Best movies like Heleno
Last updated March 2024
Looking for movies like Heleno? Contribute your insights to steer others to tv shows and movies you've watched previously that might interest them as well. Facilitate widening the network of individuals introducing videos to each other. We value your involvement!
Plot Summary:
José Henrique Fonseca crafts an ambitious and long overdue homage to a central icon in Brazil’s 20th century history. Reminiscent of film noir classics, the biopic tells the glorious and tragic story of the legendary football striker Heleno de Freitas. The sumptuous black and white cinematography reflects the chic life of Rio de Janeiro in the 1940s as it fell under the spell of sports royalty. Heleno was no doubt one of the most popular players of his time for his bravura in the field and magnificent goal-scoring that lead the Botafogo team to the top and himself into a vicious downward spiral.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: Brazil
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: psychological, serious, realistic, stylized, black and white, captivating, gloomy
Best tv shows and movies like Heleno (2011):
Similar in 77%
Road to Victory (2007)
Plot Summary:
A star athlete on the verge of turning pro must decide which dream to pursue while he battles his own body.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 315
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: psychological, touching, serious, realistic, independent film
Similar in 82%
Crazy Canucks (2004)
Plot Summary:
Based on the book White Circus by Ken Read, this is the story of the Canadian skiing legends that became the first North Americans to crack the Euro dominated World Cup Circuit in 1975.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 133
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: Canada
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, uplifting, captivating
Similar in 86%
The Goalkeeper (2000)
Plot Summary:
Ramiro Forteza is a Premier League goalkeeper whom the Civil War and the rigors of the war led to make a living visiting villages and challenging locals to mark him penalty goals. One evening he arrives to a town in Asturias and meets Manuela, a young widow with a son, who survives sewing for Ursula, Andrade's wife, the Civil Guard sergeant.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 941
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: Spain
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, realistic, sexual, sexy
Similar in 75%
The Prize Fighter (2003)
Plot Summary:
After a life of hard knocks and wrong turns, boxer Ed Jones gets a second chance at fulfilling his life long dream of a World Boxing Championship. With the help of veteran promoter, Arliss King and the guidance of a former champ, Ed embarks on the come back of a lifetime. When Ed starts winning and with his popularity soaring, he draws the attention of an unscrupulous fight promoter, White Ferguson. Although tempted by promises of big money and boxing glory, Ed makes a decision to remain loyal to Arliss. His dream in sight, Ed is on top of the world and at the top of his game.
IMDB Rating: 3.2
IMDB Votes: 52
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: realistic, captivating, psychological, exciting, inspirational, serious
Similar in 81%
When Saturday Comes (1996)
Plot Summary:
Jimmy Muir comes from a typical gritty, northern town where there are only two options: working down the pit or in a factory. But Jimmy has other ideas - he dreams of becoming a professional footballer. Confronted by a bitter and unsupportive father, hard drinking friends and a lifetime of bad habits...has Jimmy the will to achieve his ultimate goal?.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: UK
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: sincere, bleak, serious, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 77%
The Great Victory (2014)
Plot Summary:
Independent feature film based on the biography of a Brazilian judo with a great victory that went beyond the mats and medals.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 176
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: Brazil
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: uplifting, touching, captivating, emotional, serious, realistic
Similar in 85%
Counterpunch (2019)
Plot Summary:
Based on a true story. A young boxer, Emilio, from the wrong side of the tracks with big dreams of winning the Golden Gloves boxing championship, finds himself at a cross roads after being locked up. As he fights his way back into the winning circle he gets a second shot at the championship title. As he is toe to toe in the ring with his competitor he'll throw all the punches and be the last man standing.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 793
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, emotional, realistic, tense, independent film
Similar in 87%
All Things Fall Apart (2011)
Plot Summary:
50 Cent stars as gifted college running back Deon in this touching drama. Deon's world turns upside down when an unexpected crisis jeopardizes his professional ambitions -- and causes him to look at himself and his life in a new way.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: emotional, realistic, psychological, captivating, sentimental, sincere, serious
Similar in 78%
Hands of Stone (2016)
Plot Summary:
The legendary Roberto Duran and his equally legendary trainer Ray Arcel change each other's lives.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: Panama, USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: captivating, realistic, exciting, tense, inspirational, period piece, cult classic, serious, hot, extraordinary
Similar in 89%
A Shot at Glory (2000)
Plot Summary:
Scottish second division football team Kilnockie is taken over by American Pete Cameron. The new owner puts pressure on manager Gordon McLeod to improve the fortunes of the team, and hires first division player Jackie McQuillan.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: realistic, sentimental, inspirational, captivating, cult classic, feel good, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 89%
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016)
Plot Summary:
The film is based on the life of Indian cricketer and the current captain of the Indian national cricket team, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 66000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: India
Duration: 184 min
Plot tags: uplifting, serious, captivating, realistic, sentimental, inspirational, feel good, patriotic, cult classic, fast
Similar in 77%
Carnera: The Walking Mountain (2008)
Plot Summary:
The life of Primo Carnera a.k.a. "Ambling Alp", Italian professional boxer and the World Heavyweight Champion from June 1933 to June 1934, but also accused by some of having ties to the mob.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 489
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: Italy, Romania
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: uplifting, touching, serious, emotional, captivating, realistic
Similar in 85%
Bert & Dickie (2012)
Plot Summary:
Thrown together just five weeks before the final of the 1948 London Olympics, Bert Bushnell (Doctor Who's Matt Smith) and Dickie Burnell (Sam Hoare) defied all the odds and made history in the double sculls. This is the story of how they did it - not only by pushing physical and emotional limits, but also by overcoming their vast professional and personal differences.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 375
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Sport
Country: UK
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: uplifting, serious, realistic, exciting
Similar in 88%
Kano (2014)
Plot Summary:
A Taiwanese high school baseball team travels to Japan in 1931 to compete in a national tournament.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Sport
Country: Taiwan
Duration: 185 min
Plot tags: uplifting, sincere, captivating, sentimental, serious, realistic, banned
Similar in 79%
Maradona, the Hand of God (2007)
Plot Summary:
Dramatizing of the many shocking highs and lows of Argentine soccer hero Diego Maradona, an extraordinary athlete and arguably the greatest player in the history of the sport.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 723
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: Italy, Argentina
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: realistic, uplifting, sentimental, sincere, serious
Similar in 82%
Phantom Punch (2008)
Plot Summary:
From his discovery by a priest while serving time at the Missouri State Penitentiary to the infamous 'Phantom Punch' by Cassius Clay which effectively ended his career, the movie spans the years from 1950 to Liston's mysterious and untimely death in 1971.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 837
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: rough, captivating, realistic, sincere, serious, emotional, gloomy
Similar in 79%
The Bronx Bull (2016)
Plot Summary:
A combination "before the rage" and "after the rage" of world middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta's tumultuous life and times.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 697
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, realistic, captivating
Similar in 82%
Don King: Only in America (1997)
Plot Summary:
A cinematic portrait of the famous fight promoter and boxing manager.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 121 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic
Similar in 80%
3: The Dale Earnhardt Story (2004)
Plot Summary:
A Biographical story of Dale Earnhardt, Sr. The movie starts with his young life and growing up with his father, Ralph, who raced for a living, but initially wanted more for his son. When Dale quits high school to start driving full time, his father aids him and shows a reluctant pride when he is initially successful. Armed with many of his father's philosophies, Dale pushed himself to be the best. His aggressive track mannerisms earned himself fans and detractors. Fellow racer Neil Bonnett was one of those long time friends whose death deeply affected Dale. Darrell Waltrip clearly was a detractor and the two men's rivalry is clearly depicted. Off the track, Dale's determination to make it impacts two marriages. Third wife Theresa was closer to racing and met Dale when he had started his rise into the Winston Cup circuit. The story also looks at his relationship with his children.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, realistic, sentimental
Similar in 79%
Seve (2014)
Plot Summary:
Despite being blocked at almost every turn in pursuit of the sport he loved, Seve Ballesteros fought against adversity to become the most spectacular and charismatic golfer to ever play the game.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 952
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Sport
Country: UK, Spain
Duration: 124 min
Plot tags: exciting, sentimental, touching, serious, realistic
Similar in 80%
Risen (2010)
Plot Summary:
As one of the rising talents of amateur boxing, Howard Winstone, a young Welsh boy from Merthyr Tydfil, was fast making a name for himself with his knock out right hand. A long professional fighting career surely beckoned? Then disaster strikes. An industrial accident results in Winstone losing three fingers on his right hand. Through sheer determination, and despite only being able to make a fist with one hand, Winstone develops a dynamic new style and begins boxing his way back up the amateur ranks eventually turning pro. Supported by his family and guided by new trainer, Eddie Thomas, Winstone becomes the Champion of Britain and then Europe. Now, with the hopes of an entire nation on his shoulders, he is stood poised to challenge for the crown of Featherweight Champion of the World.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 221
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 121 min
Plot tags: uplifting, serious, captivating, realistic
Similar in 84%
A Season on the Brink (2002)
Plot Summary:
"A Season on the Brink: A Year with Bob Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers" is based on the best-selling book by John Feinstein. The movie chronicles Indiana's 1985-86 season, when Knight granted Feinstein unprecedented access to the team and its practices, meetings, and huddles.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 555
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: uplifting, serious, realistic, captivating
Similar in 84%
Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault (1996)
Plot Summary:
A dramatization of the life of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault (Don Cheadle), with a lot of factual based occurrences. A reformed junkie returns from prison to clean up his act and devote the rest of his life to the young kids of Harlem. 1996 was the 25th anniversary of the first tournament named after him.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic
Similar in 81%
The Pistol: The Birth of a Legend (1991)
Plot Summary:
A story about the great basketball player "Pistol" Pete Maravich when he was in the eighth grade. He plays on the varsity basketball team at Daniel High School but has some very difficult obstacles standing in his way of playing. The only support he has is from his father, retired basketball pro Press Maravich.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: independent film, sentimental, sincere, touching, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 83%
Best (2000)
Plot Summary:
The life story of former Manchester United football legend, George Best.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 837
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: realistic, serious, captivating, emotional
Similar in 87%
Who Killed Pixote? (1996)
Plot Summary:
The true story of the boy who became famous when he was cast for the main part on the Brazilian film Pixote: A Lei do Mais Fraco (1981). After the film was over, he tried to work as an actor on other projects, with little success. As time went by, he got involved with crime.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 394
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: Brazil
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 90%
The 5th Quarter (2010)
Plot Summary:
In the wake of a car crash that killed his brother, football player Jon Abbate leads his school's struggling team to its most successful season ever.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: realistic, touching, serious, emotional, sad, sincere, gloomy, independent film, inspirational
Similar in 85%
Lenny (1974)
Plot Summary:
The story of acerbic 1960s comic Lenny Bruce, whose groundbreaking, no-holds-barred style and social commentary was often deemed by the Establisment as too obscene for the public.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: black and white, psychological, atmospheric, serious, realistic, rough, clever, bleak, semi documentary, art house
Similar in 88%
The Damned United (2009)
Plot Summary:
Taking over Leeds United, Brian Clough's abrasive approach and his clear dislike of the players' dirty style of play make it certain there is going to be friction. Glimpses of his earlier career help explain both his hostility to previous manager Don Revie and how much he is missing right-hand man Peter Taylor.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 46000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: UK
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: inspirational, factual, tense, atmospheric, sentimental, sincere, clever, realistic, motivational, sexy
Similar in 76%
High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story (2003)
Plot Summary:
Based on the true story of the rise and fall of poker legend Stu "The Kid" Ungar.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, captivating, suspense, period piece, sincere, contemplative, gloomy