BREAKING: Nicolas Cage’s Madden Movie Trailer Drops on Christmas Day
By Brett Glatman | Updated December 27, 2025
From NFL legends to Olympic champions, wrestling pioneers to table tennis masters, 2025 and 2026 are delivering an unprecedented lineup of sports movies. Whether you’re looking for biographical dramas, animated comedies featuring WWE superstars, or horror films set in the football world, this comprehensive guide covers every sports film and movie featuring professional athletes released in 2025 and coming in 2026.
BREAKING: Nicolas Cage’s Madden Movie Trailer Drops on Christmas Day
Madden (Thanksgiving 2026 – Prime Video)
The first trailer for David O. Russell’s highly anticipated John Madden biopic dropped on Christmas Day 2025, revealing Nicolas Cage’s stunning transformation into the NFL legend. Amazon MGM Studios plans a Thanksgiving 2026 release for the film, fitting given it was Madden and his CBS partner Pat Summerall who helped make the NFL Thanksgiving Day game a staple in homes.
The film tracks Madden’s journey from humble beginnings to coaching the Raiders to the Super Bowl in 1976 and later finding further success on television, video games and becoming a reliable pitchman. The movie serves as an origin story for Madden NFL, one of the biggest video game franchises of all time.
Star-Studded Cast:
- Nicolas Cage as John Madden
- Christian Bale as Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis
- John Mulaney as Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins
- Kathryn Hahn as Virginia Madden
- Sienna Miller as Carol Davis
- Shane Gillis in an undisclosed role
2025 Sports Movies & Films Featuring Athletes (By Release Date)
Unstoppable (January 16, 2025)
Despite being born with one leg, Anthony Robles overcame every obstacle to become an undefeated collegiate wrestling star, three-time All-American, and 2011 NCAA National Champion. This inspiring biographical drama stars Jharrel Jerome as Robles and Jennifer Lopez, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson serving as producer.
Running Point (Netflix Series – February 27, 2025)
Kate Hudson stars as Isla Gordon, who is appointed president of the Los Angeles Waves basketball team. Created by Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen, this series features Lakers executives Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis as executive producers, bringing authentic NBA management insights to the screen.
Queen of the Ring (March 7, 2025)
Emily Bett Rickards stars as Mildred Burke, a single mother who became the first million-dollar female athlete in history by pioneering women’s professional wrestling when it was banned in most of America. The cast features real professional wrestlers including Toni Storm and Kamille playing Clara Mortensen and June Byers, while WWE’s Naomi plays Ethel Johnson.
Magazine Dreams (March 21, 2025)
Jonathan Majors plays amateur bodybuilder Killian Maddox, whose dream of becoming a bodybuilder consumes his entire life. Majors underwent an incredible physical transformation for this role, eating 6100 calories daily and training six days a week to authentically portray the world of competitive bodybuilding.
Raising the Bar: The Alma Richards Story (April 25, 2025)
The story of Alma Richards, who won Olympic gold in high jump at the 1912 Olympics. This biographical film chronicles Richards’ journey of overcoming adversity to achieve Olympic glory, showcasing the determination required to compete at the highest level of track and field.
Happy Gilmore 2 (Netflix – July 25, 2025)
Adam Sandler returns as the iconic hockey player-turned-professional golfer in this long-awaited sequel to the 1996 comedy classic. The film brings back the beloved character’s unique blend of hockey aggression and golf finesse for a new generation.
HIM (September 19, 2025)
A supernatural horror film starring Marlon Wayans and former college wide-receiver Tyriq Withers about a young quarterback invited to train at a legendary quarterback’s isolated compound, where things take a dark turn. Produced by Jordan Peele, this film brings horror to the world of elite football training.
The Senior (September 19, 2025)
Based on the true story of Mike Flynt who, at age 59, became a college football linebacker. Starring Michael Chiklis and Mary Stuart Masterson, this inspiring film proves it’s never too late to chase your dreams on the gridiron.
Chad Powers (Hulu Series – September 30, 2025)
Glen Powell stars as Russ Holliday, a disgraced former college quarterback who disguises himself with prosthetics to walk onto a struggling football team under the name Chad Powers. Executive produced by NFL legends Eli and Peyton Manning, this comedy series brings authenticity and humor to college football culture.
The Smashing Machine (November 4, 2025)
Directed by Benny Safdie, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, telling the story of Mark Kerr, a two-time UFC heavyweight champion widely regarded as the best fighter in the world during his MMA career. This biographical drama explores the brutal world of early mixed martial arts competition.
Zootopia 2 (November 26, 2025)
WWE superstars enter the animated world in this Disney sequel. WWE stars Roman Reigns and CM Punk voice the “Zebros,” a pair of zebra buddy cops in the film. CM Punk plays Zebro Zebrowski while Reigns plays Zebro Zebraxton. The cast also features Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, making this a major crossover moment for professional wrestlers in family entertainment.
Marty Supreme (December 25, 2025)
Timothée Chalamet stars in Josh Safdie’s film loosely inspired by the life of American table tennis player Marty Reisman. Demonstrating serious dedication to the role, Chalamet trained for six years and was coached by former American Olympian Wei Wang. This Christmas Day release brings the competitive world of table tennis to mainstream audiences.
2026 Sports Movies & Films Featuring Athletes
GOAT (February 13, 2026)
An animated sports comedy produced by NBA star Stephen Curry, following an anthropomorphic goat named Will Harris who aspires to become the greatest of all time at a basketball-like sport known as roarball. The film’s release is strategically timed to coincide with the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
Street Fighter (October 16, 2026)
The ultimate crossover of video games, action cinema, and professional wrestling! The ensemble cast includes Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Callina Liang, WWE superstars Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i and Cody Rhodes, David Dastmalchian, Andrew Schulz, Eric André, Vidyut Jammwal, Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson, and Jason Momoa.
Cody Rhodes plays Guile, while Roman Reigns takes on the role of Akuma. Rhodes was adamant that he would perform his own stunts, saying he wanted to do Guile’s Sonic Boom and Flash Kick himself. Set in 1993, the film follows Ryu and Ken Masters as they’re recruited for the World Warrior Tournament.
Air Bud Returns (2026 – TBA)
The beloved family sports movie franchise returns with a new film about a 12-year-old basketball player. Specific release date has not been announced, but the revival promises to introduce the magical sports-playing dog to a new generation.
In Development: Future Sports Biopics
Bright Path: The Jim Thorpe Story (TBA)
Martin Sensmeier will star as legendary athlete Jim Thorpe, with Angelina Jolie producing. The film will chronicle the life of the Sac and Fox Nation member who won two Olympic gold medals in 1912 and helped found the NFL, making him one of the most important figures in American sports history.
Why 2025-2026 is a Golden Era for Sports Movies
This two-year period represents an unprecedented surge in sports cinema, featuring:
- Biographical dramas celebrating pioneering athletes like Mildred Burke, Anthony Robles, and John Madden
- WWE superstars crossing into mainstream film with major roles in Street Fighter and voice acting in Zootopia 2
- Athlete-produced content like Stephen Curry’s GOAT and the Manning brothers’ Chad Powers
- Genre-bending films like the supernatural horror HIM that use sports as a backdrop
- Elite athlete transformations with actors like Jonathan Majors and Timothée Chalamet undergoing years of training
From wrestling rings to football fields, basketball courts to table tennis tables, these films showcase the diversity and universal appeal of sports stories. Whether you’re a die-hard sports fan or casual moviegoer, 2025 and 2026 offer something for everyone.
Stay tuned to Recess Sports for updates on release dates, new trailers, and exclusive coverage of all sports movies!
