Best movies like Over the Top
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Sylvester Stallone stars as hard-luck big-rig trucker Lincoln Hawk and takes us under the glaring Las Vegas lights for all the boisterous action of the World Armwrestling Championship. Relying on wits and willpower, Hawk tries to rebuild his life by capturing the first-place prize money, and the love of the son he abandoned years earlier into the keeping of his rich, ruthless father-in-law.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 58000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: inspirational, intense, serious, action packed, funny, road movie, grindhouse, cult classic, weeping, exciting
Best tv shows and movies like Over the Top (1987):
Similar in 78%
Unrivaled (2010)
Plot Summary:
On these streets everyone is fighting for a way out, but after a lifetime of hard knocks, a down-on-his-luck cage fighter gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is chosen to compete against the MMA world champion during a massive competition. The stakes are high and the reward great...but should he lose, it will cost him his life.
IMDB Rating: 4.1
IMDB Votes: 906
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, uplifting, serious, erotic, realistic
Similar in 80%
Undisputed III: Redemption (2010)
Plot Summary:
Russian inmate Boyka, now severely hobbled by the knee injury suffered at the end of Undisputed 2. No longer the feared prison fighter he was, he has declined so far that he is now good only for cleaning toilets. But when a new prison fight tournament begins - an international affair, matching the best fighters from prisons around the globe, enticing them with the promise of freedom for the winner - Boyka must reclaim his dignity and fight for his position in the tournament.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 44000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, saga, cult classic, extraordinary, cult film
Similar in 80%
Split Decisions (1988)
Plot Summary:
When a boxer is killed because he wouldn't take a dive, his brother tries to find a way to avenge him even if only symbolically.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: independent film, exciting, sincere, serious, realistic
Similar in 76%
Lionheart (1990)
Plot Summary:
Lyon Gaultier is a deserter in the Foreign Legion arriving in the USA entirely hard up. He finds his brother between life and death and his sister-in-law without the money needed to heal her husband and to maintain her child. To earn the money needed, Gaultier decides to take part in some very dangerous clandestine fights.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 39000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, suspenseful, sentimental, psychological, motivational, grindhouse, cult classic, serious, realistic
Similar in 89%
Carman: The Champion (2001)
Plot Summary:
Former champion boxer Orlando Leone (Carmen) is "The Preacher" at an inner-city youth center. Wanting to give something back to the community, he bought a large building for a church youth center. But the cash ran out before he could finish fixing it up and now, the mortgage company is about to foreclose. With his bills mounting he agrees to one last fight.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 845
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, christian film, sincere
Similar in 82%
Days of Thunder (1990)
Plot Summary:
Talented but unproven stock car driver Cole Trickle gets a break and with the guidance of veteran Harry Hogge turns heads on the track. The young hotshot develops a rivalry with a fellow racer that threatens his career when the two smash their cars. But with the help of his doctor, Cole just might overcome his injuries-- and his fear.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 95000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: exciting, inspirational, intense, serious, realistic, suspense, psychological, romantic comedy, cult classic, action adventure
Similar in 75%
Embattled (2020)
Plot Summary:
The eldest son of a ruthlessly tough MMA champion must fight his way out of the abusive cycle his father has continued.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min
Plot tags: inspirational, brutal, suspense, realistic, intense, bloody
Similar in 81%
Grudge Match (2013)
Plot Summary:
A pair of aging boxing rivals are coaxed out of retirement to fight one final bout -- 30 years after their last match.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 62000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: emotional, inspirational, intense, humorous, realistic, parody, cult classic, semi serious, buddy comedy, funny
Similar in 84%
Gladiator (1992)
Plot Summary:
A story of two teenagers trapped in the world of illegal underground boxing. One is fighting to save his fathers life and using the money pay off gambling debts accumulated by his father. The second is fighting for the money to get out of the ghettos. While being exploited by a boxing promoter the two teens become friends. An explosive ending puts the two friends in the ring against each other.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, rough, harsh, hood, motivational, exciting, sentimental, inspirational, touching
Similar in 75%
Creed II (2018)
Plot Summary:
Follows Adonis Creed's life inside and outside of the ring as he deals with new found fame, issues with his family, and his continuing quest to become a champion.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 152000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 130 min
Plot tags: inspirational, uplifting, captivating, motivational, melancholic, touching, serious, bloody, hood, cult classic
Similar in 90%
Rocky IV (1985)
Plot Summary:
After iron man Drago, a highly intimidating 6-foot-5, 261-pound Soviet athlete, kills Apollo Creed in an exhibition match, Rocky comes to the heart of Russia for 15 pile-driving boxing rounds of revenge.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 223000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: inspirational, tense, suspenseful, entertaining, action packed, saga, feel good, patriotic, action adventure, psychological
Similar in 77%
Ours (2007)
Plot Summary:
An ex-boxer Baldev Choudhary (Dharmendra) has had a stain in his boxing career. He wanted to wash it with his son Angad's (Sunny Deol) success, but times were hard and a financial crunch kept him from achieving this dream. Though Angad pulled through fine, Baldev never forgot who ruined his chance to wash the stain. An opportunity strikes Baldev in the form of a T.V. Show. He trains a local boy to get into this media hyped boxing show, but is ditched for a better coach at the last minute. Baldev's younger son Karan (Bobby Deol) has just launched his first music album. Realizing his father is in crises of his life, he gives up his dream of a musical career to get into the game of boxing.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: India
Duration: 173 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 85%
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown (2011)
Plot Summary:
Four fighters different backgrounds come together to train under an ex MMA rising star and then ultimately have to fight each other and the traitor in heir midst.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 20000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: exciting, suspenseful, serious, realistic, inspirational, suspense, erotic, cult classic, teen, visually appealing
Similar in 81%
Bloodsport (1988)
Plot Summary:
Frank Dux has entered the "kumite", an illegal underground martial-arts competition where serious injury and even death are not unknown. Chong Li, a particularly ruthless and vicious fighter is the favorite, but then again Dux has not fought him yet.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 92000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: exciting, intense, grindhouse, cult classic, serious, suspenseful, epic, independent film, rough, realistic
Similar in 83%
Best of the Best (1989)
Plot Summary:
A team from the United States is going to compete against Korea in a Tae Kwon Do tournament. The team consists of fighters from all over the country--can they overcome their rivalry and work together to win?.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: inspirational, emotional, exciting, serious, suspenseful, realistic, cult classic, independent film, feel good, unusual plot structure
Similar in 87%
Creed (2015)
Plot Summary:
The former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson, the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 306000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 133 min
Plot tags: inspirational, reflective, brutal, emotional, suspense, sentimental, touching, intense, sincere, serious
Similar in 81%
Rocky II (1979)
Plot Summary:
After Rocky goes the distance with champ Apollo Creed, both try to put the fight behind them and move on. Rocky settles down with Adrian but can't put his life together outside the ring, while Creed seeks a rematch to restore his reputation. Soon enough, the "Master of Disaster" and the "Italian Stallion" are set on a collision course for a climactic battle that is brutal and unforgettable.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 227000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: inspirational, sincere, rough, feel good, captivating, entertaining, action packed, saga, action adventure, motivational
Similar in 78%
Never Back Down (2008)
Plot Summary:
Rebellious Jake Tyler is lured into an ultimate underground fight Scene at his new high school, after receiving threats to the safety of his friends and family Jake decides to seek the mentoring of a veteran fighter who trains him for one final no-holds-barred elimination fight with his nemesis and local martial arts champion Ryan McCarthy.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 105000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: inspirational, serious, exciting, entertaining, intense, suspenseful, teen, motivational, cult classic, realistic
Similar in 89%
Rocky III (1982)
Plot Summary:
Now the world champion, Rocky Balboa is living in luxury and only fighting opponents who pose no threat to him in the ring, until Clubber Lang challenges him to a bout. After taking a pounding from Lang, the humbled champ turns to former bitter rival Apollo Creed for a rematch with Lang.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 208000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: inspirational, captivating, suspenseful, action packed, action adventure, suspense, psychological, motivational, uplifting, saga
Similar in 89%
Driven (2001)
Plot Summary:
Talented rookie race-car driver Jimmy Bly has started losing his focus and begins to slip in the race rankings. It's no wonder, with the immense pressure being shoveled on him by his overly ambitious promoter brother as well as Bly's romance with his arch rival's girlfriend Sophia. With much riding on Bly, car owner Carl Henry brings former racing star Joe Tanto on board to help Bly. To drive Bly back to the top of the rankings, Tanto must first deal with the emotional scars left over from a tragic racing accident which nearly took his life.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 43000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA, Canada, Australia
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: intense, serious, realistic, stylized, fast, freeze frame, exciting, romantic, sexy, feel good
Similar in 89%
Boyka: Undisputed IV (2016)
Plot Summary:
In the fourth installment of the fighting franchise, Boyka is shooting for the big leagues when an accidental death in the ring makes him question everything he stands for. When he finds out the wife of the man he accidentally killed is in trouble, Boyka offers to fight in a series of impossible battles to free her from a life of servitude.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 31000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: Bulgaria, USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, realistic, suspenseful, serious, disturbing, cult classic
Similar in 77%
Real Steel (2011)
Plot Summary:
In the near-future, Charlie Kenton is a washed-up fighter who retired from the ring when robots took over the sport. After Charlie's robot is trashed, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max to rebuild and train an unlikely contender.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 350000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Sport
Country: USA, India
Duration: 127 min
Plot tags: futuristic, feel good, exciting, sentimental, inspirational, entertaining, touching, emotional, stylized, visual
Similar in 90%
Blood and Bone (2009)
Plot Summary:
In Los Angeles, an ex-con (White) takes the underground fighting world by storm in his quest to fulfill a promise to a dead friend.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 35000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: exciting, inspirational, brutal, harsh, rough, suspenseful, serious, intense, motivational, hood
Similar in 81%
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Plot Summary:
When he loses a highly publicized virtual boxing match to ex-champ Rocky Balboa, reigning heavyweight titleholder, Mason Dixon retaliates by challenging Rocky to a nationally televised, 10-round exhibition bout. To the surprise of his son and friends, Rocky agrees to come out of retirement and face an opponent who's faster, stronger and thirty years his junior.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 229000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: inspirational, sincere, touching, melancholic, action packed, realistic, sentimental, motivational, action adventure, entertaining
Similar in 85%
The Champ (1979)
Plot Summary:
The more you love, the harder you fight.The world looks at Billy Flynn and sees a has-been who seemingly never was, an ex-boxing champion slammed to the mat years ago by booze and gambling. But Billy's son TJ sees what the world doesn't. He knows his flawed but loving father is, was and always will be The Champ.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 121 min
Plot tags: sentimental, sad, emotional, heartbreaking, neo noir, tear jerker, heartfelt, weeping, sincere, uplifting
Similar in 84%
Rocky V (1990)
Plot Summary:
A lifetime of taking shots has ended Rocky's career, and a crooked accountant has left him broke. Inspired by the memory of his trainer, however, Rocky finds glory in training and takes on an up-and-coming boxer.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 148000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: inspirational, serious, realistic, action packed, saga, action adventure, suspense, cult classic, sincere, feel good
Similar in 81%
Southpaw (2015)
Plot Summary:
Billy "The Great" Hope, the reigning junior middleweight boxing champion, has an impressive career, a loving wife and daughter, and a lavish lifestyle. However, when tragedy strikes, Billy hits rock bottom, losing his family, his house and his manager. He soon finds an unlikely savior in Tick Willis, a former fighter who trains the city's toughest amateur boxers. With his future on the line, Hope fights to reclaim the trust of those he loves the most.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 254000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: Hong Kong, USA
Duration: 124 min
Plot tags: touching, inspirational, dramatic, sentimental, rough, intense, emotional, serious, exciting, suspense
Similar in 75%
The Fighter (2010)
Plot Summary:
The Fighter, is a drama about boxer "Irish" Micky Ward's unlikely road to the world light welterweight title. His Rocky-like rise was shepherded by half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer who rebounded in life after nearly being KO'd by drugs and crime.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 384000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: inspirational, sincere, realistic, uplifting, serious, motivational, tense, depressing, suspense, stylized
Similar in 89%
Rocky (1976)
Plot Summary:
When world heavyweight boxing champion, Apollo Creed wants to give an unknown fighter a shot at the title as a publicity stunt, his handlers choose palooka Rocky Balboa, an uneducated collector for a Philadelphia loan shark. Rocky teams up with trainer Mickey Goldmill to make the most of this once in a lifetime break.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 617000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: inspirational, uplifting, motivational, touching, cult classic, captivating, dramatic, action packed, saga, action adventure
Similar in 84%
The Karate Kid (2010)
Plot Summary:
12-year-old Dre Parker could have been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother's latest career move has landed him in China. Dre immediately falls for his classmate Mei Ying but the cultural differences make such a friendship impossible. Even worse, Dre's feelings make him an enemy of the class bully, Cheng. With no friends in a strange land, Dre has nowhere to turn but maintenance man Mr. Han, who is a kung fu master. As Han teaches Dre that kung fu is not about punches and parries, but maturity and calm, Dre realizes that facing down the bullies will be the fight of his life.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 201000
Genere: Action, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA, China
Duration: 140 min
Plot tags: inspirational, uplifting, feel good, sentimental, sincere, touching, serious, entertaining, teen, stylized