As a genre,science fictionhas saturated the market.Sports, always a safe bet from big-name studios, finds enthusiastic audiences in the unpredictable ebb and flow of the cultural zeitgeist. Sometimes, football films are loved, and sometimes, they’re skipped. Science fiction, however – and especially the superhero genre lately – has attained a mass inclusion in the film industry, becoming the dominant form of entertainment, having grown from a fringe form of art.
But lately, savvy moviegoers and streaming enthusiasts have noted a trend in the upswing of compelling, action-packed drama films with heart and ethics. No, notSpider-Manand his endless moral lessons. This time, we’re talking about sports and how the underdog form of entertainment is supplanting the sci-fi champ!
Welcome to Wrexham!
The pseudo-spin-offdocumentary seriesWelcome to Wrexhamhas challenged the stereotype of the modern cross-genre fan by appropriating enthusiasts from FX’sIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. The demographic for that fan base is FX’s 18-34 age group, which includes a great deal of science fiction aficionados, given both FX’s streaming platform as well as their pay satellite and cable subscriptions.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds are responsible for the hit series, now prepping for its sophomore season release. Rob is an ex-patriot fromIt’s Always Sunny, Ryan Reynolds has played Deadpool three times (yes, that ugly stint inX-Men Origins: Wolverine(2009) unfortunately counts), and FX intentionally playsDeadpoolfranchise films (and other Marvel properties) near or airing directly next toWrexham. WithDeadpooland bro-comedy drinking buddy fromPhilly, McElhenny,Wrexhamwas an unintentional crossover hit that grew a devout cult fan base.
This gentle nudging from other genres of series – science fiction and comedy – toward a more sports-oriented programming campaign is a clear indicator that entertainment, in general, may be trending more towards sports, winning temporarily over the saturated market of science fiction.
Related:Top 25 Sports Movies of All Time, Ranked
Pro-Wrestling: The Best of Both Worlds?
Pro-wrestling entertainment has embraced andpushed a superhero and/or science fiction element, especially recently. Although the concept started with the super-naturally, almost science-fiction-esque powered Undertaker back in the early 90s, the trend of non-Olympic, spectacle wrestling groups in recent years – especially Impact Wrestling, AEW Dynamite, and ECW – has been to include tropes most often found in pulp superhero comics.
Heels, Starz’s incredibly heart-filled offering, is the perfect example of a drama-packed, exceptionally acted wrestling franchise show filled with hard-core action. Of course, the in-joke here is that keen-eyed aficionados will note the star of the show, Jack Spade, is played by none other than Stephen Amell, the most successfulGreen Arrowto date! Lately, a James O’barre Crow homage – the hilariously titled “Condamned” – has swept intoHeelsto simultaneously fill the shoes of the Green Arrow, the Crow, and the Undertaker.
Another interesting cross-section here is that the part of Crystal, played now by Kelly Berglund, had originally been offered to the chipper, uber-perky Brec Basinger. Brec turned the female wrestler role down to work on a part more, er, powerful – she playedStargirlfor three seasons on the CW. This is not only another indication that sports and science fiction are crossing over. Instead, sports flicks and shows are likely sapping viewers from the superhero genre!
Say Goodbye to Sci-Fi?
Rotten Tomatoes has its own ideas about thebest science fiction films of all time, and it must be said that the inclusion of certain movies that border on the sports-oriented, likeMad Max: Fury Road(2015), a post-apocalyptic NASCAR, andIron Giant(1999), the prototype robot football player.
Given these admittedly tenuous connections, even the best sports biopics of all time contain films that could, in certain circumstances, be considered part of the superhero genre if not science fiction writ large. Films likeCinderella Man(2003) andThe Fighter(2010) are remarkably similar in execution and backstory to earlycomic properties like DC’sPeacemaker(2022) alongside Marvel’s Daredevil, the Punisher, and the long-forgotten super-freak The Foolkiller.
Related:Best Fictional Sports in Movies and TV, Ranked
Are sports flicks winning out in the ongoing battle of sports entertainment versus sci-fi? The short answer is: sometimes. Many sports movies bomb, while a few become critical box office successes. Typically, the best sports films don’t fall into obvious clichés, and right now, the marketplace of sports films has become so saturated with male films that it would take a lot more female roles to solidify any good workable data vis-à-vis wholistic viewers. With the unremitting strike in Hollywood, it’s difficult to predict upcoming trends, but one thing is for sure – if superheroes and science fiction films don’t watch their backs, their crowns just may be stolen by compelling sports flicks!
