It’s no surprise that Hollywood loves a good ol’ underdog story. There is something so uplifting and inspiring about getting behind a character’s life and witnessing them face seemingly indomitable odds yet refuse to give up hope. And while comic book worlds and sports fields are filled with individuals emerging victorious with their spirit and determination, there are also ordinary people out there who rise to extraordinary challenges and enact justice every day.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Not all heroes wear capes.” These underdog stories are about heroes who don’t have super strength and cannot shoot perfect jump shots to save the day. But through their resilience and sheer will, they manage to fight corruption and injustice in a way that many can relate to in their own lives. These average-person underdog movies are testament to the fact that we’re all larger-than-life figures with stories waiting to be written (and eventually told) about.
20 Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)
Tucker: The Man and His Dream follows Preston Tucker, an ambitious and optimistic automotive innovator who dreams of making a revolutionary car. His design for the car includes new safety features and swiveling headlights, which he proposes to the established Big Three automobile manufacturers, only to face animosity and lack of confidence.
With financial backing from his family, Tucker pushes his idea forward and builds the “car of the future,” hoping to prove the major companies wrong.
Story of an Undeterred Spirit
The movie was a breakthrough for director Francis Ford Coppola, who captured the indomitable spirit and challenges faced by one man trying to pave the way for innovation. He shines light on Tucker’s relentless dedication despite facing smear campaigns from rivals. The character is brought to life by Jeff Bridges, who is just as passionate and enthusiastic for revolutionizing the industry as Tucker himself, with Joan Allen playing the role of his understanding wife. Stream on Tubi TV
19 Erin Brockovich (2000)
Set in the 1990s, the premise of Erin Brockovich centers around the titular single mother who struggles to support her family. After losing a court case, she takes a clerical job at a law firm out of desperation. While working on a real estate case, Erin comes across a cover-up by a gas and electric company, Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
Apparently, the polluted waste released by the company is causing horrific health issues, which they’ve been settling through payoffs. Erin refuses to stay put and leads a direct-action lawsuit.
Brockovich Is a Champion for Change
The movie is a dramatization of the real-life Hinkley groundwater contamination incident, which was battled against with fiery resolve by Erin Brockovich. Julia Roberts, who won an Academy Award for Best Actress for the role, portrays the real Brockovich as a tough-taking force of nature.
But the movie also captures her compassion for the victims and her devotion towards the legal team. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, it shows how ordinary people can enact extraordinary change and fight a corrupt system. Stream on Prime Video
18 The Rainmaker (1997)
Adapted from John Grisham’s 1995 novel of the same title, The Rainmaker is a legal drama starring Matt Damon as a straight-out-of-law-school lad who is drowning in debt. He takes a job alongside paralegal Deck Shifflet and dives into his first case – an insurance company refusing a terminally ill patient’s claim. As Rudy Baylor indulges himself in research, more families come forward and victims. He later faces Leo F. Drummond, a superstar attorney, in a dramatic courtroom showdown.
An Inspiring Legal Drama
The movie features Matt Damon in his breakout leading role. Despite being inexperienced in the profession, a passionate Rudy dives headfirst into battle and stands up to corporate greed through means that highlight flaws in the system. Because the story is relatable to issues faced by ordinary people, it engages audiences while also sending a message about integrity. Under Francis Ford Coppola’s direction, this underdog story emerges as an intelligent, subtle, and essential piece of work. Stream on Fubo TV
17 Norma Rae (1979)
Norma Rae is based on the true story of Crystal Lee Sutton. It takes place in a small factory town dependent on cotton mills and it follows Norma Rae Webster, who is a mother of two children with absent fathers, working grueling shifts on the mill floor to provide the bare minimum for her family. After having had enough of the poor working conditions and long hours without compensation, she teams up with a union organizer and rallies against the company bosses.
A Protest That Echoed Far and Wide
Every country has had its fair share of labor protests, which sprout from on-the-ground workers having to suffer from exhaustion and illness while the higher ups make monetary gains. What ensues is a fight against such injustices and systematic oppression. The story of Norma Rae is about empowerment and solidarity and courage. It is led by Sally Field’s complex and fierce performance and helmed by Martin Ritt’s dignified and grounded lens.
16 North Country (2005)
In 1989, Josey Aimes arrived with her two children in the Minnesota mining town she grew up in. Struggling to make ends meet, she finds work in the local iron ore mine only to be met with constant contempt and abuse from her male co-workers. When her complaints fall on deaf ears, Josey divides to take a stand and sues her employer. The legal battle progresses, and soon it ignites a national movement.
Paved the Way For Many Voices
The screenplay for North Country was inspired by a book Laura Leedy Gansler wrote chronicling the case of Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite Company and the formation of workplace protection acts that it led to. Charlize Theron vanished into the role of Josey, a survivor making sure the women who come after her do not have to endure injustices and remain silent. The movie brings light to issues that are still prevalent today through its dignified voice and strong message. Stream on Hoopla
15 Spotlight (2015)
Back in 2001, when Marty Baron stepped up as the new managing editor of The Boston Globe, he assembled the reporters on the “Spotlight” team to begin an investigation on the cover-ups that have kept a repeatedly accused Catholic priest in church for decades. Their digging uncovers a scandal about corrupt local authorities and how more than a dozen sexually abusive priests have been protected by the Church.
About Everyday Heroes and Their Hard Work
Spotlight is a biographical drama, but its pace is that of a thriller, with the decades-long timelines focusing on the newsroom process and hands-on investigation. The brilliant ensemble cast, which includes Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Stanley Tucci, Brian d’Arcy James, Liev Schreiber, and Billy Crudup, displays dedication as journalists, who may not be heroes, but their everyday hard work and methodical approach to facts saves several lives. Stream on Starz
14 Working Girl (1988)
Working Girl (1988)
- Release Date
- December 21, 1988
A workplace rom-com that lifts your spirits, Working Girl follows Tess McGill, a street-smart working-class woman from Staten Island who dreams of making it big in corporate. Her calculating boss, Katherine, often takes credit for her ideas. So when she breaks her leg on a skiing trip, Tess unofficially steps into her role and pitches a brilliant investment idea. Meanwhile, Tess also sparks up a romance with a co-worker named Jack Trainer.
Celebrates Ambitious Underdogs
Unlike several other movies on this list, Working Girl is a fictional piece of work. Writer/director Mike Nichols brings life to a story about ambition and rising above prejudice through the eyes of a woman who refuses to accept the limitations placed upon her. Melanie Griffith sparkles in her role as Tess, a witty and driven woman. She won a Golden Globe for Best Actress. Both Harrison Ford and Sigourney Weaver are equally unabashed and incredible in their performances. Rent on Apple TV
13 Ratatouille (2007)
One of the highest-grossing films of the year and winner of an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Ratatouille is a beloved Pixar movie. Set mostly in Paris, it centers around a rat named Remy. He desires to become a great chef and possesses creative and sensory talents. He forms an unlikely friendship with a young and inept kitchen employee, Alfredo Linguini, where he helps him cook food by controlling him from under his chef’s hat.
Pixar’s Tale of Chasing your Dreams
Once again, Pixar works its magic in telling a charming tale where two underdogs pursue their gifts despite society giving them plenty of reasons why they shouldn’t. Ratatouille is not only a celebration of passion and innovation, but also a resonant tale about never judging someone based on appearance or physical traits. Directed with visual grandeur, humor, and heart by Brad Bird, the movie is a flawlessly animated masterpiece. Stream on Disney+
12 300 (2006)
A historical war epic, 300 is set in 480 BC. It follows Spartan King Leonidas receiving the news about a massive Persian army intending to invade his homeland with the sole purpose of destroying everything and turning the women and children into slaves. Leonidas leads 300 Spartans into battle against Xerxes’ forces fighting to their last breaths to defend themselves and their future generations.
Big Scale Historical Wonder
A feast for the senses, 300 brings Frank Miller’s graphic novel to astounding life using visual effects. Director Zack Snyder transforms what could have been a historical lesson into a thrilling ride about two factions fighting with spirit and defiance while also examining their respective virtues and honor. The action is pulse-pounding and the dialogue is witty. Additionally, Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, and Rodrigo Santoro deliver fantastic performances. Rent on Apple TV
11 Dark Waters (2019)
Dark Waters is a legal thriller that stars Mark Ruffalo as Robert Bilott, a corporate defense lawyer at a small firm in West Virginia. After a farmer approaches and informs him about a mysterious illness causing the deaths of the locals, Bilott begins a deep investigation into the matter. What he uncovers is that DuPont, a global chemical company, has been steadily contaminating the local water supply with poisonous materials for decades.
A David Battles Corporate Goliaths
Based on a true David vs. Goliath story about the largest environmental contaminations in the history of the United States, Dark Waters brings much-needed attention to those aspects of society that are often neglected or overlooked. While massive corporations inflict harm on vulnerable communities, few determined individuals bring about meaningful change. Directed by Todd Haynes, the movie is a satisfactory slow-burn with the right ending. Stream on Netflix
10 Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
In Slumdog Millionaire, we follow 18-year-old Jamal Malik, who is within reach of winning ₹20 million on India’s version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” But after he is accused of cheating his way to the top, flashbacks of his incredible stories appear. From growing up in the slums of Mumbai as an Indian-Muslims to using street smarts to survive through its dangers, Jamal’s journey reveals hot life in the slum shaped him into the person he is today.
Award-Winning Rags-to-Riches Story
Regarded as a sleeper hit, Slumdog Millionaire won massive international acclaim for its direction, cinematography, editing, plot, and performances. Especially that of Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, who are revelatory in their leading roles. Directed by Danny Boyle, it brings the streets of Mumbai alive through gritty realism and thrilling vignettes. The movie also uses vibrant colors and a rousing score to celebrate its underdog story. Rent on Apple TV
9 Mulan (1998)
Disney’s coming-of-age action adventure tells the story of Fa Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honored but aged warrior named Fa Zhou, who is called to join the battle against the invading army of Huns. Acting out of love and duty, Mulan masquerades as a man and takes her father’s place in the Chinese army to fight in his stead. The warzone is brutal but Mulan proves herself worthy to her comrades through bravery, perseverance and clever tactics.
Mulan Breaks Stereotypes
Directed by Barry Cook and Tony Bancroft in their feature directorial debut, Mulan is based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan. With its portrayal of a heroine as brave and unconventional, the adaptation shatters stereotypes of femininity and identity.
Ming-Na Wen voices Mulan with a perfect balance of vulnerability and strength. And while the sweeping visuals transport you to ancient China, the story itself is an inspirational underdog tale that stands the test of time. Stream on Disney+
8 The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Clever, charming, and driven by character, The Pursuit of Happyness follows down-on-his-luck salesman Chris Gardner who invests his entire life savings in a new product. When it doesn’t sell, he takes up an unpaid and risky stockbroker internship for a chance at a better life for his young son and making things right with her estranged wife. Despite enduring months of unpaid working hours and sleeping in homeless shelters, Christ refuses to give up on his dream.
A Timeless Triumph
A profoundly moving celebration of hope, the based-on-a-true-story film is about a father and son’s inspiring bond as they push through every great trouble through courage and faith. Considered as one of Will Smith’s most memorable performances, it sees him disappear into the role of Gardner, with his son Jaden Smith playing the five-year-old. The entire movie is ripe with tragedy and dark days, but the tender moments between Smith and his son stand out strongest. Rent on Apple TV
7 A Civil Action (1998)
In Woburn, Massachusetts, several children contract leukemia and die from the disease. After evidence about two major corporations contaminating the local groundwater are found, the town’s residents and a persistent attorney file a lawsuit against them and an investigation begins.
The case questions whether a certain industrial solvent can cause cancer in humans. Despite being cornered, Jan Schlichtmann’s voice helps another firm hold the companies accountable for their actions.
Lends a Voice to the Voiceless
Directed by Steven Zaillian and adapted from a 1995 book of the same name, the movie highlights the lengths at which lawyers are willing to go to defend and brings justice to citizens and grieving families from a system that values profits over human lives. John Travolta immerses himself in Schlichtmann and is equal parts dramatic and empathetic.
Featuring supporting turns from the industry’s finest stars like William H. Macy, John Lithgow, and Tony Shalhoub, the movie is a must-watch. Stream on Hoopla
6 The Insider (1999)
Another true-life thriller that took the country by storm, The Insider follows Dr. Jeffrey Wigand, a former tobacco company executive turned whistleblower who places himself and his family in danger by revealing the truth about how his company and other tobacco companies manipulate nicotine levels and mislead the public on the health impacts of smoking cigarettes.
He takes the insider information to 60 Minutes producer Lowell Bergman, the story tops news cycles, a lawsuit looms, and threats of danger to his life reach Jeffrey.
America’s Greatest Whistleblower Story
Under the immaculate direction of Michael Mann, this intense and intimidating movie brings an epidemic out of the shadows. It stars Al Pacino and Russell Crowe as the press heroes driven to report facts rather than staying silent. Mann’s direction is not just about bringing transparency to consumers, but it also calls out multi-billion dollar companies and how easy it is for them to smoke out anyone who challenges them.
The result? An absolutely riveting movie. Stream on The Criterion Channel
5 October Sky (1999)
October Sky takes place in a West Virginia coal mining town during the 1950s. It revolves around a high schooler named Homer Hickam, who witnesses Sputnik 1 in the sky and is fascinated by the piece of machinery. He dreams of going against his friends and family’s expectations of working in the mines like his father and becoming a rocket scientist instead. Despite the lack of faith, Homer works hard to pursue his dream.
Dreams Begins With a Dreamer
The movie tells the true story of Homer H. Hickam Jr., a coal miner’s son who eventually went on to become a NASA engineer. The character is portrayed brilliantly by Jake Gyllenhaal, who crafts a role model for anyone willing to achieve great things in life through their curiosity and genius. Meanwhile, the movie also captures small-town American life and how an individual’s background and class limits their potential. Rent on Apple TV
4 Hidden Figures (2016)
Celebrating three Black women and their contribution to a pivotal moment in American history, Hidden Figures is a biographical drama that takes you back in time to the 1960s, when the space race was in full swing, and introduces you to Katherine Goble and her colleagues Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson.
As gifted mathematicians, these African-American women work for NASA and use their intelligence to provide input that helped launch astronaut John Glenn into orbit, all the while fighting systemic racism and workplace sexism.
Real-Life Women Who Changed the World
They say the mind is a terrible thing to waste. These trailblazers prove it better than anyone. Hidden Figures is led by a marvelous cast of actors; Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe bring our graceful, talented and all too forgotten figures to live in a vibrant fashion. Director Theodore Melfi is not subtle in paying his tribute to these women. Instead, he infuses as much heart and warmth as possible into the story, making it a standout work in the genre. Stream on Disney+
3 Just Mercy (2019)
In Just Mercy, Michael B. Jordan plays a young lawyer named Bryan Stevenson. He’s dedicated all his life to defending those he believes are condemned to death row through unfair trials and mistreatment. One such wrongfully convicted man is Walter McMillian, an African-American man sentenced to death by electrocution for the murder of an 18-year-old white girl. Stevenson digs deep to find evidence and starts a heart wrenching battle for justice for McMillian.
An Important Story Told Well
Starring alongside a transformative Jordan is Jamie Foxx, who gives an equally raw and unflinching performance as the inmate facing injustice at the hands of the law. Director Destin Daniel Cretton’s vision is rooted in empathy, which allows him to craft a struggle that’s solemn, steady, and earnest. A call to our collective conscience, Just Mercy is based on Stevenson’s own memoir, in which he details his life’s work. Stream on Tubi TV
2 Gattaca (1997)
Gattaca
- Release Date
- September 7, 1997
A dystopian thriller written and directed by Andrew Niccol, Gattaca is set in a future where society is divided based on genetics. Those created through genetic alterations are “valids” and those born with the old-fashioned biological way are “in-valids” because they’re more susceptible to diseases. Vincent Freeman is one of the latter trying to pass as the former with the help of his friend. But when a piece of DNA evidence is found on a scene of murder, Freeman’s lies are exposed.
Self-Conscious Dystopian Thriller
Sci-fi underdogs are not an anomaly in cinema, but they’re definitely rare. Niccol tries to take the road less taken by crafting a thoughtful thriller that examines a futuristic society divided by class. Ethan Hawke is incredible as Vincent, an authentic character not diminished by circumstances out of his control. The movie is also philosophical and provocative, and it flew under the radar during its theatrical release, but is a beloved hit today. Stream on Prime Video
1 Silkwood (1983)
One of Mike Nichols’ best movies of all time, Silkwood is a dramatization of the real-life story of nuclear plant worker Karen Silkwood who becomes a union activist after she discovers that the exposure to platinum radiation on the job is dangerous for the workers. She gathers proof about the safety violations and is ready to turn them over in a unionization effort. However, before that, Karen dies in a mysterious car accident.
An Uplifting True Story
A highly emotional melodrama, Silkwood proves that heroes, willing to make sacrifices to protect others, walk among us. Its fact-based approach towards bringing a compelling and tragic matter to life makes it a riveting watch. Of course, at the heart of the movie is a powerfully human performance by Meryl Streep, who disappears into her activist role and is equal parts fierce and complex. After all, a Nichols-Ephron-Streep collaboration couldn’t go wrong, could it?
