From dramatized true stories like Miracle and Hoosiers, fictional classics like Major League and The Sandlot, and legendary documentaries like Hoop Dreamsand When We Were Kings, sports movies have long been a defining force in cinema. Tales of underdogs overcoming the odds will always appeal to audiences, and athletics provides a great backdrop for these narratives. Though it stands to reason that the guidelines for what makes a movie a “sports movie” would be pretty straightforward, there’s room for debate. While these films usually center on traditional sports like boxing, football, or baseball, some venture into more niche territory, which can cause viewers to question the flexible definition of the word “sport.” One such case is the 1998 Matt Damon-led film Rounders, which explores the world of poker.
