Great Running Movies On Netflix + Other Streaming Services Right Now

Watching a running movie is a great way to find inspiration for your own running or live vicariously through fictional characters that love the sport of running as much as you do.

So, since most of our movie watching now takes place on streaming platforms rather than picking up a DVD at a movie rental store, what are the best running movies on Netflix? Do other streaming services like Hulu and Amazon Prime have running movies?

In this article, we will list some of the best running movies on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and other popular streaming services. 

We will look at: 

• What Are the Running Movies On Netflix?

• Running Movies On Disney Plus

• Running Movies On Amazon Prime

• Running Movies On Hulu

• Running Movies On HBO Max

• Streaming Running Movies On Peacock TV

• Running Movies On YouTube

Let’s jump in!

What Are the Running Movies On Netflix in 2023?

It doesn’t seem all that long ago that Netflix was really the go-to streaming service for any type of movie. The Netflix library was far more comprehensive than any other streaming service, and Netflix had lots of great running movies.

However, with the advent of additional streaming services, such as HBO Max and Disney+, as well as the expansion of other options like Hulu, there are fewer running movies on Netflix than there used to be, and some of the Netflix running movies are now available on other streaming services instead.

Here are the current running movies on Netflix:

Budhia Singh: Born to Run (2016)

This is a little hidden gem of a running movie on Netflix. It has an IMDb rating of 7.6, so it has been fairly well received.

Born to Run tells the true story of a young 5-year-old boy, Budhia Singh, who was born into poverty in Odish, which is an Indian state. 

Because his family had no money, his mother sold him to an abusive bangle seller.

The story takes a positive turn, however. Budhia gets rescued by an orphanage owner named Biranchi Das. Das is also a judo coach and quickly notices that Budhia is an exceptional distance runner.

Das becomes Budhia’s coach and mentor, and the movie explores not only their relationship but the growth of Budhia as a person and the trials and tribulations he faces when chasing down his dreams.

Lorena, Light-Footed Woman (2019)

This is a short running documentary on Netflix about Lorena Ramirez, an ultramarathon runner from Mexico.

Zero to Hero (2021)

Zero to Hero is not a very popular Netflix running movie, but it is a great story with a motivating and inspirational takeaway message.

This running movie tells the true story of So Wa-wai, a 12-time paralympic medalist from Hong Kong.

It is a captivating biopic that follows the life of So Wa-wai from birth to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, where he earns the last gold medal of his career. 

Although the movie certainly focuses on the life of this impressive athlete, it also covers the relationship he has with his mother and the adversities that he has to overcome in his life and relationships as a physically disabled athlete. 

Sisters on Track (2021)

This is one of the best movies about running on Netflix for anyone with children who are interested in running, particularly teenage girls or daughters who are just getting into the sport themselves.

Sisters on Track is a powerful story that follows Tai, Rainn, and Brooke Sheppard, who are three young sisters who are all chosen to be Sports Illustrated Kids of the Year a few years before they will enter high school.

It’s not only a cool story about incredibly talented young runners but also about overcoming tremendous obstacles and the power of coaches and mentors.

For example, the movie shows the difficulties that the family faces when trying to move out of their life in a shelter and the powerful and formative nature of a great coach.

The girls’ cross country coach, Jean Bell, helps the sisters not only have big aspirations but also believe in themselves and their ability to be great despite obstacles.

It is an incredibly inspiring and heartwarming running documentary on Netflix for the whole family.

100 Meters (2016)

This is another running movie on Netflix that most people skip over, but it is certainly an inspiring movie about running.

100 Meters tells the harrowing story of Ramon Arroyo, an everyday man living in northern Spain who wakes up one day and is unable to move.

He ultimately gets diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) and is told by another person struggling with MS that he won’t be able to walk even 100 meters by the end of the year.

Ramon sees this as a challenge and decides that he wants to do more than just walk 100 m. He decides to train for an Ironman triathlon (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.2-mile run).

It is a powerful running documentary about overcoming tremendous obstacles and beating the odds as long as you believe in yourself.

Running Movies On Disney Plus

Disney+ does not have many running movies, but the two that they have are can’t-miss films for runners.

Here are the running movies on Disney+:

Breaking 2

The running documentary Breaking2 covers Nike’s Breaking2 project, following Eliud Kipchoge, along with two other chosen runners, and their attempt to break the two-hour time barrier in the marathon. 

McFarland, USA

A family-friendly running movie that tells the true story of a 1987 cross-country team at a primarily Latino high school located in McFarland, California, under the coaching guidance of Jim White in their pursuit to win the state championships as the undeniable underdogs.

Running Movies On Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime seems to have the most running movies compared to other streaming services. Some of these movies are free to watch with an Amazon Prime membership, and others you will need to rent.

However, the rental prices for the running movies listed below are quite affordable, and if you watch with your family or partner, you could have a cheap date night activity that will inspire everyone.

Examples include Prefontaine, Brittany Runs a Marathon (2019), The Jericho Mile (1979), Unbroken (2014), Run Fatboy Run, Chariots of Fire, Spirit of the Marathon, Without Limits, and Patriot’s Day (about the Boston Marathon bombings).

Running Movies on Hulu in 2023

As with Netflix, there are not very many running movies on Hulu, but if you are a sprinter rather than a distance runner or if you love to learn more about sprinting, there are some great track and field movies on Hulu.

Here are the running movies on Hulu in 2023:

• Sprinter: A running movie executive produced by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith about a teenage Jamaican track star.  

• 30 for 30: Marion Jones (Episode 28, Season 1), and 9.79 Story of the 100-meter final at the Seoul Olympics (Episode 2, Season 2)

• Forrest Gump: A classic running film starring Tom Hanks.

Running Movies on HBO Max In 2023

If you have an HBO Max subscription, you can find two running movies that are interesting biopics of groundbreaking runners.

Here are the running movies on HBO Max in 2023:

Race (2016)

This 2016 movie tells the story of Jesse Owens, an African-American runner who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic games held in Berlin. 

Jim Thorpe, All American (1951) 

This is an old biographical drama in black-and-white that tells the story of Jim Thorpe (played by Burt Lancaster), a young American Indian who pursues his dreams of athletic stardom and coaching.

Thorpe is mentored by a devoted coach who helped him succeed in track, and he eventually rises to stardom on the football field as well. 

Streaming Running Movies On Peacock TV

There are also some running movies on Peacock TV. Some people have complimentary access to this service through their cable provider, or you can purchase a Peacock TV subscription at a very affordable rate compared to other streaming services.

Here are the running movies on Peacock TV in 2023:

4 Minute Mile (2014)

This running movie tells the story of a coach who tries to train a talented young runner to break the four-minute-mile barrier and the obstacles and tragedies they face.

More Than Gold (2016)

This is a running documentary about the incredible Jesse Owens and the fellow athletes who ran with him in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. As can likely be imagined, it’s an inspiring story. Plus, it’s narrated by arguably the best storytelling voice in the industry: Morgan Freeman.

The running documentary not only takes viewers behind the scenes of the incredible victorious performance of Owens in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay, and long jump but also in the ripple effect of his performances in the way that it inspired generations who followed him. 

The documentary also shed light on the racial discrimination Owen experienced at home and the horrific climate that was occurring in Nazi Germany.

Streaming Running Movies On YouTube 2023

Lastly, YouTube can be a source for running movies, particularly if you are just interested in watching footage from track races, marathons, road races, and other running events.

There is also a running movie on YouTube that you can stream:

Running Brave

This is an older movie, released in 1983, that tells the story of an American Indian runner named Billy Mills, who overcomes every obstacle to win the 10,000-meter race in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

It’s another one of the running movies that will make you put your own challenges into perspective and believe in your ability to accomplish your biggest running goals as long as you have the dedication, park, and drive.

Plus, it’s on YouTube, so it’s totally free for everyone.

Keep in mind that the list of movies offered by all of these streaming services tends to change, so what is currently available may be different in a number of months.