Girls and Women in Sports
In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day being celebrated in the United States this week, we are spotlighting films about the experiences of women athletes and spectators in the historically male-dominated world of sports. From documentaries to biopics and coming of age dramas, these films call attention to the history and representation of these athletes and the work still left to do to support equity in sports.
Fighting with My Family
A comedy about a family that fights a little differently.
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- United Kingdom, United States • 2019
- Director Stephen Merchant
- Cast Florence Pugh, Vince Vaughn, Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Lowden
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Tubi TV
Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)
The story of young Afghan girls learning to read, write and skateboard in Kabul.
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- United Kingdom • 2019
- Director Carol Dysinger
- Cast
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Kanopy
Maiden
Director Alex Holmes chronicles the unprecedented journey of 24-year-old Tracy Edwards and the first all-female sailing crew to enter the nine-month Whitbread Round the World Race.
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- United Kingdom • 2019
- Director Alex Holmes
- Cast Tracy Edwards
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
Cold Sweat
(عرق سرد)
Based on a real-life incident: an Iranian futsal champion can’t travel to a match abroad without her husband’s permission.
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- Iran • 2018
- Director Soheil Beiraghi
- Cast Baran Kosari, Amir Jadidi, Sahar Dolatshahi, Leili Rashidi, Hoda Zeynolabedin
- Genre Drama
- Available on Kanopy
Over the Limit
An elite Russian rhythmic gymnast pushes herself to extremes in an attempt to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games.
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- Poland, Germany, Finland • 2018
- Director Marta Prus
- Cast Margarita Mamun
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Film Movement Plus, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy, Hoopla
Battle of the Sexes
The true story of the 1973 tennis match between World number one Billie Jean King and ex-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs.
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- United Kingdom, United States • 2017
- Director Valerie Faris
- Cast Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Andrea Riseborough, Sarah Silverman, Bill Pullman, Alan Cumming
- Genre Comedy, Drama, History
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand, AMC on Demand
Ladies First
Born into abject poverty, she went searching for food and stumbled upon archery, changing her life forever.
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- India • 2017
- Director Shaana Levy
- Cast Deepika Kumari
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
Dangal
(दंगल)
A former wrestler raises a family of international wrestling champions in this inspiring biopic.
- India, United States • 2016
- Director Nitesh Tiwari
- Cast Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Sakshi Tanwar, Aparshakti Khurana, Zaira Wasim
- Genre Action, Bollywood, Drama
- Available on No streaming locations found.
Mary Kom
(मैरी कोम)
A chronicle of the life of Indian boxer 'Mary Kom' who went through several hardships before audaciously accomplishing her ultimate dream.
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- India • 2014
- Director Omung Kumar
- Cast Priyanka Chopra, Darshan Kumaar, Shishir Sharma, Sunil Thapa, Robin Das, Zachary Coffin
- Genre Action, Drama, History
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Water Lilies
(Naissance des pieuvres)
Marie joins the local pool’s synchronized swim team for a chance to get close to Floriane—the “bad girl” of the team.
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- France • 2007
- Director Céline Sciamma
- Cast Pauline Acquart, Adèle Haenel, Louise Blachère, Warren Jacquin, Christel Baras, Marie Gili-Pierre
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Criterion Channel
Offside
(آفساید)
Since women are banned from attending men's sporting events in Iran, a group of female soccer fans disguise themselves as men to watch a match at Tehran's stadium.
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- Iran • 2006
- Director Jafar Panahi
- Cast Sima Mobarak-Shahi, Shayesteh Irani, Ayda Sadeqi, Golnaz Farmani, Mahnaz Zabihi
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
Bend It Like Beckham
18-year-old Jess Bharma secretly joins a semi-pro soccer team in England, against her strict parent's wishes.
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- United Kingdom, Germany, United States • 2002
- Director Gurinder Chadha
- Cast Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anupam Kher, Shaheen Khan, Frank Harper
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Available on Disney Plus, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand, AMC on Demand