Sports-themed movies have been a staple of pop culture for decades. Many of Hollywood’s most memorable sports movies have stood the test of time and are just as relevant today as they were when they were first released. 

On this page, we will be taking a closer look at the successful crossover between sports and cinema to reveal why so many movies based on sports continue to resonate with audiences of all ages, backgrounds, religions, and genders. 

One of the movies we will be focusing on here is the smash hit sports drama The Queenstown Kings, discussing its plot and revealing why it became an instant classic among audiences in South Africa and across the globe. 

What is The Queenstown Kings?

The Queenstown Kings is an inspiring drama movie directed by Jahmil X.T. Qubeka, and stars William Adams, Athenkosi Cwele, and Gcinuhlanga Dibim, among others. It also features Doctor Khumalo as himself – the current brand Ambassador for the official 10Bet (https://www.10bet.co.za/) iGaming website – South Africa’s number one online sports betting and casino site. 

The movie was written by Clyde Berning and Jahmil X.T. Qubeka, and it received multiple nominations at the South African Film and Television Awards, as well as the African Movie Academy Awards. 

At the South African Film and Television Awards, The Queenstown Kings was nominated in the following categories:

  • 2024 Nominee SAFTA Golden Horn. Best Achievement in Sound Design – Feature Film, Guy Steer
  • 2024 Nominee SAFTA Golden Horn. Best Achievement in Production Design – Feature Film, Chantel Carter

At the African Movie Academy Awards, it was nominated in the following categories:

  • 2024 Nominee AMAA. Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa
  • 2024 Nominee AMAA. Best Film – Layla Swart
  • 2024 Nominee AMAA. Best Actor in a Leading Role – Zolisa Xaluva
  • 2024 Nominee AMAA. Best Director – a Jahmil X.T. Qubeka
  • 2024 Nominee AMAA. Best Actress in a Leading Role – a Unathi Faku

It was also nominated for Best Costume Design, and Best Actor in a Supporting Role award (Sandile Mahlangu). The film is set in South Africa and some of the main filming locations were Johannesburg and Gauteng. 

Plot

The Queenstown Kings is a sports drama about a remarkable young football player with exceptional talent who comes from rural Queenstown – a town situated in the middle of South Africa’s Eastern Cape, which is officially called Komani. 

A father and son struggle to reconnect after the death of the washed-up footballer’s father when he returns to rural Queenstown. His son is an aspiring football star who must decide between his own dreams and his team’s success. All this, and so much more. 

It has some fantastic performances from the main actors, and it’s always good to see real-life sports stars making an appearance. If you enjoy watching movies about sports, then you should definitely give this one a go. 

Why was The Queenstown Kings an instant hit among South African audiences?

The Queenstown Kings was just one of several sports movies that became an instant hit with audiences. Movies like this have the ability to evoke a range of emotions and have a positive impact on people’s lives. They typically include tales of triumph and overcoming personal obstacles to achieve greatness. 

What are the best sports movies of all time?

If you enjoyed watching The Queenstown Kings and want more similar suggestions, then you may also like to watch some of these other hit movies that were also centred around the world of sports. 

Examples include Moneyball, Invictus, Remember the Titans, The Wrestler, and The Blind Side. Others include Raging Bull, The Fighter, Race, Any Given Sunday, Ali, Blue Chips, Warrior, and the entire Rocky series. 

If that’s not enough to keep you going, there’s also Bull Durham, Million Dollar Baby, Col Runnings, Didgeball, Field of Dreams, The Longest Yard, and White Men Can’t Jump, to name just a few. 

Final thoughts

Sports is a popular theme that always seems to translate well on the big screen. If you want to watch The Queenstown Kings today, one of the safest movie streaming sites to try first is Netflix. 

This top movie streaming site also has several other fantastic sports-themed movies and television shows worth checking out, including Senna, Fighting with My Family, Rush, Hustle, Draft Day, and Icarus. 

You can watch these popular sports-themed movies and TV shows in your preferred web browser using a Smart TV, smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer or from within the Netflix mobile app, which is compatible with most iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.  

As of August 2024, a basic monthly Netflix plan gives you access to all Netflix content [standard definition] for R99 on just one device. A standard package on two devices in SD and HD will set you back R139, and up to four devices in HD and UHD (4K0) will set you back R199.