I just think that sports movies have such a built-in visceral, rooting interest, an epic win or lose redemptive quality. When they get it right, it can make for a really rousing movie experience.

Levy is articulating why the sports-film genre so reliably engages audiences: it arrives with narrative stakes already “pre-loaded.” Competition naturally supplies clear goals, time pressure, and a binary outcome (win/lose), while the underdog arc and the possibility of redemption give the story emotional lift. His emphasis on “when they get it right” acknowledges that the genre’s power is not automatic; it depends on craft—character specificity, earned triumph or defeat, and a climactic payoff that feels both epic and human. The quote also implies a defense of sports movies as cinema: at their best, they can produce a communal, cathartic viewing experience.