Raging Bull rated as the best sport biopic of all time

New research has revealed the highest-rated sport biopics of all time, with Raging Bull taking first place.

The study, conducted by the bet calculator website AceOdds.com, obtained data from IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic to determine the ranking.

An average score out of 100 was then awarded to each film based on the ratings across these sites. The biopics with the highest average rating determined the rating.

In first place is the 1980 film Raging Bull, which received an average rating of 89 out of 100.

Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Raging Bull chronicles the life and career of the middleweight boxing champion, Jake LaMotta.

Impressively, the film has an 8.1 rating on IMDB and has a 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated sport biopic in the ranking.

In second place is Dangal Yuddham, which received a final score of 88.33 out of 100.

The 2016 film details the life of Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler who decides to train his two daughters for the Commonwealth Games. On Rotten Tomatoes, the esteemed biopic has an impressive 89% critics score and a 93% audience score, placing it second in the ranking.

Ford v Ferrari and Senna are both in third place in the ranking. The 2019 film, Ford v Ferrari, has an impressive final score of 88 out of 100. Starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon, the F1 biopic documents the iconic rivalry between Ford and Ferrari.

The dramatic film has an IMDB rating of 8.1 and a staggering audience score of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The 2010 film, Senna, also received a final score of 88 out of 100. Senna documents the life of the Formula One champion, Ayrton Senna, before his tragic demise at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

The famous film has an audience score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, placing it in third place.

Up next is the 2011 film, Moneyball, which receives a final score of 85.75 out of 100. Starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, Moneyball is based on the true story of the 2002 Oakland Athletics baseball team.

The film has an IMDB rating of 7.6 and a critic’s score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, placing it fourth in the ranking.

In fifth place is King Richard, amassing a final score of 84.75 out of 100.

The 2021 biopic captures the early lives of Venus and Serena Williams as their father coaches them to become tennis prodigies. King Richard has an impressive audience rating of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic rating of 76%.

Up next is The Fighter, with a final rating of 84.25 out of 100. The 2010 film is based on the life of Micky Ward, a boxer who teams up with his brother to get his career back on track. The Fighter has a critic’s rating of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, placing the biopic in sixth place.

In seventh place is The Iron Claw, with a final score of 83.25 out of 100.

Starring Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White, The Iron Claw documents the lives of the Von Erich brothers in the 1980s as they make history in the world of professional wrestling. The celebrated film has a Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 94% and a Metacritic rating of 73%.

Rush ranks eighth, with a final rating of 83 out of 100. The 2013 film, which stars Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl, chronicles the iconic rivalry between F1 drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda. The esteemed biopic has a critic’s rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic rating of 74%.

I, Tonya takes the ninth spot on the ranking, with a final rating of 82.50 out of 100. Starring Margot Robbie, the film documents the rise and fall of competitive ice skater, Tonya Harding.

The biopic has a critic’s score of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and an IMDB rating of 7.5, placing I, Tonya in the top 10 sport biopics.

Maidaan is in 10th place, with a final score of 82.33 out of 100. The life of Syed Abdul Rahim, the renowned architect of Indian football, inspires the film. Maidaan has an audience score of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and an IMDB rating of 8.5.

Scott Byrom, Head of Analytics at AceOdds.com, said: “Sport biopics are a fantastic way to educate audiences about legendary sporting figures, ranging from Tonya Harding to the Von Erich brothers.

“Biopics have always been a popular mode of storytelling, and it’s great to see sporting fanbases grow due to the popularity of these films.

“It’s fascinating to see where iconic biopics place on the ranking and whether they have stood the test of time. Even though it has been almost 44 years since Raging Bull’s release, it’s exciting to see Martin Scorsese’s masterpiece still connects with modern audiences.”