GOAT: A Refreshing Sports Movie For Kids

Sony Pictures Animation has been on a roll lately and their most recent film, GOAT, stands as one of the better sports movies to come out in the past few years. From impressive visuals to a stellar voice cast to fun basketball sequences, there's a lot to love about the film, which makes it so refreshing.

Gone are the days when younger audiences would get several movies about sports released each year, helping them to fall in love with whatever sport is on the screen. These kinds of releases are now few and far between, which is part of why we should all truly appreciate what GOAT brings to the table.

The animated film is set in a world of anthropomorphic animals where a basketball like sport known as roarball is popular. Young Will Harris loves roarball and dreams of playing, but is considered too small as a Goat when the rest of the players consist of panthers, bears, and wolves, among other larger animals.

It's the kind of story that makes GOAT a relatable movie and something ideal for children. Kids can see themselves in Will, which might encourage them to try their hand at basketball. Having a fun movie that's legitimately good can only do wonders for these kids, which we need more of in Hollywood.

GOAT Is A Great Sports Movie For Kids

The first thing to understand about why GOAT is great for kids is that it's actually a very good film. Some projects that become popular with children aren't well-received by critics and are just simply fun. However, the critically acclaimed kids' movies are the ones that tend to have staying power.

Toy Story, Kpop Demon Hunters, Encanto, and so many other animated movies over the years have become beloved by children everywhere while also being a hit with critics. GOAT is of that same cloth, evidenced by the impressive 85% rating it holds on Rotten Tomatoes.

The fact that the protagonist is basically a child himself adds to its success. Kids can watch the smaller protagonist overcome the odds and believe they can do it. It helps that legendary NBA player Stephen Curry is a producer on GOAT because his career success mirrors that of Will.

Unlike LeBron James or Michael Jordan, Curry's skills on the court can be mimicked by a kid learning basketball. Children can't dunk like Jordan or James, but they can shoot three pointers like Curry, which is exactly the main skill that leads to Will living out his dream.

There Aren't Many Kids' Sports Films Made Anymore

When millennials were growing up, it seemed like there were sports movies constantly getting released with them in mind. There were sports films that put kids at the forefront, allowing that core audience to connect with the characters on screen.

Little Giants, The Mighty Ducks, Rookie of the Year, The Sandlot, and more are all '90s classics that see kids playing major sports. They were getting released almost annually, sometimes multiple in a single year, yet have gone by the wayside.

GOAT manages to even stand out from that pack because it's a rare animated sports movie. This allows it to grab even more viewers, as some kids who don't already like basketball can likely stumble upon it and fall in love. That's especially true thanks to the creative route taken to ensure that roarball feels unique to basketball itself.

GOAT Is One Of The Best Basketball Movies In Recent Memory

As noted, sports movies don't get released as often as they used to, but there still have been some good ones over the past decade or so. Champions, Hustle, The Way Back, and High Flying Bird were all considered hits by critics.

However, the likes of Space Jam: A New Legacy, Uncle Drew, Shooting Stars, and White Men Can't Jump were either poorly received or garnered mixed reviews. That really helps GOAT sit comfortably as one of the best, if not the best, of that bunch from recent memory.