Seeing as the Olympics exist as a showcase for the world's greatest athletes, there have naturally been many acclaimed films that have mined their stories from the Olympics. Films like Munich, I, Tonya, and Richard Jewell have all been met with critical acclaim due to their portrayal of various wild real-life Olympics-related events.
However, the Olympics have also been captured through non-fiction lenses as well. There have also been many documentaries dealing with the Olympics - with many reaching high critical acclaim, according to IMDb - and those seeking out true stories about Olympians need not look any further.
10 Visions Of Eight - 6.4 (Available On The Criterion Channel)
Visions of Eight is one of the oldest Olympics documentaries, debuting in 1973 as a compilation of eight different documentary shorts filmed by different directors. With segments directed by iconic filmmakers such as Miloš Forman, Arthur Penn, and John Schlesinger, each focused on a different aspect of the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Though some have found the documentary to be a bit uneven, the unique directorial flair that each segment has allows the Olympics to be shown through many different viewpoints.
9 I Am Bolt - 7.1 (Available To Rent On Apple TV)
This British documentary focuses on Usain Bolt, the iconic sprinter who is known as the fastest human in recorded history. The film explores his background, diving into the life of the Olympic gold medalist.
Though it may feel a little too recent to be an unbiased portrayal of the athlete, this documentary does a commendable job at exploring what it takes to perform the incredible athletic feats that Bolt has accomplished.
8 Over The Limit - 7.4 (Available On Kanopy)
Over the Limit tells the story of Margarita Mamun, a Russian gymnast who is widely known to be one of the world's greatest rhythmic gymnasts. As she prepares for the Olympics, she must learn to overcome mental health issues to compete at the highest level.
An intense and cerebral documentary, Over the Limit has drawn comparisons to other films such as Black Swan for its accurate depiction of the mental effects of perfectionism. The film is unafraid to show the brutal injuries and abuse Mamun and others have to endure in order to achieve glory.
7 With Drawn Arms - 7.4 (Available On Starz)
One of the most iconic moments in sports history came when Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their hands in a fist in support of the Black Panther movement during the 1968 Olympic Games. In this documentary, Tommie Smith looks back on the moment and the effect that it has had ever since.
With Drawn Arms is a powerful exploration of the racism Black Americans faced in the 1960s, and how much has changed since then. It is also a fascinating look into how one moment can live on forever in the public consciousness.
6 16 Days Of Glory - 7.6 (Available To Rent On Apple TV)
16 Days Of Glory provides an unbiased look at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. With different cuts ranging in length from 2.5 hours long to 6 hours long, this documentary provides an all-encompassing view of the Olympics and the world around it at that time.
This documentary is powerful due to its deep depiction of the Olympics and the world in 1984. It provides a fascinating time capsule for the era, and has inspired many other sports documentaries after it.
5 Salute - 7.6 (Available On Sun NXT)
Like With Drawn Arms, this documentary also deals with the iconic image of the Black Panther salute. However, instead of telling the story of either of the two men with their fists raised, this documentary instead focuses on Peter Norman, the white Australian runner pictured without his fist raised.
This documentary is effective because of its study of Norman's life afterwards. Though he was supportive of the two men, and even suggested wearing the black gloves, he was widely shunned by the Australian public for not raising his fist and his career would never recover.
4 One Day In September - 7.8 (Available On Pluto TV)
One Day In September documents the murder of 11 Israeli athletes by a group of terrorists during the 1972 Munich Olympics. The events of the day are told through stock footage and interviews, including an interview of Jamal Al-Gashey, a terrorist involved with the plot.
With a controversial and upsetting subject matter, One Day in September is a disturbing look at one of the sporting worlds' biggest tragedies. It's unafraid to criticize those whose mistakes led to the deaths of the Israeli athletes.
3 The Fall - 7.8
One of the most notable events in the 1984 Summer Olympics came when Zola Budd and Mary Decker crashed into each other in the 300M relay race, sustaining serious injuries. The Fall tells the stories of these two women, and how the incident would affect the rest of their lives.
This documentary is another potent exploration of how one event in an athlete's life can change the rest of their career. In addition, it also shows how important it is to address the past in order to move on with the future.
2 Icarus - 7.9 (Available On Netflix)
Doping is one of the most talked-about issues in sports, and Icarus investigates just how prevalent it is within the cycling world. As the documentary investigates the use of doping, Russia's widespread use of doping comes to life.
A very intense and thrilling true crime documentary, Icarus works because it is unpredictable at every step. It's a great piece of investigative journalism that is unafraid to do whatever it takes to expose the truth.
1 The Other Dream Team - 8.4 (Available To Rent On Amazon Prime)
While the 1992 Team USA Men's Basketball team has gone down as one of the greatest teams in sports history, the 1992 Lithuanian Men's Basketball team has flown curiously under-the-radar. The Other Dream Team chronicles the Lithuanian team as they compete in the Olympics during the fall of the Soviet Union.
The Other Dream Team is a fascinating study into the intersection of sports and real-world politics. As these players compete at the highest level in their profession, the documentary provides an eye-opening look at the effects of the change that their country is going through.
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July 18, 2021 at 12:06AM
