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This Sporting Life (1963) · CriticCrunch

This Sporting Life backdrop

This Sporting Life

Movie1963·134 min

This Sporting Life

Directed by Lindsay Anderson

An Oscar-nominated drama film directed by Lindsay Anderson.

◈ CrunchScore

Top 39%

of all movies · weighted by audience size & source agreement

★ TMDB Audience Rating

7.0/10

123 ratings

About This Sporting Life

In early 1960s Northern England, Frank Machin is mean, tough and ambitious enough to become an immediate star in the rugby league team run by local employer Weaver.

Pacing: Measured (4 of 9)
Tone: Dark (2 of 9)
Intensity: Intense (7 of 9)
Complexity: Layered (6 of 9)
Humor: Serious (1 of 9)
Scale: Personal (4 of 9)
Spirit: Earnest (5 of 9)
Texture: Gritty, Contemplative
Story Tags: ambition hubris, isolation loneliness, social injustice, mid century, sports, american regional, small town, romantic partners, anti hero, underdog, rise and fall, slow burn reveal

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Where to Watch This Sporting Life

Checked 1 week ago

3 streaming · 2 rent/buy

Stream

The Criterion Channel

Included with subscription

Pluto TV

Free with ads

Tubi

Free with adshd

Not on:NetflixMaxHuluDisney+Prime VideoPeacock

Also available

Prime Videohd

$3.99Rent

Prime Videohd

$19.99Buy

Availability may change. Verify with the streaming service.

Details

Director: Lindsay Anderson
Language: English

Cast

Richard Harris, Rachel Roberts, Alan Badel

⬡Explore cast & crew→

Awards

◆Oscar Nominee — Best Actor (1963)◆Oscar Nominee — Best Actress (1963)

How This Sporting Life Ranks

All movies

Top 39%

1960s movies

Top 67%

Drama movies

Top 40%

★Lindsay Anderson films#3 of 3

Top 39% All movies.

the vibe

This Sporting Life Vibe

What it feels like

measureddarkintenselayeredseriouspersonalearnestgritty

contemplative

What it's about

rise & fallslow-burn revealambition hubrisisolation lonelinesssocial injusticeanti-herounderdogromantic partnerssportsamerican regionalsmall townmid-century

pacing

measured 4/9measured 4/9

tone

dark 2/9dark 2/9

intensity

intense 7/9intense 7/9

complexity

layered 6/9layered 6/9

humor

serious 1/9serious 1/9

scale

personal 4/9personal 4/9

spirit

earnest 5/9earnest 5/9

texture

grittygritty