Sometimes criticized for its inability to reproduce realistic sporting performances, cinema remains closely connected to sport. There is a plethora of critically acclaimed feature films that pay homage to athletes. Here’s the TOP 10 best sports movies to test a home theater system.
Southpaw (2015)
What better way to open this Top 10 list of the best sports movies to test your home theater than with a feature-length film devoted to boxing? Jake Gyllenhaal stars in Southpaw with Rachel McAdams and Forest Whitaker. The movie, directed by Antoine Fuqua, benefits from the director’s action know-how (Training Day, The Equalizer). The boxing matches of the main character, Billy Hope, are ultra-realistic, making every blow almost palpable.
The boxing scenes in Southpaw offer intense dynamics, with the impact of blows requiring a clear, powerful bass reproduction. A good home theater system should be able to convey the brutality and force of these blows without distortion, while retaining the detail of more subtle noises, such as the squeaking of shoes in the ring or the boxers’ breathing, for a completely immersive experience.
- AlloCiné: 4.1/5
- IMDb: 7.3/10
- Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Available on DVD and Blu-ray; on Prime Video, YouTube and Apple TV
Eddie the Eagle (2016)
Directed by Dexter Fletcher before his two major successes Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) and Rocketman (2019), Eddie the Eagle is a biopic inspired by the life of Michael Edwards. Despite his rather ordinary physical abilities, this Briton dreams of taking part in the Olympic Games. Through self-sacrifice and his mother’s unwavering support, he manages to qualify as a ski jumper for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
This feel-good movie, mixed in Dolby Digital 5.1, is ideal for testing your home theater system. The sound of the wind, the impact of the skis on snow and the breath of Eddie, played by Taron Egerton, allow you to check the accuracy of the speakers. What’s more, Matthew Margeson’s eighties-inspired soundtrack alone makes the film worth watching. Add to this a cast featuring Hugh Jackman and Christopher Walken, and you’ve got a great movie to watch on your own or with the family.
- AlloCiné: 4.1/5
- IMDb: 7.3/10
- Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Available on DVD and Blu-ray; on Prime Video, YouTube and Apple TV
Ford v Ferrari (2019)
This film tells the true story of the team of American engineers and designers led by Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and his driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale). They are commissioned by Ford to build a revolutionary racing car capable of beating Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from scratch. James Mangold received praise for his dynamic and suspenseful portrayal of the races, which puts viewers right in the cockpit with the drivers.
What better way to test your home theater audio system than with a film that won the Oscar for Best Sound Editing in 2020 and was nominated for Best Sound Mixing? The impact of bass, the clarity of dialogue despite the roar of engines, high frequencies without distortion to perceive the squeal of tires, dynamics and spatialization will all reveal the true capabilities of your home theater system. This feature-length film is one of the benchmarks in its field, so we had to add it to our 10 best sports films for testing your audio system.
- AlloCiné: 4.3/5
- IMDb: 8.1/10
- Audio: Dolby Atmos
Available on DVD, HD Blu-ray and UHD Blu-ray; on Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube and Apple TV
Invictus (2009)
Clint Eastwood’s feature film deals with tolerance and forgiveness through the Springboks’ triumph at the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. Morgan Freeman takes on the role of Nelson Mandela, the South African president seeking national unity after years of apartheid, while Matt Damon plays François Pienaar, the rugby team captain.
The DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track for Invictus reveals the full potential of your home theater system. The main theme, simply titled “Invictus Theme”, offers solemn, contemplative music led by a trumpet and accompanied by string harmonies. Crowd scenes also offer an opportunity to judge the spatialization of your audio installation.
- AlloCiné: 4.1/5
- IMDb: 7.3/10
- Sound: English (DTS HD Master Audio 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Available on DVD, HD Blu-ray; on Prime Video, YouTube and Apple TV
Borg vs McEnroe (2017)
In 2017, Janus Metz Pedersen brings one of the greatest sporting rivalries of the early 80s to the screen: the duel between Björn Borg and John McEnroe. Everything pits the two tennis players against each other. Placid and experienced, Borg is the embodiment of ice, while his volcanic opponent symbolizes fire with his ardor and exuberance on the court. The film recounts the battle at the 1980 Wimbledon tournament, the scene of the first Grand Slam final between the two players.
Borg vs. McEnroe is an aesthetically pleasing film, thanks to its use of slow motion shots, but the sound mix also lets you makes the most of a multi-channel home theater system. The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track covers a wide range of frequencies capable of pushing your system to its limits. The final scene between the two players crystallizes all the sonic complexity of the film. The energy of the crowd, the intensity of the physical duel and the tension that reigns at key moments offer a wide dynamic range ideal for testing your home theater system.
- AlloCiné: 3.7/5
- IMDb: 6.9/10
- Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Available on DVD, HD Blu-ray; on Prime Video, YouTube and Apple TV
Rocky (1976)
A classic film, Rocky tells the story of a popular boxer. The courage and determination shown by Sylvester Stallone’s character moved audiences. Boxing is one of the sports that is most suited to being portrayed in movies. The sport’s values, drama and unique setting are perfect ingredients for the big screen.
Sound effects in fight scenes, footsteps in running shots and the famous soundtrack, including the legendary theme “Gonna Fly Now”, are key elements that test the quality of bass and the frequency response of your audio system. The ability to faithfully reproduce Bill Conti’s music, with its dynamics and emotional impact, is a good indicator of the performance of your home theater system.
- AlloCiné: 4.1/5
- IMDb: 8.1/10
- Sound: English (DTS HD Master Audio 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Available on DVD, 4K Blu-ray; on Prime Video, YouTube and Apple TV
Iron Claw (2023)
In 2023, Sean Durkin brought the true story of the Von Erich family to the big screen. The family is a dynasty of American wrestlers with a tumultuous history. Drama, spectacle and ambition punctuate the script, starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson. Like boxing, wrestling proves to be a perfect sport for movies.
Iron Claw is a film that emotionally grips the viewer. This represents the ultimate test for any home theater system: can the audio setup create an immersive experience that transports you? Your audio system’s ability to deliver a captivating cinematographic experience is perhaps the most significant test of all. Spectacular battle scenes need to create an immersive experience, while ensuring clear dialogue to understand what’s at stake for each character. This film is naturally included in our Top 10 best sports movies for testing a home theater system.
- AlloCiné: 4/5
- IMDb: 7.6/10
- Sound: English (DTS HD Master Audio 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Available on DVD, 4K Blu-ray; on Prime Video, YouTube and Apple TV
Any Given Sunday (1999)
This feature-length film directed by Oliver Stone fascinates film and sports fans alike. It offers an uncompromising look at the often difficult realities of the professional world. It is also often cited as one of the most memorable sports films for its ability to capture the spirit and complexity of American football.
With a five-star cast including Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, James Woods and Jamie Foxx, your home theater system has to be up to the task! Sound effects during matches are particularly useful for evaluating the surround system of your home theater. The impact of tackles, the sound of whistles and the euphoria of the crowd reveal the precision with which your installation reproduces the soundscape and audio directionality.
- AlloCiné: 3.5/5
- IMDb: 6.9/10
- Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Available on DVD, Blu-ray; on Prime Video, YouTube and Apple TV
Air (2023)
Air blends basketball and marketing through the fascinating story of the creation of Nike’s famous Air Jordan sneaker. This collaboration has become a cultural and commercial phenomenon. The film tells the story of the strategic and sometimes risky efforts made by Nike, in particular Sonny Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon), to sign Michael Jordan, then a rising basketball star, despite internal reluctance and fierce competition from other brands.
Music plays a crucial role in Air, setting the mood for the 80s and underlining the film’s dramatic moments. A good home theater system should reproduce the soundtrack with richness and depth, allowing the musical nuances to perfectly complement the story without overwhelming the dialogue. In addition, game scenes use dynamic sound effects that test bass response and your system’s ability to handle fast-moving action sounds (dribbles, crowd, whistles, etc.).
- AlloCiné: 3.9/5
- IMDb: 7.4/10
- Sound: English (Dolby Atmos), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Available on Blu-ray; on Prime Video
King Richard (2021)
King Richard examines the crazy gamble of Richard Williams. This biopic reveals how this American, with no knowledge of top-level tennis, devised a 78-page training program for his daughters, Serena and Venus, from an early age. The program has only one aim: to lead them to success and glory. To defend his ideas, Richard goes so far as to stand up to well-known coaches.
In this feature film by Reinaldo Marcus Green, the theatricality of tennis is magnified by the quality of the sound mix. In Dolby Digital 5.1 format, it’s an ideal test case for a multi-channel audio system. The cries, the tension of a match and the inner struggle waged by each of the characters played by Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis and Jon Bernthal offer gripping sound immersion. The film rounds off our Top 10 sports films for home theater testing.
- AlloCiné: 4/5
- IMDb: 7.5/10
- Sound: English (Dolby Atmos), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Available on DVD, Blu-ray; on Prime Video, YouTube and Apple TV
Sport and cinema have enjoyed a close relationship for many decades. In this list, we could also mention films such as Jappeloup, Point Break, Moneyball and Space Jam, which allow you to test the capabilities of a home theater system while enjoying a good movie.
