If You Loved 'Ted Lasso,' There's One Movie You Need to Watch Next

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Tanya Reynolds and Jason Sudeikis in “Ted Lasso.” Credit: Courtesy of Apple TV

This is Streamalikes, where you can find a curated list of recommendations to stream based on what you already like.

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Ted Lasso came around in mid-2020, the precise moment we all really needed a joyful, positive show in our lives. Ted’s sincerity, the cast of quirky, kooky characters, and the come-from-behind story of the (initially) mediocre Premier League soccer team A.F.C. Richmond proved to be the "it will get better" inspiration we needed, smack in the middle of the pandemic.

Perhaps the greatest show ever inspired by a series of commercials, Lasso made us fall in love not just with the chipper and kind coach who arrived knowing absolutely nothing about the sport but every member of the team and the surrounding community. If the ten episodes of the surprise Season 4 aren’t going to be enough—and you've already binged our suggested streamalike shows—there’s one vintage movie that delivers all the inspiration and competitive drama you need to get by: 1986's Hoosiers, starring Gene Hackman.

Hoosiers has less humor but just as much heart

Set in the 1950s and ispired by a real story, Hoosiers isn’t as funny as Ted Lasso can be, but it’s got the same heart and a similar underdog spirit. Gene Hackman plays Norman Dale, who’s been hired as a teacher at the local high school and coach of the Hickory Huskers. The team only has seven players and little hope for any kind of athletic glory—especially because the one player with real potential, Jimmy Chitwood, has left the team.

Like Ted, Norman has a unique approach to coaching, and it takes a while for the team and the community to appreciate it. Unlike Ted, Norman can be acerbic and impatient—but he cares deeply about the kids he’s coaching and the community he’s joining, even if he doesn’t bake biscuits or offer endless folksy, pop culture-infused advice. And very much like Ted, Norman sees the potential in the people around him, however hidden it may be. Take Wilbur “Shooter” Flatch—Dennis Hopper won an Oscar for playing the alcoholic former basketball star Norman recruits to be his assistant coach, despite the fact that the rest of the community has given up on him. That decision gives Wilbur a second chance at life, and demonstrates that despite his gruff demeanor, Norman is every bit as empathetic and kind as Ted.

Just like Ted’s players on the show, the Huskers start off looking like a lost cause and resist Norman’s unusual coaching techniques, which seem counterintuitive. While Ted’s offbeat approach is due in part to his near-total ignorance of the sport he’s coaching, Norman actually knows a lot about basketball—and his patient, steady approach eventually pays off, big time. That gives Hoosiers the same underdog energy as Ted Lasso, telling a semi-true story of a tiny school that goes on to athletic greatness, beating enormous odds. The film also shares DNA with the show in that the local community is initially uncertain about Norman and even hostile toward him—until he wins hearts and minds along with games, thanks to his committed approach to persevering through life and believing in the people around him.

If you’re looking for an inspiring sports story about an outsider with a unique perspective on both sports and life itself that will remind you of Ted Lasso, it’s time to watch Hoosiers. You can stream it on The Roku Channel or Kanopy, or rent it on Prime Video.

More movies like Ted Lasso

If you can't get enough come-from-behind, hopeful stories with a sports setting, here are more suggestions that fans of Ted Lasso will enjoy.

Next Goal Wins (2023)

Based on the true story of football coach Thomas Rongen, Next Goal Wins has that trademark Taika Waititi charm. The story follows disgraced football coach Rongen as he’s given one last chance: To coach the dismal American Samoa team a decade after they set a world record by losing 31-0 in a FIFA qualifying match. Rongen, depressed and mired in alcoholism, is initially harsh and antagonistic toward the inexperienced, untrained players—including Jaiyah, who is a faʻafāfine or “third gender.” Rongen’s redemption and the team’s slow rise back to competitiveness carry all the charm and quirky local color of Ted Lasso, anchored by Michael Fassbender’s solid performance. Rent Next Goal Wins on Prime Video.

The Damned United (2009)

Based on the true story of Brian Clough, The Damned United is set in 1974, when Clough is named manager of Leeds United after leading their bitter rivals, Derby County, to unexpected success. Clough can’t quite shake his loyalty to his former team and his hatred of Leeds, and launches an effort to remake the team entirely, leading to disaster—and his firing 44 days later. It’s not as cheery or inspiring as Ted Lasso, but fans will recognize the outsider vibe Clough exudes, and see a lot of Ted in his commitment to playing the game right, win or lose. Stream The Damned United on The Roku Channel or rent it on Prime Video.

Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

One of the most famous soccer movies ever produced, this is the story of 18-year-old Jesminder Bhamra’s forbidden desire to play football. Against her strict parents’ wishes, she secretly joins the local women’s amateur team, and soon finds herself ensnared in a love triangle and torn between her family and her love for the sport. It’s sweet and funny like Ted Lasso, and offers a sincere take on the power of sports to help people heal and grow. Stream Bend It Like Beckham on Hulu or rent it on Prime Video.

Eddie the Eagle (2016)

Part of what makes Ted so compelling is his refusal to give up—on games, on other people, and on himself. The same can be said for Michael David Edwards, aka Eddie the Eagle. Portrayed by Taron Egerton in this film based on his life, Eddie was a self-trained Olympic hopeful who eventually settled on the ski jump as his chosen sport, simply because the U.K. had not competed in it in more than 60 years. Undergoing an unusual training regimen under the guidance of former ski jumper Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), Eddie arrives at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary an enormous underdog—but with more heart than anyone else. Rent Eddie the Eagle on Prime Video.

School of Rock (2003)

It’s not a sports story, and Jack Black’s Dewey Finn is a lot more ... Jack Black-ish than Ted Lasso, that’s for sure. But at its heart, School of Rock is perfect for Ted Lasso fans. It’s a story about a selfish musician who takes a teaching position at an elite prep school under false pretenses, and slowly discovers that he can connect with the kids in his class through music. It’s a lot more laugh-out-loud funny than Lasso, but it’s got the same heart: Dewey and his kids come together as a team just as strongly as Ted and A.F.C. Richmond. Stream The School of Rock on Kanopy or YouTube, or rent it on Prime Video.