10 of the most inspiring underdog films of all time can be found in this list because we could all use some inspiration now and then.
I mean, who doesn’t need a little inspiration now and again? I know I do. In tough times, when the world feels set against you, a little inspiration can go a long way, so the sheer power of a triumphant underdog story to help us through dark moments should never be underestimated.
10 of the Most Inspiring Underdog Films of All Time
In one way or another, we’re all the underdogs of our own stories, and cinema’s ability to tap into this is unparalleled, as it returns repeatedly to timeless against-all-odd stories designed to pull on our heartstrings and to keep us hoping until the very end.
With the imminent UK release of The Phantom of the Open – a true-life underdog story of one man living out his dream of participating in the British Open despite never playing a round of golf in his life – here are my top ten most inspiring underdog movies of all time.
10. KUNG FU PANDA (2008)
Armed with nothing but dreams and heart, the Jack Black-voiced Po is your quintessential underdog, as the kindly, rotund panda goes from serving noodles to kicking ass, as he embarks on an unlikely quest to become the kung fu master he was born to be.
Backed up by a witty script and some truly striking animation, Kung Fu Panda’s message is a simple yet effective one that marks itself out as a vibrant, heart-warming ode to dreaming big.
9. NEXT GOAL WINS (2014)
As they say, winning isn’t everything. Sometimes just not being last is good enough.
Honestly, not every underdog story has to end with the grandest of victories, as proven by Next Goal Wins – a true crowd-pleaser of a documentary that charts one country’s valiant attempts to not be the absolute worst.
Following the tiny island nation of American Samoa from being branded the worst football team in the world after their embarrassing 31-0 defeat to Australia, to their dogged attempts to escape the bottom of the global rankings, the true beauty of Next Goal Wins is in the modesty of its ambitions.
In many ways, this is the ultimate underdog story. While many sports movies recount tales of wildly gifted athletes overcoming epic hurdles, Next Goal Wins is a sports film for the rest of us that just aren’t quite good enough.
8. FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY (2019)
Pro-wrestling biopics may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s something about Fighting with My Family that, like its protagonist, feels a little different.
As a hulking slab of underdog cliché, the film could’ve easily fallen flat, yet thanks largely to a star-making performance from Florence Pugh, the film grows to become a rousing, fist-pumping celebration of the outsider in all of us.
Watch Fighting With My Family here.
7. HIDDEN FIGURES (2016)
Led wonderfully by an incredible trio of performances, Hidden Figures is a true inspirational crowd-pleaser.
The film is a testament to the importance of cinema in telling stories that would otherwise go unheard – in this case, the tale of three black women rising above prejudice and racial segregation to help America put its first satellite in space – and one that uses the simplicity of its message to reach as wide an audience as possible with its hugely inspirational message.
6. EDDIE THE EAGLE (2016)
As dogs go, they don’t come much under than Michael “Eddie” Edwards. Affectionately dubbed “Eddie the Eagle”, the ski jumper’s relentless pursuit of his Olympic dream, despite his obvious athletic shortcomings, embodies the kind of against-all-odds spirit that makes for such crowd-pleasing cinema.
Brought to life by Taron Egerton, Eddie is an amiable bundle of awkward energy and perfectly personifies a quintessentially British lovable loser spirit with enough sincerity and warmth to melt even the iciest of hearts.
5. COOL RUNNINGS (1993)
Based on the true story of Jamaica’s very first Olympic bobsled team, Cool Runnings is a stone-cold underdog classic, and inspirational not because anything particularly unexpected happens to them, but because of the unlikely group’s sheer determination to simply not humiliate themselves or their country.
Anchored by the late, great John Candy in what would be his final performance, Cool Runnings rises above its sports-movie cliches to become one of cinema’s true heart-warmers.
4. KING RICHARD (2021)
While King Richard doesn’t exactly do anything to shake up the sports biopic formula, it’s absolutely impossible to resist the film’s inspirational charms.
Recounting the meteoric rise of Venus and Serena Williams, it’s a pure against-all-odds crowd pleaser of a story, with Will Smith in inspired form as Richard Williams and backed up by fantastic performances from the two girls who portray the young sisters.
3. WILD ROSE (2018)
The musical has been on quite a ride lately and Wild Rose represents the peak of its recent resurgence. Part kitchen-sink drama, part rags-to-riches fairy tale, Wild Rose is as touching, emotionally nuanced, and as fist pumping as musicals get.
With the talented Jessie Buckley leading the line and backed up by some impressive tunes, Wild Rose is a classic and deeply satisfying rise-to-fame tale.
2. THE KARATE KID (1984)
A fist-pumping story that’s still being told to this day, The Karate Kid was amongst numerous underdog movies to come out of the 80s, yet remains one of the decades’ most enduring.
The story of Daniel LaRusso’s rise from troubled school kid to crane-kicking karate champion not only found box office success but would go on to inspire a generation to rise above the bullies and look badass while you’re doing it.
1. ROCKY (1976)
There’s no doubt about it, Rocky is the underdog story to end all underdog stories. Its tale of a down-and-out boxer getting a once in a lifetime shot at glory is a simple yet ruthlessly effective one.
Sylvester Stallone gives it everything he’s got in an against-all-odds story for the ages, one that would act as his own underdog tale, swiftly shooting the down-on-his-luck actor to fame and fortune, and going on to inspire an entire world to never throw in the towel no matter how tough things get.