Everyone loves an underdog, and Hollywood knows it. Here are the top five highest-grossing sporting underdog stories to ever hit the big screen.
5. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
This classic is a film about a ragtag group of outsiders who pursue the dream of winning the national Dodgeball competition to win the grand prize. In their attempt to keep their dark and decaying gym from a corporate takeover. From the struggles of learning the sport of dodgeball to donning what some might say were unconventional uniforms. The team was, in the truest sense of the word, an underdog.
They took on their much, on paper, inferior opponents from a team made up of a more modern and high-tech gym across the road, which attracted those whose looks came before intelligence. This was a true early 2000s comedic take on David vs Goliath, and the worldwide audience loved it. Hollywood stars, such as Ben Stiller, Christie Taylor and Vince Vaughn, brought a swell of interest to the film that became an instant classic. Grossing $168.4 million, or £92.6 million, when it was released on the 18th of June 2004. Making it to the number 5 spot on our list. That is not a bad result for a movie that only cost $20 million to produce.
4. Creed II (2018)
Creed II, the sequel to the film Creed, is a continuation of the famous Rocky film series. Set in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, the son of Apollo Creed, played by Michael B Jordan, looks to avenge the death of his father, who was killed by Ivan Drago over 30 years earlier. In a son vs son boxing match against Viktor Drago, much to the displeasure of the people around him, including his coach, the king of all underdog characters, Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone, who I’m sure we’ll talk about more later in this list.
This intense and inspiring film encapsulates the story of an athlete who pushes himself to the limit, overcoming past trauma and defeat to defy expectations and forge his own legacy. Released on the 18th of November 2018, Creed II forged its own legacy, grossing $214.2 million or £160 million for us Brits.
3. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
You might be sensing a theme here. If you want to produce a successful sporting underdog film, make it about boxing. However, like Creed II, Million Dollar Baby wasn’t just about boxing; it was about two protagonists who believe in themselves when others don’t. The 2004 release was jam-packed with Hollywood legends, with the likes of Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Hilary Swank. Making it a good year for those like us who enjoyed rooting for the underdog on the big screen.
Produced by Warner Bros, this captivating drama is about a woman who dreams of becoming a professional boxer. But first, she has to break down the barriers of stereotypes whilst being coached by an ageing man played by Clint Eastwood, who is pushing through the adversity of loneliness and watching his chances of true connection slip away. Both are striving for a dream that nobody sees but them. Released on the 15th of December 2004, Million Dollar Baby made many millions, $216.8 million to be exact.
The film was not only a box office success but a critics’ success too. Receiving seven Academy Awards, it took home four Oscars, including Best Picture. But only placed third on this list.
2. Rocky (1976)
As previously mentioned, it was inevitable that Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky would be on this list. Undoubtedly, the most iconic underdog movie in the history of film and, in turn, home to one of the most iconic film soundtracks in history. It was in the song Gonna Fly Now that we saw a young, aspiring boxer, unknown to the world, who was given a once-in-a-lifetime shot at becoming the heavyweight champion of the world.
A true underdog, Rocky makes do with limited training and unorthodox methods compared to his opponent’s equipment and support. However, the film isn’t about resources. It’s about how hard you get hit and keep moving forward. And the rest is history, and a few more films that made a lot of money.
In an interview in 2006, Stallone revealed it only took him three and a half days to write the script. Three and a half days would eventually make the film hundreds of millions of dollars after its release in December 1976, grossing $225 million. A bit more than the $300,000 he was offered for the rights to his script, but not enough to reach number one on this list.
1. The Blind Side (2009)
At number one on this list is the 2009 film The Blind Side. It’s not a film about winning championships or last-minute buzzer-beaters; it’s about a true story about the power of an opportunity. At its heart is Michael Oher, a teenager with nothing to his name and nowhere to go. His life takes a dramatic turn when he’s taken in by Leigh Anne Tuohy, played by Sandra Bullock, who won an Oscar for her role. What follows isn’t a fairy tale but a gritty, emotional journey that takes Oher to the NFL Draft and professional sport.
It’s an underdog story in every sense, just not the kind we’re used to seeing. Oher doesn’t train in a meat locker or gets beaten up by a reigning champion, but he battles something just as tough: the feeling of being without a home. And clearly, it caught people’s attention. Released in 2009, The Blind Side grossed over $309 million worldwide, making it the highest earner on this list. Not bad for a film about a big guy who almost slipped through the cracks.
