Over the years, sports movies have come in all shapes and sizes. It is a genre that watchers of both movies and sport can take to, especially as it gives fans an insight into how things work behind the scenes at a sporting organisation or for a professional athlete. There have certainly been some memorable reviews on specific movies over the years, with some sporting creations offering inspiration while others follow the lives of sporting heroes and their successes in a particular sport.
On the whole, it is a genre that has served up numerous iconic movies from a variety of different sports. For example, Rocky, which topped this list of the 100 greatest sports movies, is a true classic thanks to its underdog story of a boxer who achieves the impossible. It captivated audiences from the off. Not all sports movies get it right like the creators of Rocky did, though. In fact, over the years, the genre has been on the receiving end of some horrific productions which failed to really hit the mark. Whether it’s a baseball-playing dog or a horrifically bad racing car release, not every sports-themed movie has been well received. Below is a look at some of the worst of them.
The Next Karate Kid
With a score of just 7% from Rotten Tomatoes, it should come as no surprise to see The Next Karate Kid kicks thing off. Oscar-winner Hilary Swank’s performance in the movie was a rare highlight in what is a title which really failed to live up to expectations, especially when you factor in some of the other Karate Kid movies which are truly iconic. Even Mr Miyagi can’t have been proud of this one.
Ed
Starring Friends actor Matt LeBlanc, Ed attempted to match the legendary sitcom’s humorous offering with a baseball classic. Instead, we were treated to a baseball horror show. LeBlanc, who plays a minor league baseball pitcher, teams up with a chimp third baseman in what is a movie that really offers little in terms of comical value. Its 0% Rotten Tomatoes score pretty much sums it up, although the fact the movie made $6.2 million on a $24 million budget highlights its failures even more.
Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice
If you haven’t seen Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice, then don’t worry – you really aren’t missing anything. It might have been 25 years between the original and the second instalment of the movie, but it was probably best left alone given the final outcome. Following the story of an ice hockey team based in West Virginia, this is a comedy in which you’ll struggle to laugh. Even the famed Hanson brothers couldn’t turn this one around.
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The Bad News Bears Go To Japan
The first instalment of The Bad News Bears went down extremely well when it was released in 1976, but the follow-up to it left fans utterly annoyed at just how bad it was compared to its previous edition. A score of 6% on Rotten Tomatoes highlights its abysmal offering perfectly, with the Japan-based version of the film offering no redeeming qualities whatsoever, especially for fans of baseball.
Caddyshack II
This over-the-top ’80s sequel upset quite a few people, and it’s entirely understandable as to why once you sit down and watch it. The outfits in the movie might be excellent, but everything else alongside it certainly isn’t. Despite turning a country club into an amusement park and witnessing a golf battle to win the property back, there really isn’t much to work with in Caddyshack II. Watch the first one and then leave it there, basically.
Other bad sports movies include Major League II, The Benchwarmers, Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch, and Juwanna Mann.
