There's certainly no shortage of interesting narratives in sports. ESPN's popular documentary series, 30 For 30, excellently taps into the dramatic and action-filled world of sports history.
What began as a concept of 30 films to celebrate the network's 30-year anniversary has mushroomed into a major, ongoing documentary series full of films dealing with major sports events and topics. These range from sports scandals to full-blown major league rivalries.
With over a decade of documentaries from a variety of talented filmmakers, there are now dozens of enthralling films to choose from. This populated lineup can make it all the more difficult for newcomers to pick out the best ones to check out.
With this list, we'll undergo the tough task of pinpointing the 10 more interesting and entertaining films to come from this ESPN series. We'll be judging on merit while checking our team fandom bias at the front door here, factoring in entertainment, educational value, and production quality.
10 Playing For The Mob
Basically, take Scorsese's classic mobster film Goodfellas and give it a basketball overlay and you'd probably have this compellingly scandalous doc.
In fact, this film literally features a few of the mafiosos involved in Scorsese's 1990 film, as it documents the scandal of Henry Hill and Jimmy Burke in trying to fix college basketball. It hones in on Boston College stars Jim Sweeney and Ernie Cobb, as they share their accounts of the point-shaving scandal of their '78-'79 season. Director Joe Lavine presents a truly gripping story that feels like a real-life mob film, as he documents this whirlwind of chaotic events.
This is enhanced by the narration of Ray Liotta, who fittingly played Henry Hill in Goodfellas, in addition to interviews by the late Hill himself.
9 Believeland
For every major success story and memorable championship run in sports, there's a tale of heartbreak and championship futility. Until the memorable 2016 championship of the Cavilers led by LeBron James, the Rust Belt city of Cleveland was almost undeniably at the forefront of this futility.
The dramatic, and occasionally emotional film Believeland, which was fittingly released just before the Cavs' epic title run, documents a whopping half-century of Cleveland sports heartbreak spread across 3 teams. Whether or not you can identify with this frustration clearly illustrated by director Andrew Billman, this film is chock-full of gripping drama and action. This is thanks to some iconic sports moments and interviews from ex-players.
8 Winning Time: Reggie Miller Vs The New York Knicks
While it's now nearly a decade old, Dan Klores' documentary still shines as one of the more entertaining 30 For 30 films for many. It hones in on some epic showdowns and the heated rivalry between these two physical teams, with superstars Reggie Miller and Patrick Ewing clashing for NBA Eastern Conference supremacy. Accounts by figures like director Spike Lee and Pacers former coach Larry Brown further add to the intrigue of the film.
Whether you're a basketball fan or not, Winning Time really makes for an enjoyable, inspirational tale of overcoming adversity.
7 Bad Boys
Bad Boys highlights the unique and somewhat rocky rise to prominence of the defensive beasts; the late-80s Detroit Pistons. Zak Levitt's film stresses the hardships and slow, steady progress of this gritty team, illustrating the arduous climb to the top. But what really makes it stand out for many is its focus on several members of the "Bad Boys;" many of whom had some interesting careers. This includes stars like Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, and Isaiah Thomas.
This film offers an entertaining look into a bygone era of the NBA, centered around a rough, no-nonsense team determined to break up the "glamor party" of the league at the time.
6 The '85 Bears
Quite possibly one of the best teams in history to only win a single championship, The '85 Bears by Jason Hehir, narrated by Chicago-raised actor Vince Vaughn, is full of captivating moments. The film showcases a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs for the Bears as the defensive juggernaut aims for a Superbowl title, helmed by the late great Walter Payton.
There's no shortage of interesting tales and chuckle-worthy lines, thanks to interviews featuring coach Ditka and a slew of players from the '85 Bears and some of their victims. There are also some emotional moments in this hour-and-41-minute film, as Hehir dabbles in the aftermath of concussions caused by this physical era of football.
5 Celtics/Lakers: Best Of Enemies
One of the most epic and iconic sports rivalries in sports is sure to make for a compelling watch, and director Jim Podhoretz delivers with this 3-part epic.
Strengthened by accounts from Lakers and Celtics greats like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, Best of Enemies documents the rich, event-filled drama of this elite NBA rivalry of the 70s and 80s. The film covers the constant seesaw of title wins from these two teams, which is fleshed out by the historical and cultural context of LA and Boston.
The dual narration of Donnie Wahlberg and Ice Cube covering things from the angle of a Celtics and Lakers fan respectively ensure fans of both teams can get into this one. But really, this is an entertaining watch for sports fans as a whole.
4 Catching Hell
It pains this writer to put this one up here as a Cubs fan, but it's hard to deny the historical significance and entertainment value of Catching Hell by Alex Gibney.
The film highlights the epic blunder of the Chicago Cubs' NLCS run in 2003, where a bizarre fluke of a play led to one unfortunate fan taking the brunt of the heat following their ensuing collapse to follow. Gibney, the Boston native, cleverly interweaves this major sports flub with the gaffe of a Boston Red Sox player in '86, drawing comparisons while covering the insanity surrounding both events.
Catching Hell even crescendos into a philosophical look at the human nature of "scapegoating" and mob mentalities, rounding out a gripping, emotional film.
3 This Was The XFL
While the XFL has only recently made a repackaged comeback in February 2020, for nearly 2 decades, it was naught but a short-lived project from WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. This film greatly illustrates the whole story behind this failed league.
This Was the XFL has some added emotional weight, as Charlie Ebersol, the son of McMahon's NBC partner in the original XFL creation, is behind the film.
This one is just chock-full of fun bouts, thanks to various insane events surrounding the creation of this theatrical, gritty league in '01. Ebersol documents the quick rise and even quicker fall of this league, laying out why it went defunct after just one season. Interviews by figures like Rod "He Hate Me" Smart and former wrestler Jesse Ventura further add some entertainment value to the film.
2 The Two Escobars
This dramatic 2010 film drew the attention of many sports fans and helped feed into the growing success of ESPN's documentary series early on. Like a sports-laced episode of Breaking Bad, Jeff and Michael Zimbalist's movie captures the whirlwind of chaos and corruption brought by drug culture as it bounces between the lives of a drug lord and soccer player.
The Two Escobars outlines the conspiracy surrounding Pablo Escobar's drug cartel which was attributed to the propping up of the Colombian National soccer team, and to the murder of player Andres Escobar. The quality of the production and slew of enthralling events makes this one of the most acclaimed films in the series.
1 Nature Boy
Sometimes the truth is stranger - and even more captivating - than fiction. The chaotic, event-filled life of iconic wrestler Ric Flair is proof of this.
This recent episode has instantly stood out as one of the most memorable films, with director Rory Karpf showcasing the long fight to fame and glory for the Nature Boy. It's an emotional roller coaster that documents the rise, fall, and renaissance of a man whose life of luxury, fame, and women has affected him and his loved ones.
For fans and non-fans of wrestling, this one really has it all - from interesting 1st-hand accounts, to tear-jerking drama, to hilarious animated bits.
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