What’s the best hockey movies for a true hockey fan to watch – movie classics, witty comedies, and biographies of real players.
#7 Youngblood
- 1986
- Drama, melodrama, sports
- Duration: 110 minutes
- IMDb: 6.2
Seventh place among the best hockey movies. Young and naive Dean Youngblood decides to fulfill his dream. He leaves his father’s farm and goes to play hockey, hoping to make it to the NHL. Soon the hero falls in love with the coach’s daughter, but the world of sports turns out to be very cruel for him.
The team that created this movie included many real hockey players. Director and screenwriter Peter Markle was a professional player, the operator of the picture not only skated well but also invented a special setup for filming on the ice.
Eric Nesterenko, an NHL veteran, consulted on the project. And even Keanu Reeves, who got a glimpse of himself in a small role, trained in his youth. But lead actors Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze had to skate for the first time.
#6 The Mighty Ducks
- 1992
- Drama, melodrama, sports
- Duration: 104 minutes
- IMDb: 6.5
Lawyer Gordon Bombay often resorts to dishonest methods while handling cases. But one day he is punished. Gordon is appointed coach of a very weak children’s hockey team for drunk driving. Strangely, the hero finds common ground with the underdogs and helps them break into leaders.
The inspirational film was very successful at the box office, so two more sequels were made. And the city of Anaheim even got a real hockey club The Mighty Ducks.
#5 Mystery, Alaska
- 1999
- Drama, melodrama, sports
- Duration: 119 minutes
- IMDb: 6.7
The residents of the small town of Mystery, Alaska, love hockey and have a game every weekend at the local pond. But one day a great joy happens: an article is published about them in a magazine, after which a former local resident arranges a match with a professional team. However, they are not eager to play with amateurs.
Unfortunately, the real New York Rangers refused to star in the picture, and they were replaced by actors. But all the same, this film is a joy to watch with great footage of hockey, and not indoors, but against the backdrop of magnificent nature.
#4 Goon
We made it to fourth place among the best hockey movies.
- 2011
- Drama, biography, sports
- Duration: 92 minutes
- IMDb: 6.8
Simple guy Doug Glatt loves hockey. And one day he gets a chance to make the team. However, at first, he gets the role of a tough guy player – a player who is responsible for power moves and fighting with the opponent. However, over time, Doug becomes a very important member of the team.
Surprisingly, this funny story is based on real events. Former boxer Doug Smith began his journey in hockey as a tough guy player and then wrote a book about it. A film was made based on this story.
In my personal ranking of the best hockey movies, this movie ranks second.
#3 Slap Shot
- 1977
- Drama, melodrama, sports
- Duration: 123 minutes
- IMDb: 7.3
The Charlestown hockey team is losing match after match, ranking last in the table, and soon may even be disbanded due to a difficult financial situation. Then the coach invites to play a trio of Hanson brothers, who perceive only “hard” hockey, that is, constant fights on the ice.
Even “Goon” cannot compare to this movie by the number of rough scenes. Characters here fight all the time: with players of other teams, the referee, and even with the fans. But the two sequels could not show such brutal hockey.
#2 Miracle
- 2004
- Drama, biography, sports
- Duration: 135 minutes
- IMDb: 7.5
Herb Brooks coaches the American hockey team. He has one main goal – to beat the USSR at the upcoming Olympics. But it seems fantastic because the Soviet hockey players look simply indestructible.
The picture is based on real events: this match took place in 1980. Of course, in the adaptation, the Soviet hockey players were shown as silent thugs, but otherwise, the story is presented very emotionally and truthfully.
#1 Maurice Richard (The Rocket)
And finally, the first place among the best hockey movies is – The Rocket. But, as I said above, in my opinion the first place goes to another movie.
- 2005
- Drama, biography, sports
- Duration: 124 minutes
- IMDb: 7.6
The film is dedicated to the legendary Quebec player Maurice Richard, nicknamed Rocket. The story covers both his formative years as a young player and his famous NHL games.
The film features a carefully crafted atmosphere of the past: the authors were very careful to recreate the players’ uniforms and their everyday life. At the same time, there is room for drama and very violent scenes during games.
