AFI described sports films as "a genre of films with protagonists who play athletics or other games of competition. Whether smashing a ball into the outfield, landing a right hook in the final round or crossing a finish line to the roar of a crowd, sports movies create myths and larger-than-life heroes. The stakes in sports may be simple—someone wins and someone loses—but cheering for a character who faces adversity and aims for the top is an exhilarating reminder of the power of the human spirit."

(Winners marked with this icon and ranking number)

1. ALI, Columbia, 2001
2. ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD, MGM, 1951
3. ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, Warner Bros., 1999
4. THE BAD NEWS BEARS, Paramount, 1976
5. BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY, Paramount, 1973
6. THE BINGO LONG TRAVELING ALL-STARS & MOTOR KINGS, Universal, 1976
7. BODY AND SOUL, United Artists, 1947
8. BREAKING AWAY, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1979 (# 8)
9. BULL DURHAM, Orion, 1988 (# 5)
10. CADDYSHACK, Orion, 1980 (# 7)
11. CHAMPION, United Artists, 1949
12. CHARIOTS OF FIRE, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1981
13. THE COLOR OF MONEY, Touchstone, 1986
14. COOL RUNNINGS, Touchstone, 1993
15. DAMN YANKEES!, Warner Bros., 1958
16. DOWNHILL RACER, Paramount, 1969
17. EIGHT MEN OUT, Orion, 1988
18. FEAR STRIKES OUT, Paramount, 1957
19. FIELD OF DREAMS, Universal, 1989
20. THE FRESHMAN, Pathé, 1925
21. FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, Universal, 2004
22. THE GREAT WHITE HOPE, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1970
23. HEART LIKE A WHEEL, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1983
24. HOOSIERS, Orion, 1986 (# 4)
25. HORSE FEATHERS, Paramount, 1932
26. THE HURRICANE, Universal, 1999
27. THE HUSTLER, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1961 (# 6)
28. JERRY MAGUIRE, TriStar, 1996 (# 10)
29. THE KARATE KID, Columbia, 1984
30. KNUTE ROCKNE – ALL AMERICAN, Warner Bros., 1940
31. A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, Columbia, 1992
32. THE LONGEST YARD, Paramount, 1974
33. MAJOR LEAGUE, Paramount, 1989
34. THE MIGHTY DUCKS, Disney, 1992
35. MILLION DOLLAR BABY, Warner Bros, 2004
36. MIRACLE, Disney, 2004
37. MYSTERY, ALASKA, Hollywood, 1999
38. NATIONAL VELVET, MGM, 1944 (# 9)
39. THE NATURAL, TriStar, 1984
40. NORTH DALLAS FORTY, Paramount, 1976
41. PAT AND MIKE, MGM, 1952
42. PERSONAL BEST, Warner Bros., 1982
43. THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES, RKO, 1942 (# 3)
44. RAGING BULL, United Artists, 1980 (# 1)
45. ROCKY, United Artists, 1976 (# 2)
46. RUDY, TriStar, 1993
47. SEABISCUIT, DreamWorks, 2003
48. SLAP SHOT, Universal, 1977
49. SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME, MGM, 1956
50. WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1992

Nominees: 12 movies were based on baseball; nine movies were based on boxing; and eight movies were based on football.

Winners:

1. Raging Bull (1980)
2. Rocky (1976)
3. The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
4. Hoosiers (1986)
5. Bull Durham (1988)
6. The Hustler (1961)
7. Caddyshack (1980)
8. Breaking Away (1979)
9. National Velvet (1944)
10. Jerry Maguire (1996)

Comments: Jerry Maguire (1996) was sports-related, but more properly should have been categorized as a romantic comedy (where it was a top 50 nominee). And Caddyshack (1980) was a golf-related comedy! National Velvet (1944) - more a children's or family drama than a real horse-racing sports film, should have been replaced by either Slap Shot (1977) or Hoop Dreams (1994) - not even nominated! The selection of The Hustler (1961) - although a film about pool-playing, was more an intense drama than a traditional 'sports film'.