Best movies like Backwards
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
When a fiercely competitive 30 year old rower fails to make the Olympic boat for the second time, she takes a coaching job at a school but struggles to adjust to life off the race course.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 772
Genere: Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: romantic, realistic, touching, captivating, inspirational, sentimental, feel good, serious, independent film
Best tv shows and movies like Backwards (2012):
Similar in 86%
Billie (1965)
Plot Summary:
A 16-year-old tomboy and high school athlete becomes embroiled with the lives around her boyfriend whose conservative father is running for mayor.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 479
Genere: Comedy, Family, Musical, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 78%
The Yankles (2009)
Plot Summary:
About Charlie Jones, a washed up, ex major league ballplayer, and how he gets a second chance at life and love by managing a Jewish, orthodox yeshiva baseball team.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 231
Genere: Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, sentimental, independent film
Similar in 76%
Ice Castles (2010)
Plot Summary:
Alexis Winston is a young girl who dreams of becoming a champion figure skater. While practicing, Alexis suffers a terrible accident that takes her sight and threatens to destroy her dreams. In the midst of feeling sorry for herself she falls in love with a handsome young man named Nick who (with help from her family) helps her to realize that she can still fulfill her dreams.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: sentimental, emotional, serious, realistic, teen, romantic, uplifting
Similar in 80%
Playing for Keeps (2012)
Plot Summary:
A former sports star who's fallen on hard times starts coaching his son's soccer team in an attempt to get his life together.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 31000
Genere: Comedy, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: romantic, funny, sexy, inspirational, entertaining, humorous, semi serious, touching, realistic, romantic comedy
Similar in 85%
The Main Event (1979)
Plot Summary:
Hillary Kramer, successful Perfume magnate awakes one morning to find that her accountant has robbed her blind and left for South America. Going through all of her remaining assets she finds a boxer, purchased as a tax write off. She decides to take Kid Natural, (Eddie Scanlon) who is much more at home giving driving lessons, into the ring and use him as her key to riches. Eddie thinks this will only get him killed and resists.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: romantic comedy, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, spoof, parody, light, inspirational, romantic
Similar in 86%
Coach (2010)
Plot Summary:
A slacker trust-fund type finds the motivation to pick up a job as the coach of middle school soccer team.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, light, entertaining, romantic, feel good, realistic, independent film, romantic drama
Similar in 75%
Australian Rules (2002)
Plot Summary:
Friends Gary Black (Nathan Phillips) and Dumby Red (Luke Carroll) are on the same soccer team in their coastal Australian town. But to local racists, they're a world apart: Gary is white and Dumby is an Aborigine. This becomes an issue when one of the team's Aboriginal players becomes involved in a crime. In response, Dumby is demoted even though he's the star player, and Gary is given his place. Will Gary have the courage to speak out before tragedy results?.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 846
Genere: Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: Australia
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: sentimental, sincere, uplifting, touching, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 88%
Dans les cordes (2007)
Plot Summary:
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IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 109
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: France
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, realistic, suspense
Similar in 77%
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 88%
A Second Chance (2011)
Plot Summary:
A young girl and her coach overcome adversity to make their way into the National Australian Gymnastics Squad.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Family, Mystery, Sport
Country: Australia
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: feel good, realistic, inspirational, captivating, touching, serious
Similar in 80%
Blinder (2013)
Plot Summary:
An ex footballer embroiled in a scandal returns hometown clear his name and reignite an old flame.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 513
Genere: Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: Australia
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: uplifting, realistic, serious, captivating, psychological, touching
Similar in 75%
A Fighter's Blues (2000)
Plot Summary:
Before he went exclusively style-over-substance, Daniel Lee directed fighting drama A FIGHTER’S BLUES, about an aging boxer (Andy Lau, in a mature and underrated performance) seeking a shot at redemption. Co-starring Japanese drama queen Takako Tokiwa. Billed as Andy Lau’s 100th film. He would go on to make a whole lot more.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 469
Genere: Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: sentimental, rough, touching, serious, realistic
Similar in 80%
Ice Castles (1978)
Plot Summary:
A young girl is on top of the world until a tragic accident dashes her hopes and dreams of becoming a world-class figure skater. Only with the help of those who love her can she prove to the world -- and herself -- that she still has the potential to realize her dreams.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, emotional, teen, uplifting, serious, realistic, tear jerker, light, inspirational
Similar in 79%
Blue Crush 2 (2011)
Plot Summary:
Haunted by the memory of her deceased mother, Dana leaves Malibu behind and heads to South Africa to fulfill her mother's dream of surfing Jefferys Bay.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: USA, South Africa
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: sentimental, feel good, serious, realistic, teen
Similar in 86%
Seven Days in Utopia (2011)
Plot Summary:
Talent can only get you so far. For golfer Luke Chisholm, that turns out to be Utopia, Texas -- where he's left stranded after blowing his pro debut.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: uplifting, sincere, captivating, sentimental, touching, inspirational, christian film, entertaining, serious, realistic
Similar in 84%
Green Flash (2008)
Plot Summary:
At the ripe old age of 30, Cameron Day has given up his chances at pro-basketball fame and settled into an aimless life. A chance encounter with a beautiful woman lands him smack in the middle of Southern California's pro beach volleyball scene. A naturally talented true athlete, he seems destined for sports stardom once again until his old demons start creeping in, threatening his chances at success.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 415
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, captivating, inspirational
Similar in 76%
Vision Quest (1985)
Plot Summary:
High school wrestler Louden Swain is a man obsessed , trying to shed 23 pounds in a dangerously short time and take on Shute, the undefeated, tough-as-nails 168-pound champion who's the best wrestler in the state. Matthew Modine stars as the mop-headed student undeterred in his Vision Quest...until a day a sexy drifter threatens to pin Louden and his dreams to the mat of unrequited love.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: inspirational, melancholic, sentimental, serious, realistic, cult classic, intense, romantic, uplifting, romantic drama
Similar in 87%
Forever Strong (2008)
Plot Summary:
Rick Penning lives life just like he plays rugby; fast, hard-hitting and intense. When life on the edge lands him in jail, prison ward Marcus Tate offers him a chance to get back in the game by playing for his rival, Highland Rugby. Reluctantly Rick joins the team where he must adopt the grueling training schedule that Coach Gelwix enforces, or finish out the season behind bars.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: realistic, serious, inspirational, motivational, touching, disturbing, rough, spiritual, emotional, entertaining
Similar in 82%
Underdogs (2013)
Plot Summary:
Set in rural Ohio, the birthplace of football, UNDERDOGS is the story of a small-town high school football team destined to play their cross-town rival, a perennial powerhouse, while standing up for an entire community.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: feel good, touching, realistic, captivating, light, serious
Similar in 86%
Hometown Legend (2002)
Plot Summary:
A teenage drifter finds an opportunity to turn his life around when he joins a high-school football program with a hard-nosed coach.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 797
Genere: Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, serious, realistic, independent film, sincere
Similar in 83%
Finding Buck McHenry (2000)
Plot Summary:
When an 11 year old boy gets cut from his Little League baseball team, he sets out to form his own team.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 282
Genere: Drama, Family, Sport
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, feel good, humorous, uplifting, realistic, non-linear, semi serious
Similar in 87%
All You've Got (2006)
Plot Summary:
Two Southern California volleyball teams determined to prove their superiority on the court find out that they're not as different as they previously thought after tragedy strikes close to home in director Neema Barnette's affectionate sports drama. The Madonnas and the Phantoms are two volleyball teams with a longstanding grudge. With a bitter rivalry that frequently spills off of the court and into the streets, the Madonnas and the Phantoms appear to have nothing in common until fate forces them to break down the social and cultural barriers that bind them. Now determined to keep it together on the court as they make their way to the championships, these former rivals are about to find out what true sportsmanship is really all about.
IMDB Rating: 4.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, realistic, captivating
Similar in 81%
Bridal Fever (2008)
Plot Summary:
It’s a race to the altar when a steamy romance novelist with a long line of torrid romances – and ex-husbands – sets out to help a single woman ditch her bridesmaid dresses once and for all.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 566
Genere: Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: feel good, semi serious, sentimental, touching, humorous, realistic
Similar in 89%
Streetballers (2009)
Plot Summary:
Defining street basketball as America's new favorite pastime, it is a story driven by passion, faith, and achieving goals. A story capturing the poetic nature of street basketball, highlighting the struggles endured on and off the court by the purest of athletes. Constantly searching for sanity in the midst of alcoholism, racism, and drugs, John Hogan and Jacob Whitmore, two junior college basketball players, find release and therapy while competing at one of the most competitive and poetic street courts in the U.S. Both men must spend an entire summer helping one another overcome their adversities. Their dedication and love for the game of basketball transcends from the playground courts into each of their dysfunctional households where the two boys play the constant role of the father figure. Together, the two boys paint a sad and delightful portrait with their innocence, concerns, and faith in the unknown.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 383
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: sincere, touching, serious, emotional, realistic, independent film, spiritual
Similar in 81%
From the Rough (2013)
Plot Summary:
The coach of a women's swim team parlays her success into an opportunity to build her school's men's golf team.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: uplifting, captivating, touching, feel good, serious, inspirational, sincere, realistic
Similar in 79%
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 89%
Believe in Me (2006)
Plot Summary:
In a conservative small town, a young man's wish to coach high school basketball are tweaked by a school board decision that makes him the new coach of the girls' team.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 131 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, realistic, inspirational, spiritual
Similar in 85%
The Cutting Edge (1992)
Plot Summary:
Two former Olympians, one a figure skater and the other a hockey player, pin their hopes of one last shot at Olympic glory on one another. That is, of course, if they can keep from killing each other in the process.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 22000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: sweet, feel good, light, romantic comedy, teen, humorous, cute, sentimental, touching, romantic
Similar in 84%
The Hammer (2007)
Plot Summary:
Approaching forty, Ferro is unsatisfied with his life as a construction worker and part-time boxing instructor in Los Angeles, CA. After a successful bout with a young pro boxer, Ferro decides to don the gloves one last time. The movie recounts his unlikely quest for Olympic gold.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, light, sweet, semi serious, realistic, witty, funny, romantic, sentimental
Similar in 90%
The Final Season (2007)
Plot Summary:
True story of Kent Stock, who in the early 90's, gives up a job and ditches his wedding plans to take over as head coach as the Norway High School baseball team. Kent must win over his players and convince them and himself that he can fill their former coach's shoes and that they can go out winners. In the summer of 1991 Norway High's baseball tradition ended on a triumphant but sombre note.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: sentimental, sincere, touching, realistic, historical drama, serious, captivating, emotional, independent film