Club Benefits
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Daily (Mon-Sun)
Tom's Guide Daily
Sign up to get the latest updates on all of your favorite content! From cutting-edge tech news and the hottest streaming buzz to unbeatable deals on the best products and in-depth reviews, we’ve got you covered.
Weekly on Thursday
Tom's AI Guide
Be AI savvy with your weekly newsletter summing up all the biggest AI news you need to know. Plus, analysis from our AI editor and tips on how to use the latest AI tools!
Weekly on Friday
Tom's iGuide
Unlock the vast world of Apple news straight to your inbox. With coverage on everything from exciting product launches to essential software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content.
Weekly on Monday
Tom's Streaming Guide
Our weekly newsletter is expertly crafted to immerse you in the world of streaming. Stay updated on the latest releases and our top recommendations across your favorite streaming platforms.
Join the club
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
- "The Redeem Team" – USA Basketball’s 2008 Olympic comeback.
- "Pele" – The definitive biopic of soccer’s greatest legend.
- "Team Foxcatcher" – Chilling true crime in the world of wrestling.
- "The Deepest Breath" – A tragic, beautiful look at extreme freediving.
- "Icarus" – The Oscar-winning thriller uncovering global doping.
If you’re reading this, you’re likely a fan of both documentary films and sports. With the 2026 Winter Olympics officially kicking off in Italy this Friday and Super Bowl LX just days away, it’s the perfect week to dive into some athletic greatness.
These selections span a diverse range of disciplines, from basketball and soccer to the intense worlds of wrestling and freediving. We have also included a groundbreaking investigation into the murky world of doping,
'The Redeem Team'
"The Redeem Team" tells the full and previously untold story behind what some have described as the greatest comeback in sports history. The title refers to the name assigned to the USA basketball team fighting to reclaim Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing games.
In 2004, the US basketball team only won bronze, a humiliating result for a roster full of NBA superstars. Spurred on to never repeat that failure, the team and its coaches sought to change their culture and reclaim their number-one spot.
The documentary features practice footage, behind-the-scenes conversations, game highlights, and interviews to reveal how "The Redeem Team" roared back to dominance. It’s worth a second watch once you know the outcome, as you can better spot the individual and collective moments when the momentum shifted in terms of belief, teamwork, and leadership.
Watch "The Redeem Team" on Netflix
'Pele'
This 2021 biopic on "Pele" — or Edson Arantes do Nascimento, to give him his full name — combines archive footage and interviews to profile one of the greatest soccer players in history.
This is a polished film that presents a rightly reverential take on the life and career of "Pele". As expected, it primarily focuses on his World Cup triumphs with Brazil, which helped shape the country’s national identity at a time of crisis.
On your first watch, you’ll probably focus on the incredible skills on display in the archival footage. However, if you watch it a second time, you’ll be able to focus more on the weight of expectation shouldered by "Pele" and the political backdrop underpinning his international career.
'Team Foxcatcher'
![Team Foxcatcher | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WZczesrBFRA/maxresdefault.jpg)
"Team Foxcatcher" is a documentary telling the story of what happened when a billionaire philanthropist started a wrestling training facility. It is the true story behind the events depicted in the feature film "Foxcatcher" starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo.
Given the commercial and critical success of that feature film, most people will know how things turn sour and end in murder. However, seeing the real story and archive footage of the actual people involved makes this well worth watching at least once.
You’ll likely spend your first viewing shocked by what’s playing out on screen, despite the filmmakers' restrained and methodical approach. However, a second viewing is somehow even more unsettling, as you notice the warning signs and manipulation techniques on full display.
Watch "Team Foxcatcher" on Netflix
'The Deepest Breath'
As its name suggests, this documentary looks at the sport of extreme freediving, where elite athletes risk their lives for the glory of setting new records. The film particularly focuses on the intertwined lives of divers Alessia Zecchini and Stephen Keenan.
Zecchini is an Italian freediver seeking to break the world record with help from her coach and safety diver, Keenan. While on a dive in Dahab’s Blue Hole in 2017, Keenan sadly died while acting as Zecchini’s safety diver.
"The Deepest Breath" is a fascinating yet ultimately tragic look at this extreme sport. Thanks to some amazing underwater cinematography, you get a true sense of the danger and dread involved when people dive to such depths. This is a documentary that feels more emotionally engaging on repeated viewing, mainly because you know how the desire to push to extremes ends in tragedy.
Watch "The Deepest Breath" on Netflix
'Icarus'
![Icarus | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qXoRdSTrR-4/maxresdefault.jpg)
"Icarus" delves into the murky world of doping. It starts off as an exploration of how easy it is to dope without getting caught, specifically in amateur cycling. However, once filmmaker Bryan Fogel befriends Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, things take a dark turn.
Rodchenkov is the former head of Russia's national anti-doping laboratory and is alleged to have helped cover up positive drug tests and destroyed the urine samples that led to them. His revelations help uncover state-sponsored doping affecting the highest levels of international sports.
"Icarus" is a fascinating documentary that won an Academy Award at the 90th Oscars ceremony. While that’s enough to justify watching it once, it’s also worth a repeat viewing to look out for the red flags and character flaws as the story unfolds.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
More from Tom's Guide
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
