Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for movies like The Smashing Machine:
The Iron Claw
The Iron Claw is a powerful reminder of the human spirit being both enduring and fragile. It’s a movie that redefines what a sports movie can be, leaving viewers emotionally spent and profoundly moved. This is, without a doubt, one of 2023’s greatest achievements in filmmaking, a confirmed *masterpiece* that will linger in your mind and heart long after the final bell rings.
Creed
Reboots aren’t new in Hollywood, but good reboots are relatively difficult to come by. Not only is the first Creed a worthy reboot of the Rocky franchise – it sets the standard moving forward for sports movies and franchise entertainment.
Fight Club
Released over two decades ago, David Fincher’s Fight Club remains in popular culture the way few films ever do. A movie that often resonates with those feeling marginalized by society, Fight Club lives on for each generation to interpret in new ways.
Ferrari
Considering he hadn’t made a movie since Blackhat in 2015, Michael Mann’s long-awaited return to the big screen, Ferrari, is incredibly succinct and satisfying. It’s a scorching melodrama that burns with the intensity of its titular character’s relentless ambition. This isn’t anywhere near a sugarcoated biopic; it’s a raw, unflinching exploration of Enzo Ferrari’s inner demons, where the pursuit of automotive excellence takes a brutal toll on personal relationships and those around him.
Babylon
Damien Chazelle announces himself as the antichrist with Babylon – a film focused on the fake it til you make it side of the industry, and Chazelle might just be faking it after all. I’ll be tossing and turning in my head for months about whether he deserves the ending that he presents, because he’s having his cake and eating it to with that final montage, but at least along the way he also throws it up and laughs at you for thinking he’d do anything else. I love it.
Uncut Gems
Uncut Gems compounds tension about as well as any movie made in the 2010s. Josh and Benny Safdie announce themselves as filmmakers to keep an eye on moving forward with this grisly thriller set in the world of high stakes sports gambling. Adam Sandler and Kevin Garnett co-star, along with a supporting cast for the ages.
Moneyball
Moneyball might not look or sound like your typical sports movie, but that’s precisely what makes it the greatest one ever made. Directed by Bennett Miller and written by Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian, this 2011 adaptation of Michael Lewis’ bestselling nonfiction book isn’t just about baseball—it’s about systems, failure, reinvention, and what it means to succeed on your own terms. At its core, it’s a somber, deeply human character study, anchored by what may be the best performance of Brad Pitt’s career.
Magnolia
Magnolia might feel a bit like the film that got away from Paul Thomas Anderson (because it kinda is), but it’s the sort of big-budget passion project that up-and-coming filmmakers rarely get to make nowadays. The ensemble cast of Magnolia is littered with A-listers and common Paul Thomas Anderson players, from Julianne Moore and Philip Seymour Hoffman to Tom Cruise and John C. Reilly, each actor adds their own weight to this shotgun blast of characters.
Air
Adequately titled Air, Ben Affleck‘s newest directing effort sits in the clouds as it enjoys rummaging through the events that led to Michael Jordan’s lucrative “Air Jordan” shoe deal with Nike. Told from the perspective of blazing Sonny Vaccaro, Air enjoys living in the small details of nostalgia and sports branding.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button introduces us to David Fincher in a seemingly softer, more empathetic guise. The movie is a sincere detour to the filmmaker’s career, one that is interesting to look back on years later. Brad Pitt delivers a performance that transcends technological constraints and unlikely subject matter.