Whether or not you cherish the day (or even remember much from it), Homecoming is one of Cornell’s liveliest traditions. Cursing out a school we got painfully rejected from, watching a sport we don’t care enough about to understand and passionately posting nonsense on Sidechat? Talk about a hallmark of the Ivy experience!
Nevertheless, as lasers scintillate in the starlit skies above Schoellkopf Field and you down another box of those too-good-to-be-true apple cider donuts, I’ve compiled a list of the best sports movies to help you channel HOCO energy before we journey into the depths of the gloomy winter season.
- The Blind Side (2009)
I get it, round one of prelims drained your soul and left you breaking down in the Olin library again. The cure to your heartache lies in emotional release by watching a movie sure to leave you reaching for six-ply tissues.
Based on the award-winning biography by Michael Lewis, The Blind Side brilliantly chronicles the life of football player Michael Oher. Oher grapples with a painful past marked by poverty, familial drug addiction and confinement to the foster care system.
From a turbulent childhood to starting in the NFL, this evocative tale will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the struggles athletes endure behind closed doors. Trust me, this is an absolute must-watch.
- Race (2016)
As an avid hater of Netflix films, I would say Race is one of the platform’s hidden gems. Amid domestic and international racial tensions, track star Jesse Owens finds himself attending the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
In the face of restrictive Jim Crow Laws at home and growing Nazi influence in Berlin, Owens sets or ties six world records and takes home four gold medals. This feel-good, historical and still all-too-relevant movie highlights three years of Owens’ defiant life. We watch him grow as a person and win against all odds, and get an intimate glimpse into the emotional journey experienced by athletes.
- Young Women and the Sea (2024)
I feel morally obligated to include Young Women and the Sea on this list. This soul-quenching film unveils the unknown story of Gertrude (Trudy) Ederle, the first woman to swim across the English Channel, a feat previously attempted only by men.
While infected with measles, Trudy witnesses the overturn of a burning ferry. She later learns of the staggering number of female deaths due to their incapacity to swim. She grows fascinated by the water, and despite being faced with prejudice and lingering side effects from her measles diagnosis, she defies the prevailing sexist notions by setting the world record for crossing the English Channel.
Even as she loses her way, the love and light of her supporters lit bonfires to help her reach the finish line. This riveting tale is sure to inspire you — and to make you a little more grateful for the dreaded Cornell swimming requirement.
- Honorable mention: High School Musical 2 (2007)
I know what you’re thinking. High School Musical 2, while not a traditional sports movie, is truly pivotal in the franchise’s legacy — and arguably has the best playlist.
Set in the summer following the iconic first film, Troy Bolton and the Wildcats gang land summer jobs at the Lava Springs Country Club, owned by Sharpay Evans’ parents. After discovering the other employed Wildcats, particularly her arch-nemesis Gabriella Montez, Sharpay insists on creating a miserable work environment to drive them out. As she vies for Bolton’s heart, Evans maliciously strives to ruin romantic interludes between Troy and Gabriella, stirring drama among the gang.
While set in a high school environment, I promise the themes of ungodly jealousy will hit closer to home than you realize — especially in the messy world of athletics. And, of course, how can you go wrong with a little nostalgia as you recover from that pounding headache?
As you prepare for game day, I hope you enjoy some much-needed movie nights with friends. Let’s protect Touchdown’s relatives this Homecoming weekend. Watch these films in your dorm lounges instead of partaking in nefarious activities against bear carcasses — please, we can’t let Colgate see our disunity. Surely, as overworked Cornell students, we should find better pastimes — and sports movies seem to be the best option!
Ava Tafreshi is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at ant63@cornell.edu.
