NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2025 — “The Blind Side” is the sports movie U.S. adults reach for most often, according to a new Seton Hall Sports Poll that asked Americans to name their favorite sports film released in the past 25 years.
The nationwide survey, conducted Oct. 3-6 among 1,519 adults, allowed respondents to select multiple titles from a curated list of 30 films. Thirty percent of participants chose “The Blind Side,” narrowly ahead of fellow football drama “Remember the Titans” at 26 percent.
Top Tier Selections
Behind the two football favorites, light-hearted entries dominated. “Talladega Nights” received 22 percent, while “Happy Gilmore 2” and “Dodgeball” each drew 21 percent. Oscar-winning “Million Dollar Baby,” boxing hit “Creed” and gridiron tale “Friday Night Lights” also figured prominently.
Football’s Grip on Viewers
Football titles commanded more than half of all votes, a share that climbed further among self-identified sports fans. Within that group, 36 percent cited “The Blind Side,” 34 percent chose “Remember the Titans” and 26 percent picked “Friday Night Lights,” underscoring the sport’s cultural pull.
Fans vs. Nonfans
The gap between enthusiasts and casual viewers proved narrower than expected. Among non-fans, “The Blind Side” still led at 20 percent, followed by “Dodgeball” (16 percent), “Happy Gilmore 2” (15 percent), “Remember the Titans” (14 percent) and “Talladega Nights” (14 percent).
Generational Preferences
- Ages 18-34: Comedies and recent releases such as “Happy Gilmore 2,” “Dodgeball” and “F1: The Movie” resonated, alongside “Creed.”
- Ages 35-54: “Remember the Titans” peaked at 31 percent, and “Love & Basketball” reached 21 percent with viewers who likely saw these films both in theaters and via streaming.
- Ages 55+: Respondents favored dramatic fare, keeping “Remember the Titans” and “Million Dollar Baby” near the top while newer comedies lagged.
Comfort Over Prestige
Oscar-honored dramas ranked solidly but not spectacularly. “I, Tonya” (10 percent), “The Fighter” (8 percent), “King Richard” (7 percent) and “Invictus” (6 percent) lagged behind more rewatchable crowd-pleasers.
Undecided Viewers
Twenty-one percent of respondents chose “None of the above,” a figure that rose to 41 percent among non-fans and 36 percent among fans, indicating a sizable audience without a clear favorite from the current century.
The poll, sponsored by The Sharkey Institute at Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business and fielded by YouGov Plc, was weighted to U.S. Census benchmarks and carries a margin of error of ±2.5 percentage points.
Source: ESPN
