Michael Andropolis
Search results
May 6, 2022 · Finish your run, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the best running movies our sport has to offer.
- Chariots of Fire. Chariots of Fire is arguably best known for its iconic original score, but it’s an incredible work in its own right. What’s more, this must-watch movie is based on a true story.
- The Barkley Marathons: the Race that Eats its Young. The Barkley Marathons is easily one of the most hardcore running documentaries out there. It focuses on the annual Tennessee ultramarathon of the same name.
- The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. Covering themes like classism, poverty, alienation, institutionalization, and privilege, the Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, is far more than a film about running.
- Saint Ralph. While not exclusively a running movie, Saint Ralph is a moving, life-affirming comedy. Ralph is a teenager who decides to run the Boston Marathon, believing it will wake his mother from a coma.
- ICARUS (2017) SCORE: 8.9/10. Avid amateur cyclist Bryan Fogel decides to make a documentary about how to get away with doping in endurance sports. At first, he intends to use himself as the test subject to improve his cycling performance and to show how the substances can remain undetectable.
- RUN LOLA RUN (1999) SCORE: 8.6/10. Although Run Lola Run isn’t a running movie in the traditional sense, it’s still an important element of the film. In this German thriller, Lola receives a phone call from her mob runner boyfriend who lost $100,000 of the mob’s money and only has 20 minutes to get it back!
- SPIRIT OF THE MARATHON (2007) SCORE: 8.1/10. Spirit of the Marathon follows six unique stories as each runner prepares for the 2005 Chicago Marathon. This movie highlights the experience of both elite runners (Deena Kastor and Daniel Njenga) and local Chicago participants with varying goals of qualifying for Boston to completing their first marathon.
- BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON (2018) SCORE: 8.1/10. Most running movies either fall into the drama or documentary category. But Brittany Runs a Marathon, is a pleasant comedic surprise.
- Chariots of Fire (1981) Perhaps one of the most famous running movies of all time, Chariots of Fire was released in 1981 to great acclaim. The movie has many great running scenes, most notably the iconic opening scene of the runners training barefoot along St Andrews beach.
- Forrest Gump (1994) No running movie list would be complete without mentioning Forrest Gump. While it isn’t considered a running movie, the scene in which Forrest (played by Tom Hanks) goes for a long run is perhaps one of the most famous running scenes in history.
- The Jericho Mile (1979) Stuck in Folsom State Prison for a murder charge, inmate Larry ‘Rain’ Murphy (played by Peter Strauss) spends much of his time running around the prison yard.
- Spirit of the Marathon (2007) This movie should be on everyone’s running movies list. Directed by Jon Dunham, the movie focuses on a group of six runners, including 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor, as they train for the 2005 Chicago Marathon.
- Chariots of Fire (1981) Runners in white, training on an empty beach, their bare feet splashing in the surf. The opening scene of Chariots of Fire is just one of the many inspiring scenes in this classic movie.
- Rocky (1976) Rocky is not a running movie, per se. Rather, it’s the underdog story of Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer who becomes the heavyweight challenger of the world.
- Forrest Gump (1994) From running to escape his bullies (“Run, Forrest, run!”) to running across America just because he felt like it, Forrest Gump delivers some of the most powerful running scenes in movie history.
- Prefontaine (1997) This running movie is based on the true story of legendary runner Steve Prefontaine. As a distance runner, Steve Prefontaine set American records in the 2,000-meter, 5,000-meter, and 10,000-meter events.
Oct 20, 2023 · Movies about running—whether they’re long or short—don’t just entertain us; they remind us that running is about personal growth and unlocking our own potential. These are the best running movies, from documentaries to biopics and indie films to blockbusters.
Apr 10, 2023 · Looking for some running inspiration or a good story to watch? Check out this list of the best running movies of all time, from documentaries to classics to comedies. You'll find movies about marathons, cross country, track, and more.
