Movie

Rudy

1993 · 114 min

A heartfelt underdog story that builds steadily to an emotionally rousing climax, celebrating perseverance and quiet heroism.

Tagline: It's not the size of the dog in the fight, It's the size of the fight in the dog.
Overview: Rudy grew up in a steel mill town where most people ended up working, but wanted to play football at Notre Dame instead. There were only a couple of problems. His grades were a little low, his athletic skills were poor, and he was only half the size of the other players. But he had the drive and the spirit of 5 people and has set his sights upon joining the team.

Search YouTube for the trailer

Stream in the UK

Netflix

More options Data from JustWatch

In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone: earneststrength 3 of 3
upliftingstrength 2 of 3
warmstrength 2 of 3
melancholicstrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: ambition
survival
family
friendship
redemption
Places: small town
school
workplace
Era: period
Audience: family
Form: true story
Content intensity: Gore none
Language mild
Violence mild
Sex none

All scales, 0 to 10

Scales, 0 to 10
Scale	Value	0 to 10
Action	4
Horror	0
Humour	3
Realism	8
Romance	2
Tension	5
Darkness	3
Complexity	3
Emotional weight	8

Titles like Rudy

Movie

Hoosiers

1986

A sincere, slow-building underdog story that wins you over with quiet grit, small-town warmth and a lump-in-the-throat finish.

Same writer: Angelo Pizzo · Earnest, uplifting · about ambition and friendship · true story

Also: Same writer: Angelo Pizzo
Via: earnest
uplifting
ambition
friendship
true story
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 114 min

Details In your watch list

HoosiersHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

The Hill

2023

A heartfelt, old-fashioned underdog story that mixes baseball action with family conflict and faith, aiming to inspire without much subtlety.

Same writer: Angelo Pizzo · Earnest, uplifting · about ambition and survival · true story

Also: Same writer: Angelo Pizzo
Via: earnest
uplifting
ambition
survival
true story
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 121 min

Details In your watch list

The HillHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Invincible

2006

A scrappy underdog story that plays it straight and sincere, offering warm, crowd-pleasing uplift with a few hard knocks along the way.

Earnest, uplifting · about ambition and survival · true story

Via: earnest
uplifting
ambition
survival
true story
Pacing: measured
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 105 min

Details In your watch list

InvincibleHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

My All American

2015

A sincere, old-fashioned underdog sports story that builds to a tearful, heartfelt finish without much subtlety.

Same director: Angelo Pizzo · Earnest, uplifting · about survival and family · true story

Also: Same director: Angelo Pizzo
Via: earnest
uplifting
survival
family
true story
Pacing: measured
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 118 min

Details In your watch list

My All AmericanHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

I Play Rocky

2026

A warm, scrappy underdog story that makes you root for stubborn self-belief and the messy making of a classic.

Earnest, uplifting · about ambition and family · true story

Via: earnest
uplifting
ambition
family
true story
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 128 min

Details In your watch list

I Play RockyHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Rocky

1976

A slow, heartfelt underdog story that builds to an exhilarating and emotionally satisfying climax.

Earnest, uplifting · about ambition and redemption

Via: earnest
uplifting
ambition
redemption
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 119 min

Details In your watch list

RockyHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

I Swear

2025

A heartfelt, sometimes painful true story that balances raw struggle with warmth and gentle humour, leaving you moved and hopeful.

Earnest, uplifting · about family · true story

Via: earnest
uplifting
family
true story
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 121 min

Details In your watch list

I SwearHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Stand and Deliver

1988

An earnest, inspiring true story that builds quiet tension and warmth as a teacher pushes overlooked students to defy expectations.

Earnest, uplifting · about ambition · true story

Via: earnest
uplifting
ambition
true story
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 103 min

Details In your watch list

Stand and DeliverHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

The Rookie

2002

A warm, inspiring true story that feels like a gentle hug, celebrating second chances and the quiet heroism of everyday life.

Earnest, uplifting · about ambition and family · true story

Via: earnest
uplifting
ambition
family
true story
Pacing: measured
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 127 min

Details In your watch list

The RookieHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Friday Night Lights

2004

A gritty, heartfelt look at small-town pressure and young dreams, where every game feels like life or death.

Earnest · about ambition and family · true story

Via: earnest
ambition
family
true story
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 118 min

Details In your watch list

Friday Night LightsHidden from your suggestions.

TV series

Ace of the Diamond

2013

An earnest, high-energy sports drama that makes every practice and pitch feel like a life-or-death struggle, with a likable underdog at its heart.

Earnest, uplifting · about ambition and friendship

Via: earnest
uplifting
ambition
friendship
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Seasons: 4

Details In your watch list

Ace of the DiamondHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

A Million Miles Away

2023

A warm, inspiring true-story drama that follows one man's long, determined climb, mixing family warmth with quiet perseverance and a few bittersweet turns.

Earnest, uplifting · about ambition and survival · true story

Via: earnest
uplifting
ambition
survival
true story
Pacing: measured
Attention: engaged
Runtime: 122 min

Details In your watch list

A Million Miles AwayHidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the UK

Stream

Netflix

Rent or buy

Apple TV Store
Amazon Video
Sky Store
YouTube

Streaming data from JustWatch.All options on TMDB

Details

Genres: drama, history
Directed by: David Anspaugh
Written by: Angelo Pizzo
Starring: Sean Astin, Jon Favreau, Ned Beatty, Lili Taylor, Charles S. Dutton, Vince Vaughn, Greta Lind, Christopher Reed
Music: Jerry Goldsmith
Cinematography: Oliver Wood
Runtime: 114 min
Country: United States of America
Languages: English, Spanish

TMDB IMDb Letterboxd Wikipedia Wikidata

Something wrong on this page? Tell us.

Rudy

How it feels

More like this

Titles like Rudy

Where to watch in the UK

Details