Great Underdog Movies That Have Nothing To Do With Sports

Gattaca takes place in a futuristic society where people are divided into one of two categories. Some were created through genetic advancements, whereas others were created the old-fashioned biological way. Ethan Hawke portrays Vincent Freeman, one of the latter. As such, he's treated like a second-class citizen due to imperfect genes. Yearning to become an astronaut, he hatches a scheme to impersonate a “valid" and join the company that launches shuttles into space. Jude Law co-stars as Jerome Morrow, the paralyzed man who provides him with blood, hair, and urine samples to fool everyone.

Trouble finds Vincent when a murder occurs and a piece of DNA evidence found on the scene matches what he's been getting from Jerome. Suddenly, he's got detectives hot on his trail. Now in a predicament, he needs to clear his name and find a way to fulfill his dream, against all odds. Vincent does end up triumphing, but not before a lot of drama takes place. Thanks to a sympathetic doctor who realizes he's done just fine by his natural genetic origins, he gets to partake in a space mission, armed with a lock of Jerome's hair, just in case he needs to continue the ruse. 

Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal), the main character in October Sky, is a teenager in a West Virginia coal mining town. His father John (Chris Cooper) assumes both his sons will follow in his footsteps, working in one of those mines. Homer has other interests, though. After seeing Sputnik 1 in the sky above, he develops a passion for tinkering with homemade rockets and an ambition to somehow work for NASA someday. John views this as completely impractical, making every effort to discourage his son.

October Sky is a compelling look at socioeconomic class and how it can aid or impede ambition. Because the Hickams come from a working-class area with few opportunities outside that mine, there is little reason to believe Homer could end up doing something so prominent. He isn't attending a school that specializes in advanced studies, and affording the college education required to meet his goal seems out of the question. Homer's talent and dedication overcome that, as he wins a science competition, receiving scholarships as a result. The movie is based on a true story. As revealed at the end for anyone who doesn't already know, Homer Hickam went on to become a NASA engineer. 

Hidden Figures pays tribute to three Black women who played a vital role in America's space program, but didn't get the recognition they deserved until many years later. Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) work in NASA's West Computing Group. Their coworkers are mostly white men, the majority of whom look down on them, despite their superior math skills and computer savvy. 

The movie charts what happens to these women as they fight systemic racism (and, for that matter, sexism) to help advance America's space program. Katherine eventually works herself into a position where her ideas are valued, Dorothy heads up a computer division, and Mary lands a position working on the Mercury capsule. Hidden Figures shows how these women had to be twice as good as their white male counterparts in order to get even half the opportunity. In the process, it reminds us that talent and ability are immune to color and gender, and that the contributions of anyone with great skill should be valued. 

Pixar's Ratatouille takes place inside a fancy French restaurant run by the mean-spirited Skinner. He takes pride in tormenting the new “garbage boy” Linguini. One evening, a culinary-minded rat named Remy sneaks into the establishment, tinkering with a soup recipe and creating a masterpiece that Linguini gets credit for. When Linguini finds out that a rat is really responsible, the two strike up a partnership. Remy hides under Linguini's hat, guiding him in making a variety of exquisite meals. Their concoctions are put to the test when a notoriously snooty restaurant critic shows up to give a review.

The stakes are very personal in Ratatouille. Remy wants to be a chef, and Linguini wants to be more than a garbage boy. Their scheme is precarious, nearly getting exposed several times throughout the story. That critic has the power to make or break any eatery in the city, so the tension mounts. In the end, they get their wish, albeit not quite in the way they initially expect. The restaurant closes, but they team up with one of its female cooks to open a bistro all their own. The characters finally find the outlet for their creations that they've been looking for. 

The Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire follows Jamal (Dev Patel), a young man from one of the poorest sections of Mumbai. To say he's dirt poor would be an understatement because he can't even afford dirt. Through flashbacks, we see the many hardships he's faced in his life, including being exploited by adults as a child, having his mother die, and seeing his brother veer toward gang life. Jamal's journey eventually leads to the most unlikely of places - a seat in the contestant's chair on the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

One of the story's implications is that Jamal may not be well-educated in a formal sense, but he's learned enough from the School of Hard Knocks to earn a shot on that TV show. Slumdog Millionaire builds consistent tension as he answers more and more questions correctly, getting closer to that top prize. Because we've witnessed so many of the problems he's encountered, it's crystal clear what winning a million dollars would mean to someone who grew up without two sticks to rub together. The story ends with Jamal answering the final question correctly, winning the cash, and setting off to start a new life with girlfriend Latika (Frieda Pino), who has gone through so much with him. 

Disney's Mulan tells the tale of the title character, a young woman in ancient China. Her father, who is seriously ill, looks like he's about to be drafted into the military. Wanting to protect him, she poses as a male and takes his place. This goes against all the rules of the time, as women are expected to remain docile at home. Her voyage brings her in contact with a talking dragon named Mushu (Eddie Murphy), causes her to fall in love with a captain in the army, and lets her prove her mettle in battle.

Mulan uses the Disney formula to look at gender roles. Despite her impressive abilities, which are on par with those of the men, Mulan is technically not allowed to fight because of her sex. The only way she can serve is to pass herself off as a male. Once she's done that, she is able to show what she's capable of. The film ends with a welcome change. Mulan's true identity is revealed, and because she has helped to save her people, the transgression of breaking the males-only rule is overlooked. Her talents are finally appreciated, regardless of gender.