LeBron James is an American professional basketball player who has earned a name for himself as a legend in the sporting world. Throughout his athletic career, James has earned himself two Olympic gold medals and multiple NBA championships. He started his NBA career in 2003 with the Cleveland Cavaliers and currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers.
There’s much debate about who is the “greatest of all time” between James and Michael Jordan. What’s interesting is that, like Jordan, James has similarly made a jump from sports to entertainment, particularly within the Space Jam franchise (which we’ll get to below). Currently, James’ inspiring documentary I Promise is shining a spotlight on the first academy year of the I Promise School that The LeBron James Family Foundation opened up in 2018 in a partnership with Akron Public Schools. Between his basketball career, philanthropic endeavors, and budding film career, James is doing it all. Here are his best movies so far, ranked.
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4 Trainwreck
Universal Pictures
Trainwreck was directed by Judd Apatow and is a romantic comedy that centers around a magazine writer called Amy (Amy Schumer) who is in her first serious relationship with Aaron, an extremely successful orthopedic surgeon (Bill Hader). The film is different from the typical Apatow film in that the lead is a woman, and it’s she who has the commitment and emotional issues that leave her male counterpart feeling confused, rather than the other way around. James appears in the film as a fictionalized version of himself. He acts as Aaron’s friend whom he confides his relationship problems in. It’s a comedic role that James excels in and a perfect example of a celebrity cameo done well.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
3 More Than a Game
Lionsgate
More Than a Game was released in 2008 and is a documentary film that follows James and four of his teammates through the trials they experienced through high school basketball in Akron, Ohio. The film featured music from Mary J. Blige and was a success with critics. In addition to James, the other athletes featured are Dru Joyce III, Romeo Travis, Sian Cotton, and Willie McGee — alongside their coach, Dru Joyce II — as they play on an AAU team. Taking them through their pre-teens to high school, this film follows their journey to stardom. It’s an emotional film and is well worth a watch, as it gives the audience a taste for just how hard James has worked throughout his career.
2 Smallfoot
Warner Animation
James starred in the animated film Smallfoot, in which he played a Yeti. The movie follows the story of Migo, a member of a group of yetis in the Himalayas who accidentally discover a human, which they have long believed to be a myth. Migo brings back a human named Percy to the village and teaches the rest of the yetis about human culture and customs. The yetis, then, enter the human world and discover that humans view them as monsters, and the story then becomes a sweet one about acceptance and tolerance. James plays Gwangi, and it’s a strong vocal performance from James in a feel-good film.
1 Space Jam: A New Legacy
Warner Bros.
Space Jam: A New Legacy was released in 2021 and served as the long-awaited sequel to Space Jam, which famously starred Michael Jordan. Discussions for a sequel began back when the original film was released in the 90s due to its massive success, however, Jordan refused to return for a sequel, and this meant that the production was halted indefinitely. Possible sequels were considered featuring other sports stars like Tiger Woods, Jeff Gordon and Tony Hawke. It wasn’t until 2021, however, that James signed onto the project, and it got an official release. The film mixes animation and live-action in similar ways to the original, and although it did not receive the same positive reviews as Space Jam, James plays his role well and it’s an enjoyable film.
