What Are the Best Coaching Movies?

Best coaching movies are the movies in which coaches are shown in a positive light. Coaching movies portray the coaching profession as a profession that is committed to helping people to become the best versions of themselves; whether the movie is related to sports coaching, life coaching, business coaching, or coach learning. Some of the best coaching movies are Remember the Titans, Major League, Coach Carter, Peaceful Warrior, and The Karate Kid which add a great deal to the existing coaching definition. 

Watching a film related to coaching meaning is important because it elaborates on how effective coaches do their job and how difficult their job is at times. People are able to learn a great deal about coaches, what does coaching do, and the importance of coaching as a profession for society. 

The content of general coaching movies sometimes makes people aware of their own problems and sheds light on the significance of consulting a professional when one feels lost in any aspect of life. Another benefit of a coaching movie is that it motivates more and more people to join the coaching profession, promotes coaching in education, and is more empathetic and kinder toward the people around them. 

1. Remember the Titans (2000)

Remember the Titans is a feel-good movie that is not as much about football as it is about showing spiritual growth.

Remember the Titans is a movie based on true events and showcases the story of the first black football coach who manages a football team with racially diverse players. The plot of Remember the Titans is set in a high school in Alexandria, a town in suburban Virginia. The period shown in the movie is the 1970s in which two schools that were racially segregated for ages are forced to merge together by law. The team is coached by an African-American coach named Herman Boone, and it shows how the passion for a game intertwines with society and creates a bond between people that goes beyond their appearances. The director of the film, Remember the Titans, is Boaz Yakin. The coach in the movie is Herman Boone, who is a real-life character and was played by Denzel Washington. 

Remember the Titans has been reviewed by a number of critics, among which the review by the Washington Post tops the list. The Washington Post says that it’s a feel-good movie that is not as much about football as it is about showing spiritual growth. The film has a solid direction, a sure script, and a dazzling performance by Denzel Washington, according to one of the reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes while to some other reviewers, the film is somewhat boring, yet very emotional. 

2. Major League (1989)

The film Major League has a balance of comedy and melodrama and a pleasant watch that does not aim too high but is still pretty funny.

Major League is a sports comedy film that shows an exotic dancer, Rachel Phelps, who inherits a baseball club from her deceased husband and wants to move the club to Miami from Cleveland in search of a warmer climate and better stadiums. The only way to do so, however, is to plummet ticket sales. Therefore, she puts together the most horrible team that has a near-blind pitcher, a catcher with bad knees, and other players who are just as bad. The plot of Major League takes a turn when after an initial failure, the team begins to win because the attitude of the owner fosters a can-do spirit in the players and Ms. Phelps’s plan fails. Major League, is directed by David S. Ward. The coach in the Major League is Lou Brown, brought to life by actor James Gammon.

Major League has been reviewed by several people and websites on the internet among which the critics of Rotten Tomatoes and the user reviews by IMDB are notable ones. The reviews on both sites suggest that the film has a balance of comedy and melodrama and a pleasant watch that does not aim too high but is still pretty funny. The movie has been reviewed as refreshingly light and a pleasant change from all of the feel-good movies of the late 1980s. 

3. Coach Carter (2005)

Coach Carter is an inspirational sports drama with a terrific story that you emotionally connect to, mainly due to the remarkable performance of Samuel L. Jackson as the coach.

Coach Carter is a movie based on the story of a real-life coach, Ken Carter who accepts the position of sports coach at his old school, Richmond High. The school basketball team consists of unprivileged kids of the surrounding community and the performance of the athletes is not very promising, to say the least. Coach Carter, one of the best basketball players of his time, trains and motivates the players to perform better on the field. Additionally, he makes athletes sign a contract according to which they are bound to attend all of their classes and maintain an average of C grade in all the subjects in order to make sure their education is not affected by the game. Coach Carter, is directed by Thomas Carter. The coach portrayed in the film is Ken Carter who is a real-life character and was played by Samuel L. Jackson. 

Coach Carter has been given reviews all over the internet, including reviews on Google, Rotten Tomatoes, IMDB, and other film-related sites like Common Sense Media. The reviews state that the film is an inspirational sports drama with a terrific story that you emotionally connect to, mainly due to the remarkable performance of Samuel L. Jackson as the coach. Most reviewers say that the plot is great and so is the direction and the story accompanied by a unique ending that makes it a tremendous movie. 

4. The Karate Kid (1984)

The Karate Kid is considered one of the best movies of 1984 for its exciting plot and sweet story that depicts a heartwarming but unusual and interesting friendship between an old man and a teenager.

The Karate Kid narrates the story of a teenager named Daniel who moves to California from New Jersey with his mom and soon becomes the target of bullies in his new school. The head of the bullies in The Karate Kid is a black belt in karate and the whole group has a violent attitude due to the teachings of their Karate master who is from Vietnam. Daniel gets saved on one occasion by a Japanese Gardener, Mr. Miyagi, who later becomes his Karate master. Mr. Miyagi trains Daniel and teaches him the art of defending himself in an unusual way, which helps Daniel to do more than just fight the violent kids. Karate Kid was directed by John G. Avildsen. The coach in the movie is Mr. Miyagi, and the character is portrayed by Pat Morita who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in the movie. 

The Karate Kid, as the reviews state, surpasses your expectations in many ways. It is considered one of the best movies of 1984 for its exciting plot and sweet story that depicts a heartwarming but unusual and interesting friendship between an old man and a teenager. The movie is predictable, yet not even slightly disappointing for the excellent acting of Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita who played Daniel and Mr. Miyagi respectively.

5. Peaceful Warrior (2006)

Peaceful Warrior is an excellent adaptation of the book which narrates an interesting yet somewhat strange story of a gymnast and is far from being your ordinary spiritual movie.

Peaceful Warrior is based on the life of the author of a best-seller book of 1980, Dan Millman. The plot of Peaceful Warrior revolves around a gymnast, Dan, who is on the Berkley College athlete team and apparently has more than most people around with his straight As in academics and by being always surrounded by girls due to his handsome looks. Dan is an insomniac and is not satisfied with his life despite his perfect grades and seemingly perfect life. Things take a turn when Dan meets Socrates, a rather older service station operator. Peaceful Warrior is directed by Victor Salva. The role of Coach Socrates is played by Nick Nolte. 

Peaceful Warrior is rated as a below-average movie that fails to live up to its source material on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie has been given a rating of 7.2 out of 10 on IMDB and 4.7 out of 5 on Google, which is definitely above average. The reviews on IMDB state that the movie is one of the first spiritual movies that really works and it is considered one of the best movies of the year. Peaceful Warrior is an excellent adaptation of the book which narrates an interesting yet somewhat strange story of a gymnast and is far from being your ordinary spiritual movie, according to the reviewers and critics on IMDB. 

6. Chariots of Fire (1981)

Chariots of Fire has been regarded as a film that is charming, well-acted, and well-directed. The movie was nominated for Oscars in seven categories, out of which it won four, including best screenplay, best original score, and best picture.

Chariots of Fire is based on the true story of two British athletes who competed in the 1924 Olympics held in Paris. One of the athletes in Chariots of Fire is Harold Abrahams, a Jew who faces antisemitism from Cambridge staff when he competes against the flying Scotsman Eric Liddell, who is a devoted Christiane. Liddell even sees running as something that is helping him to glorify God before he returns to China to continue working as a missionary. Abrahams, after being beaten by Liddell in running initially, is helped by a professional trainer and coach Sam Mussabini who guides him to improve his technique and compete against Liddell by winning more gold medals for Britain in the 1924 Paris Olympics. Chariots of Fire is directed by Hugh Hudson and it was his first feature film. The coach in the film is Sam Mussabini, a real-life character that is portrayed in the film by Ian Holm. 

Chariots of Fire has been regarded as a film that is charming, well-acted, and well-directed. The movie was nominated for Oscars in seven categories, out of which it won four, including best screenplay, best original score, and best picture. Chariots of Fire is so good in many aspects that the New York Times called it an exceptional film about exceptional people. Rotten Tomatoes stated that the movie is somewhat slow, yet it makes excellent use of patriotic and spiritual themes while reviewers at IMDB have mostly regarded Chariots of Fire as a film having a powerful story that is truly inspirational and is regarded as a classic. 

7. Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Million Dollar Baby has been widely regarded as a beautiful, yet sad film by the viewers with some unforgettable performances. 

Million Dollar Baby is an American dramatic film that revolves around Frankie Dunn, a California-based boxing coach and trainer, and his trainee, the 31-year-old Missouri waitress Maggie Fitzgerald. Frankie in Million Dollar Baby is portrayed as a somewhat old-school trainer who keeps everyone at bay and avoids getting too close to people for too long since he was estranged from his only daughter. The story of Frankie and Maggie is narrated by Eddie, who is Frankie’s only friend and looks after Frankie’s run-down gym. Maggie is enthusiastic and determined, which makes her boxing career skyrocket, and she gets popular until she has an accident in the ring and asks Frankie for one last favor. The movie was directed by Clint Eastwood who plays coach Frankie Dunn as well. 

Million Dollar Baby is a rare combination of great direction and a strong plot. The outstanding performance from the actors and very moving story add to the overall excellence of the film and turn it into a masterpiece. The user reviews at IMDB state that Million Dollar Baby is a total knockout and a movie that will be remembered for years to come. The film was nominated for Oscars in seven categories and ended up winning four, including best picture, best director, best actress, and best supporting actor. It has been widely regarded as a beautiful, yet sad film by the viewers with some unforgettable performances. 

8. We Are Marshall (2006)

We Are Marshall is a feel-good sports movie that is uplifting. 

We Are Marshall is a movie that is based on true events. We Are Marshall shows how the game of football is revived after a tragic plane crash in which the entire football team and coaches of Marshall University died. This revival happens thanks to the efforts of a player of the unfortunate football team, Nate Ruffin, who missed the fatal flight because of an injury, and a coach named Jack Lengyel. The story in We Are Marshall is set in the small town of Huntington, West Virginia, and the year shown in the movie is 1971. The movie shows how coach Jack, with the assistance of Nate, not only revives the game of football in the town but heals a grieving community while doing so as well. The movie, We Are Marshall, is directed by Joseph McGinty Nichol, known professionally as McG. The coach in the movie is Jack Lengyel, a character that is played by Matthew McConaughey. 

We Are Marshall is rated 7/10 by IMDB, 4.5 by viewers at Google, and given a percentage of 79 by Rotten Tomatoes. However, it has received mixed reviews. Reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes say that it is just another feel-good sports movie that is uplifting yet shallow and is harmed by the awful performance of Matthew McConaughey as coach Jack Lengyel. The worst analysis of the film is done by none other than the NY Times, in which the review states that We Are Marshall is nothing but rah-rah. 

9. The Miracle Season (2018)

The Miracle Season goes for heartstrings and tear ducts and is therefore emotional. 

The Miracle Season is a coaching movie based on a true story directed by Sean McNamara. The coach in The Miracle Season is Kathy Bresnahan, a role that is brought to life by Helen Hunt. The movie has quite a tragic beginning when the star player of Iowa City West High School Volleyball Team, Caroline Line Founder, has an accident and passes away. This happens at a time when the volleyball championship is about to come and everyone in the town has high hopes to win once again, like they did the previous year. Caroline’s sudden and unexpected death makes everyone sad until coach Kathy Bresnahan approaches Caroline’s best friend Kelley to convince her to return to the volleyball field. Kelley refuses at first but later encourages the whole school to continue for Caroline’s sake. 

The Miracle Season has received mixed reviews on the internet. NY Times called it a manipulative weepie in its review. The movie received a rating of 6.5 on IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes states that it could be emotionally uplifting but the story is told too aggressively with one-dimensional characters and therefore it fails to impact the audience. One of the critics has stated that The Miracle Season goes for heartstrings and tear ducts instead of truly being a sports drama, which has weakened the film’s structure.     

10. The King’s Speech (2010)

The film, The King’s Speech, is stylishly produced and the critics go as far as calling The King’s Speech an uplifting audience pleaser that is a joy to watch.

The King’s Speech is a biopic about King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II, who struggled all his life with a speech impediment and a horrible stammer, which made him scared to speak in any public event. The King’s Speech tells the story of how the king manages to overcome these obstacles with the help of a speech therapist. The king has to address the public after ascending the throne, so his wife, the future Queen Mother Elizabeth-I hires the unconventional speech therapist and actor Lional Logue to help her husband. Lional is not a doctor with a medical degree but uses a variety of techniques to help the king overcome his impediment. An extraordinary friendship develops between the two men along the way, which remains till death. The movie is directed by Tom Hooper. The coach in the movie is the speech therapist Lional Logue, a character played by Geoffrey Rush. 

The King’s Speech has received great reviews on the internet. The NY Times states in their review that the movie is an interesting watch and wears history lightly, while The Guardian establishes that the film is gripping with great direction and acting. Rotten Tomatoes includes in their review that the film is stylishly produced while the critics go as far as calling The King’s Speech an uplifting audience pleaser that is a joy to watch. The film has received a rating of 8/10 on IMDB and has been given 4.7 stars out of five by audiences on Google. 

What Is a Coaching Movie?

A coaching movie is a movie in which coaches are shown in a positive light and portray the coaching profession as a profession that is committed to helping people become the best versions of themselves, whether it is sports coaching, life coaching, business coaching, or coach learning. 

Coaching movies are a form of art in which the coach is the main character which hugely impacts the lives of their coachees or the men they train. Coaching movies give an idea of the challenges and opportunities one may face while pursuing a career in coaching as well. Coaching movies are usually great, but almost none of them have shown the great role The International Coaching Federation has played in improving the quality of coaching services all over the world. Therefore, there must be a movie that elaborates on this as well. 

How to Choose the Best Coaching Movie?

Have a look at the criticism of the theme of the film done by an authentic source when choosing the best coaching movie, such as the NY Times or Rotten Tomatoes. There are several other websites available that tell you about the coaching movies that are worth watching in the genre of your choice. 

Make a list of the best movies suggested by most websites that have a great storyline to help you choose the best coaching movie. Next, look through film magazines as well and go through the filmographies of great directors, i.e., the directors who have managed to make unforgettable movies in a short time. Lastly, analyze your own needs, read the plots of different movies on Google or on sites like IMDB, and choose which movie suits your situation best. 

What Is the Best Netflix Series About Coaches?

The Playbook is an American Docuseries on Netflix that has been deemed the best Netflix series about coaches. The Playbook focuses on the journey of athletes who turned into coaches. It is a limited series consisting of 5 episodes and in each episode, an athlete-turned-coach sheds light on their experiences as a coach, explaining the key principles that they learnt during their career. The series is produced by  LeBron James and Maverick Carter, and the coaches that appear on the series include the following: 

• Doc Rivers, the man behind the Los Angeles Clippers
• Jill Ellis, the woman behind two FIFA World Cup wins
• Jose Mourinho, a Premier League manager
• Patrick Mouratoglou, coach to Serena Williams
• Dawn Staley, basketball Hall of Famer & coach

What Are Some Sports Movies About Coaching?

Sports movies about coaching include movies like Coach Carter, The Karate Kid, We Are Marshall, The Blind Side, Bull Durham, and many more. The remarkable thing about the best sports movies about coaches is that these movies exclusively focus on a particular game, take football for example, and show how a coach transforms the game, or the team which lacks the enthusiasm and winning spirit. 

What Lessons Can Be Learned from Coaching Films?

There are many lessons that one can learn from coaching movies, including persistence and perseverance, the importance of setting clear goals, and the value of focus. Some of the useful lessons that can be learned from coaching films are given below.

• Persistence and perseverance. The coaching films teach us a lesson to continue, to remain persistent no matter what the odds are if we want to move forward in life. 
• Setting clear goals. Setting clear goals is an invaluable skill one must learn, and this is the skill that is emphasized the most in coaching movies. 
• The value of focus. Being able to keep your focus is significant if you want to achieve your goals and that is something that is taught by coaching movies as well. 
• Providing value to others. Coaching movies teach us that as coaches if we work sincerely to provide value to others, good things happen for us as well. 
• The importance of teamwork. Coaching movies show us how teamwork helps overcome the worst of problems. 

Do Coaching Films Highlight the Importance of Mentorship?

Yes, coaching films highlight the importance of mentorship. Coaching films show how an effective coach has the power to transform the beliefs and actions of not only one individual but sometimes that whole team or even the community. Additionally, coaching films tell their viewers how they are able to support and help an individual with whatever they know in their journey of personal development, which is an act of mentorship. 

Do Coaching Films Emphasize the Importance of Learning from Failure?

Yes, coaching films emphasize the importance of learning from failure. Coaching films show how, after failing multiple times, an individual or a team analyzes their performance with the help of a coach, overcomes their personal or professional lacking, and eventually succeeds in winning the game. 

Is Watching a Coaching Movie Better Than Reading a Coaching Book?

Reading a coaching book and watching a coaching movie are two completely different acts that must not be compared. Whether you prefer watching a coaching movie or reading a coaching book depends on your personal preference. Watching a coaching movie makes it easier to consume the content but reading a coaching book provides more in-depth knowledge and helps one to remember that knowledge for a longer period.