Run, Fatboy, Run

Run, Fatboy, Run is about Dennis Doyle, who left Libby at the alter due to mounting pressures of being a husband and father. Now Libby has a new boyfriend who is everything Dennis is not. Motivated to win back Libby's respect, his goal is to run a marathon alongside the antagonist Whit.

Release Year: 2007
Rating: PG-13
Length: 100m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Attributions: Dennis attributes his failures to external, stable, and out-of-control variables.
• Confidence: Dennis walks around the whole movie slumpy until the very end, while Whit is a very proud and confident person.
• Goal Setting: Dennis sets his goal of finishing the marathon and earning back the respect of Libby and his son Jake.
• Imagery: During the marathon, Dennis hits the "runner's wall" and envisions himself breaking through a real wall, recalling images of past moments.
• Motivation: Dennis is motivated by various other characters throughout the movie, such as making a bet with friends, being chased with a spatula, betting his rent, and wanting to earn back the respect of his former fiancé.

The Rookie

The Rookie is about Jim Morris, who pitched in the minors, but after injuring his arm and having multiple surgeries, he became a science teacher and baseball coach in a Texas high school. After a bet with his team he found himself at a MLB tryout and at 35 years old he attempts a childhood dream.

Release Year: 2002
Rating: G
Length: 127m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Coaching: Jim Morris is a high school coach, so there are several examples of him coaching throughout the movie.
• Confidence: Jim pitches batting practice to the team, and once they start hitting off him, they have the confidence to hit any pitcher they face.
• Going for your Dream: His childhood dream was to pitch in the MLB, which is the dream he is now chasing again.
• Injury: He was drafted young, but after injuring his arm, he had to give up his pitching career and his chance at making it in the big leagues.
• Motivation: The bet between Jim and his team give the team extra motivation to win the championship, while Jim also turns to his family for motivation.

The Waterboy

The Waterboy is about the team waterboy (Bobby Boucher) who accidentally has his anger unleashed, turning him into a defensive maniac and a feared linebacker. However, if he wants to play football, he must keep it a secret from his mother who believes he is too delicate, while also overcoming academic adversity.

Release Year: 1998
Rating: PG-13
Length: 90m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Aggression: Aggression is seen in nearly every scene of this movie. His aggressive is usually unlocked by opposing team members and even his coach. For example, Coach Klein tells Bobby that water sucks and gatorade is better to motivate him and make him angry, which leads Bobby to have a field goal block/return to win the game. (42m)
• Confidence: Confidence plays a major role in the beginning of this film. Bobby was picked on by players from both teams he worked for but failed to redeem himself due to a lack of confidence. It is evident when he recalls a memory from his childhood where a past coach belittles him when he tries to stand up for himself. (13m)
• Cultural Differences: Bobby has never considered playing football and when given the opportunity he is hesitant because of what his mother will say. Coach Klein attends dinner at Bobbies house where his mother rattles on about how bobby is to delicate and how she raised a sweet boy and he doesn't need to go to college. You can tell they have different standards and beliefs towards education. (16m)
• Imagery: In several instances he recalls images from his past that contribute to his aggression. But a better reference for imagery is the scene where Bobby replaces the heads of the offensive line and field goal kicker with Coach Klein's face while having them sing a catchy tune. (43m)

Like Mike

Like Mike is about an orphan kid who encounters magic shoes that turn him into a great basketball player. He then gets the opportunity to play for an NBA team and faces several ups and downs along the way.

Release Year: 2002
Rating: PG
Length: 99m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Confidence: When Calvin entered his first game, he was not confident at all and did not want the ball, but once he put on his MJ shoes he gained total confidence and won the game. (29m)
• Parents/Families: This happens when Calvin is adopted by a teammate and he now has a real father and family. (1h 32m)
• Teamwork: This happens throughout the whole movie but is specifically noticed when the announcer talks about the team having had teamwork since Calvin has been on the team. (42m)

Stick It

Stick It is about the sport of gymnastics and everything that comes along with it.  Haley is faced with the challenge of returning to the sport after she traumatically left it years ago.  She goes through many ups and downs along the way, and can attribute many of them to her coach.

Release Year: 2006
Rating: PG-13
Length: 103m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Confidence:  When the girls have their first meet, Haley tells her teammates to throw harder skills because she knows they can do it.  The girls do throw the harder skills, showing they are confident in their abilities.
• Eating Disorders: This theme is seen quite a lot in the sport of gymnastics.  It is evident in this movie when Joanne is looking at herself in a mirror in disgust, even though she is far from being overweight.
• Leadership:  From the start, the other gymnasts looked up to Haley as a role model.  They decide to scratch their routines at Championships after Haley is the first one to do it and throw their harder skills at their first meet because Haley convinces them it is a good idea.
• Sportsmanship: Joanne (a fellow gymnast) is very un-sportsmanlike, sarcastically telling another gymnast "nice stick" when she falls on her bar dismount and follows that up by saying, "it's not called gymn-NICE-stics" to Haley.
• Teamwork: This theme is seen throughout the entire movie, especially when the four girls go to Championships.  Mina performed her vault flawlessly, but received only a 9.5 because her bra strap was showing.  All the other girls decided to blatantly pull out their bra straps during their vaults and scratch for that event so that Mina will win.

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is a comedy that follows the career of NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby.  He grew up with the motto, "If you ain't first, you're last."  Ricky Bobby is in the race of his life when his career and motto are put to the test when French Formula One driver Jean Girard joins NASCAR.

Release Year: 2006
Rating: PG-13
Length: 108m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Anxiety: This theme is depicted throughout several portions of the movie. The most memorable scene is learning to "drive with the fear," or in Ricky Bobby's case, a cougar.
• Career Issues: This is the overall theme of the movie. It is summed up best at the end with the unveiling of Ricky Bobby's new car.
• Confidence: After Ricky Bobby's crash, his confidence is shaken. His anxiety and fear cripple him to a point where he cannot even drive a car. (He resorts to riding a bicycle around town). He slowly regains his confidence after training with his father.

Touching the Void

Touching the Void is an incredible story of survival in the face of death.  This part documentary, part dramatic reenactment follows Joe Simpson and Simon Yates as they climb the previously unclimbed west face of Siula Grande.  The ascent goes well, but, as Joe states: "80% of accidents occur on the way down."

Release Year: 2003
Rating: R
Length: 106m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Confidence: at the beginning of the movie, they believed they would be the first ones to do it because they were better than the previous climbers; loss of confidence following the injury (felt "doomed" and "psychologically beaten")
• Goal Setting: after injury, Joe repeatedly makes time-based goals for motivation as he crawls across the top of a glacier to get back to camp; occurs about two-thirds of the way into the movie
• Injury: shortly into the descent, Joe falls and breaks his leg, rendering him crippled the rest of the climb, about a half-hour into the movie
• Intrinsic Motivation: at the very beginning, Joe and Simon talk about how much they love climbing
• Self-Talk: Joe and Simon discuss their thoughts throughout the entire documentary
• Teamwork: in their style of climbing, were tied to each other, which requires great trust; after injury, Simon attempts to lower Joe down the mountain one rope length at a time

Without Limits

Without Limits is a biography of Olympic runner Steve Prefontaine.

Release Year: 1998
Rating: PG-13
Length: 117m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

When We Were Kings

When We Were Kings is a documentary about the 1974 heavyweight title bout "Rumble in the Jungle" between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali.

Release Year: 1996
Rating: PG
Length: 89m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Vision Quest

Vision Quest is about a high school wrestler (Louden) who attempts to drop two weight classes to beat the state's number one wrestler (Shute).

Release Year: 1985
Rating: R
Length: 105m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

• Confidence: Louden's confidence grows throughout his quest to face Shute.
• Eating Disorders: Louden must cut weight to face Shute, so he eats sparingly and overtrains, causing nosebleeds.
• Focus: Louden focuses on Shute every day, even when Shute shows up at a match to get in his head.
• Imagery: He imagines the six minutes on the mat with Shute, but his friend tell him, "It's not the six minutes, its what happens in those six minutes that counts!"
• Underdogs: Louden is the underdog because no one has beaten Shute and he is a monster.

Tin Cup

Tin Cup is about a former pro golfer who tries to qualify for the US Open.

Release Year: 1996
Rating: R
Length: 135m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Youngblood

Youngblood is about a young hockey star with no propensity towards fighting who must try to make it on a minor league team.

Release Year: 1986
Rating: R
Length: 110m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi is the final movie in the Star Wars trilogy where the Jedi finally overthrow the empire.

Release Year: 1983
Rating: PG
Length: 134m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back continues the story of the Jedi knights and their battle with the empire.

Release Year: 1980
Rating: PG
Length: 124m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope

Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope follows the story of the last Jedi knight as he teams up with rebels to take down the evil galactic empire.

Release Year: 1977
Rating: PG
Length: 121m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Remember the Titans

Remember the Titans is the story of a coach who unites a racially diverse football team and takes them to championships.

Release Year: 2000
Length: 113m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

The Natural

The Natural is about a man's invigorating return to a baseball team after a mysterious absence.  Great scene with a sport psychologist in it.

Release Year: 1984
Rating: PG
Length: 134m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

The Mighty Ducks

The Mighty Ducks is about a lawyer who unwillingly coaches an inner city hockey team.

Release Year: 1992
Rating: PG
Length: 100m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

You may view the trailer here.

The Matrix

The Matrix is about a computer hacker who learns about the true nature of reality.

Release Year: 1999
Rating: R
Length: 136m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Major League

Major League is a goofy comedy about a team of misfits who turn around their fortunes.

Release Year: 1989
Rating: R
Length: 107m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.