What is it about sports documentaries that always makes us weep — in a good way? Perhaps the heart-wrenching drama is build right into the plotline — there will always be tragic losses, euphoric wins, the hope of a comeback . . . all key elements of the sort of emotional roller coaster that can bring on the waterworks. Wehther you’re a sports person or not, cuing up one or two sports documentaries on Netflix is a guaranteed good time (if you consider, say, a weekly crying session a good time), as long as you have a box of tissues or two nearby.
From mainstream sports like basketball and baseball to athletic activities you may know less about, including sumo wrestling, archery, and freediving, this list of Netflix sports documentaries and docuseries includes all the best films you can find on the streaming platform. Whether you’re in the mood for an exposé, a comeback story, or an interesting deep dive into a sport you know little about, there’s a Netflix sports documentary that’ll fit the bill.
But one note to Netflix, if we may be so presumptuous: more women’s sports documentaries and docuseries, please.
— Additional reporting by Mirel Zaman and Jade Esmeralda
“Sprint” takes an in-depth look at elite sprinters as they navigate the intense pressures of training, media attention, and Olympic competition on their journey to become the fastest in the world. Featuring athletes like Sha’Carri Richardson, Noah Lyles, and Shericka Jackson, the series also offers personal stories and commentary from track legends like Michael Johnson and Usain Bolt.
Watch “Sprint” on Netflix.
Follow Simone Biles as she balances her personal life, mental health, and intense training schedule in preparation for her highly anticipated return to the Olympics. Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look as Biles, who withdrew from events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to mental health struggles, returns to gymnastics and aims to reclaim her place at the top.
Watch “Simone Biles Rising” on Netflix.
This Hindi-language sports documentary follows Deepika Kumari as she navigated the poverty and limited women’s rights of her hometown of Ratu, India to become the world’s top female archer — at age 18.
Watch “Ladies First” on Netflix.
Sumo wrestling is traditionally reserved for men — but Hiyori is a 20-year-old woman sumo wrestling prodigy who thinks it’s about time to revolutionize the sport.
Watch “Little Miss Sumo” on Netflix.
In 2004, the highly regarded US men’s Olympic basketball team had a poor performance, losing the most games of any former US men’s Olympic team. The 2008 team had something to prove, and this sports documentary follows their journey as they went for the gold.
Watch “The Redeem Team” on Netflix.
This emotional sports documentary follows a team of investigative journalists from The Indianapolis Star as they work to expose the crimes of former USA Gymnastics national team doctor Larry Nassar, who later pleaded guilty on a number of charges, including sexual assault.
Watch “Athlete A” on Netflix.
Combining animation with live action, this sports docuseries tells eight incredible tales of defeat from the sporting world, featuring interviews with famed athletes who’ve managed to turn historic losses into lessons learned. Athletes include golfer Jean van de Velde, curler Pat Ryan, and figure skater Surya Bonaly, among others.
Watch “Losers” on Netflix.
ESPN’s 10-part sports docuseries centers on basketball legend Michael Jordan and the 1997-1998 Chicago Bulls, who at the time were in pursuit of their sixth NBA title in eight seasons. The series offers an intimate look into Jordan’s impressive career, as well as his relationships with his famous teammates, such as Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen.
Watch “The Last Dance” on Netflix.
Though Bryan Fogel first sought to explore the world of performance-enhancing drugs in cycling, the filmmaker instead uncovered a major international scandal: a state-sponsored Olympic doping program in Russia. In the sports documentary, he demonstrates the means by which a lab allowed athletes to take performance-enhancing drugs, while evading detection from drug testing.
Watch “Icarus” on Netflix.
This heart-pounding extreme sport documentary follows freedivers, athletes who simply hold their breath to dive deep underwater (rather than using assistance, like scuba gear). The sport is high risk — but this documentary follows the people who feel that it’s high reward, too.
Watch “The Deepest Breath” on Netflix.
This six-part docuseries follows the nationally-ranked 40-member Navarro College Cheer Team from Corsicana, TX, as they prepare to compete in the NCA Collegiate National Championships held annually in Daytona, FL. Why does this series have a cult following, you ask? Because coach Monica Aldama is tough AF, the stories of the cheerleaders on the team will make you weep, and — most stressful of all — there are only 20 spots on the mat.
Watch “Cheer” on Netflix.
The creators of “Cheer” first gave viewers “Last Chance U,” a sports docuseries that follows football players at community colleges in Mississippi and Kansas, many of whom were removed from Division I rosters due to academic or disciplinary issues.
Watch “Last Chance U” on Netflix.
Like its football predecessor, the first season of this sports docuseries follows several basketball players at East Los Angeles College, the second largest community college in the country, as the team attempts to claim the state title.
Watch “Last Chance U: Basketball” on Netflix.
This feel-good baseball documentary focuses on Mike Veeck, who wasn’t a player but was instead a promoter. Veeck landed in the Minor Leagues, where he revolutionized how baseball was publicized with his super-creative and humorous approach to promotion.
Watch “The Saint of Second Chances” on Netflix.
Produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, this sports docuseries profiles several of the most prominent coaches in sports, including two-time FIFA World Cup-winning coach Jill Ellis, Hall of Fame basketball player and coach Dawn Staley, and Patrick Mouratoglou, who famously trains tennis legend Serena Williams.
Watch “The Playbook: A Coach’s Rules For Life” on Netflix.
The first season of this British sports docuseries follows third-tier English soccer team Sunderland through the 2017-2018 season, following their disheartening relegation from the Premier League. The second season then continues their story as Sutherland begins to climb out of the third division and turn their luck around under new management.
Watch “Sunderland ‘Til I Die” on Netflix.
This fascinating sports docuseries provides an in-depth look into some of the most unusual and dangerous sports from around the world, such as freediving, roller derby, Pehlwani wrestling, and kok boru.
Watch “Home Game” on Netflix.
Corinne Sullivan is a journalist and author. Her debut novel, “Indecent,” tells the story of a recent college grad who accepts a teaching position at a tony all-boys boarding school, only to find herself deeply obsessed with a student at the risk of her job and her sanity.
Mirel Zaman (she/her) is the health and fitness director at PS. She has over 15 years of experience working in the health and wellness space, covering fitness, general health, mental health, relationships and sex, food and nutrition, spirituality, family and parenting, culture, and news.
Jade Esmeralda (she/her), MS, CSCS, is a health and fitness staff writer and a strength and conditioning specialist. A lifelong martial artist and dancer, Jade has a strong passion for strength and conditioning, sports science, and human performance. She graduated with a Master of Science degree in exercise science and strength and conditioning from George Washington University.
