December 22, 2023, 7:38 am | Read time: 10 minutes
Sports documentaries are now as common as sand on the beach. From soccer to U.S. sports to individual sports, there are plenty of films and series. TECHBOOK has sifted through this vast pool and picked out the 12 best documentaries for you.
Documentaries are fascinating and inspiring in many ways. You often learn secrets that have never been published or see the subjects from a completely different perspective. Especially with athletes or sports, documentaries can shed light on the unknown. In a sports world ruled by money, documentary films and series are refreshing when they tell exciting stories, biographies, and secrets. TECHBOOK has compiled a list of recommended sports documentaries and reveals where you can stream them.
These Sports Documentaries Are Worth Watching
Looking at the streaming apps, you’ll notice that the number of sports documentaries has increased significantly in recent years. More and more services offer sports documentaries in addition to classic films, series, and documentaries. To save you the search, TECHBOOK has put together a recommended selection for you.
Icarus (2017)
The topic of doping is unfortunately a very big and troublesome issue in cycling. Lance Armstrong, Alberto Contador, Marco Pantani, Jan Ullrich, and many others–cycling has not only produced big names but also numerous doping offenders. And that’s the subject of “Icarus.” Filmmaker, director, and amateur cyclist Bryan Fogel embarks on a self-experiment and wants to compete in a cycling race using doping substances. But what starts as a crazy idea turns into a quasi-state crime. For his preparation, Fogel contacts Grigory Rodchenkov, the head of Russia’s anti-doping program. It later turns out that Rodchenkov had set up a doping system in Russia to dope athletes.
After cycling had more or less recovered from difficult times, this documentary shook the sport once again. Due to its findings, “Icarus” was awarded the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the 2018 ceremony. The sports documentary is available on Netflix.
Touching the Void (2003)
Not for the faint-hearted is the mountaineering documentary “Touching the Void.” It is based on the book of the same name by Joe Simpson from 1988. The story is about Simpson and his colleague Simon Yates, who climbed Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in the mid-1980s. Due to a snowstorm, Simpson has an accident and suffers several fractures in his right arm. Yates tries to help him, but the attempt fails, and Simpson falls into a crevasse. However, Simpson somehow fights his way back and escapes from the crevasse.
The dramatic sports documentary is a recommendation not only for outdoor fans. Directed by Kevin Macdonald, it shows many details of the true story from the book in the documentary. You can stream “Touching the Void” on Prime Video.
The Last Dance (2020)
The Chicago Bulls of the 1990s are legendary. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Ron Harper, Luc Longley, Toni Kukoc, Steve Kerr, etc. Many NBA fans know the core roster of the ’90s Bulls. “The Last Dance” is about the legendary team led by Michael Jordan and coach Phil Jackson. The documentary not only shows unpublished material from the 1997-98 season but also Jordan’s rise to the “GOAT” (short for “Greatest of All Time”).
The mini-documentary series was positively received not only by basketball fans but also by those less interested in sports. If you want to see the story of the 1990s Bulls with Jordan, you can watch it on Netflix.
Senna (2010)
A tragic documentary about one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers in history: Ayrton Senna. The Brazilian with the distinctive yellow helmet won the world championship three times, and his driving style was legendary at the time. That’s why he earned the nickname “The Magic.” But in 1994, it came to an abrupt end. Senna died in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola.
The then Brazilian President Itamar Franco declared a three-day national mourning. More than three million people paid their last respects to the great Formula 1 driver during the funeral procession. British director Asif Kapadia directed this documentary, which features many unpublished scenes and testimonies from contemporaries. “Senna” is available to stream on Prime Video with Arthaus+.
Sunderland ’til I Die (2018)
More of a niche club, but for soccer romantics, this sports documentary is a must. It centers on the English soccer club Sunderland AFC. The documentary is impressive not only because of the club but also because a major highlight is the fans and their love for Sunderland–as the title directly reveals.
The two-season docuseries shows the everyday life, victories, and downfall of the club from northeastern England. The soccer documentary is available on Netflix.
Quarterback (2023)
While American football was a fringe sport in Germany many years ago, it has changed significantly in recent years. The NFL–National Football League, where “National” once again stands for the USA–is considered the most expensive league in the world. In 2022, an NFL game was held in Germany for the first time. Not least because of this, the American football community in Germany continues to grow. The start of the documentary “Quarterback” could be described as being at the right place at the right time.
The Netflix documentary, in eight episodes, takes a closer look at three quarterbacks; the position is considered the most important in the sport. First and foremost is, of course, Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes. Also in front of the camera are Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) and Marcus Mariota (Atlanta Falcons). The documentary offers many insights into the sporting and private lives of the quarterbacks.
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Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez (2020)
Another football story, but quite different. The sports documentary “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez” is thrilling, tragic, and at the same time disturbing. It shows the life of the former NFL star who became a murderer in several episodes.
In the Netflix documentary, players, friends, and insiders speak out. While Hernandez’s career in the NFL world seemed brilliant, he had significant problems in his private life, including drug issues.
Schumacher (2021)
One of the greatest–if not the greatest–Formula 1 drivers in history: Michael Schumacher. Record world champion, a figure of sympathy, and popular with many colleagues and competitors. That’s a simplified summary of Michael Schumacher’s character and life.
The sports documentary shows the life of the Cologne native on his way to becoming a Formula 1 star until his tragic skiing accident. Not only his family but also many companions of the Ferrari legend speak out. If you want to see Schumacher’s story, you can stream it on Netflix. Also, since 2022, the documentary occasionally airs on free TV.
Athlete A (2020)
Documentaries are not just entertaining; they can also raise awareness of important issues. “Athlete A” definitely belongs to the latter category. It addresses the systematic abuse of over 250 female athletes. Larry Nassar, who was the doctor for the U.S. gymnastics team for years, is responsible for this.
The gymnasts describe the events and experiences with Nassar. In the documentary by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, you see how the athletes fight for justice and testify against the doctor in court. You can stream “Athlete A” on Netflix.
Being Jan Ullrich (2022)
Not only on the usual streaming platforms but also on public broadcasters, you can find some exciting sports documentaries. “Being Jan Ullrich” is among the best. In five episodes, it covers the rise and fall of the German cycling star.
The documentary starts with Ullrich’s career beginnings. He is considered a promising talent and shows his skills at a young age. Also captivating is his “eternal duel” with Lance Armstrong, who was considered unbeatable. But a doping scandal shakes Jan Ullrich’s career until he announces his retirement. You can stream the sports documentary in the ARD Mediathek. By the way, starting November 28, 2023, you can watch another documentary series about the cyclist titled “Jan Ullrich – The Hunted,” where he himself speaks and reveals many secrets, confessions, and internal matters.
Untold (2021)
If you want to delve deeper into the sports world, the sports documentary “Untold” is recommended. Many athletes from different sports speak out and share many internal stories and experiences from their respective perspectives.
Caitlyn Jenner, Mardy Fish, Metta Sandiford-Artest (known as Ron Artest), and many others are portrayed in individual episodes and tell their sports stories. The documentary series with 17 parts is available on Netflix.
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Free Solo (2019)
This documentary falls into the extreme sports category. The main protagonist of this sports documentary is Alex Honnold, a free climber without a rope or other technical aids. Directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, they accompanied the athlete as he climbed El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
The breathtaking documentary about the daring ascent of the 1,000-meter peak was awarded the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2019.
14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (2021)
There are 14 eight-thousanders in the world. For many, climbing even a much smaller mountain is a great achievement. Nepalese climber Nirmal Purja climbed all 14 in just about seven months, along with four permanent Sherpas and alternating companions. Although he achieved the ascent of the mountains in a few months, there was some criticism from strict alpinists because Purja flew by helicopter from base camp to base camp and also used bottled oxygen. Nevertheless, this sports documentary is very worth seeing, also because the images speak for themselves, showing what humans are capable of.
The main goal of his “Project Possible” was not only to break the record for climbing the 14 eight-thousanders (which previously stood at almost eight years) but also to raise awareness of the achievements of the Sherpas, who frequently undertake such climbs. The documentary is available on Netflix.
Everyday Athletes – the FITBOOK Documentary (2023)
Our editorial team also offers sports documentaries, specifically from our colleagues at FITBOOK. The documentary series “Everyday Athletes” provides exclusive insights into the daily lives of athletes in Germany. The first part is about Giancarlo Boone, an American football player for the Berlin Adler, who competes in the highest German league, the German Football League (GFL). In the FITBOOK documentary, the footballer gives insight into his life and reveals how he balances the demanding sport with his everyday life.
The second part of the documentary series is about Wiebke Schwartau. The Bundesliga basketball player at Alba Berlin trains like a full-time player. However, like many of her teammates, she must also build another career path in parallel. The reason: the low salaries. On FITBOOK.de, you can watch Part 1 and Part 2.
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