Figure Skating on Screen: A Guide to Films, Series, and Documentaries

Summer holidays are starting for children, but for figure skating and ice sports enthusiasts, we have some great tips on how to enjoy your free time off the ice. We've prepared a selection of films, series, and documentaries from around the world that take you into the world of elegance, hard work, rivalries, and big dreams on the ice. Whether you're looking for family stories, romance, biographies of famous champions, or a look behind the scenes of top-level sports, you're sure to find something you'll enjoy.

1930s–1940s: Pioneering Figure Skating FilmsThis era saw the rise of Sonja Henie, an Olympic champion who also became a Hollywood star. In One in a Million (1936), she plays a girl discovered in the Alps who becomes a revue star in New York. Thin Ice (1937) is a romantic comedy with Henie as a skater in a Swiss resort who falls in love with a prince. Happy Landing (1938) shows her journey from Norway to the U.S. and entry into ice shows. Ice Follies of 1939 with Joan Crawford tells the story of a married skating couple struggling to succeed in Hollywood.

1940s–1950s: Ice Revues and MusicalsSun Valley Serenade (1941) features Sonja Henie’s famous performances and Glenn Miller’s music. Iceland (1942) combines romance and ice skating with a story of a Norwegian girl and an American soldier. The Czechoslovak film On the Silver Mirror (1954) follows a schoolgirl’s path to competitive figure skating. The Colourful Dream (1952) reflects the post-war popularity of ice shows in Europe. Snow White and the Three Stooges (1961) is a fairy-tale musical on ice featuring Olympic champion Carol Heiss.

1960s: Ice Shows and RomanceKauf dir einen bunten Luftballon (1961) from Austria/West Germany combines romance with the world of touring ice shows.

1970s–1980s: Dramas and TelevisionChampions: A Love Story (1979) is a melodrama about a figure skater and a hockey player. Ice Castles (1978) tells the story of talented Lexie, who becomes blind after an accident but fights to return to the ice. Carmen on Ice (1989) adapts the famous opera for the ice featuring stars like Katarina Witt.

1990s: Rivalry and True StoriesThe Cutting Edge (1992) combines humor, romance, and sports drama. Tonya and Nancy: The Inside Story (1994) reenacts the scandal between Harding and Kerrigan. A Promise Kept: The Oksana Baiul Story (1994) follows the Ukrainian champion’s road to Olympic gold.

2000s: Family Stories and ComediesIce Princess (2005) is a motivational teen drama from Disney. Go Figure (2005) mixes hockey and figure skating. Blades of Glory (2007) parodies the world of skating. The Cutting Edge series (2006–2010) continues romantic sports stories. Ice Girls (2016) follows a young skater’s comeback after injury.

2010s: Biographies and DocumentariesI, Tonya (2017) is a dark comedy about Harding’s life. Kiss and Cry (2017) portrays Carley Allison’s fight with cancer. Ice (2018) and Ice 2 (2020) are Russian melodramas set in skating. The Ice King (2018) documents John Curry’s life. Sonja: The White Swan (2018) covers Sonja Henie’s career. Czech documentary The Figure Skater (2015) follows Tomáš Verner. Rise (2011) remembers the 1961 U.S. team tragedy. The Fabulous Ice Age (2013) charts the history of ice revues. Tessa & Scott (2014) follows the Canadian ice dance duo.

2020s: New Stories and International ProductionsHot Ice (2009) is a Russian series set in the skating world. Yuri on Ice (2016) is a popular Japanese anime about a young skater’s journey. To the Worlds (2019) follows a Canadian senior synchronized skating team. Spinning Out (2020) and Zero Chill (2021) are Netflix dramas with family themes. Free Skate (2022) from Finland explores the dark side of elite sport. The Silver Skates (2020) is a romantic fairy tale set in historic St. Petersburg.

Ice Aged is a 2023 documentary by director Alexandra Sell that shares inspiring stories of adult figure skaters from around the world. Despite age, health limitations, or life circumstances, the protagonists choose to step on the ice and chase their dreams. The film shows that figure skating is not only a sport of youth but also a form of self-expression and joy across generations.The film follows a former ballerina, a cardiologist, and a senior who laced up skates for the first time after seventy. Ice Aged will be screened at the ISU Adult Competition in Oberstdorf, where it is sure to resonate with both viewers and competitors.

In recent years, more projects have emerged: a German film about Katarina Witt (filmed in 2023) and an upcoming Slovak movie about Ondrej Nepela (planned for 2026). These works show that figure skating continues to inspire filmmakers across countries and genres.