The biggest international event in winter sports has arrived with the start of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Every event from the Opening Ceremony to the Victory Ceremony and the replays in between will be available to stream on Peacock.
For many, the Winter Olympics don’t just deliver medals and national pride; they produce some of the most unforgettable sports stories ever told. As the world once again turns its attention to icy rinks, towering ski jumps, and athletes chasing moments that can define an entire lifetime, there’s no better way to get into the Olympic spirit than revisiting the films that capture what the Winter Games are really about: belief, sacrifice, heartbreak, obsession, and the occasional miracle.
To help you kick off Milan Cortina 2026 the right way, we’ve rounded up seven must-watch movies connected to the spirit of the Winter Games and the athletes who compete in them.
Miracle (2004)
Do you believe in miracles? The 2024 film is a canonical retelling of the “Miracle on Ice,” the 1980 U.S. men’s hockey team’s improbable run to beat the Soviet Union at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. If you want the archetypal underdog/Team USA sports movie, Kurt Russell anchors the cast as coach Herb Brooks in a film that balances nostalgia with enough detail to make the stakes feel real. Al Michaels, who delivered the now‑legendary call, recreated his commentary for the film.
Full of locker-room grit, tactical coaching moments, and a final that still gives chills. Miracle was made on a modest budget, becoming both a commercial success and an ESPN/AFI favorite among sports films (winning the Best Sports Movie ESPY Award in 20040. Kurt Russell’s performance is frequently singled out by critics when ranking the best sports movies.
Where to Watch Miracle: Disney+ | Hulu | Fubo | DIRECTV | FX
I, Tonya (2017)
Figure skating, scandal, and the messy side of Olympic dreams are front and center in this darkly comic biopic of Tonya Harding. I, Tonya reconstructs the events around the 1994 assault on Nancy Kerrigan, told with unreliable narrators and sharp performances. Filled with brilliant acting, razor-edged writing, and an unexpected mix of sympathy and satire, the film examines how elite sports chew people up.
Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Steven Rogers, Margot Robbie stars as the titular character. Allison Janney’s performance as Tonya’s mother won major awards, including the Academy Award. The biopic is a solid pick for viewers who want context on how the Olympic spotlight can both elevate and destroy.
Where to Watch I, Tonya: Tubi
Cool Runnings (1993)
For pure feel-good underdog energy, add Cool Runnings to your Winter Olympic streaming lineup. The family-friendly comedy is loosely based on the true story of Jamaica’s first bobsled team and their 1988 debut at the Calgary Winter Olympics. John Candy plays an ex-coach turned mentor.
The film fictionalizes the Jamaican team that competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics and plays the story for laughs and heart. The movie opened modestly but became a huge hit worldwide, and remains one of the most recognizable pop-culture touchstones tied to Winter Olympic lore. The sports comedy makes it near impossible not to root for the scrappy team. If you want a movie that channels Olympic optimism and national pride wrapped in goofy charm, this is the comfort watch.
Where to Watch Cool Runnings: Disney+ | Hulu
D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994)
In this 1994 film, youth hockey goes international (not the Olympics, but close). The Ducks sequel finds Gordon Bombay’s youth hockey squad representing the U.S. at an international junior tournament (the Junior Goodwill Games) in a winter-sports, team-vs.-the-world vibe.
If you grew up in the ’90s, revisit D2 for nostalgia, feel-good sports tropes, and kid-friendly stakes. It’s a sentimental trip before the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The Junior Goodwill Games are an international winter-sports tournament that captures the same “small team, big stage” energy the Olympics deliver. Plus, the film helped solidify hockey’s friendly, family-film corner in ’90s pop culture.
Where to Watch D2: The Mighty Ducks: Disney+
The Cutting Edge (1992)
Rom-com meets Olympic pairs figure skating in this 1992 film that would spawn a whole franchise of follow-ups and TV sequels. The romantic comedy/sports hybrid is about a bristly figure skater paired with an ex-hockey player; together they train to compete in pairs figure skating on the Olympic stage. Their training and climactic competitions are framed around Olympic ambition.
The Cutting Edge is a romanticized look at what athletes sacrifice to make an Olympic team. Packed with cheeky chemistry, training montages, and the satisfying “two different worlds collide and win” arc, making it a perfect choice for those who want romance plus athletic stakes.
Where to Watch The Cutting Edge: Philo | MGM+ | AMC+ | Fubo | DIRECTV
Eddie the Eagle (2015)
While watching the Milan Cortina Olympic Games, add the lovable Olympic underdog who just wouldn’t quit to your watchlist. The 2016 film is based on the true story of Michael “Eddie” Edwards, the British ski jumper who charmed the world at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Taron Egerton plays Eddie, who became a cult-hero figure despite finishing last, with Hugh Jackman as his unlikely coach
This one is stuffed with pure, earnest underdog energy. It performed well with audiences and leaned into the comedy-drama mix, with critics praising Egerton’s charm and the movie’s affectionate tone. Put this on the top of your list if you love DIY grit and crowd-pleasing triumphs even when the result isn’t a medal.
Where to Watch Eddie the Eagle: Tubi
Molly’s Game (2017)
If you want something that connects to Olympic aspiration but trades the rink for high stakes and courtroom drama, Molly’s Game is a gripping pivot. Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut, a biographical drama about Molly Bloom and the rise/fall of her high-stakes poker empire, starring Jessica Chastain.
Molly Bloom was an “Olympic-class” moguls skier with Olympic ambitions, but an injury during Olympic qualifying ended that path and set her life on a different course. The film is based on Molly Bloom’s memoir and frames her poker empire against the backdrop of that derailed Olympic dream. It’s sharp, fast, and driven by Sorkin’s dialogue, making it an intriguing watch for those who want the sports-to-afterlife storyline.
Where to Watch Molly’s Game: Netflix
How to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympic Games Without Cable
- Competition runs Feb. 5–22, 2026, with the Opening Ceremony on Feb. 6. The Games begin a day before the ceremony with select events on Feb. 5.
- Peacock will be the U.S. streaming home and will stream every sport and event — including all 116 medal events across 16 sports — while NBC remains the primary broadcast partner. That means live streams, full-event replays, original features, and clips will be centralized on Peacock and the NBC platform
- NBC will broadcast more programming hours than any previous Winter Olympics, including at least five hours of daytime coverage daily — featuring major events like skiing, figure skating, snowboarding, hockey, and speed skating — and extended Primetime in Milan nightly.
- USA Network and CNBC will carry supplemental daily coverage throughout the Games. CNBC typically begins its Olympic broadcasts after its business-day programming ends, while USA Network carries additional event coverage and stories that might not be in primetime on NBC. This helps expand the total amount of U.S. linear coverage beyond what NBC and Peacock alone provide.
- Other NBCU digital platforms, including NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, and NBC Sports app, will stream 2,500 hours of Winter Games coverage, which is available via authentication.
- NBC and Peacock will go “4K All Day” on Feb. 8, combining extensive Olympics coverage with Super Bowl LX (an unprecedented production day).
- Where to Stream: Peacock | DIRECTV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | Hulu + Live TV
- Watch for Free: With an antenna, you can watch NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics for free. Using a site like Antennas Direct can help you find which NBC affiliate is in your area and the best antenna to watch. New subscribers can also begin their trial of DIRECTV, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV to see if they’re the right fit.