The Winter Olympics are almost here! Mark your calendars because in only one month, from February 9th through February 25th, the best of the best will compete for the gold in PyeongChang, South Korea.
While you wait for this exciting sports competition, you really should get in the Olympic mood by checking out some of the best in Olympic movie entertainment. You should start by taking these next few weeks to binge watch some of the best movies that are based on the Olympics.
I would start with the 1993 comedy Cool Runnings, which starred Leon, Doug E. Doug, Rawle D. Lewis, Malik Yoba and John Candy. It’s kind of based on a true story of the Jamaican bobsledding team that participated in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and it’s lighthearted fun that will instantly get you in the mood for the Olympics.
Once that is over, watch Eddie the Eagle, which easily became one of my favorite feel-good Olympic movies out there and one that you can watch with the whole family. This movie is inspired by true events and is about underdog Michael “Eddie” Edwards (portrayed by Taron Egerton), a British ski-jumper who just wanted to be in the Olympics. The odds, however were slim to none and he really didn’t have anyone believe in him. However, he never stopped believing in himself and ultimately made a showing at the same 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics that the bobsledding team appeared in. You won’t be disappointed in this movie and it really conveys what Olympians believe – you can achieve whatever you set your mind to.
When it comes to the Olympics, achieving whatever you sent your mind to is the running theme. These Olympians train for years to just have this opportunity to compete and represent their country. This theme and incredible story is perfectly portrayed in the 2004 movie Miracle, which tells the true story of Herb Brooks (played by Kurt Russell), and the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that he coached to a victory over the hard-to-beat Russian team. This is one of my favorite Olympic moments ever and it will be yours too when you watch this movie. Then, tune in to the Winter Olympics and root for this year’s ice hockey team.
A few days ago, Allison Janney – who is seriously one of my favorite actresses right now because there isn’t anything she can’t do — won a Golden Globe for her performance in I, Tonya as famed figure skater Tonya Harding’s mother LaVona Golden. This isn’t one of those inspirational Olympic movies, but it tells a true-life story about Tonya Harding and the attack on her competitor figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, which took place weeks before the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics
I remember this turn of events well too and the movie does a fantastic job of portraying what happened and the planning behind Harding’s actions as well as her skating career, her marriage to Jeff Gillooly who was part of the attack along with Harding’s bodyguard Shawn Eckhardt. Margot Robbie did a fantastic job in her portrayal of Harding which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Harding, and Allison Janney nabbed one for her role as Harding’s mother, Lavona.
And although it’s not based on the Winter Olympics, you can’t forget to watch the 1981 Chariots of Fire British historical drama film. The movie is about two 1924 Olympics, devout Christian Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice. This amazing movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
From Alpine Skiing to Speed Skating and every sport in between – including curling — when you’re looking for your Winter Olympic coverage, make sure you come to Get More Sports. Here we will have interviews with Olympians, recaps of the events and other Winter Olympics coverage. This is the place you want to be.
For more information on the Winter Olympics, visit their website https://www.pyeongchang2018.com.
