7 Thrilling Gymnastics Movies to Get You Pumped for the Summer Olympics
Gymnastics is always our favorite thing to watch at the Summer Olympics. Seeing women pull off stunning moves that seem to defy all known laws of physics is truly awe-inspiring, and it never gets old. We can't wait to see the singular Simone Biles and her USA teammates fly through the air, and in anticipation of the upcoming Summer Games in Paris, we've gathered seven gymnastics movies that are sure to get you hyped.
While there aren't quite as many gymnastics movies as there are movies about other sports, these fun options definitely stick the landing.
1. American Anthem (1986)
If you want a gymnastics movie with a heavy dose of '80s cheese, American Anthem is for you. Starring real-life 1984 Olympic gold medalist Mitch Gaylord, the movie follows a former football player who becomes a gymnast and hopes to join the Olympic team. The movie was a critical and commercial flop, but hey, sometimes you need a silly '80s sports movie. Fun fact: It was directed by Albert Magnoli, the director of Purple Rain.
American Anthem is available to buy or rent on YouTube.
2. Stick It (2006)
Stick It was written and directed by Jessica Bendinger, the director of another beloved sports movie, Bring It On, so it has some serious cred. While it's not quite as popular as the cheerleader classic, it has some of the same sassy humor and is still worth a watch. Missy Peregrym plays a rebellious teen who was once a promising gymnast. After being arrested, she's forced to go back to her roots and compete as a gymnast once again. Will she have a better outcome in the sport this time around? You'll have to watch to find out.
Stick It is available to buy or rent on Apple TV.
3. A 2nd Chance (2011)
A 2nd Chance is a fun gymnastics movie for the whole family. In this heartwarming tale, a young Australian gymnast (Emily Morris) works hard to achieve her dream and land in her country's team. While the film doesn't have an A-list cast, it was popular enough to spawn a 2021 sequel, A Second Chance: Rivals in which a now-grown Morris plays a coach to a new generation of gymnasts.
A 2nd Chance is available to stream on Tubi.
4. The Gabby Douglas Story (2014)
This inspiring Lifetime biopic tells the amazing story of gold medalist Gabby Douglas (played by Imani Hakim), who famously became the first Black woman to become an Olympic gymnastics champion in 2012. The movie details her dramatic rise, and shows the highs and lows she faced in her journey to being a trailblazing star. The great Regina King plays Douglas' mother.
The Gabby Douglas Story is available to stream on Lifetime.
5. Full Out (2015)
Full Out is based on the true story of Ariana Berlin (played by Ana Golja), a promising gymnast who becomes injured in a devastating car accident. Instead of giving up, she finds a new purpose in her college dance team. Jennifer Beals, of Flashdance fame, plays her gymnastics coach, and the movie shows you that there's no obstacle too great to overcome. A sequel was released in 2020.
Full Out is available to stream on Netflix.
6. The Bronze (2015)
The Bronze is pretty different from the other gymnastics movies on this list. Instead of being inspirational, it's a raunchy comedy about what happens when a washed-up former bronze-medal gymnast (Melissa Rauch, who also cowrote the movie) is forced to train an ambitious young Olympic hopeful for the sole purpose of collecting a promised inheritance from her late coach. If you want a gymnastics movie with an edge, this is the one for you.
The Bronze is available to stream on Peacock.
7. Raising the Bar (2016)
Raising the Bar is a sweet tale of an American teen (Kelli Berglund) who gives up her spot in her gymnastics program when her family moves to Australia. As a fish out of water in a new country, she enters a competition to help her new friend and learns valuable life lessons along the way.
Raising the Bar is available to stream on Tubi.
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