2. Being the Underdog
The best sports movies are those that showcase the story of the underdog. No one wants to see the champions win another game. That’s one of the reasons that the NFL’s New England Patriots are sometimes so hated beyond their fanbase—they keep winning, and they are almost always in the big game.
Audiences love an underdog. Why? Because they can identify with that. They understand what it means to be that Average Joe.
When you position your character as the underdog in whatever situation they are in, it means that there’s going to be more struggle and conflict. And conflict is everything in a successful screenplay.
In Rudy, how interesting would it have been if it was the story of a star quarterback getting recruited into the Notre Dame football program and going on to win the big game? Not that much. But when we see this small figure with bad grades trying to play for the team that he—and especially his father—adore, there’s something special to witness.
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