Shubhabrata Dutta
Gymnastics is an amazing sport that exhibits great strength and flexibility, displaying an overall feat of fitness. A lot of people can do a few party tricks here and there, but that does not make them a gymnast. Becoming a gymnast on a professional level requires a high amount of dedication, persistence, hard work, and talent. As tough a sport as it is to crack, gymnastics is even more difficult to portray in the films. But a few have managed to do a great job in showcasing the commitment of a gymnast towards their artistic routines. There are some great movies on Netflix that revolve around the sport of gymnastics and are definitely worth checking out.
7. Cheer (2020)
‘Cheer’ is an exhilarating docuseries created by Greg Whiteley that delves into the captivating world of competitive collegiate cheerleading. The show follows the nail-biting journey of the Navarro College Bulldogs, a top-tier cheer squad, as they strive for championship glory. Led by the indomitable coach Monica Aldama, the cast features a diverse and talented group of athletes, each battling personal demons while aiming for excellence in the demanding world of gymnastics and acrobatics. ‘Cheer’ is a gripping and heartwarming series, celebrated for its intense athleticism, remarkable character development, and the raw, emotional stories of its cast members, making it a must-watch for both sports enthusiasts and drama aficionados alike. You can watch the series here.
6. My Perfect Landing (2020-)
‘My Perfect Landing’ is an engaging gymnastics TV show created by Frank van Keeken. The plot follows Jenny Cortez (Olivia Presti), a talented gymnast, as her family relocates to a gymnastics academy. This series seamlessly combines family drama, friendship, and the challenges of competitive gymnastics. The cast, including Helena Marie, Shawn Alex Thompson, and Jordan Clark, delivers outstanding performances. It’s an exceptional gymnastics show, emphasizing teamwork, determination, and the pursuit of excellence, making it a must-watch for its inspiring themes and impressive gymnastic routines. You may watch the show here.
5. A 2nd Chance (2011)
‘A 2nd Chance’ is a captivating sports drama directed by Clay Glen that shows the world of gymnastics. The film follows the story of Maddy Cornell, played by Nina Pearce, a talented young gymnast who faces a devastating injury that shatters her dreams of Olympic glory. With unwavering determination, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and resilience under the guidance of her coach, Brian, portrayed by Adam Tuominen. The movie offers a compelling exploration of the physical and emotional challenges of gymnastics, beautifully showcasing the dedication and strength required to overcome adversity in pursuit of one’s dreams. You can watch the movie here.
4. Full Out 2: You Got This! (2020)
Inspired by a true story, ‘Full Out 2: You Got This!’ is a sports drama movie that stars Sydney Cope, Logan Edra, and Braedyn Bruner. The Jeff Deverett directorial revolves around the University of Oklahoma’s women’s gymnastics team, which is eager to win their 2nd National Championship. Unfortunately, when their star athlete, Brenna Dowel, has to leave the team for her Olympics dream, the team finds itself desperately looking for hope. Luckily, Chayse Capps, the senior gymnast, has not given up hope, and she comes up with an ingenious plan to make up for Brenna’s absence. Feel free to check out the movie here.
3. Athlete A (2020)
Directed by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, ‘Athlete A’ is a documentary film that focuses on the years of unaccounted sexual abuse of talented teenage athletes. It follows a reporter from The Indianapolis Star who, while investigating the cases of sexual assault in schools, decides to look into the USA Gymnastics after getting suggested by a concerned source. When the investigation begins, the shocking reality of Larry Nassar’s unreported crime of sexual assault on young female gymnasts finally comes out, which puts him in a spot. The controversy and the horrifying details soon grip the entire country, which subsequently engulfs USA Gymnastics as well. You can stream the film here.
2. Raising the Bar (2016)
Starring Kelli Berglund, ‘Raising the Bar’ is the story of a young 16-year-old girl who raises the bar when it comes to her sport. She not only shows true love and passion for gymnastics but also proves that chasing glory and succeeding at something are two very different things. It takes real courage to follow your heart’s intuition and walk on a path that most people would not. But Kelly does that very well even at the age of 16, and later, she even reaps from what she sows.
Kelly decides to quit the elite USA gymnastics program and move to Australia, where she gets a second shot at competitive gymnastics and will have to make certain amends with her past before she can again rise above all others as a champion. The movie does not represent the sport of gymnastics too well but does a decent job of showing a young girl’s struggles when she decides to listen to her heart and follow her passion in a slightly unconventional direction. The movie could have done a better job with the editing and should have shown more gymnastics than it did. But overall, the movie can still be enjoyed if you watch it with the sole intention of getting motivated and not just to see some “real gymnastics.” That’s something most of these gymnastics movies will not be able to show because great gymnastics skills are not an actor’s cup of tea. You can check out ‘Raising the Bar’ here.
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1. Going for Gold (2018)
Directed, produced, and written by Clay Glen, ‘Going for Gold’ is a sports drama movie that stars Kelli Berglund, Emily Morris, Daisy Anderson, and Boone Sterck. The film focuses on Emma, a teenager who comes from a military family and has struggled to form a stable relationship with people her age because of constant transfers. Luckily, when she moves to Australia, she does not take long to make new friends but also gets into a controversy with the mean girls there. Instead of retaliating negatively, she uses the conflict as a means to solidify her bond with her friends and bring out the best in each other. You can watch the film here.
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