Sports movies have a way of getting everyone fired up, even people who don't watch sports. Space Jam, Remember the Titans, Rocky and Any Given Sunday each have scenes and speeches people still quote. This One Gotta Go card asks which one you would take off the movie list for good.
Think about the movie you'd put on before a big game, the speech that gives you chills and the one you've rewatched since you were a kid. Then make your pick and find out which speech everyone else at the table can still recite.
Space Jam vs Remember the Titans vs Rocky vs Any Given Sunday
A. Space Jam
Space Jam teamed Michael Jordan with Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes for a basketball game against alien players. It's a childhood favorite for many. The case against it is that it's more of a cartoon comedy than a real sports movie.
Keep it if: Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes on the same court is your favorite movie mashup ever.
B. Remember the Titans
Remember the Titans stars Denzel Washington as a coach leading a newly integrated high school football team in Virginia, based on a true story. It's full of heart. The case against it is that some scenes lean on familiar sports movie moments.
Keep it if: You love a true story about a team coming together, and Denzel's coaching scenes give you chills.
C. Rocky
Rocky follows Sylvester Stallone as a Philadelphia boxer who gets a shot at the heavyweight title. The training montage and the run up the museum steps are iconic. The case against it is that the many sequels have made the story feel familiar.
Keep it if: The training montage and the run up the steps still make you want to work out right away.
D. Any Given Sunday
Any Given Sunday stars Al Pacino as a pro football coach, and it's known for his speech about inches. It's intense and stylish. The case against it is that it's the least known of the four, which makes it the easiest cut for many groups.
Keep it if: You love an intense look at pro football, and the speech about inches is one of your favorites.
Our take
We'd cut Any Given Sunday. Al Pacino's speech is a classic, but it's the movie on this card fewer people have seen, while Space Jam is a childhood favorite, Remember the Titans is full of heart and Rocky is one of the most famous sports movies ever made. Expect the most fun debate between the Rocky fans and the Remember the Titans crowd. For a bonus round, ask everyone which sports movie speech they would want to hear before a big moment in their own life.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which sports movie is loved by everyone but doesn't hold up on a rewatch?
- Which movie has the best pregame speech?
- Which sports movie would you show a kid first?
- Which sports movie deserves a spot on this card instead?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
Sports Movies: quick answers
What is the best sports movie of all time?
Rocky is often named one of the greatest sports movies ever made, along with favorites like Remember the Titans, Hoosiers and Field of Dreams. Space Jam is a beloved family pick, and Any Given Sunday is known for its famous speech. Your answer depends on whether you want heart, comedy or intensity.
Is Remember the Titans a true story?
Remember the Titans is based on a true story about T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, and coach Herman Boone, played by Denzel Washington, leading a newly integrated football team in 1971. Like many sports movies, it changes some details for drama.
