to Hero” on Netflix.
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (2020)
R, Legal, Documentary
Starring: Larry Allison, Judith Heumann, James LeBrecht, Denise Sherer Jacobson, Stephen Hofmann
"You wouldn't be picked for the team back home. But at Jened, you had to go up to bat." While "Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution" isn't technically a sports movie, it does feature disabled people learning to participate in physical, mental, and social activities as part of a groundbreaking summer camp in the 1970s. Many attendees would go on to become the country's first real disability rights advocates.
Stream “Crip Camp” on Netflix.
Rising Phoenix (2020)
PG-13, Documentary
Starring: Prince Harry, Tatyana McFadden, Bebe Vio, Jonnie Peacock
Have you ever wondered how the Paralympics came to be? "Rising Phoenix" brings history to life in a modern and multi-layered exploration of how the Paralympics went from a small community event into the third-largest sporting event in the world.
Stream “Rising Phoenix” on Netflix.
Conclusion
There's nothing like a rousing sports film to make you feel like you can accomplish anything. Characters with disabilities achieving glory, fame, and success prove that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. So whether you are a sports fan or just someone looking for a little push, load these flicks and get ready to be inspired!
