Summary

Kevin Costner and Dennis Quaid have had significant acting careers, and each of them is known for starring in severalsports movies, classic and otherwise.Sports movies have inspiredpeople for decades, being a relevant reflection of (largely) American society, creating and reinforcing certain human values. Not only are their performances entertaining, but the films often offer insights into the human condition.The actors have appeared as athletes, mentors, and coaches, influencing generations of audience members and sports fans.

Though many of theirsports movies are based on real-life events, Costner and Quaid have also appeared in fictional depictions of sports culture, blending sports with familiar genres like romance, drama, and comedy.Their films have spanned over four decades, providing thoughtful and engaging performances and themes for audiences of all ages. Both Costner and Quaid have starred in what are often considered some of thebest sports movies ever made, but only one can be deemed the king of the sports movie genre.

Split image showing scenes from some of the worst sports movies based on true stories, according to Reddit

10 Worst Sports Movies Based On True Stories, According To Reddit

Hundreds of sports movies based on true stories have been made throughout the existence of Hollywood, and some are pretty awful.

Kevin Costner Has Appeared In 8 Sports Movies

His Highest Rated Sports Film Is Bull Durham

Kevin Costner has starred in eight sports movies in his career, most of which premiered in the 1980s and 90s. Though his films have covered a variety of subjects,Kevin Costner is known for baseball movies, with over half of his sports movies focusing on it.Sports films are more sparse in Costner’s modern movie catalog, with his acting focus shifting more to the Western drama genre. However, he was still able to create many well-regarded classic sports films that were significant contributions to the genre.

Every Kevin Costner Sports Movie, Ranked Worst To Best

Kevin Costner has acted in eight sports movies over the course of his career, and they can be ranked from worst to best by overall quality.

Half of Costner’s films are baseball-related. Baseball movies are close to Costner’s heart, as he played collegiate baseball but was cut from the team and ultimately became an actor.His contributions to the genre have left a lasting legacy, particularly in baseball-centric classicslikeBull DurhamandField of Dreams.Field of Dreamsexplores past regrets and the American Dreamin the Midwest United States in the 1980s.Bull Durhamis a romance between minor league baseball players and an overly involved but knowledgeable fan. Costner also starred in another baseball film,For Love of the Game,which had a significant scene filmed at Yankee Stadium.

Collage of Kevin Costner in Macfarland USA, Bull Durham and Draft Day

Dennis Quaid Has 15 Sports Movies Under His Belt

His Highest Rated Sports Film Is Breaking Away

Dennis Quaid has a significant resume of sports films. He has been involved in 15 sports movies in some capacity, either as a mentor or an athlete. The sports featured in his films include football, baseball, golf, boxing, surfing, and cycling, among others.His films cover themes typical of the genre, such as camaraderie, resilience, and redemption. Among these many films, his highest-rated movie isBreaking Away, with a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Quaid’s sports catalog has extended to more recent years than Costner’s.He has starred in five sports films since 2020. In 2023, Quaid starred in two sports movies,The Long GameandThe Hill.The Hillwas significant, telling thetrue story of James Hill, a baseball player battling a degenerative spinal disease. It wasn’tDennis Quaid’s only true story baseball movie, as he also starred inThe Rookiein 2002. Though his baseball film resume pales in comparison to Costner’s. Quaid’s expansive collection covered many more sports, but not always to great success.

Kevin Costner as Ray Kinsella standing in a field in Field of Dreams

Costner’s Fewer Movies Are Of Much Higher Quality, Making Him The King Of Sports Movies

Costner’s Films Are Higher-Rated Classics

More often than Quaid, Costner is regarded as a star of sports films, though his production has slowed in recent years. Many of his sports films are some of his most iconic films. Though Quaid has starred in more sports movies than Costner, they tend to lack the same classic nature and quality. Though not all of Costner’s films are hits,he has a better track record of high-rated films, with his lowest-scoring film beingChasing Dreamsscoring 44%, and his highest-rated movie,Bull Durham, scoring 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Costner and Quaid have had a role as the coach/guardian of a Latino high school sports team inMcFarland, USA, andThe Long Game, respectively.

Many of Costner’s films are considered classics within the sports genre.Bill DurhamandField of Dreamsare often considered some of the best sports movies, cementing Costner’s lasting impact in the genre.The films showcase Costner’s ability to connect deeply with the themes evoked in sports movies, such as perseverance, teamwork, and personal identity and growth. The impact of Costner’s films, as well as his broad range of roles and film topics, give him an advantage over Quaid. Though Costner is the king ofsports movies, both actors have significantly contributed to the genre.