A coach reached out to me over the weekend, wondering if I had any recommendations for movies he could show to his team that promote the art of being a good teammate.
This coach has done The Good Teammate Factory online program with his team and continues to do an absolutely amazing job of ingraining the concept of being a good teammate into his team’s culture.
He planned to invite the entire team over to his house to watch a movie on his lawn. The coach didn’t want to show just any movie; though. He wanted to specifically show a movie that reinforced good teammate behaviors.
His goal was to assemble a selection of applicable movies and then have his senior captains pick the movie from that list.
What a great idea!
Movies bond teams through shared emotion. They make teammates laugh, cry, and feel inspired. The experience has the power to influence team culture in a meaningful way.
I sent the coach a few suggestions but have been thinking about my reply ever since. It occurred to me that others may benefit from this information.
So today I’m sharing twelve movies, in no particular order, that promote the art of being a good teammate. (*Because good teammates share!)
1. Hoosiers
Plot: A controversial coach leads the Hickory Huskers towards an Indiana High School State Championship. This move’s loaded with good teammate moves!
Includes Examples Of: suppressing ego, standing up for others, and valuing synergy
Key Quote: “One other thing. I play, coach stays. He goes, I go” – Jimmy Chitwood
2. Cool Runnings
Plot: The improbable story of the first Jamaican Olympic bobsled team.
Includes Examples Of: sacrifice, humility, and courage.
Key Quote: “We’re different. People are always afraid of what’s different.” – Yul Brenner
3. Invictus
Plot: Nelson Mandela unites an apartheid-torn country with the help of the Springbok rugby team.
Includes Examples Of: setting differences aside for the greater good
Key Quote: “You criticize without understanding. You seek only to address your own personal feelings. That is selfish thinking.” – Nelson Mandela
4. Pitch Perfect
Plot: An eclectic all-girls singing group comes together to challenge their campus rival.
Includes Examples Of: virality, how influential energy can be in bringing out the best in others, and commitment
Key Quote: “Even though some of you are pretty thin, you all have fat hearts, and that’s what matters.” – Fat Amy
5. Apollo 13
Plot: NASA works to bring a crew safely back to Earth after their spacecraft is damaged.
Includes Examples Of: resiliency, trust, and being relentless when helping teammates in need
Key Quote: “I don’t care about what anything was DESIGNED to do, I care about what it CAN do.” – Gene Kranz
6. Rudy
Plot: The movie is about an underdog individual pursuing his dream to be on the Notre Dame football team, but it’s also about the many “good teammates” who help in this quest.
Includes Examples Of: sacrifice, gratitude, and recognizing others’ contributions
Key Quote: “I want Rudy to dress in my place, coach. He deserves it.” -Roland Steele
7. The Great Escape
Plot: (*An oldie but a goodie!) Allied prisoners plan an escape from a German POW camp during World War II.
Includes Examples Of: valuing roles, appreciating others’ talents, and commitment to duty
Key Quote: “Colonel Von Luger, it is the sworn duty of all officers to try to escape. If they cannot escape, then it is their sworn duty to cause the enemy to use an inordinate number of troops to guard them.” – Ramsey
8. Wonder
Plot: The heartwarming story of a boy with facial differences who attends mainstream school for the first time.
Includes Examples Of: standing up for teammates who cannot stand up for themselves, seeing inner beauty, and ignoring outside opinions.
Key Quote: “Given the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.” – Summer
9. Rise
Plot: Based on the real-life story of the Antetokounmpo family, Nigerian-Greek immigrants who became the first trio of brothers to become NBA champions.
Includes Examples Of: sacrifice, perspective, empathy, and selfless drive.
Key Quote: “When one person in the family scores, the whole family scores.”- Thanasis Antetokounmpo
10. Coach Carter
Plot: An unconventional coach uses basketball to teach his players important life lessons that transcend the court.
Includes Examples Of: adapting, collective responsibility, and holding each other accountable.
Key Quote: “I’ll do push ups for him. You said we’re a team. One person struggles, we all struggle. One player triumphs, we all triumph, right?” – Jason Lyle
11. 42
Plot: The Brooklyn Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson faces considerable challenges when he becomes the first African American to play in Major League Baseball.
Includes Examples Of: tolerance, compassion, courage, and trust
Key Quote: “Maybe tomorrow, we’ll all wear 42, so nobody could tell us apart.” – Pee Wee Reese
12. Toy Story 2
Plot: (An animated inclusion!) Woody, a cowboy doll, is stolen and his fellow toys go to great lengths to save him.
Includes Examples Of: determination, loyalty, and accepting the inconvenience of being invested
Key Quote: “We have a friend in need, and we will not rest until he’s safe in Andy’s room! Now, let’s move out!” – Buzz Lightyear
What movies would you add to this list? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
As always…Good teammates care. Good teammates share. Good teammates listen. Go be a good teammate.
