12/20/2025
Today is National Underdog Day!
Humans love underdog stories because they tap into something deep in us: empathy, hope, and the belief that effort can actually matter.
Underdogs reflect our own internal battles, restore our sense of fairness when life feels unfair, and give our brains a rewarding jolt when the unexpected hero wins.
Below are two lists of movies that celebrate the underdog, just in case you're sick of holiday romance, the Grinch, and White Christmas:
For Adults and Youth (parents please check ratings and use your discretion)
1. Rocky - The blueprint for the underdog sports story.
2. Rudy - Heart, grit, and the tiniest football player with the biggest determination.
3. The Pursuit of Happyness - A raw, real underdog story of persistence through overwhelming odds.
4. Hidden Figures - Brilliant women defying both racism and sexism to change history.
5. Billy Elliot - A boy who wants to dance in a world that tells him he shouldn’t.
6. The Blind Side - A young man rises from instability to football stardom with support and belief.
7. Erin Brockovich - One woman vs. a massive corporation, and she doesn’t blink.
8. Remember the Titans - A team battles racial tension and the expectations stacked against them.
9. Slumdog Millionaire - A kid from the slums flips the script on every assumption about him.
10. Eddie the Eagle - A delightfully awkward, determined ski jumper who refuses to quit.
For the Kiddos! (Parents please check ratings and use your discretion)
11. Finding Nemo - A tiny clownfish with a big journey and bigger courage.
12. Kung Fu Panda -The least likely hero becomes the Dragon Warrior.
13. Ratatouille - A rat with chef dreams in a world that tells him “absolutely not.”
14. Zootopia - A small, underestimated bunny becomes a police officer and cracks a major case.
15. The Little Engine That Could - Classic "I think I can" underdog energy.
16. A Bug’s Life - Misfit bugs take on the bullies using creativity and teamwork.
17. Moana - A young girl from a small island takes on a quest far beyond what anyone expects of her.
18.The Iron Giant - A boy befriends a misunderstood giant robot and stands up for what’s right.
19. Paddington (1 & 2) - A small polite bear overcoming big challenges with kindness and curiosity.
20. Mulan - A young woman defies expectations, disguises herself as a soldier, and becomes the hero no one expected. (A personal favourite)
In short, cheering for the underestimated helps us believe that change—and resilience—is possible for all of us.
photo: https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-underdog-day-third-friday-in-december