Top 10 Boxing Movies
Left hooks, right jabs and the center stage of cinema. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Boxing Movies. For this list, we're focusing exclusively on feature films whose plots are centered around boxing. But that also means that documentaries and short films are excluded.
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#10: “Girlfight” (2000)
Michelle Rodriguez made her film debut in this Brooklyn-based film and stunned critics with her natural acting chops. After all, there had never been a boxing flick quite like “Girlfight”, as Diana Guzman attempts to deal with family problems by hitting the bag at the local gym. The star’s natural charisma connected with all types of underdogs, and the inherent grittiness of the film enforced the idea that women are perfectly capable of getting down in the ring. Rodriguez trained for months to play the ambitious character, and she followed up her unforgettable debut by appearing in the 2001 film “The Fast and the Furious.”
#9: “Fat City” (1972)
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Based on the 1969 novel by Leonard Gardner, this film about a down-and-out alcoholic revived the career of legendary director John Huston. When Stacy Keach’s Billy Tully settles in Stockton, California, he meets a young boxing prospect played by Jeff Bridges. However, after both men become literally and figuratively wrecked by life, they discover that perhaps they are cut from the same cloth despite a difference in age. With each facing their own personal dilemmas, the two men come to grips with the idea that “Fat City” can only be reached by graduating from the school of hard knocks, if at all.
#8: “The Boxer” (1997)
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IN A WORLD where violence reigns supreme, one man hopes to achieve peace through powerful left hooks. Ok, that’s not the official tagline for “The Boxer,” however Jim Sheridan’s film does tackle some very real societal problems. Upon serving 14 years in the clink and returning to his native Belfast, Danny Flynn realizes that his Belfast associates continue to live by the code of the IRA. Even so, he laces up and reconnects with old friends, but the looming threat of trouble can’t be escaped. With Daniel Day-Lewis and Emily Watson in the lead roles, “The Boxer” featured two acclaimed performers at their best.
#7: “The Hurricane” (1999)
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Capping off an illustrious career, Norman Jewison directed this film about a real-life boxer wrongly convicted of murder – the same man Bob Dylan sang about in his 1975 song. Denzel Washington starred as Rubin Carter, who was falsely identified in a Paterson, New Jersey triple-murder and spent almost 2 decades in jail. With the help of a young boy and his Canadian mentors, reason trumped over racism and Hurricane Carter was released. The film went on to receive multiple Academy Award nominations, and the real-life Rubin Carter continued to fight for civil rights until his death in 2014.
#6: “Ali” (2001)
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It’s not the greatest boxing film of all time, but it’s about “THE greatest.” With Will Smith at the center of the proverbial ring, director Michael Mann chronicled a turbulent 10-year period during which Cassius Clay was transformed into the American icon Muhammad Ali. From classic boxing matches to the assassination of Malcolm X, “Ali” painted a poignant portrait of America, as one man established his legacy in and out of the spotlight. While not a definitive biopic of Muhammad Ali, the film was noted for its visceral effect on viewers. In other words, Will Smith is “a baddddd man!”
#5: “Cinderella Man” (2005)
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Russell Crowe may be most known for his fictional character in “Gladiator,” but his portrayal of a real-life Irish-American boxer arguably revealed his greatest work as an actor. Directed by Ron Howard, “Cinderella Man” told the story of James J. Braddock; a man who suffered during The Great Depression but somehow managed to overcome the odds and fight his way to victory. With Renee Zellweger as the devoted wife and Craig Bierko as the utterly punchable Max Baer, “Cinderella Man” reached into the hearts of viewers, ripped them apart and pieced them back together – all within 144 minutes.
#4: “The Fighter” (2010)
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The real-life Micky Ward reached boxing glory through his trilogy of fights with the late Arturo Gatti, but it was David O. Russell’s film that introduced his remarkable story to millions of moviegoers. Portrayed by Mark Wahlberg, Ward serves as the calming force of a chaotic film, for which Christian Bale earned an Academy Award for his performance as Ward’s brother and trainer, Dicky Eklund. The story of redemption highlighted the strength of familial bonds, along with the devastation of watching a loved one sink to rock bottom. In the end, “The Fighter” left viewers speechless and anxious for a new chapter.
#3: “Million Dollar Baby” (2004)
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And then there was Eastwood. By teaming up with the remarkable Hilary Swank, the growling icon offered a blow to the gut with his unorthodox take on the female boxer. When Maggie Fitzgerald shows up at an LA gym, she forges a turbulent relationship with a snarling trainer, and while the collaboration was seemingly built for the ring, the duo becomes intertwined in a story that extends far beyond it. “Million Dollar Baby” hit all the beats of a typical boxing film and then dropped a heavy dose of reality for a lasting effect.
#2: “Rocky” (1976)
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Before the release of this cinematic classic, most moviegoers knew Sylvester Stallone as Machine Gun Joe Viterbo from the 1975 film “Death Race 2000.” What they didn’t know is that the Italian Stallion had written a script that would forever change the makeup of the American sports movie. Based on the idea of the “American Dream,” “Rocky” unveiled the next great movie star and inspired a nation of working class heroes to push a little harder. The film captures the gritty lifestyle of its Italian-American character, yet there are enough light-hearted moments to reel in the average viewer. Truly a pop culture experience, “Rocky” has all the right moves. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. - “Rocky II” (1979) - “The Champ” (1979) - “Rocky Balboa” (2006)
#1: “Raging Bull” (1980)
By the end of the 1970s, both Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese had established themselves as elite names in cinema, and they unforgettably turned back the clock with the aesthetically profound “Raging Bull.” For the character study of middleweight boxer Jake LaMotta, De Niro gained sixty pounds while Scorsese and his crew offered a master class on cinematic art direction. The filmmaker initially shunned the idea of making a boxing film, but Paul Schrader’s screenplay and De Niro’s enthusiasm ultimately sealed the deal. In the absence of a “feel good” plot, “Raging Bull” became the definitive boxing movie through exceptional acting and a transcendent filmmaking process. Do you agree with our list? What is your favorite boxing movie? For more mind-blowing Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
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