It’s the top 10 Winter Olympic-themed movies which means that they’re not necessarily set in the Winter Olympics but feature sports involved in this great event. So, enjoy… with yummy food and celebrate to your heart’s (and stomach’s) content.
Top 10 Winter Olympic movies
10. Mighty Ducks (1992)
Oh yes. It may be a fairly fluffy movie (or series of movies) but these are fun, especially for the kidlets in your household. Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) gets in trouble with the law and has to do some community service. So, he starts coaching the local PeeWee Ice Hockey team who aren’t doing very well. The results are funny and heartwarming! Sigh.
9. Mystery, Alaska (1999)
So, there’s this town in Alaska called Mystery. That’s all. Joking! Well, there’s also an Ice Hockey team that the entire town is obsessed with (think Friday Night Lights on ice). It’s an amateur league but spots are in high demand. When they get their story in Sports Illustrated, a game is set up between this cast of misfits and the incredible New York Rangers. Cooooool!
8. Ice Princess (2005)
Teenagers and dreams. Yep, this film has it all. A young girl gives up school to train her little heart out to become a super-successful, famous professional figure skater. But the competitive nature of other girls and their mothers gets her all riled up, cranky-pants style and she almost gives up. And yes there are cool crashes, so you must watch it. This film stars Hayden Panettiere and Joan Cusack. Good stuff.
7. The Cutting Edge (1992)
Now this one is set in the Winter Olympics – in France. It starts Moira Kelly as a spoilt rich kid who is also a great figure skater. Her new partner is a handsome ex-hockey player who thinks he’s the bee’s knees. Can you see where this is going? Fireworks, ice, crashes and, of course, love. This is a romantic comedy, afterall. They end up in the Winter Olympics where the competition and the nerves heat up! Eeek!
6. Downhill Racer (1969)
Swoon! It’s Robert Redford in a tight suit. Purrrr. This one is set, eventually, in the Winter Olympics in Grenoble. Redford stars as a handsome, ahem, talented downhill skier, driven to be the best in the world. This kind of focus doesn’t win him any friends. But it does bring him some success, at a cost. Here’s Robbie…
5. Ice Castles (2010)
There are two versions of this film, one made in 2010 and the other, 1978. It’s all about a figure skater who gives up everything to become the best in the world (I see a pattern here…). But she suffers a terrible accident that threatens her future. She discovers how to keep her dreams alive despite her injuries with the help of those who love her most. Awww. Sounds like a tear-jerker.
4. Miracle (2004)
True story. Gotta love them. This movie tells the story of the American men’s hockey team who trained their hearts out to beat their nemesis, the Soviets in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, USA. They play a few tight games, get knocked down, get up again, players get injured, get benched and keep going. It’s them against the world and do they win? Well, you’ll have to see it for yourself.
3. Eddie the Eagle (2016)
Starring Taron Egerton and Aussie Hugh Jackman, this was a bit of a surprise of a film. So enjoyable. It tells the true story of Michael Edwards (Egerton) who dreams of being a Olympian from a very young age. He fails a lot and decides to become a Winter Olympian instead, tackling the terrifying Ski Jump. Will he or won’t he make it? Watch and see…
2. Blades of Glory (2007)
And for something lighter, we have Will Ferrell and Jon Heder in tights! Eek. Oh and they’re figure skaters who turn their rivalry into a beautiful partnership. This is typical Ferrell territory here. A few crude jokes and a load of silly characters and one-liners. You’ll laugh, you’ll…well, laugh. It’s pretty silly/funny. If you haven’t seen it, you really must.
1. Cool Runnings (1993)
Yep, this is number one for a few reasons. It’s based on a true story (my fave), it’s funny and it features an underdog who humbles arrogant rivals. John Candy stars as the brave coach to take a few track stars from Jamaica and turn them into bobsled champions. They head to the Winter Olympics in Canada where, at first, their rivals laugh at their efforts. But their humour and bravery ultimately earn everyone’s respect.
Food
These athletes spend most of the year working out, getting super-fit and watching everything they eat. Well, today, athletes, all that changes, because here at Film and Food we think you need to enjoy a cheat day and eat something inspired by that beautiful pure snow you love so much. So kick off those ski boots/ice skates (and we can kick on our slippers), sit back and enjoy this scrumptious dessert. It’s Lychee Panna Cotta from Cook Your Dream! Yes you can do it.
Note: Thanks to Sarka from Cook Your Dream for permission to feature her stunning image and link to her amazing recipe.
Film and food 
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