A Giant List of Sports Movie Writing Prompts

Sports Movie Writing Prompts

Here's a giant list of sports movie writing prompts, broken down by potential subgenres and themes to get your creative gears turning.

This is all just meant to help your spec along and get your wheels moving forward, so take them, twist them, and show us your unique voice.

Underdog Stories:

1. A perpetually losing high school team discovers an unconventional new coach with bizarre but effective methods.
2. An aging athlete, long past their prime, decides to make one last improbable comeback in a sport they haven't played in years.
3. A small, underfunded team from a tiny country qualifies for a major international tournament against all odds.
4. An athlete with a significant physical disability (or a unique physical trait) strives to compete at the highest level of their chosen sport.
5. A group of misfits and outcasts form a team in a niche or bizarre sport and find unexpected success and belonging.
6. A janitor at a major sports arena secretly practices and gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to join the team.
7. A team uses outdated equipment and techniques but manages to outsmart and outplay technologically superior opponents.
8. An athlete from a background of extreme poverty uses sport as their only way out, facing immense societal and personal obstacles.
9. A coach takes over a team known for its terrible sportsmanship and tries to teach them the true meaning of winning.
10. A community rallies together to save their local sports team/facility, leading to an unexpected championship run.

Biopics/Based on True Stories:

11. The story of a forgotten or overlooked athlete who broke barriers or achieved something incredible.
12. The intense rivalry between two legendary athletes, told from both perspectives.
13. The coach who revolutionized a sport with a new strategy or philosophy.
14. An athlete's struggle with addiction or mental health while trying to maintain their career.
15. The story of the first woman to break into a male-dominated sport.
16. An athlete who used their platform to fight for social justice, risking their career.
17. The founding of a now-famous sports league or team, filled with early struggles and triumphs.
18. An athlete who made a controversial decision that changed their life and career forever.
19. The story of a sports agent who changed the game of player negotiations.
20. A famous athlete's "lost years" – a period of their life that is largely unknown but crucial to their development.

Team Dynamics & Relationships:

21. Two star players on the same team who absolutely despise each other must learn to work together for the championship.
22. A rookie joins a team of veterans and struggles to find their place and earn respect.
23. The captain of a team has to deal with a personal crisis that threatens to tear the team apart.
24. A family where multiple siblings compete in the same sport, leading to intense rivalry and loyalty conflicts.
25. The bond between a coach and their star player that goes beyond the game.
26. A team deals with the sudden death or career-ending injury of a beloved teammate.
27. The story of a "dynasty" team and the pressures of maintaining their dominance.
28. A player is traded to their biggest rival team and must navigate new loyalties.
29. The spouses and families of professional athletes and the sacrifices they make.
30. A team in a co-ed sport, exploring the unique dynamics and challenges.

Rivalries:

31. A decades-long rivalry between two small-town high schools, where the annual game is everything.
32. Two athletes who are best friends become bitter rivals when they compete for the same prize/spot.
33. A rivalry that transcends the sport and becomes a cultural or political flashpoint.
34. An underdog develops an intense rivalry with the reigning champion, who constantly belittles them.
35. A coach's obsession with defeating a rival coach, even at the expense of their own team's well-being.
36. A rivalry fueled by a past injustice or a misunderstood incident.
37. Two athletes with completely opposite styles and personalities clash repeatedly.
38. The "next generation" of a famous rivalry, with the children of the original rivals competing.
39. A friendly rivalry that pushes both athletes to achieve greater heights.
40. A rivalry that turns dangerous or obsessive.

Comeback & Redemption Stories:

41. An athlete disgraced by a scandal attempts to clear their name and return to their sport.
42. A player who suffered a career-threatening injury fights their way back to the top.
43. A coach fired for a major mistake gets a second chance with a struggling team.
44. An athlete who "sold out" or compromised their values seeks redemption through a return to the purity of the sport.
45. A former child prodigy who burned out tries to rediscover their love for the game as an adult.
46. A team that experienced a devastating loss in a championship game gets a chance to avenge it years later.
47. An athlete battling personal demons (grief, addiction) finds solace and a path to recovery through their sport.
48. A player who was wrongly accused of cheating fights to prove their innocence and reclaim their legacy.
49. A community helps a fallen local hero get back on their feet and back in the game.
50. An athlete returns to their sport after a long hiatus for family reasons, facing a changed landscape.

Social Issues & Commentary:

51. The impact of racism or sexism on athletes and teams within a particular sport or era.
52. The immense pressure and mental health struggles faced by young, elite athletes.
53. The commercialization of a sport and its effect on the players and fans.
54. The ethics of performance-enhancing drugs and the toll they take.
55. A story set against the backdrop of a major historical event that impacts the sports world.
56. The exploitation of college athletes.
57. The class divide in access to certain sports and training.
58. A team from a war-torn region finds hope and unity through sport.
59. The challenges faced by LGBTQ+ athletes in the sports world.
60. The impact of CTE or other long-term health issues on retired athletes.

Unique & Fictional Sports:

61. In a dystopian future, a brutal, televised sport is the only path to a better life.
62. A group of friends invents a new sport in their backyard, and it unexpectedly becomes a global phenomenon.
63. A fantasy world where different mythical creatures compete in their own unique magical sports.
64. A comedy about a completely absurd and nonsensical sport taken deadly seriously by its participants.
65. Athletes compete in a high-stakes, technologically advanced version of an existing sport (e.g., zero-gravity basketball).
66. A sport that requires unique mental or psychic abilities rather than just physical prowess.
67. The story of the "Babe Ruth" or "Michael Jordan" of a completely fictional sport.
68. A society where all disputes are settled through a ritualized sporting contest.
69. A group tries to revive an ancient, forgotten sport with dangerous consequences.
70. An international tournament of bizarre, folk sports from around the world.

Comedy:

71. A completely unathletic person is forced to coach a kids' sports team (or join an adult league).
72. A professional athlete is cursed and suddenly loses all their talent, leading to hilarious mishaps.
73. A die-hard fan gets a chance to play for their favorite team, with disastrous but funny results.
74. Two rival coaches with wildly different personalities are forced to co-coach a team.
75. A sports team is actually a cover for a group of spies or criminals.
76. A documentary crew follows the worst, most dysfunctional sports team imaginable.
77. An animal becomes the star player of a sports team.
78. A group of senior citizens forms a team in a physically demanding sport.
79. The "behind the scenes" chaos of managing a professional sports team filled with prima donnas.
80. A fantasy sports league obsession bleeds into real life with comedic consequences.

Thriller/Suspense:

81. An athlete uncovers a match-fixing scandal and is targeted by dangerous criminals.
82. A star player is kidnapped right before the championship game.
83. An athlete suspects their competitor is sabotaging them in increasingly dangerous ways.
84. A team gets stranded in a remote location and must use their athletic skills to survive.
85. A dark secret from a coach's past threatens to destroy their career and their team.
86. A high-stakes illegal gambling ring built around a specific sport.
87. An athlete competing in an extreme sport where one mistake means death.
88. A journalist investigating corruption in a major sports organization gets too close to the truth.
89. A player realizes their new teammate is not who they say they are.
90. The psychological game of cat and mouse between a dominant player and a challenger who seems to know their every weakness.

Character-Driven & Introspective:

91. An athlete on the verge of retirement reflects on their career, sacrifices, and what comes next.
92. The internal struggles of a "phenom" who isn't sure they actually love the sport they excel at.
93. An athlete's journey of self-discovery through long-distance solo sport (e.g., marathon running, solo sailing).
94. The story of a referee or umpire and the pressures and scrutiny they face.
95. An athlete tries to balance their demanding career with their family life and personal relationships.
96. The quiet dedication of a lifelong benchwarmer who is the heart and soul of the team.
97. An athlete deals with the fear of re-injury after a traumatic event.
98. The story of someone who almost made it to the professional level and how they cope with that.
99. An athlete discovers a hidden talent for a completely different sport late in life.
100. 100. A sports psychologist working with troubled or gifted athletes, and their own story unfolds.

Twists & Mashups:

101. A sports movie that is also a musical.
102. A historical sports drama with elements of magical realism.
103. A sports team is unknowingly part of a secret government experiment.
104. The "big game" is interrupted by an alien invasion/zombie apocalypse, and the athletes must use their skills to survive.
105. A time-travel story where a modern athlete is sent back to compete in a past era (or vice versa).