Hockey has given us cinematic masterpieces. That is to say, our list of the finest hockey movies of all time caters to a wide spectrum of tastes, including something for both casual fans and serious students of the sport. There’s an excellent hockey film for everyone, whether you want a feel-good narrative, a history lesson, or just to see some guy’s teeth be knocked out.
List of the best hockey movies of all time
The Rocket (2005)
Although much of the action in this award-winning Canadian biography takes place off the ice, the hockey scenes are stunningly shot. Also, considerable care is taken to capture the look of games from the 1940s and 1950s. The film refers to Richard as “the Babe Ruth of hockey,” referring to the Montreal Canadiens great. They retired as the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer.
It’s an apt description, because he, like Ruth, rose to prominence at a time when his league urgently needed one. But the film also follows his transformation from a quiet young player trying to support his family to an outspoken veteran fed up with being treated unfairly as a French-Canadian.
Red Army (2014)
This documentary looks at how the mighty Soviet hockey team became so mighty in the first place. Also, how Russian players were introduced to the NHL after the Soviet Union fell apart. Much of the story is portrayed through the eyes of Hall of Famer Slava Fetisov. Fetisov defied dictatorial Soviet coach Viktor Tikhonov and was one of the first Russians to play in North America.
The Soviets “elevated hockey to an art form” during their age of supremacy, according to one talking head. So if nothing else, this documentary neatly complements the tale of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” by demonstrating just how miraculous it was.
Slap Shot (1977)
Maxine Nightingale is on fire! Every hockey fan has a favorite scene from this, the greatest of all hockey movies. (In our opinion, the very first scene is the best. On a local sports-talk TV show, goalie Denis Lemieux was teaching the “finer points of hockey”; displaying all the things that send you to the penalty box, where “you feel shame, you know, and then you are free.” )
But, regardless of your opinion, this is as excellent as hockey cinema gets. A cast of unforgettable characters lead by Paul Newman’s grizzled player-coach Reggie Dunlop. Slap Shot foregoes the glossy polish of so many sports films in favor of a much more candid look inside the locker room.
Goon (2011)
This is the rare hockey picture that is about more than “winning the big game”. It’s a gory, foul-mouthed spiritual descendent of Slap Shot. Seann Doug Glatt, played by William Scott, is a hockey guy, eager to put his body on the line for the team. But his character isn’t one-dimensional, even if his hockey skill set is. Come for the gruesome combat scenes, but stay for the outstanding cast.
ChakDe India (2007)
Kabir Khan (Shah Rukh Khan), the Men’s Hockey Team Captain, is blamed for the team’s loss. He was sacked after failing to score the game-winning goal. Years later, he is offered the role of coach of the Women’s Hockey Team, allowing him to redeem himself.
Kabir Khan, a former hockey player, is alleged of betraying his country. To demonstrate his patriotism, he begins coaching the Indian women’s national hockey team.
Mystery Alaska (1999)
The people of Mystery and the imaginary New York Rangers play an outdoor hockey game in this 1999 film. It proved to be prophetic: the NHL was holding regular outdoor games in frigid temperatures within a decade.
The real New York Rangers have participated in a few of them. But unlike in the movie, no one has tried the Mystery team’s secret weapon: a ridiculously slow rendition of the national song, as played by Little Richard, to make city-slicker tourists to Alaska stop and freeze.