Reminder you didn’t need: The Olympics begin tonight! Some events actually took place yesterday, but I don’t recognize anything as having officially begun until after thousands of superstars participate in an icy multi-cultural parade and gather ’round to worship an open flame. As you stroll around your office in your favorite red/white/blue track suit, mentally gearing up for tonight’s opening ceremonies on NBC, bide your time with today’s gallery of 20 Golden Winter Sports Movies.
Which is your favorite? Better Off Dead? Slapshot? The Cutting Edge? It’s lame, but I’m partial to Cool Runnings, preferably the VHS copy my mom taped off of cable. This was such a sick-day movie for me. I loved that John Candy was supposed to be a former Olympian double-gold medalist bobsledder, and I always cried as the Jamaicans (spoiler alert) carried their broken sled across the finish line. It reminded me of when Troop Beverly Hills carried Velda Plendor across the finish line on a stretcher made of knapsacks. I also tend to flip to Ice Castles when I see it on TV, but only for the part where we see the ice through Alexis’ busted eyes, because I still can’t quite believe it exists.
What’s your favorite winter sports movie? And who’s watching the Vancouver Opening Ceremony tonight? Come back tomorrow for Mandi Bierly’s recap!
Annie on Twitter: @EWAnnieBarrett
Better Off Dead is my favorite winter sports movie, hands down. “He’s skiing on one ski!”
I want my two dollars!
It is a classic amongst classics. Classic ski movie, classic teen movie, classic 80′s movie, classic romance movie, classic comedy, classic underdog movie, classic….
One of the most quotable movies ever made. I love this movie so much.
Better Off Dead. One of the most quotable movies ever made, next to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I love this movie so much.
winner.
thanks for playing, everyone.
None of those other movies can compare! “Do you have any idea what the street value of this mountain is?”
The Cutting Edge. I’ve seen that movie way too many times.
I love it so much that I have the dvd and bought the soundtrack off itunes.
Um, Cool Runnings is one of the greatest movies EVER. It is so not lame.
Also, Stephen Colbert used it hilariously in a joke about Yemen somewhat recently, and if it’s good enough for Colbert, it’s good enough for anyone.
Feel the rhythm!
I am a sucker for The Cutting Edge and I love the HBO Documentary they did on the 1980 Men’s Hockey team. That one still makes me want to cheer.
The Cutting Edge. Seriously I’ve been watching that movie since I was like two… AKA when it came out.
The Cutting Edge. Not sure if Vancouver can have a ceremony as wonderful as Beijing’s.
I’ve known all the words to “The Cutting Edge” since I bought it on VHS many years ago.
I also love “Miracle”, and that game against the Soviets gets me every time, even though I know how it ends…
Mighty Ducks!
The Cutting Edge, absolutely. Completely ridiculous, but completely wonderful. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched that movie. And Miracle on Ice–I totally got sucked into it despite knowing how it ends. And totally forgot that it wasn’t the gold medal game!
Tied between “Mighty Ducks” (“Concentration, not strength”) and “Better Off Dead” (“This is pure snow! It’s EVERYWHERE! Do you have any idea what the street value of this mountain is?!”).
The Cutting Edge FTW!
I kind of love that I knew from the title in the homepage feed who had written this article
Love ya Annie!
I too am a big fan of The Cutting Edge, but also LOVE Mystery, Alaska!
Nice call….Mystery, Alaska is a really good Hockey movie
Definitely Cool Runnings! I find myself quoting from it from time to time. “I see pride. I see power. I see a badass mother who don’t take no crap off of nobody!”
Ice Castles!