The sports film has become one of commercial cinema#xE2;#xAC;"s most recognisable genres. From boxing and Raging Bullto soccer and Bend it Like Beckham, the sports film stands at the interface of two of our most important cultural forms. This book is the first sustained and rigorous examination of the social, historical and ideological significance of representations of sport in film internationally, an essential guide for all students of sport, film, media and culture. The book traces the history of the sports film, from Harold Lloyd#xE2;#xAC;"s The Freshmanin 1925 to the present day, and considers the social forces that have influenced the representation of sport in film, from the codification of sport to globalisation. Drawing on a huge range of films as source material, the book explores key issues in the study of sport, film and wider society, from the politics of identity to the culture of celebrity. It also offers an invaluable guide to #xE2;#xAC;#xDC;reading#xE2;#xAC;" a film, to help students fully engage with their source material. Comprehensive, authoritative and accessible, this book is an invaluable addition to the literature in both film studies and sport studies.