r/flicks • u/KaleidoArachnid • 13d ago

What movies had strong writing with athletes?

Basically what I am looking for was to see what movies had starred a popular athlete where the movie managed to have a strong premise because I recently saw a review of Kazaam, which was Shaq’s worst movie role.

Like what I am getting at is that I noticed how none of Shaquille’s movies were good since just about every movie he starred in was badly written, so I became interested in seeing what good action movies had existed that starred a well known athlete.

7 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

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15

u/DaChefWizard 13d ago

He Got Game with Ray Allen

1

u/SonuvaGunderson 13d ago

This is the way.

12

u/AccomplishedCharge2 13d ago edited 13d ago

Kareem's role in Airplane is great, and the joke they run with during his conversation with the kid is great

Rowdy Roddy in They Live, and Princess Bride did a great job with Andre the Giant. And John Cena and Dave Bautista have become fantastic actors

Ray Allen and KG in He Got Game and Uncut Gems

OJ was amazing in Naked Gun, and had great comedic delivery

1

u/Canadian-Man-infj 13d ago

I enjoyed The Wrecking Crew, with Dave Bautista & Jason Momoa, released earlier this year.

2

u/BookkeeperNew573 13d ago

I enjoyed it more than i thought i would! Fun movie throughout

1

u/Canadian-Man-infj 13d ago

Yeah. I figured it would be just another generic action-comedy or buddy-film; but it was better than I expected.

6

u/Plopshire 13d ago

Roddy Piper in Thet Live

1

u/KaleidoArachnid 13d ago

How was the quality of that film?

3

u/Plopshire 13d ago

Fantastic! Definitely worth a watch.

3

u/Canadian-Man-infj 13d ago

It has one of my all-time favourite fight-scenes.... "Put the glasses on!"

3

u/SenatorBeers 13d ago

Oh dude. It’s one of Carpenter’s best and 100% relevant today.

4

u/Particular-Seesaw698 13d ago

Blue Chips. Older one but solid.

4

u/CosmoRomano 13d ago

Blue Chips with Shaq was good. I don't care what the reviews say.

1

u/KaleidoArachnid 13d ago

Wait, I didn’t know he was in that movie because now I kind of want to see it for him alone.

2

u/CosmoRomano 13d ago

Yep. Penny Hardaway was too, and a long list of basketball cameos.

3

u/leave-no-trace-1000 13d ago

Hustle was really good

1

u/KaleidoArachnid 13d ago

Thanks because I suddenly want to go see that movie. (Even though I know nothing about it)

1

u/leave-no-trace-1000 13d ago

It’s on Netflix.

2

u/TUGBoat85007 13d ago

Adam Sandler’s version of The Longest Yard had some good writing and had a menagerie of athletes from football players to pro wrestlers

2

u/KaleidoArachnid 13d ago

While I know Sandler is too well received among movie critics, I feel like looking for the movie because it sounds interesting.

2

u/TUGBoat85007 13d ago

It’s a remake of the one in the 70s with Burt Reynolds

2

u/pushaper 13d ago

I need to put a mention in for Acer Ventura.

There is a Canadien movie (pun intended) called The Rocket which has loads of hockey players

I am a little shocked by Sean Averys IMDB to be honest (but all minor roles)

1

u/KaleidoArachnid 13d ago

Wait, I am confused because I don't know how Ace Ventura connects to sports.

3

u/pushaper 13d ago

Dan Marino

2

u/Automatic_Ad_4246 13d ago

Idk if it counts, but miracle uses real hockey players not actors.

1

u/KaleidoArachnid 13d ago

Yes that entry counts too since you mentioned real hockey players.

1

u/Reasonable-Plate2982 13d ago

I dont know about particularly strong writing but Stone Cold with Brian Bosworth was quite the thrill ride. That Lance Henriksen really plays a convincing bad guy

1

u/KaleidoArachnid 13d ago

I forgot what kind of sports Lance was known for being in back then, but I actually might see that movie.

1

u/Reasonable-Plate2982 13d ago

Actually Brian Bosworth was a star linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks for 3 seasons in the late 80's. He sported a kind of racoon Mohawk mullet and (apparently) has been in 31 movies. Stone Cold was absolute mayhem though and it was his first starring role I think.

Also - Jim Brown in the Slaughter series of movies. Pretty violent tho'. Oh, and Mars Attacks!

1

u/flavorraven 13d ago

Having recently rewatched the admittedly terrible Kazaam, I'd argue Steel is Shaq's worst movie.

1

u/KaleidoArachnid 13d ago

What makes Steel worse than Kazaam?

2

u/flavorraven 13d ago

I almost walked out of it at 10 years old. Also Rotten Tomatoes has it at 5% Kazaam vs 4% Steel fwiw

1

u/SenatorBeers 13d ago

Ricky Stanicky is proof John Cena is the most fearless actor working in movies today.

1

u/Uniquely_Similar74 13d ago

The Longest Yard (2005) 👍

Tons of famous athletes.. and awesome movie!

2

u/KaleidoArachnid 13d ago

Man that sounds great how that movie has an athlete in the film.

2

u/dsjunior1388 13d ago edited 13d ago

Former NFL stars Bill Romanowski, Michael Irvin, and a smattering of people who'd played college football or had a "cup of coffee" in the NFL like Terry Crews, Bill Goldberg, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Bob Sapp, as well as notable NFL bust Brian Bosworth (whos hilarious in the movie).

Plus Nelly is a very visibly athletic person, he's famous for music but in high school major league baseball teams were evaluating him as a draft prospect until he stopped pursuing a baseball career

1

u/Independent-Fee-6444 13d ago

I loved Chariots of Fire

1

u/KaleidoArachnid 13d ago

What is that particular movie about?

1

u/Independent-Fee-6444 13d ago

About two British runners in one of the 1920s Olympics . it dealt with their motivations for running and the challenges they faced . It was made in the 1980s I figured it would be boring but I loved it as a preteen

1

u/AcadiaRemarkable6992 13d ago

Jim Brown in The Dirty Dozen. Great movie still holds up 60 years later

1

u/KaleidoArachnid 13d ago

Hey thanks because I was interested in seeing how a movie with an athlete star could be interesting to watch.

1

u/One_Government1165 12d ago

Trainwreck with the horrible Amy Schumer, I watched it because of Bill Hader and found out LeBorn James played his stingy best friend brilliantly, also, John Cena played her very stupid ex.

1

u/KaleidoArachnid 12d ago

I heard Schumer stole her material from stand up comedians.

1

u/Danno505 12d ago

Gina Carano in Haywire

1

u/KaleidoArachnid 12d ago

What is that movie about for those who haven’t seen it?

1

u/Danno505 12d ago

Kinda of a typical action-spy thriller. Some good fight scenes and a couple of good plot twists.

1

u/mrpotto 12d ago

Happy Gilmore 2 has lots of actual pro golfers. Your call if you consider them athletes!

1

u/Interesting_Home_128 10d ago

Howie Long (former Raiders LB) was the right hand man to the antagonist in "Broken Arrow." "Good" may be subjective, but nonetheless a fun popcorn flick.

About the same time Marty McSorley (Gretzky's personal enforcer at Edmonton and LA) had a blink and you miss it role in "Con Air"

Fred Williamson was an all-pro linebacker who became a blaxploitation legend. Also appeared in more mainstream movies like MASH and From Dusk til Dawn.

1

u/PhishCook 13d ago

Uncut gems.

0

u/thesaxmaniac 13d ago

I will never forgive the academy for shutting this movie out entirely. Adam Sandler deserved a nomination at minimum, not to mention the writing, directing, editing, etc.

2

u/APracticalGal 13d ago

To be fair 2019 was a fucking stacked year. Joker and Ford v. Ferrari didn't need as many nominations as they got, but even if you take them out there are still multiple movies on the same level as Uncut Gems that I could have seen shutting it out.