6 Best Rowing and Crew Team Movies

By Vlad Zakh · August 22, 2026

Rowing is grueling discipline and perfect teamwork. The Boys in the Boat has working-class underdogs chasing the 1936 Berlin Olympics, True Blue has a rebellious Oxford crew facing sabotage before the Boat Race, and The Novice has a freshman driving herself to dangerous extremes. Heart of Champions, Oxford Blues and A Yank at Oxford round out the six.

The Boys in the Boat (2023)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A team of underdog working-class rowers chases an improbable dream at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Directed by George Clooney · 2h 03m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Heart of Champions (2021)

TMDB ★ 6.1

A struggling college rowing team is forced to confront its dysfunction when a war veteran joins.

Directed by Michael Mailer · 1h 59m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Novice (2021)

TMDB ★ 6.6

An obsessive college freshman pushes herself to dangerous extremes to make the varsity rowing team.

Directed by Lauren Hadaway · 1h 37m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, Sundance Now, IFC Films Unlimited Apple TV channel · Rent: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

True Blue (1996)

TMDB ★ 5.5

A rebellious Oxford rowing crew battles internal conflict and sabotage ahead of the historic boat race against Cambridge.

Directed by Ferdinand Fairfax · 1h 49m

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Oxford Blues (1984)

TMDB ★ 5.4

An ambitious American gambler enrols at Oxford to win over an aristocratic Englishwoman through rowing.

Directed by Robert Boris · 1h 37m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

A Yank at Oxford (1938)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A brash American student's arrogance clashes with Oxford tradition until a rowing contest humbles him.

Directed by Jack Conway · 1h 42m

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Rowing and Crew Team Movies

The Boys in the Boat (2023)

Heart of Champions (2021)

The Novice (2021)

True Blue (1996)

Oxford Blues (1984)

A Yank at Oxford (1938)

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