The CRISP. List : Best Sports Documentaries To Watch

On the back of the success of Netflix’s The Last Dance – an in-depth look at Michael Jordan and the Bulls dynasty in the 90’s – coupled with the need for satisfying the itch for more sport, we’ve compiled a list of sports documentaries you’re able to find on your streaming services to fill the void.

 

Netflix

 

The Carter Effect

More basketball to start with and this time it’s an expose on the high-flying dunk master Vince Carter and his impact on the city of Toronto and the game of basketball in general. A true showman of the sport, we get a glimpse into the life and mind of one of the sport’s most entertaining players.

 

 

Icarus

Winner at Sundance as well as the Academy Award for best documentary, this 2018 feature offers a deep insight into doping in sport – specifically how intrinsic its impact has been in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games with the Russian team taking centre stage.

The story unravels as more and more evidence is offered to lead a thought-provoking debate on doping in all sports and its political influences.

 

 

Sunderland Till I Die

This documentary while detailing the goings-on at a club fighting for stability offers its finest insight when delving into the relationship between the fans and the club. Every fan will be able to relate to those featured in the show – especially fans of clubs who aren’t typically battling at the top of the Premier League.

You begin to feel a great deal of empathy for the fans when you see how much investment they have in the club they love, and the way the performances on the pitch can disillusion the fan base – a documentary that proves football is more than a game.

 

 

Last Chance U

A look at the challenges faced by two Junior College American Football teams from Kansas and Mississippi.

The series looks at student-athletes who are more often than not coming from impoverished backgrounds filled with drugs, abuse, and violence, as well as the outrageous coaches that aim to lead their teams to glory for towns that rarely see much action other than community college sports.

 

 

You can watch the above documentaries as well as others including; Gascoigne, Bobby Robson “More Than A Manager”, and Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez on Netflix. 

 

Amazon Prime

 

All or Nothing

The All or Nothing series offers an unprecedented look into the dressing rooms and training grounds of some of sports great teams including Manchester City, the New Zealand Rugby Team, and several American Football teams. The access – particularly in the case of the Manchester City documentary is something you rarely get to see, and looking into the workings of a club with possibly the best manager in the world at their helm is something every football fan should see.

The upcoming season will feature the progress of Tottenham Hotspur during the 2019/2020 season and will likely feature the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino and the impact of Covid-19.

 

 

This Is Football

A 6-episode miniseries that delves into the sport from different aspects including that of a fanatical Liverpool fan club from war-torn Rwanda, Iceland and their surprising success at the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia, and the genius of Messi.

Each episode looks centre’s on different emotions and how they can be offered through the great game including; Love, Wonder, Belief, Chance, Redemption, and Pride.

 

 

Building Jerusalem

Serial sports documentary maker James Erskine’s (One Night in Turin, The Battle of the Sexes are also available on Amazon Prime) film presents the development of England’s Rugby team from amateurish setup to World Cup winners.

Insight is offered by key figures including Jonny Wilkinson, captain Martin Johnson and coach Clive Woodward. Whether you’re a fan of the sport or not the progression of the team from obscurity to titans is awe-inspiring.

 

 

Death of a Gentleman

A look into the battle between test cricket and the more glamorous short forms of the game which details the lengths to which some of the largest global cricketing organisations like the ECB, BCCI, and CA will go to gain success at the expense of traditionally smaller cricketing nations.

Other documentaries available on Amazon Prime include the boxing films Tyson – The Movie and Mr Calzaghe and Do You Want To Win which looks at the final Division 1 season before the Premier League was established, and more.

 

YouTube

 

The Brady 6: Journey of the Legend No One Wanted

An interesting look at how 6 other quarterbacks were picked before the Patriots selected the 199th pick and eventual GOAT Tom Brady.