We know that art, in its many forms, imitates life.

This statement is especially true in the art form of cinema. 

For decades, we’ve enjoyed movies that relate to our lives and passions.  

Sports movies are a typical example:

If you’re a football player, you would love Rudy, Friday Night Lights, or Any Given Sunday. 

Baseball?  Field of Dreams or 42. 

The list goes on.  

But what about ice skating

Yep, there are some classics there too. 

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As we’ve been deeply involved with ice skating for years, we’ve watched our fair share of the best ice skating movies ever produced. 

If you’re looking for some ice skating content or you’re planning for a movie night, you’re in luck!  

Below (in no particular order) are the 10 best ice skating movies you need to see this year.  

1. Ice Castles (1978) 

We start the list off with an ice skating classic. Ice Castle stars Lyn-Holly Johnson as figure skater Alexis Winston, a young skater who dreams of being a professional.

She’s filled with talent and ambition, but catastrophe strikes when she’s blinded by an accident. 

Not to be deterred, she works tirelessly to regain her skills and compete again.

With the help of her coach and her boyfriend, Nick, played by Robby Benson, Alexis makes an inspiring comeback. It’s a great story of overcoming adversity and thriving in a competitive sport. 

Watch Ice Castles On Amazon Prime Video

2. The Cutting Edge (1992) 

The Cutting Edge is arguably one of the greatest ice skating movies of all time.

The show revolves around Kate Moseley (Moira Kelly), a talented skater with a bit of a ‘tude, and Doug Dorsey (D.B. Sweeney), a macho former hockey player. 

Both get sidelined due to injury but come together to form an unusual and unlikely figure skating pair.

They struggle to get along at first but soon begin to turn things around and transform their fortunes.

Experience what turns from personality clashes to trust and eventually love in this fantastic romance on the ice. 

Watch The Cutting Edge On Amazon Prime Video

3. The Mighty Ducks (1992) 

The Disney movie, The Mighty Ducks, focuses on ice hockey but is a family favorite.

Gordon Bombay, a lawyer played by Emilio Estevez, has to do community service for drunk driving by coaching a peewee hockey team. 

Bombay himself is a former junior hockey player with some past demons on the ice.

He eventually teaches the ragtag youth team how to win (The Flying V!) while getting the chance to exorcize some devils of his own. 

Fun Fact: The success of The Mighty Ducks led Disney to found their own NHL team, The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Disney sold the team in 2006, which then went on to win the 2007 Stanley Cup.  

Watch The Mighty Ducks On Amazon Prime Video

4. The Ice King (2018) 

This riveting and well-received documentary chronicles the skating career and life of John Curry.

A generational talent on the ice, Curry mastered the art of ice dancing, winning multiple World Championships and Olympic Gold in 1976. 

The Briton had challenges both on and off the ice, facing prejudice as an openly gay skater.

The pain and hurt for his sexuality were soothed by a welcoming underground gay community. 

The Ice King Dives into Curry's rebellious yet enthralling life that comes to a bitter, unfortunate end. 

Watch The Ice King On Amazon Prime Video

5. Miracle (2004) 

Miracle is often mentioned under any list of the best ice skating movies ever and for good reason. 

It’s a true story based on the 1980 USA Men’s Ice Hockey Team. 

Coach Herb Brooks (Kur Russell) is tasked with assembling a team of amateur college players good enough to compete in the Winter Olympics.

At the time, hockey was dominated by the Soviets. In the 1980 Olympics, the Soviets were the number 1 seed, with Team USA a lowly seventh seed.

They defied all odds through coaching, determination, teamwork, and belief, completing the “Miracle on Ice,” a semi-final 4-3 win over the number one ranked Soviets.  

This game had historical relevance, as the US and the Soviets had opposing ideologies and were in constant geopolitical battles.

This game was seen as a victory for the US in more ways than one. 

If this movie does not hype you up, we don’t know what will. 

Watch Miracle On Amazon Prime Video

6. Blades of Glory (2007) 

Now for a bit of comedy on ice. Will Ferrell is known for his comedic, satirical takes on popular sports, and in 2006, ice skating was soon in his crosshairs.

Blades of Glory revolved around Chazz Michael Michaels and Jimmy MacElroy, who were stripped of their Olympic medals (after fighting on the podium) and banned for life. 

However, their dislike for each other did not trump their need to return to the limelight.

Through a loophole, they re-enter, competing as a male-male pair to regain their *cough* blades of glory. 

If you’re into crude, slapstick comedy, this one’s for you. 

Watch Blades Of Glory On Amazon Prime Video.

7. I, Tonya (2017) 

It was ‘The Whack Heard Around The World.” Figure skating phenom Nancy Kerrigan is attacked by Tonya Harding’s ex-husband in a plot conspired by him and Tonya’s bodyguard.

The movie, however, centers around the life of Tonya Harding, played by the fantastic Margot Robbie.

We learn about her rough upbringing, physical and psychological abuse from her mother, and difficulty to conform in a sport that obsesses about prestige and classism. 

Despite her initial success, the events of 1994 led to Tonya being banned for life from skating.

We get to see fantastic perspectives from Tonya and many players leading up to the incident. 

It’s a must-see. 

Watch I, Tonya on Amazon Prime Video

8. Kiss and Cry (2017)

Kiss and Cry is based on the true story of Canadian skater Carley Allison. Carley is an ascending skater who is suddenly faced with a rare form of cancer. 

Despite the illness, Carley fights through thanks to the love of her family and boyfriend, played by Luke Bilyk. She also finds solace in music.

With a determined spirit, she becomes a success in more ways than one. 

Fun Fat: Carley Allison developed a strong bond with her show’s counterpart Sarah Fisher.

They became best of friends, and much of Carey’s real clothing and home were used in filming the show.

Watch Kiss and Cry on Amazon Prime Video

9. Ice: The Movie (2018) 

In Ice: The Movie, a single father is approached by a famed Russian skating coach with an offer; let me train your talented daughter.

Bailey begins to hone her skills alongside ice skating prodigy Payton Shaw.

The movie explores the complexity of ice skating, rivalries, competition, and friendship.

Through ups and downs, the skaters learn the values it takes to be a great skater and an even better person.

Watch Ice The Movie on Amazon Prime Video

10. The Petrichor (2020) 

Last on our list is  The Petrichor, a Canadian film written and directed by Junga Song.

It’s a story of redemption and a lesson that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.

Maya is a talented figure skater whose career is cut short by an abusive home and personal tragedy. 

Despite the setbacks, the fire to skate and compete still burns bright inside her. Her age becomes a big obstacle in a sport that favors the young.

Through numerous trials and rejections, Maya picks herself up to compete at an age and time when many thought it to be impossible. 

If you need a pick-me-up or some motivation before your next competition, check out The Petrichor.

Watch The Petrichor on Amazon Prime Video

Honorable Mentions 

There were too many to choose a top ten, but we have to give an honorable mention to the few movies below.

If you run out of ice skating content, feel free to give these a go:

Ice Angel (2000) 

An ice hockey player dies, goes to heaven, and is reincarnated as a figure skater who also dies the same day.

Stars ice skaters Tara Lipinski and Nancy Kerrigan. 

Go Figure (2005)

A 14-year-old ice skater Kaitlyn is determined to get trained by a renowned coach that’s working at a nearby school. 

Ice Girls (2016) 

After an injury, a chance encounter with a coach allows teenage figure skater Mattie to jumpstart her dreams of becoming a skating champion.

Which will you pick first?

There you have it, some of the best ice skating movies you can find. 

Which of these have you seen?

Which of these will you skip?

If you’ve missed any, feel free to get comfy and binge-watch some wholesome ice skating content this weekend or on your off-season.

At the very least, you'll appreciate some of these stories if you’re a figure skater or hockey player. 

The dedication and skill that goes into ice skating are undeniable in some of these examples, even in some of the lighthearted ones. 

So get entertained, inspired, and motivated by watching the best ice skating movies ever!