The best hockey movies capture the excitement of the game, despite not being as common on big screens as sports like baseball or boxing. For many people, one of their favourite pastimes is watching National Hockey League games. Hockey is an extremely difficult and distinct sport that combines skating, puck handling, and physical brutality. It can produce some amazing drama on screen. The best hockey films tell their own stories in a way that respects the sport.
The greatest hockey films span a wide range of genres and are surprisingly diverse. In addition to the inspirational tales that audiences are used to seeing in sports dramas, there are also heartwarming family-friendly tales, hilarious comedies, and exciting action flicks. The most well-known and compelling true stories in hockey history have also been the subject of hockey films. The best hockey films will delight everyone, even the most ardent supporters of the sport.
Not to miss hockey movies:
10. Mystery, Alaska (1999):
- Rent on iTunes
Mystery, Alaska is not the noir story set in Alaska that the title might imply. Instead, it centres on an amateur hockey team in Mystery, a fictional small town in Alaska that is devoted to its weekly Saturday pond hockey match between the locals.
The town goes crazy when their team gets selected to play a televised exhibition game against the NHL’s New York Rangers, giving them the chance of a lifetime. Rocky-style underdog sports film vibe permeates the film. Russell Crowe plays the team veteran who might be too old for the game he loves, and it’s a fun little story, even though it never quite reaches the heights of that classic.
9. Les Boys (1997):
- Stream on Tubi
The 1997 film Les Boys centres on the men who play on an amateur hockey team. Part of what makes this movie funny is how immature the ageing actors are most of the time. The players and their silly antics are the subject of several subplots.
Even though the film contains some offensive humour, it also has heartfelt moments and is still regarded as a classic by many fans 24 years later. It’s so funny that some people would even put it up there with some of the most well-known sports comedies.
8. Indian Horse (2017):
- Stream on Netflix
Indian Horse, a hit at Canadian film festivals, tackles dark subjects that other hockey films are afraid to tackle. The narrative centres on Saul, a young Aboriginal Canadian child raised in the abusive, discriminatory, and corrupt residential school system. Saul endures heartbreaking racism and abuse all of his life.
Saul battles a life-threatening alcohol addiction, but he doesn’t let that stop him from excelling as a hockey player or from finding contentment and meaning despite the dire circumstances. The short film was highly praised for its straightforward and realistic treatment of subjects that aren’t often covered in sports films.
7. Legend No. 17 (2013):
- No streaming options available
Most readers have probably never heard of or seen Legend No. 17, a Russian film that was never successful in being released in North America. The film, which won multiple important Russian film awards, centres on the life and career of Valeri Kharlamov (Danila Kozlovsky), regarded as one of the greatest hockey players in Soviet history.
Despite being small for a professional player, Kharlamov compensated for his diminutive stature with remarkable speed, brains, stick skills, and creativity, winning two titles with CSKA Moscow and two MVP awards in the Soviet League. In addition, Kharlamov participated in the 1980 Olympic team and won gold medals for his nation in the games in 1972 and 1976.
6. Sudden Death (1995):
- Rent on iTunes
Although Jean-Claude Van Damme is supposedly done making action films, he has still produced a number of enjoyable films in the genre. Among his best is Sudden Death, which is akin to “Die Hard at a hockey game.” In the Stanley Cup playoff final game, Van Damme plays a former firefighter who is the only one able to stop a group of terrorists holding the Vice President captive in a stadium.
Even though the action in this film takes precedence over the game, there are still plenty of fantastic hockey-related scenes, such as Van Damme facing down a terrorist disguised as a hockey mascot and having to substitute for the goalie during a game.
5. The Rocket (2005):
- No streaming options available
This biopic, which is based on the real-life career of Maurice “The Rocket” Richard, depicts the hardships the hockey player faced in order to achieve his current level of success. Richard, like many other French Canadian hockey players, felt that they were not given the same treatment as English Canadian players while he was a player for the Montreal Canadiens.
The abuse resulted in a protracted argument with the NHL president. The movie offers an engrossing glimpse into the life of one of the greatest hockey players in history and his influence on the sport.
4. Goon (2011):
- Stream on Prime Video
Goon, a hockey film that focuses on enforcers, is an inappropriately humorous tale about Doug Glatt (Seann William Scott), a kind-hearted but inept bar bouncer from a bright family. Doug receives an invitation to join the team after showcasing his vicious fighting abilities at a nearby hockey game. The team is in desperate need of an enforcer to guard Marc-Andre Grondin, a gifted but unstable young star.
The humour is endearing and amusing in the end, but it also obviously has a lot of passion behind it, which adds to the film’s core. While Liev Schreiber played a remarkable supporting role as the over-the-hill player trying to square off against Doug for his grand farewell, Scott is hilarious as the straightforward and sweet brute.
3. Miracle (2004):
- Stream on Disney+
Miracle is based on the true story of a group of mismatched American college hockey players who, in the 1980 Olympics, pulled off the biggest upset and most significant victory in American hockey history by defeating a heavily favoured Soviet Union team at the height of the Cold War. If you’ve ever been rejected, the story of team coach Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) should inspire you.
Kurt Russell is excellent as the tough yet passionate leader of this team, despite the fact that his fans may most associate him with the Western movie character. The film received positive reviews, was a moderate box office hit, and even took home the best sports movie Oscar.
2. The Mighty Ducks (1992):
- Stream on Disney+
The majority of the millennial generation first became interested in ice hockey thanks to the film The Mighty Ducks. In the film, Emilio Estevez plays Gordon Bombay, a conceited attorney from Minnesota who was arrested for drunk driving and sentenced to community service as a youth hockey team coach.
Apart from giving rise to stars like Elden Henson, Marguerite Moreau, and Joshua Jackson in supporting roles, the film also inspired two follow-ups, an animated series, and an NHL expansion team based in Anaheim. One of the best sports films for both adults and children to enjoy is The Mighty Ducks franchise, which has a heart. The film depicts the flawed Bombay learning to care for these children.
1. Slap Shot (1977):
- Rent on iTunes
Slap Shot is a classic comedy film from the 1970s and is regarded as one of the best. It centres on the fictional minor league hockey team Charlestown Chiefs, coached by Paul Newman’s character Reggie Dunlop.
Dunlop unleashes a new weapon on the league—the Hanson Brothers—after learning that his struggling team is about to break up at the end of the season. The brothers’ dirty and violent style of play causes havoc in the league, and the Chiefs realise that a violent team will draw in more fans than a winning one.
Slap Shot is regarded as one of Paul Newman’s best films, which is really all the recognition the movie needs in his highly acclaimed career. Even though many of the jokes in the film are a little out of date now, the love for the game is evident and continues to make it one of the best hockey films ever made.
Bonus: Chak De! India (2007):
- Stream on Amazon Prime Video
Chak De! India is a compelling and inspirational film that explores issues of women’s empowerment, gender equality, national integration, sportsmanship, and repairing one’s reputation after being falsely accused of cheering for the other team while playing hockey. In addition to giving a fantastic performance as the character in this movie, Shah Rukh Khan most likely actually lived the part!
In this instance, he assumes the part of a former professional hockey player who wants to rebuild his reputation by coaching India’s women’s hockey team. Personally, I never imagined that I would find a sports-related movie to be as entertaining as it was, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen the entire time. Being a sophisticated and influential movie, this film is a must-recommend!
So, this was all about the best hockey movies of all time. Also read, Top 10 must-watch Indian movies on MMA
