Movies about Running: Essential Films

A rebellious youth at a reformatory discovers his talent for long-distance running, earning the respect of authorities while facing conflict with his fellow inmates over an important upcoming race.

A graduate student runner in New York becomes entangled in a dangerous conspiracy when his secret agent brother involves him in a deadly plot with Nazi war criminals.

An aspiring Olympic marathon runner believes that achieving athletic success will solve his troubled marriage and personal struggles.

Two determined British runners with different motivations - one driven by religious faith, the other by a desire to overcome prejudice - train for the 1924 Paris Olympics in this inspiring tale of athletic dedication and personal conviction.

A young sprinter struggling to reach her potential forms a romantic relationship with an established track star who helps train her. Their intimacy becomes complicated when they find themselves competing for spots on the same Olympic team.

Based on a true story, this inspiring drama follows Billy Mills, a Native American runner who overcomes adversity to achieve an unlikely victory in the 10,000-meter race at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

An aging professional runner makes one last desperate attempt at victory by training intensively for a grueling marathon race.

When Billy returns from reform school, he must navigate a new high school while his brother Joe excels as a track star hoping for a scholarship. The two brothers find themselves competing against each other when Billy joins the track team in an attempt to turn his life around.

A kind-hearted man with a low IQ finds himself inadvertently influencing several defining moments in American history while pursuing his lifelong love, Jenny.

The true story of legendary track star Steve Prefontaine, the charismatic and rebellious runner known as the "James Dean of Track" who captivated the nation with his record-breaking performances and rule-defying spirit.

The inspiring story of legendary distance runner Steve Prefontaine and his transformative relationship with coach Bill Bowerman at the University of Oregon.

When Lola's boyfriend loses a dangerous criminal's money, she has just 20 minutes to raise 100,000 marks or he'll resort to robbery. The film explores three different scenarios of her frantic race against time through Berlin's streets.

A 14-year-old boy living secretly on his own while his mother lies in a coma believes that winning the Boston Marathon will be the miracle needed to wake her up. With the help of a cynical priest-turned-coach, Ralph trains for the seemingly impossible goal in this heartwarming Canadian coming-of-age story set in 1954 Hamilton, Ontario.

An out-of-shape man decides to run a marathon to win back his ex-fiancée, whom he abandoned at the altar five years earlier.

A street smart runner develops an intense rivalry with an equally ambitious wealthy young athlete as they compete for a spot on the British Olympic team.

A track coach in a small California town transforms a team of athletes into championship contenders.

Based on a true story, a Spanish man diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis defies doctors' predictions that he couldn't walk 100 meters by attempting to complete an entire Iron-Man triathlon.

Based on the true story of Jesse Owens, the legendary track and field athlete who defied Adolf Hitler's vision of Aryan supremacy at the 1936 Berlin Olympics through his extraordinary athletic achievements.

A dedicated long-distance runner preparing for the Olympic Trials is forced to take her first day off when she injures her ankle, leading to unexpected discoveries about life beyond running.

When a wake-up call from her doctor reveals how unhealthy her lifestyle has become, party-loving Brittany decides to turn her life around by training for the New York City Marathon. What starts as running one block becomes an inspiring journey of self-discovery and personal transformation.

A desperate father enters a deadly televised competition game to save his sick daughter, but his unexpected popularity threatens the entire system that profits from his potential demise.