It is often said that sport has no place in fiction. Why would you script a drama based on the events sport consistently produces? The reality is far more entertaining. A good documentary is a testament to this and there are some great sports documentaries on Netflix right now.
In many ways, a good sports documentary is similar to a good film. Narrative, authenticity and compelling storylines are crucial. Netflix is home to some brilliant series and the same is true for the genre of sport. With the news that a new series on the life of legendary footballer David Beckham will be coming soon to Netflix, we've compiled a list of the best sports documentaries already available to watch on the service.
Sports Documentaries Netflix
Last Chance U
'Last Chance U' persists as the beat-for-beat perfect depiction of the brutality and hardship required to make a living playing American Football. The latest installation tilts away from the familiar setting of Scooba, Mississippi to another junior college in Independence, Kansas.
The show combines superb cinematography of America’s underbelly with the tales of various young American football hopefuls vying for Division 1 College Football.
This sports documentary isn't just one episode but five seasons and thus will require a lengthy commitment, but it is worth it.
Icarus
A must-have on any Netflix watch-list, and not just for sports documentaries.
The Academy Award-winning movie begins with documentary maker Bryan Fogel's experimental doping regime and suddenly finds itself in a global doping scandal. An eye-opener for sports fans and compelling for film fans.
The Battered Bastards of Baseball
A 2014 documentary film about the Portland Mavericks, a defunct minor league baseball team in Portland, Oregon. A riveting anti-establishment, underdog rages against the machine story that is a comfortable one hour and twenty-minute watch.
An underappreciated sports documentary on Netflix.
READ HERE: The Best Sports Documentaries To Check Out On Prime Video 2022
Team Foxcatcher
The life of Dave Schultz, a professional wrestler who was part of 'Team Foxcatcher.'
An engrossing story of murder and the fall-out that at times feels like a blockbuster thriller rather than a sports documentary on Netflix.
Formula 1: Drive To Survive
Whether you're an ardent F1 fan or you've drifted away from the sport in recent years, Formula 1: Drive to Survive will have you hooked. There are four seasons of the show to date, covering the 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 Formula 1 seasons, and it's a brilliant fly-on-the-wall insight to the most interesting storylines across the racing field.
While the likes of Lewis Hamilton etc might have grabbed the headlines each race weekend, Formula 1: Drive to Survive opens our eyes to the brilliant stories further back the paddock that we may not have been paying attention to.
READ HERE: How 'Drive To Survive' Has Changed Formula One In The USA
The Last Dance
You'd need to have been living under a rock to not have heard of The Last Dance but believe us, it's worth the hype. The documentary tells the story of Michael Jordan and the incredible Chicago Bulls team that dominated the NBA in the 1990s.
The behind the scenes footage of the 1998 season forms the basis of each episode but the majority of each episode is taken up by the stories of Jordan and the Bulls' rise to dominance and their fight to stay at the top.
Pelé
Telling the story of arguably the greatest footballer of all-time, Pelé gives you a fantastic insight into the Brazilian superstar.
Starting with his childhood, before moving the then 17-year old announcing his presence on the world stage at the 1958 World Cup, and slowly making its way through what was a stunning, if often controversial, career.
The documentary gives you an insight into one of the more interesting characters the world of sport has ever seen.
READ HERE: Here Are 13 Of The Best Series On Netflix Right Now
Sunderland Till I Die
We here at Balls are huge fans of Sunderland Till I Die, with the first season of the show providing absolutely everything you want in a sporting documentary. Drama, comedy, barely believable personalities, this one has it all.
It follows Sunderland's first season in the Championship after their relegation from the Premier League. While those at the club thought the cameras would capture a glorious return to the English top flight, they did quite the opposite. They would suffer another relegation, with no shortage of entertainment along the way.
The second season was just as entertaining, with arguably even more entertaining characters at the centre. You'd have to see some of the stuff that went on to even believe it.
READ HERE: The Stars Of Sunderland Til I Die Season 2: Where Are They Now?
Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez
The sporting world was rocked back in 2012 when NFL star Aaron Hernandez was arrested on suspicion of a double homicide. While the New England Patriots was a controversial character, he was also one of the most dominant young players in the league.
A multi part documentary, Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez tells the tale of how Hernandez went from troubled youth, to college and NFL football star, before eventually ending up in prison as a convicted killer.
It is an incredible watch.
Losers
Sporting documentaries are often filled with tales of glory, but rarely do we get an in-depth look at those who fall on the wrong side of history.
Losers tells the stories of those who failed on the biggest stage, and how they coped with those setbacks. Each of the eight episodes deals with different stories and sports, with football, boxing, golf, figure skating, dog sledding, and others all getting a look in.
Untold: Malice at the Palace
'The Malice at the Palace' was one of the most infamous events in NBA history, with a brawl breaking out during a game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers back in 2004. It featured players from both sides, with members of the Pacers even jumping into the crowd to confront some of the Detroit fans in the stands.
This documentary gives the inside story of what exactly happened on that night, as well as the far reaching reaching consequences for those involved.
Schumacher
Michael Schumacher is rightly remembered as one of the very best Formula 1 drivers of all time, and this documentary (made with the participation of his family, including his son and current F1 driver Mick Schumacher) is a riveting retelling of his time at the top.
The emotional documentary - which also deals with the aftermath of his skiing accident in 2013 - made waves when it was released last year, and it's a must watch.
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