In my thesis I examine the phenomenon when the behaviour of abusive coaches is normalised in sports films, and in particular I explore what cinematic devices are used for this. The hypothesis of my research is that films that idealise the coaches’ abusive behaviour objectify athletes and use them as tools, while depicting the coaches’ toxic behaviour as essential for achieving results. The aim of the thesis is to identify the cinematic devices, and visual and narrative solutions that create an atmosphere in sports films where actions that are considered abusive in psychology today can be shown as acceptable or even necessary. In my research I analysed four contemporary films and excerpts from other films to explore this phenomenon. Regardless of age, the coaches discussed in the thesis have a subordinate relationship with their athletes, and I mostly focus on those who abuse their position. From my research I drew the conclusion that I identified a real problem. The idealisation of dysfunctional lives is typical both in sports and in arts. In films idealising the abusive behaviour of the coach, the coach-athlete relationships are typical abusive relationships, where the parties often do not realise their situation, and without this realisation, the depicted behaviour becomes acceptable for the outside observer.