80 Best Sports Movies of All Time — The Greatest Sports Films Ever Made

Movies About Sports

What makes a great sports movie?

We all have some personal favorite sports movies out there, but we have to be objective and find what truly makes a great sports film. Some are sports comedy movies that make us laugh, while others hope to inspire and lift up those of us who may be down in the dumps. 

Other sports movies take a look at the dark side of professional sports while others are coming of age tales that use sports to evoke a sense of childhood wonder and nostalgia. Some even jump into the behind the scenes world of sports focusing on deal making and sports agents.

We always look for the best filmmaking first and foremost, but we also love to see a sport that is accurately depicted on screen, a story that shows us something we either need to see, or didn’t think about before, and lastly we need a great sports movie to get us amped to go out play some games.

Best Sports Movies

This is one of those sports movies that focuses on the life surrounding an athlete more than the actual sport itself, but it is one of the first movies that allowed the world to see Leonardo DiCaprio’s acting chops. 

Best Sports Movies Ever

78. Never Back Down (2008)

This sports movies suffers from two specific things. The high school world is far too exaggerated and the underground fighting is a bit exaggerated, but besides that it's a pretty solid sports film. If you can see past the “trendy movie” quality, you will find a fun MMA film.

Athlete Movies

77. Varsity Blues (1999)

This sports movie tries to walk the line between a serious examination of high school sports and the pressures it creates along side whipped cream bikinis and stripper english teachers. If you have a sense of humor and enjoy debauchery with your sports film, look no further.

Best Sports Movies Ever

76. Rookie of the Year (1993)

Sometimes a good sports movie can be silly or downright impossible, and this particular sports film falls securely in this category. There is something to be said about the ending of the film, which illustrates how we learn about our parents as we go through life, and how those realizations make us stronger and better as human beings. 

Sports Movies

75. The Longest Yard (1974)

The Longest Yard is somehow a deeply profound and terribly shallow sports movie. The main character is self destructive and flawed to the core, and yet the viewer will often end up rooting for him until the very end. Is this sports film a commentary on the penal system or sports celebrity run amuck? Probably not, but it also seems to be something more than just some sort of shameless cash grab. 

Best Sports Movies of All Time

74. Girlfight (2000)

Girlfight is a sports movie that focuses on an “at risk teen” who finds her purpose in training and fighting. The movie serves as a commentary on gender, commitment, and romance. It was director Karyn Kusama’s debut film and it won the Sundance film festival in 2000.

Greatest Sports Movies

73. All the Right Moves (1983)

All the Right Moves is a dramatized version of what many young football players in steel country experience, both today and in the 1980’s. It’s also a pretty accurate depiction of some of the high school football experiences players go through both on and off the field. 

Greatest Sports Movies of All Time

72. The Blind Side (2009)

The Blind Side is a successful sports film because it spoke to a few key audiences and their life experiences. The fact that this happens to be based on a true story makes it even better, but the best part of the film is the story that occurs off the field and how important family can be.

Athlete Movies

71. Le Mans (1971)

This is one of those sports movies that fans of the sport love, and film fans accept as a worthy effort. Make no mistake, it’s really fun to watch and a staple in any Steve McQueen collection, but perhaps the film fails to appeal to a broad audience and resonate on a deeper level.

Best Sports Movies

70. Coach Carter (2005)

This is a sports movie that takes the concept of Stand and Deliver or Dangerous Minds and shows how kids from the rough part of town can benefit from direction provided by sports and a role model. There are some powerful moments in the film and worth a watch.

Sports Movies

69. The Rookie (2002)

The Rookie is one of the more inspirational sports movies that takes a true story and shows the journey of a high school teacher who never pursued his dream to play pro baseball. The movie is very good and it has a great performance from Dennis Quaid.

Famous Sports Movies

68. Southpaw (2015)

From a filmmaking perspective Southpaw is a fantastic film, because Antoine Fuqua is one of the truly great directors of the modern age. The script isn’t bad either, but I believe this sports film doesn’t resonate on a general level like Rocky, The Fighter, and Raging Bull because Billy Hope’s journey is just too depressing and perhaps too specific.

Best Sports Movies Ever

67. Rocky IV (1985)

Rocky IV  has a few tiny flaws, but for the most part it’s a really solid movie. It has some jingoistic tendencies, sure, but it’s really fun to watch and probably seemed perfectly appropriate at the time. Luckily for the sporting world, Russia has abandoned their unscrupulous approach to training and athleti… oh, right. Forget I said anything.

Good Sports Movies

66. The Waterboy (1998)

Rocky IV  has a few tiny flaws, but for the most part it’s a really solid movie. It has some jingoistic tendencies, sure, but it’s really fun to watch and probably seemed perfectly appropriate at the time. Luckily for the sporting world, Russia has abandoned their unscrupulous approach to training and athleti… oh, right. Forget I said anything.

Best Sports Movies Ever

65. Rocky III (1982)

Rocky III delivers on the premise by being another strong and straightforward Rocky film. We’re all aware that it’s nearly impossible to recreate the magic that came from the first film, but the franchise always tried to bring something new to the table as they went along.

Best Sports Movies Ever

64. 61* (2001)

This sports movie accomplishes a bunch of really great things all at once. It shows how baseball culture became celebrity culture, served as a love letter to the glory years of the New York Yankees, and is a really strong character piece. A really great sports movie for sure.

Greatest Sports Movies

63. Kingpin (1996)

If you’ve never seen this sports film, you may be surprised to hear that there is a truly touching story buried beneath all the hilarious shots to the nuts. This sports movie is about lost glory, taking a chance, building unlikely friendships, and corruption of the soul.

Best Sports Movies

62. Secretariat (2010)

I’ll admit that Secretariat is a sports movie that falls into a specific lane, one that is committed to finding inspiration anywhere it can find, but this sports film has some great cinematography, a somewhat measured commentary on gender in sports, and one legendary horse.

Inspirational Sports Movies

61. We Are Marshall (2006)

This is a really strong sports movie that focuses on an entire team and the spirit of an entire school rather than a single athlete, which gives it a unique quality. The movie has some important lessons on bouncing back and rebuilding when it seems nothing will ever be the same again. 

Great Sports Movies

60. 42 (2013)

This is a really strong sports movie that focuses on an entire team and the spirit of an entire school rather than a single athlete, which gives it a unique quality. The movie has some important lessons on bouncing back and rebuilding when it seems nothing will ever be the same again. 

Greatest Sports Movies

59. The Replacements (2000)

As far as rag tag groups in sports movies, the scabs in The Replacements are fun to watch, and while the movie likes to get a few laughs they shrewdly balance out the comedy with Gene Hackman and Keanu Reeves’ redemption stories. It’s a great sports movie to be sure.

Best Sports Movies

58. Breaking Away (1979)

Breaking Away is a sports comedy movie that focuses on four guys who are just about to begin their young adult lives. The main character becomes obsessed with Italian culture and desires to be a championship cyclist. This sports film is a labor of love and a treasure.

Best Sports Movies Ever

57. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)

This is one of the best sports comedies out there, and it’s only undercut by the fact that dodgeball is a relatively niche sport, but the jokes all land and the film in general has found its way into the hearts of many.

Sports Movies

56. Happy Gilmore (1996)

Happy Gilmore is one of those sports comedy movies that you can’t forget even if you wanted to, but why would you want to do that? It has some great moments that would fit into any inspirational sports film, but with the added benefit of a fascist Ben Stiller.

Greatest Sports Movies of All Time

55. The Mighty Ducks (1992)

The Mighty Ducks is a classic kids hockey film that is actually much better than many will admit. It shows how an out of touch lawyer often needs to return to their childhood to realize just what they’ve been missing, and how we often shun and walk away from our past failures in an attempt to outrun them rather than embrace and move forward with the experience.

Athlete Movies

54. Invictus (2009)

This is the king of all rugby films even when put up against all of the other rugby films like… well… okay this is the only Rugby film most anyone knows about, which is why the film gets a boost from Morgan Freeman playing Nelson Mandela. It is a tight, efficient sports movie from the iconic actor and director Clint Eastwood.

Famous Sports Movies

53. Draft Day (2014)

Draft Day is one of the more interesting sports films because it is almost entirely about the behind the scenes of the NFL draft and takes place in the span of a single day. This sort of built in ticking clock is something that many films don’t take advantage of enough, and I think it helps to make for a really interesting and worthy film.

Best Sports Movies Ever

52. The Bad News Bears (1976)

This is one of the sports movies you wish could be made today, but they already tried to remake this movie and, while it was a valiant effort, there is no way to recreate the freedom enjoyed by 1970’s filmmakers. Now, do I personally approve of everything said and done in the film? Of course not, but that doesn’t mean the scenes aren’t still funnier than most anything that is allowed in theaters today.

Best Sports Movies

51. For Love of the Game (1999)

This is another great sports movie about an aging athlete who has the game of his life right near the end of his career. It seemed like a perfect decision considering that Kevin Costner wouldn’t be doing any more young and spry sports movies. Sam Raimi directed the film.

Best Inspirational Sports Movies

50. Invincible (2006)

The true story of a Philadelphia bartender who tries out for the Eagles and makes the team. This sports movie is inspirational, a bit dark, pretty funny, and has one of the more memorable moments where the main character carries around a hurtful note from his ex-wife. Classic Papale.

Good Sports Movies

49. Brian’s Song (1971)

Brian’s Song is similar to Bang the Drum Slowly because it follows an athlete with medical complications and focuses on the friendship as much as it does the actual athletes.

Top Sports Movies

48. Seabiscuit (2003)

Seabiscuit truly is the best of the horse racing films and one of the best sports movies of all time. The film shows how those who are down are not out, and this concept is perfectly stated by Chris Cooper's character when he says, “You know, you don't throw a whole life away just 'cause he's banged up a little.”. This is the essence of this sports film.

Best Sports Movies of All Time

47. The Damned United (2009)

This sports movie directed by Tom Hooper and written by Peter Morgan is the best of all football movies… well… not American football movies. This sports film is a biopic and sports comedy rolled into one film which makes it pretty unique when compared to other sport movies.

Best Sports Movies

46. The Color of Money (1986)

The Color of Money is as much a thriller as it is a sports movie, and it’s one of the least appreciated Tom Cruise roles. The film is one of the most plot driven of Scorsese films, which is uncommon.  

Sports Movies

45. The Karate Kid (1984)

The Karate Kid is a classic film about bullying, growing up with a single mother, and learning self discipline. The movie is as much about anger and growing up as it is about anything else, which is one of the reasons the movie is so much more than a sports movie.

Best Sports Movies

44. Eight Men Out (1988)

Eight Men Out is one of those sports movies that focuses on the dark side of sports set against the backdrop of the years immediately following World War I. This sports movie does a good job of showing both sides of the problem where the players were underpaid, eventually swindled by the gamblers, and ultimately remorseful for their decisions.

Sports Movies

43. Rocky II (1979)

Ah yes, Rocky II marks the official moment where Hollywood realized that you could not only make a big dent in the world of entertainment with an inexpensive sports movie, but that you could also re-cash in on that same concept by creating a franchise. Rocky II is a pretty solid sports movie, but it just can’t live up to the first film.

Greatest Sports Movies

42. Mystery, Alaska (1999)

Mystery, Alaska is a really gorgeous and fun film that also happens to have some of the best on screen hockey in a film. It is also a pretty great sports comedy with Russell Crowe playing the "straight man". 

Best Inspirational Sports Movies

41. Space Jam (1996)

You may already know that there is a reboot for this film in the works starring Lebron James, which seems appropriate, but the original Space Jam will always be a bit unique because it corresponded with Michael Jordan’s departure from basketball and his attempt to play pro baseball paired with a robust self awareness that adds comedy and humility.

Best Sports Movies

40. Tin Cup (1996)

Tin Cup is a great sports movie for old players who had all the talent in the world but none of the work ethic. It tries to appeal to our passionate sides and touches on the psychological aspect of golf, love, and motivation. It also does a really great job of showcasing the differences in approach through the actual events in the story, which is a sign of good writing since this is something many films fail to do.

Top Sports Movies

39. Love & Basketball (2000)

Love & Basketball does a great job of showing how gender is somewhat irrelevant when it comes to personal dreams with regard to sports, but also how the reality of the situation is more complicated. Add some romance to the equation and you get a really compelling story about personal values,  priorities, and following your own path.

Sports Movies

38. BASEketball (1998)

I personally love the Zucker brothers and I love Trey Parker and Matt Stone so this seems like a match made in comedy heaven. While this is totally a screwball comedy, the film takes a unique look at the world of sports and how people have grown a bit cynical and underwhelmed by the whole shebang. It has elements of Jerry Maguire and The Natural all while retaining the sensibilities of Airplane and South Park.

Best Inspirational Sports Movies

37. Cool Runnings (1993)

Cool Runnings is one of the classic Disney sports movies that somehow perfectly straddles the line between subtle social messaging and straightforward sports biopic. While this sort of film can now be manufactured at the drop of a hat, this first iteration understand that while identity can be a crutch it can also be a powerful motivator.

Inspirational Sports Movies

36. White Men Can’t Jump (1992)

White Men Can’t Jump is a sports movie that might be put into the same general category as The Hustler. It has a the back-room quality that doesn’t focus on a professional athlete but rather sports as an activity for the everyday player, and does a great job showing the life of the Venice beach crowd during the 1990’s. It’s just a fun sports comedy film.

Good Sports Movies

35. Caddyshack (1980)

Caddyshack is not only one of the greatest comedy movies ever made, it is also one of the greatest sports films of all time. Now, does it take the sport of golf seriously? Not really, but it has a bit of a class warfare element to it that makes it highly relatable for many Americans who grew up looping for the local hot shot lawyer or doctor, and is more quotable than most movies on this list. It also contributed to the overall success of golf as a sport more than many may want to admit. 

Top Sports Movies

34. I, Tonya (2017)

I, Tonya could be higher on this list because it is a truly unique look at the world of figure skating, olympic dreams, and commitment to your sport. Very few sports movies focus on the dark side of sports, but this film does it wonderfully and sets the record straight for Harding.

Greatest Sports Movies

33. Million Dollar Baby (2004)

The boxer/trainer relationship has always been an important aspect of the better boxing movies out there, but this film seems to take that a step further. This sports movie won Academy Awards for good reason. 

Best Sports Movies

32. Cobb (1994)

Cobb is very different from most sports movies. It mostly follows Ty Cobb in his later years while he lives out his life alone, unwanted, and suffering from substance abuse. Cobb was a popular player to fans but an unpopular human being to the people that knew him. It’s one of the most honest stories about a professional athlete and that’s why it’s a great sports film.

Best Sports Movies of All Time

31. Creed (2015)

Creed is definitely one of the most successful reboots of a sports movie franchise, and while it has all the necessary bells and whistles to attract new viewers and old fans, it will always have to fight against the elements that made Rocky such a memorable film. If you’re a fan of the Rocky franchise and of great boxing movies this is definitely worth a watch which includes a stellar boxing long take. 

Best Sports Movies Ever

30. Bang the Drum Slowly (1973)

Bang the Drum Slowly is one of the few sports movies that follows an athlete who has a medical condition, and shows how a life in athletics can be beneficial to someone suffering from medical complications both because it builds character, but also builds a support system as well.

Best Sports Movies

29. Remember the Titans (2000)

Remember the Titans is a movie about the power of sports as a unifying force. It teaches us that when we have to endure as a team you quickly forget differences like a person’s ethnicity because your core humanity is exposed and there is nothing left to hide behind. This sports movie's greatest weakness is the actual football, which isn't the most accurate nor the most exciting, and there is a scene where the coach tells the players "water makes you weak" which science has proved otherwise.  

Sports Movies

28. Miracle (2004)

Truly great moments seem like no brainers for great movies, but you have to deliver on the premise. This sports movie does just that by allowing a wonderful Kurt Russell to lead the way while using actors that understand the game of hockey to carry the action on the ice. The miracle on ice was a bunch of American kids beating the USSR at the one sport they dominated for years, and it is still one of the great moments in sports history.

Athlete Movies

27. Hoosiers (1986)

Hoosiers is one of the classic sports movies that held the stop spot for years. It focuses on small town sports, on alcoholism, on the path to redemption for a coach, and getting back in the game. It is also one of the better sports movies when it comes to teamwork and technique, which is important to success but also a bit of a loaded observation.

Famous Sports Movies

26. Rush (2013)

Rush is not only a really strong story but also a really fantastic film from a visual perspective. It also has something that I always enjoy in films which is a rivalry that makes each of the participants better. This is one of those truths that often gets overlooked, which is the fact that we sometimes have a lot in common with people on the opposite team.

Famous Sports Movies

25. Hoop Dreams (1994)

Hoop Dreams is not just one of the greatest sports movies of all time, it’s also one of the greatest documentaries. An epic look at the American Dream through the lens of basketball, Hoop Dreams is both devastating and affirming.

Director Steve James tells the unforgettable interweaving stories of multiple teenagers who are trying to reach beyond their humble beginnings. As the film stretches on, you won’t be able to take your eyes from the screen. It is an American tale like no other, and yet it is familiar to anyone who has been driven by the hope for something more.

Best Sports Movies Ever

24. The Sandlot (1993)

This was a personal favorite growing up. There are a lot of great ideas explored in this film like growing up middle class in America, building camaraderie through sports, and the value of bravery.

Best Sports Movies

23. Cinderella Man (2005)

Cinderella Man is one of the best sports movies because it takes some of the classic themes tied to boxing movies like economic strife and amplifies it by setting the story during the Great Depression.

Greatest Sports Movies of All Time

22. Jerry Maguire (1996)

Not only is Jerry Maguire a great sports movie, but it’s just a great film. Did it move the chains on commercialism in the sporting world? Probably not. Did it realign the souls of sports agents across the globe? Highly doubtful. But that is sort of the point of the film. The high road isn’t easy and it isn’t pretty, and it is definitely uncommon, but when you make changes to help purify your soul the things that truly matter rise up, and the things that don’t fade away.

Sports Movies

21. The Fighter (2010)

The Fighter is based on a true story which gives it some extra weight, but it also has the classic David O. Russell approach to character above all else. This sports movie illustrates self destructive tendencies, the yearning for the glory days on an uncomfortable level, and the complicated relationship family can play. So many sports movies focus on the bonds of family, but sometimes family can be a crutch as well.

Inspirational Sports Movies

20. Chariots of Fire (1981)

Whether you’ve seen this film or not, you’ve definitely seen about a million references to the best scene in the film. The theme song is one of the most iconic ever made, and the movie has all of the necessary ingredients to make a memorable and inspirational sports film.

Good Sports Movies

19. Slap Shot (1977)

Slap Shot is one of the more violent and enjoyable sports films ever to be made. It is a personal favorite for many hockey fans, and I wouldn’t begrudge a Canadian who felt this was a better hockey movie than Miracle. The films stars Paul Newman and a sixer of Molson's. 

Greatest Sports Movies

18. A League of Their Own (1992)

A League of Their Own is a great movie in general and it has many of the same things working on its behalf as other great baseball films like Major League and Bull Durham. It also happens to be based on a true story which makes it even more fun to watch. It has a really great message and was one of my favorite sports movies to watch in my earlier years.

Top Sports Movies

17. Warrior (2011)

This is one of those sports movies that caught me off guard with how good it ended up being. The movie is not only about family dynamics but also the difference between the prodigy and the workhorse. It is a really wonderful movie and it has a great ending that cut to the core and inspired me give my brother a phone call.

Best Sports Movies

16. Ali (2001)

Ali is a movie about one of the greatest athletes to ever live played by one of the greatest modern actors, directed by one of the greatest modern directors so it should be no surprise that it is one of the greatest sports movies of all time. Definitely a sports film worth a watch.

Best Sports Movies

15. Foxcatcher (2014)

Foxcatcher is based on a true story and it is one of the most unique sports films I’ve ever seen. The themes explored in this sports movie are so different from the norm that it is a pleasure to watch despite the subject matter. Mainly, it focuses on how an unreasonably rich person can buy their way into positions of authority and how a strong sense of entitlement and expectation can lead to extreme decisions.

Greatest Sports Movies of All Time

14. The Program (1993)

The Program is one of the few sports films that is painfully honest about the circumstances surrounding the game. This sports movie also shows the strategy and inner workings of the game better than most. There are some really great lines and performances in this sports film.

Athlete Movies

13. The Wrestler (2008)

This is a great sports movie because the filmmaking is superb, the acting is top notch, and the story doesn't try to be bigger than it needs to be. The film is about a guy who is down in the dumps, estranged from his only daughter, and even when he succeeds it seems underwhelming. The movie works well because the viewer comes to understand how someone could put their body through such hell with so little gain.

Best Sports Movies Ever

12. Friday Night Lights (2004)

Friday Night Lights is a pretty authentic look at west Texas football and how the sport affects more than the players but also their families and the members of the community. That can be a lot for some teens who have the weight of their town on their shoulders all while still trying to figure out who they are as people. You don’t need to feel bad for them or pity them, but the movie focuses on the right topics in my opinion.

Best Sports Movies

11. Days of Thunder (1990)

People love to dog on this movie but it was made by one of the greatest directors of all time with one of the greatest movie stars of all time and is truly immersed in the world of Stock car racing. The filmmaking is fantastic and the story touches on the mechanics of a race car, the fear of driving, and the politics of race car driving. The only thing “wrong” with the film might be some pacing issues (no pun intended) and a somewhat cringeworthy explanation of aerodynamics through sugar packets.

Famous Sports Movies

10. He Got Game (1998)

He Got Game is an important sports movie on top of being a great character study. Sports are simply a set of rules for characters to use while they compete. Sports can be used by players to rise up, to fall down, and to lose themselves, but ultimately it is always the human that makes these decisions and not the sport. This sports movie touches on a complicated family dynamic and how the sport of basketball can serve as a conduit for relationships and opportunities.

Best Inspirational Sports Movies

9. The Hustler (1961)

The Hustler is one of those sports movies that somehow manages to seem like a huge character study while still allowing for a large number of characters to steal the show at their given times. It’s one of the earliest films on this list, and it has undoubtedly influenced many sports and parlor game films since coming out in the early 1960s.

Top 10 Sports Movies

8. Any Given Sunday (1999)

You might notice that the critic and audience score for this film isn’t as high as some of the other sports movies on this list, but there is a lot they don’t take into account. This is, for better or worse, one of the more accurate depictions of the modern age of pro football. Maybe politics and selfish attitudes are intentionally ignored by many, but these are real-life factors and any true depiction would touch on them like this film.

Greatest Sports Movies

7. Field of Dreams (1989)

With plenty of nostalgia, some great lines, and a nod to DIY sensibilities, this sports movie is known for bringing grown men to tears. Apart from a love for the game of baseball, this sports film focuses on the father/son relationship and how our greatest regrets can be our biggest motivators.

Good Sports Movies

6. Rudy (1993)

A great sports movie needs to inspire and it needs to show the value of hard work and commitment. Rudy does just that, and it uses one of the great sports programs to do so. There are few films where, by the end, you feel as accomplished for so little playing time, but that’s the beauty of this sports movie and how passion can lead to great things.

Inspirational Sports Movies

5. Major League (1989)

Sports movies are great when they’re funny, but it’s also important that they inspire the viewer. They have to show a love for the sport, and they should make you love the sport as well. Major League is the king of this because it is both sad and funny, happy and realistic. In my opinion, it’s a perfect sports movie, with tons of great quotes and a great score.

Top Sports Movies

4. Rocky (1976)

Rocky may forever be synonymous with the underdog story. Part of the reason is that the film’s history behind the camera was about as unlikely and difficult as the story on screen. This movie shows how sports can unite a city around one unlikely muscular meat-head.

Best Sports Movies of All Time

3. Bull Durham (1988)

While Field of Dreams may be the tearjerker every parent loves to show their kids, the true king of Costner sports movies is Bull Durham. This movie is a love letter to the game of baseball and the devoted players who keep it pure and special. It’s also a story about unrealized dreams, about romance, sacrifice, and about devoting yourself to your passion.

Best Sports Movies

2. Raging Bull (1980)

Raging Bull isn’t just a great sports movie, but also one of the films that transformed cinema forever. Martin Scorsese and his team took their advanced techniques and created a dark character study that shows the direct line between a life in sports and a life at home. It’s not that every athlete is Jake Lamotta, but they aren’t all the Disney inspirational characters either, and that’s why we love Raging Bull.

Sports Movies

1. The Natural (1984)

There are so many great things about this sports movie that has either been borrowed, parodied, or referenced in other films and even in stadiums across the country. If you’ve never seen this film, it is absolutely essential to understanding American sports culture, and quite possibly has one of the greatest endings of any film ever made.

Up Next

The Best Crime Films of All Time

Did you agree with the rankings on our sports movie list? What changes would you make? Let us know in the comments!

Now that you have a better idea of which are the best sports movies of all time, why not check out the best crime films of all time. 

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