10 must-stream movies to get you pumped for the winter games

With the games just around the corner, it’s time to adopt the mindset of a champion, train exhaustively day and night, and push ourselves to accomplish incredible feats of physical excellence… or at least watch people do all that stuff from the comfort of our couches. I mean, it’s pretty cold out there and I don’t know how to ski.

But no matter, because if streaming were a competition, we’d take home the gold every time. To prove it, we’ve assembled this list with 10 of the most awe-inspiring winter sports movies to get you excited for the games and give a taste of what it’s like at the top of the winner’s podium.

Best of all, you don’t need skates, ski suits, or goggles—just your Roku device and a comfy place to watch.

1). The Cutting Edge | SHOWTIME on The Roku Channel
It’s the classic rom-com scenario of an unlikely pair who become the perfect couple, but with a winter games twist. Moria Kelly plays a figure skater who’s an ice queen in more ways than one. But she’s thawed out by a recently retired hockey player (D.B. Sweeney) who turns out to be the best competition partner she never needed. Funny, sweet, and inspiring, it’s one of the most beloved winter sports movies.

2). I, Tonya | Hulu

Speaking of contentious couples in figure skating, who could forget the drama between Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan that captured the world’s attention in the mid-1990s?  While many at the time thought it was a typical case of Ms. Perfect versus the bad girl from the wrong side of the tracks, Craig Gillespie’s I, Tonya shows that there is much more to the story. Along the way, it also took home some gold of its own, picking up an Academy Award for Allison Janney’s supporting performance and two other nominations

3). Eddie the Eagle | The Roku Channel

Who doesn’t love an underdog? And for British winter sports fans, Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards was the ultimate – a typical English fellow who looked at the death-defying sport of ski-jumping and thought, “Why not give it a go?” Well, because you could get seriously hurt, for one. But as Dexter Fletcher’s Eddie the Eagle proves, sometimes you just have to face your fears and do the stupidest thing imaginable.

4). Cool Runnings | Disney+

And of course, there’s the most famous winter sports underdog story of them all, Cool Runnings. The Disney classic slid its way into our hearts in the mid-90s, telling the unlikely story of the Jamaican bobsled team’s path to the world stage. With the recent news that the Jamaica National Bobsled Team has once again qualified for the 2022 games – their first appearance in 24 years – there’s no better time to reacquaint yourself with their story.

5). The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner | Shout! Factory TV on The Roku Channel

German director Werner Herzog’s long career has been filled with stories of unusual and intriguing personalities who seem bent on overcoming nature. In the case of this little-seen documentary from 1974, it’s world-class ski flier and part-time sculptor Walter Steiner, who refuses to be restrained by the forces of gravity. Flying significantly farther, higher, and faster than anyone else in the sport at the time, he seemed to live at the precipice of death and yet kept a cool, almost poetic demeanor about it. With mesmerizing slow-motion photography and a hypnotic score by frequent Herzog collaborators Popol Vuh, The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner is like no sports documentary you’ve seen before.

6). To Russia with Love | Peacock

This documentary, shot in Sochi during the 2014 winter games, takes on Russia’s controversial anti-gay legislation by focusing on the dilemma faced by openly gay athletes sent to represent Russia on the national stage. Mixing bracing, candid interviews with the athletes with commentary from sporting legends like Billie Jean King and Greg Louganis, To Russia with Love underscores the difficult position of athletes caught in the crossfire between sports and politics.

7). Downhill Racer | The Criterion Channel

This gripping drama set in the high-stakes world of downhill skiing features both Robert Redford and Gene Hackman at the height of their abilities. With heart-pounding action, stunning mountaintop photography, and strong performances from the entire cast, Downhill Racer has stood the test of time as one of the greatest winter sports movies. For that, you can thank director Michael Ritchie, a master of the sports genre with credits like The Bad News Bears, Semi-Tough, Wildcats, Diggstown, The Scout, and the aforementioned Cool Runnings to his name.

8). A Patriotic Man | Prime Video

In this comedic farce, a down-and-out Finnish man named Tovio (Martti Suosalo) is discovered to have a rare and powerful blood type that can help athletes perform at their peak. He’s soon secretly recruited by the Finnish ski team, who use him to illegally “dope” their athletes into the winner’s circle. Caught between serving his country and doing what’s right, Tovio must choose between patriotism and morals – and potentially find love along the way.

9). Blades of Glory | HBO Max

In the ’00s, SNL alum Will Ferrell could do no wrong, and Blades of Glory is no exception. Alongside Napoleon Dynamite’s Jon Heder, the two play rival ice skaters who were unceremoniously stripped of their gold medals and barred from competition for life. However, when they realize that a loophole in the ruling would allow them to co-compete as a pairs team, they win comedy gold at the winter games.

10). Miracle | Disney+

A familiar tale of a once-great athlete receiving a second chance at glory, Miracle stars Kurt Russel as Herb Brooks, the real-life coach of the 1980 United States men’s ice hockey team who won gold over the heavily favored Soviets. Dubbed the “Miracle on Ice”, it was a monumental return for Brooks, who was cut at the last minute from the gold medal-winning 1960 US team. A tearjerker and a true classic of the winter sports genre.

Now that you’re in the mood for competition, check out how to watch the real winter games on your Roku device!

Happy Streaming!