Based on true events, this thrilling sports drama, Hard Miles, follows a teacher who unites rebellious teens on a 1,000-mile bike ride to the Grand Canyon. Along the way, they face their own struggles and discover the strength they need to transform their lives. Amidst stunning landscapes and intense challenges, the group continues pedaling toward a renewed future.
Chasing Mavericks tells the inspiring true story of young surfer Jay Moriarity, who trains with a mentor to take on the massive Mavericks waves. An emotional sports drama about perseverance and friendship.
Movies about sports and overcoming adversity have become a constant subgenre in Hollywood. From tennis (King Richard) to boxing (Rocky, Creed) and even open water swimming with Nyad. A Netflix original, the film tells the true story of Diana Nyad (Annette Bening), a professional swimmer who, at the age of 60, attempts to achieve the one feat she hasn't accomplished: swimming from Cuba to Florida, over 60 hours without stopping. While it employs many of the genre's formulas, focusing on themes of overcoming adversity and the like, Nyad manages to be emotionally stirring, thanks in large part to the outstanding performances of Bening and Jodie Foster (The Silence of the Lambs), who portrays the coach. Directed competently by the duo Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi (Oscar winners for the documentary Free Solo), the film is likely to bring tears to the audience as they witness a true story of triumph, no-nonsense, on the screen. And the best part: it evokes the same sharpness as Free Solo, an excellent sports documentary.
Young Woman and the Sea is a movie that has that "I've seen this before" feeling. After all, the true story of swimmer Trudy Ederle (played by Daisy Ridley) quite resembles the same emotional journey — albeit in different situations, with different ages — of Nyad, another swimmer whose crossing between Cuba and Florida was documented in the Netflix film bearing her name. Here, in the meantime, we follow the story of the swimmer who, in 1926, became the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Even though it repeats structure and emotional journey, Young Woman and the Sea knows how to move the audience with a good performance by Daisy Ridley, from Star Wars, as this determined woman. Credit also goes to director Joachim Rønning, who had already shown his skill in directing sea stories with Kon-Tiki.
Rez Ball is an exciting film that explores a classic cinematic theme: overcoming adversity through sports. Exclusive to Netflix, the movie is set in the heart of Chuska, New Mexico. There, the Chuska Warriors, a high school basketball team rich in Native American heritage, face their biggest challenge: after losing their star player, the team must come together like never before to keep their state championship dreams alive. A film about perseverance, sports, and unity.