The Last Rodeo is a strong new addition to the faith-based film category. Perfect for family movie night, the film mixes faith with an inspiring sports comeback storyline. There’s even a bit of a Western vibe with bull riding and Neal McDonough’s rugged, cowboy-esque Joe Wainwright.
Viewers interested in more films about faith, sports, and rodeos can use our guide to find out where to watch the best movies like The Last Rodeo on platforms like Prime Video, Netflix, and more.
Soul Surfer (2011)
Soul Surfer is a faith-based and sports comeback film made all the more inspiring by the fact that it’s based on a true story. The movie tells the story of Bethany Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb), who lost her arm in a shark attack while surfing as a teenager. After the attack, Bethany is determined to return to surfing, relying on her faith, strength, and an eye-opening mission trip to guide her comeback. Like The Last Rodeo, Soul Surfer follows an athlete returning to the sport against incredible odds. They are, first and foremost, inspirational, family-friendly films with a nice dosage of faith and sports.
The Natural (1984)
While not a faith-based film, The Natural is just as inspiring as The Last Rodeo with its incredible comeback story. The Natural follows Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford), who, as a young baseball prodigy, had his career derailed when Harriet Bird (Barbara Hershey) shot him. Sixteen years later, he starts his career over again as a rookie with a struggling baseball club. Considered one of the best sports movies ever made, The Natural is a sentimental, inspiring, and profoundly moving story about success, failure, and resilience. Both The Natural and The Last Rodeo also emphasize the beauty of second chances.
Cinderella Man (2005)
Cinderella Man tells the true story of James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe), whose boxing career ended early due to a hand injury. However, when his manual labor boss offers him a chance back in the ring, he seizes the opportunity in a rags-to-riches story that earned him the nickname “Cinderella Man.” While not a faith-based film, Cinderella Man parallels The Last Rodeo in that it centers on the underdog tale of someone returning to a dangerous sport and having to reconcile their dreams and goals with their responsibilities to their family. Both films offer a nice blend of sentimentality and heart-pounding sports action.
Facing the Giants (2006)
Facing the Giants is a Christian sports drama from director, actor, and pastor Alex Kendrick. In the film, Grant Taylor (Kendrick) is the coach of a struggling high school football team. Facing personal and professional frustrations, Taylor decides to approach life with gratitude, regardless of the outcome, and slowly sees things improve. Facing the Giants is an excellent choice for viewers who loved The Last Rodeo and want a film that leans a little heavier into religion than sports. While there are some inspiring sports sequences, the bigger story is a heartwarming tale about living a life guided by faith and gratitude.
Overcomer (2019)
Overcomer is another Kendrick film that finds the perfect balance between religion and sports. Kendrick, again, takes on the role of a high school coach, but this time he’s John Harrison, a basketball coach who reluctantly agrees to coach the school’s floundering cross-country team. While Hannah (Aryn Wright-Thompson) is the sole student on the team, Harrison quickly recognizes her talent, though she must overcome her struggle with asthma and a difficult family life. Overcomer is the perfect faith-based sports film for running enthusiasts. Meanwhile, it shares The Last Rodeo’s blend of faith, sports, and family, as both movies see their main characters mend long-broken family bonds.
Woodlawn (2015)
Woodlawn is a faith-based sports film from the Erwin brothers. It is based on the true story of Tony Nathan (Caleb Castille), who becomes one of the first Black football players at the newly desegregated Alabama Woodlawn High School in the 1970s. At first, it feels impossible for the team to overcome racial tensions until a religious motivational speaker inspires the players to embrace faith and love. Woodlawn is similar to The Last Rodeo in that it has an inspiring, gripping story of faith and sports. However, it goes a bit deeper in that it also examines racial tensions at the time and imbues a powerful message of love and forgiveness in the story.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind isn’t a faith-based or sports film. However, like The Last Rodeo, it centers on protagonists who must overcome incredible odds to provide for their families or village in the face of a crisis. In The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, young, brilliant engineer William Kamkwamba (Maxwell Simba) works to build a windmill to save his village from a famine. It’s a powerful, inspiring film that beautifully captures human resilience and innovation. The Last Rodeo and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind beautifully demonstrate how the human spirit and mind can shine in the darkest times.
The Blind Side (2009)
The Blind Side is a biographical sports drama that delves into the childhood of professional football player Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron). In the film, Michael is a teenage boy in and out of the foster system. His life changes when Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock) and Sean Tuohy (Tim McGraw) take him in and support his football talent. While The Blind Side’s accuracy has been contested, it’s still a highly inspiring sports film demonstrating the power of having a strong support system. Like The Last Rodeo, it’s a film about how a family’s support, love, and encouragement can make or break an athlete.
8 Seconds (1994)
Viewers intrigued by the bull-riding aspect of The Last Rodeo will love 8 Seconds. 8 Seconds follows the life of Lane Frost (Luke Perry), a professional bull rider seeking to be the best he can be while also navigating a turbulent relationship in his personal life. The film also captures Frost’s incredible feat of being the first to ride the notorious Red Rock bull for at least 8 seconds. 8 Seconds is a beautiful, heartfelt tribute to Frost filled with inspiration, dazzling bull-riding sequences, and an irresistible cowboy vibe. It’s one of the best films to delve into the world of rodeos with.
The Longest Ride (2015)
The Longest Ride is an excellent option for The Last Rodeo fans seeking a bit more Western vibes and romance. The movie tells the story of aspiring bull rider Luke (Scott Eastwood) and art student Sophia (Britt Robertson), who struggle to combine their very different lives while guided by the love story of an older couple, Ira (Alan Alda) and Ruth (Naomi Eckhaus). The Longest Ride focuses more on love than faith and sports. However, it boasts the same sentimental, earnest tone of The Last Rodeo, as both examine what it means not just to play sports for glory but to do so for family.
Where To Watch The Best Movies Like 'The Last Rodeo' Online
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