7 Best Sports Drama Movies to Watch If You Loved ‘F1: The Movie’

Things have been going unprecedentedly well for the Brad Pitt-led racing drama F1: The Movie, with the actor recently admitting himself that no one on the production team had quite expected something like this.

Released worldwide on June 27, the film is currently about to reach a major mark of $300 million in the box office less than two weeks since its premiere, so no wonder all the talks about a potential sequel are only getting louder.

Whether you got fascinated by F1: The Movie’s story and now are waiting for its continuation or just seeking something else like the hit racing drama, here’s our own top of sports drama movies that are just as impressive.

‘Moneyball’ (2011)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Moneyball holds scores of 94% and 86% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the movie is rated 7.6/10

Also starring Brad Pitt in the leading role and based on Michael Lewis’ book of the same name, the movie follows Billy Beane, a general manager of the Oakland A's who suddenly realises his team’s baseball playing scheme has outlived itself.

Despite his tight budget, Beane embarks on a mission to reinvent the world of baseball and come up with some ideas on how to outsmart other, and much richer, baseball clubs.

Throughout the mission, he’s joined by Jonah Hill’s Ivy League graduate Peter Brand and bargain-bin players with a great potential.

'Top Gun: Maverick' (2022)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Top Gun: Maverick has scores of 96% and 99% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the movie rates 8.2/10

Helmed by F1: The Movie’s director Joseph Kosinski, the Tom Cruise-led action adventure movie follows Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, one of Navy’s best past aviators who, after decades of service, is living a bit quietened-down life training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission.

Things change radically when Maverick suddenly encounters his late friend’s son Lt. Bradley Bradshaw — it’s then when the former’s ghosts of the past start haunting him.

Confronting his own deepest fears, Maverick embarks on the last ever mission and has to decide whether sacrificing himself for those he has been flying with all along is worth the shot.

'Days of Thunder' (1990)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Days of Thunder keeps scores of 38% and 60% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the movie’s rating is 6.1/10

Another racing drama starring Brad Pitt’s friend and co-star Tom Cruise, the movie also stars Michael Rooker as veteran racer Rowdy Burns coming into a fierce competition with much younger, but promising driver Cole Trickle.

When the two unexpectedly get severely injured during one of the races, the rivalry turns into friendship just as unexpectedly.

However, while Burns is still recovering from the accident, Cole is getting back to the competition much faster, determined to race Burns’ car this time driven by newcomer Russ Wheeler.

'Schumacher' (2021)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Schumacher keeps scores of 60% and 72% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the movie is rated 7.4/10

The sports documentary centres on the life and career of German Formula 1 racing driver Michael Schumacher who has become the competition’s record breaker by winning seven World Drivers’ Championship titles.

The movie also delves into Schumacher’s relationships within his family, going from the racing sequences to private family archives, footage and interviews.

'Ford v Ferrari' (2019)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Ford v Ferrari keeps scores of 92% and 98% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the movie rates 8.1/10

Directed by James Mangold, the movie stars Christian Bale and Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby, an American automotive designer and builder, and Ken Miles, an English race car driver, as they seek ways to build a revolutionary racing car.

Hired by Henry Ford II to make a vehicle that will defeat Ferrari’s racing team at the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France, both Carroll and Ken will have to confront their own inner demons as they’re planning to compete in one of the highest-stakes racing competitions that will define their future.

'Grand Prix' (1966)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Grand Prix has scores of 91% and 88% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the movie rates 7.2/10

Set at the 1966 Formula One championship, the movie follows American wheelman Pete Aron who is dropped by his sponsors right ahead of one of the most important races in his career.

Determined to participate no matter what, Pete joins a Japanese racing team, but adjusting to new people in his surroundings isn’t the biggest problem.

While preparing for the race, Pete also has to deal with all the mess his affair with his ex-teammate’s wife caused, also looking out for Jean-Pierre Sarti, a French racer who won two world titles before that.

'Senna' (2010)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Senna holds scores of 93% and 95% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the movie is rated 8.5/10

Another documentary on the list, the movie tracks down the most important events in the life and career of Brazilian motor-racing champion Ayrton Senna before his untimely death at the age of 34.

The narrative follows from the start of Senna’s career in Formula One back in 1984 right until his fatal crash during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.

The documentary also opts for a different perspective than other movies of the genre, mostly relying on archival racetrack and broadcast news footage rather than interviews and commentaries.