Don’t make your summer sports movie list without adding these ones - we promise, they absolutely need to be on there. Whether you’re looking for cheerleading dramas, heartwarming stories about female athletes breaking barriers, or silly sports stories, these seven sports-ish movies are sure to help you kick things off the right way this summer.

A League of Their Own (1992)

*A League of Their Own (Columbia Pictures/Everett Collection)*

Based on a true story, A League of Their Own follows two sisters who play on an all-women's professional baseball team in Chicago after the WWII draft pulls male athletes to war and threatens to shut down Major League Baseball. Although classified as a sports comedy drama, this movie tells a great story about trusting women’s sports to generate as much revenue as men’s sports, the role of entertainment during times of war, and navigating sibling tensions.

Watch A League of Their Own if:

You’ve got a cute white tennis skirt available for every outfit
You love watching emotional TikTok edits of your favorite female athletes
You’re ready for a Chicago summer

The Sandlot (1993)

*The Sandlot (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)*

The Sandlot is a peak nostalgic movie, a hilarious story of a group of boys who play baseball in a sandlot in Los Angeles. It’s a sweet story with a sweet ending, sure to get you excited for fun times outside as soon as it’s warm where you are.

You need to watch The Sandlot if:

You’re an MLB girlie (you’ve got a Yankees hat on speed-dial)
You’re a shameless jorts-lover
You’re not afraid to get on the slip-n-slide at the summer function

Blue Crush (2002)

Blue Crush is a fun, summer-time movie about a young woman named Anne Marie, trying to chase her dreams of becoming a professional surfer while working at a hotel in Oahu, Hawaii. If you love stories about resilient female athletes and the hard work it took them to get to the professional level, Blue Crush is sure to deliver all of the feels while getting you in the mood to hit the waves.

Watch Blue Crush if:

You’ve got hibiscus flower hair clips in your Amazon cart right now
You love a good weekend trip to the beach paired with a taboo romance book
You’ve got videos of hockey players attempting to figure skate saved in a folder
You dream of moving to a fun location for a unique summer seasonal job

Bring It On (2000)

Bring It On is an inspirational story of a brand new cheerleading squad captain and all of the trials and tribulations she has to deal with in her first season as she discovers that her team’s routines have a shady backstory to them. Bring It On is a promise of fierce competition, wondering who will come out on top, and a fun look into high school cheerleading squads from different backgrounds competing against each other.

Watch Bring It On if:

You love going to football games and watching the underdogs win
You carry a lucky token in your purse
You love romance books with love triangle tropes
You listen to Brittney Spears at the pregame

Stick It (2006)

*Stick It (Touchstone Pictures & Walt Disney Studios)*

Stick It is a great anti-hero story for anyone wanting a more angsty sports-ish movie. Seventeen-year-old Haley is forced to attend a gymnastics academy as punishment for her misbehavior after walking away from the sport and retiring a year prior. Stick It follows Haley’s journey of returning to her sport (whether she likes it or not) to the tournament she left gymnastics after the year prior. Stick It is a great story about challenging the rules of sports, sticking up for your teammates, and realizing your potential.

Add Stick It to your summer watch-list if:

Your favorite Olympian is Simone Biles
You hate the idea of school dress codes
You love when athletes retire and then return, Tiffany Hayes and Portia Woodman style
Sappy endings make you teary-eyed

Cool Runnings (1993)

*(Cool Runnings | Walt Disney Pictures)*

Cool Runnings is a great movie to add to your watch list if you’re looking for a feel-good sports comedy. Inspired by the true story of Jamaica's first bobsled team, Cool Runnings is a heartwarming tale of perseverance, teamwork, and national pride with plenty of laughs in between.

Watch Cool Runnings if:

You tell everyone how much more you like the heat than the cold
You saw snow for the first time ever as an adult, and definitely don’t own a winter jacket
You love taking on obstacles with a dramatic flair
Your dream trip is to visit Jamaica

Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

*Bend It Like Beckham (Searchlight Pictures)*

If you’re in the business of reclaiming an aspect of yourself that you left behind in childhood, get the tissues ready before you watch Bend It Like Beckham. This movie is a coming-of-age sports comedy about a British-Indian teen who dreams of playing soccer against her traditional family's wishes. It’s a heartwarming, funny, and energetic film that tackles cultural identity and its impact on athletes, the challenges of gender roles for female athletes, and the pursuit of passions despite what others might tell you to do.

Watch Bend It Like Beckham if:

You’ve reclaimed a sport you used to play as a child as an adult
You’re passionate about advocacy and equality in sports media
Your dream is to sit pitch-side at a NWSL game
You’re doing it to make your parents proud

7 Sports-ish Movies You Need on Your Summer Watch List