Top 10 Best Sports Documentaries - 2025 (Ranked)

Sports documentaries are a unique genre. While movies attract eyeballs for their visual experience, thrilling soundtrack, or subtle acting, documentaries bring a different perspective to the masses, celebrating top athletes' lives, achievements, and successes. Some of the best sports documentaries released completely bring out fans' emotions. More often, it helps ardent followers of a sports team or individuals to live through those glory years and feel proud. Multiple sports documentaries skip a heartbeat for most sports enthusiasts.

Be it the incredible inside look of a football club in the All Or Nothing series or Michael Jordan's legendary escapades in The Last Dance, various sports documentaries reveal the hidden stories of individuals or teams. Most young fans didn't know about the Chicago Bulls, and they got into the psyche and the passion to win of Michael Jordan. Hence, we look at some of the best sports documentary you would love to watch with a tub of popcorn.

List of Best Sport Documentaries

This list uses various parameters to measure the best sports documentaries of all time. Some highly rated shows are out there, and fans love to talk about them for ages to come. Exploring the best sport documentaries gives us an idea of what fans should watch to improve their sports knowledge and avoid missing out on golden documentaries.

How We Ranked the Top 10 Best Sports Documentaries?

Every list has specific parameters people follow to rank the best sports documentaries ever​. These parameters clearly explain why we rank these documentaries and provide the fans with a comprehensive guide on what to watch and what not to. Three parameters are used to determine the best sports documentaries: Storytelling & Narrative Structure, Cultural & Historical Impact, Audience Response & Critical Acclaim.

• Storytelling & Narrative Structure - Storytelling remains critical to every documentary, movie, or article. If a story lacks flow, readers lose their rhythm. The simple, straightforward explanation for a documentary to become successful remains the art of storytelling and the ability to attract readers.
• Cultural & Historical Impact - A documentary's cultural significance and historical impact remain crucial to its success. Most documentary scenes leave an imprint on the fans, where a particular scene or event remains in their minds forever. For example, Michael Jordan's "taking it personal" saw the fans love the character from start to finish. Thus, the impact it leaves makes some of the shows the best sports documentary ever produced.
• Audience Response & Critical Acclaim - The audience's response and critical acclaim are other parameters used to measure a documentary's success. Various documentaries fail to please the masses and often go unnoticed. But these documentaries are respected by the critics and the audience as they leave an everlasting impact. Thus, here's a list of some of the best sport documentaries out there.

Which Is the Best Sports Documentary?

In this list, we go from descending orders of ranking for the best sports documentaries ever known for their impact on the audience. These ten documentaries blow your mind away as we look at the best sports documentaries.

10. Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off (Skateboarding)

If you know skateboarding, one name is synonymous with the sport's fans - Tony Hawk. The lanky teenager who stepped onto a skateboard became a legend in his own right with the various competitions and the influence he left on the skateboarding scene. The documentary steps into the life of one of the greatest skateboarders in the world and the struggles and hardships he endured to become a legend in his sport.

The storytelling is smooth, and the background music sends shivers down the spine. Coupled with some thrilling moments and the psyche of a skateboarder, the audience loved the documentary and rated it 8.0 on IMDB as it left an impact on various fans who didn't know about skateboarding and its dangers. Hawk's achievements are widely celebrated as his peers compliment Tony Hawk's greatness. It's one of the best sports documentary out there, and you can catch it on JioHotstar.

9. All or Nothing (Multiple Sports)

The first All or Nothing episode took an inside look at the NFL team, the Arizona Cardinals, and is arguably the best sports documentaries on Amazon Prime. The show debuted in 2016, and All or Nothing: A Season with the Arizona Cardinals gave us an inside look at how teams run, the coaches' pep talks, etc. It gave a third eye perspective for a fan curious to know the behind-the-scenes of what makes a team great and the mood in the dressing room after a legendary win or a tough loss.

It became such a resounding success that other sports, such as rugby, ice hockey, football, etc., started to sign contracts with the TV show to give the fans what they wanted. The show has various seasons, but on average, it receives a +7.5 rating on IMDB. It's a one-of-a-kind show that allows ardent supporters of a sports team to see what goes on behind the scenes when the pushed narrative in reality fails to appease the masses. Thus, All or Nothing is one of the best sports documentaries on Amazon Prime.

8. The Dawn Wall (Rock climbing)

Detected by Josh Lowell and Peter Mortimer, The Dawn Wall showcases two rock climbers attempting to scale the impossible 3000ft Dawn Wall of El Capitan. Tommy Caldwell and climbing partner Kevin Jorgeson's death-defying act makes the audience sit on the edge of their seats, expecting the next move above the cliff. There are times when the climb tests the patience of both professional climbers, who test their endurance, strength, and the unparalleled will to achieve the impossible.

It's one of the best sports documentaries on Netflix, and IMDB gave it an 8.1 rating. The audience responded positively to the documentary, inspiring multiple people to fall in love with the sport and try it. The Dawn Wall climbed up the best sports documentaries rankings, and you can tune into it on Netflix. The influence it created amongst rock climbing fans inspires many to carry out this sport, giving them an adrenaline rush.

7. Beckham (Football)

One of the recent entrants on this list is Beckham on Netflix. The name sends fans into a frenzy, and the documentary explores the life and career of one of the most storied football characters. It shows some hilarious moments, like David Beckham asking Victoria to be honest about what car her father had during her childhood, and other humorous moments with his kids. One of the best sport documentaries on Netflix, the show dives deep into the persona of Beckham, the glorious moments, and the controversial ones he faced in his career.

Rated 8.1 on IMDB, the documentary perfectly stitches the players' early steps into football and how they grew into world-class players. Right now, an entrepreneur, the docuseries also focuses on Inter Miami and Beckham's efforts to bring in Lionel Messi. Beckham amazed the fans with the simplicity of the show and the honesty of the football player, who became arguably the most influential player in the game's history. It's one of the best sports documentaries out there.

6. 100 Foot Wave (Surfing)

Rated 8.1 on IMDB, the 100 Foot Wave remains a horrifying watch for two reasons: the sheer will of big wave surfer Garrett McNamara and the big 100-foot waves that come crashing down on human beings on a surfboard. Those scary visuals, the thunderous noise of the waves, and the undying spirit of the big wave surfer make this documentary iconic. The show features stunning cinematography, slow-motion visuals, and various emotional experiences of surfers who have done it all in the surfing world.

The 100 Foot Wave is available on Hotstar, and its importance and significance to the surfing community remain second to none. The documentary features many scenic surf spots in Portugal and Hawaii. Make sure you tune into one of the best sport documentaries out there.

5. Senna (Formula 1)

Before Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, there was Ayrton Senna, the people's champion. Winning the championship three times before his untimely passing at age 34, Senna's life and career are perfectly narrated in this Asif Kapadia special. The documentary accelerates as each frame passes by, exploring the adventurous life of the Brazilian phenom.

The show is rated 8.5 on IMDB, is a favorite among F1 fans, and is one of the best sports documentaries on Netflix. Ayrton Senna became a game-changer in the F1 circuit after his aggressive driving style and no-nonsense approach to a sport that bleeds from politics and various eye-opening issues. With a will to win and win only, Senna remains one of the best sport documentaries in the media industry.

4. Icarus (Sports)

Groundbreaking for the sheer impact it created amongst athletes and fans, Icarus nosedived into the performance-enhancing drugs, which illegally help athletes to perform at a higher level. It started as a personal experiment by Bryan Fogel, an amateur cyclist, who wanted to explore the effects of performance-enhancing drugs. Later on, he connects with Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, the head of Russia’s anti-doping lab, as he revealed that various Russian athletes used these drugs to get an edge in their performances.

The story left an everlasting impact. Investigations rocked the European country, and it became a global scandal. The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2018 and is available on Netflix. The show is rated 7.9 on IMDB, which, in our opinion, remains low for a ground-breaking documentary on doping. It's one of the best sports documentaries ever, showing the dark side of sports.

3. Formula 1: Drive to Survive (Formula 1)

If there's one sport that attracts millions of fans worldwide, it's got to be Formula One. Moreover, Netflix's Drive to Survive series, similar to All or Nothing, will make you get your spanners and enter the garages and the psyche of a Formula One driver's career. Featuring Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen as they go through each season since 2019, the Formula One fans can't wait for Drive to Survive to hit the screens. It's rated 8.5 on IMDB and you can tune into one of the best sports documentaries on Netflix.

Interest in this TV show improved the ratings of the sport, and fans can't get enough of races these days. To some of the loyal supporters of Formula One in the late 90s or early 2000s, the show seemed to be a gimmick to attract more fans. After all, it works as fan discussions and debates are held over Formula One in every pub, cafe, or park. The ratings are through the roof as Formula 1: Drive to Survive remains the benchmark sports show in recent times.

2. O.J.: Made in America (American football)

If there's one documentary made almost every single decade, it's about the life and story of O.J. Simpson. And the more it comes, the more the audience likes it. However, none can replace the O.J.: Made in America docuseries, released in 2016, which automatically became the benchmark for sports documentaries. It revolved around the life of a famous NFL player, O.J. Simpson, who went on a high-profile murder trial during a time when racial tensions were high in the USA.

The documentary featured sensitive themes, corruption, and politics, which became a mainstay in this high-profile case. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2017, and IMDB rated the show 8.9, as fans couldn't get enough of it. Although it's not on Indian streaming platforms, getting hold of this documentary will make you sit through this gripping narrative. It's one of the best sports documentaries out there.

1. The Last Dance (Basketball)

Without a doubt, The Last Dance is the best sports documentaries ever produced. The life of Michael Jordan, perfectly narrated with a perfect background score, digs deep into his time with the Chicago Bulls. His teammates, coaches, and everyone associated with Jordan come in to give you a celebration of Jordan's life as a basketball player and the early years of his career.

Rated 9.0 on IMDB, The Last Dance became a solid benchmark for how the best sports documentaries must be directed and brought to TV screens. The documentary boasts real-life footage and frames of Jordan's ability to win under pressure and showcase his skill set to the NBA faithful. Historically, this documentary pushes him into an influential individual who achieved everything known to mankind. You can catch one of the best sports documentary on Netflix.