While sports movies have been a showcase for inspiring cinematic stories for decades, the best boxing movies have ranked high in the genre with some truly exceptional films. Featuring the stories of underdogs overcoming adversity, unlikely fighters becoming champions against the odds, or the experiences of legendary real-life sports stars and their extraordinary journeys, a great boxing movie has the power to enthrall and excite audiences and filmgoers. From gripping documentary accounts to fantastic fictional foes, boxing films have the potential to be total knockouts with viewers when done right.
There have been countless boxing movies over the years, but the best of this kind showcase how versatile they can be. Films like The Boxer with Daniel Day-Lewis addressed the political tension that plagued the life of its lead character Danny Flynn, while documentaries, such as When We Were Kings, used archival footage to depict an extraordinary moment in the history of boxing. These movies feature some of the greatest big screen heroes of all time, like Rocky Balboa, as well as some truly complex and troubled characters like Jake LaMotta.
You are watching: 15 Best Boxing Movies
15
Southpaw (2015)
Directed By Antoine Fuqua
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Southpaw
R
Drama
5/10
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Release Date
July 24, 2015
Runtime
124 Minutes
Director
Antoine Fuqua
Writers
Kurt Sutter
Cast
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-
Naomi Harris
-
Rachel McAdams
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Southpaw was the compelling story of a grief-stricken boxer determined to get his life back on track following the murder of his wife and losing his daughter to child protective services. Starring Jack Gyllenhaal as Billy “The Great” Hope, Southpaw delved even further into the underdog narratives often seen in boxing movies to deliver a story of overcoming adversity, perseverance, and redemption that felt deeply personal and raw.
While Southpaw may lean heavily into melodrama at times, it showcased how hard boxers must fight inside, and outside, the ring, to achieve their professional and personal requirements. Gyllenhaal gives an intense and committed performance in the lead role, transforming himself into a fiery fighter while also showing the man’s vulnerability in his family life. It is such a hard-hitting drama that many people are still convinced Southpaw is based on a true story.
14
Creed III (2023)
Directed By Michael B. Jordan
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Creed III
PG-13
Action
Drama
Sports
7/10
9.4/10
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Release Date
March 3, 2023
Runtime
117 Minutes
Director
Michael B. Jordan
Writers
Zach Baylin, Keenan Coogler
Prequel(s)
Creed II, Creed
Cast
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-
Michael B. Jordan
-
Jonathan Majors
Franchise(s)
Rocky, Creed
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Creed III had the daunting task of being the first movie in the Rocky franchise not to include Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa. However, it is also the film that proved Michael B. Jordan was ready to take the franchise on his own while also proving himself as a director. The third movie has Jordan returning to the role of Adonis Creed, who has become the biggest name in boxing. However, his past comes back to haunt him as a former friend and boxing partner (Jonathan Majors) returns looking for the shot at glory he feels was robbed from him.
Creed III continues the saga of the Rocky franchise while also allowing itself to stand on its own. Jordan continues to shine in the role while Majors is intimidating yet sympathetic in the antagonist role. Standing out from other boxing movies, Jordan incorporated his love of anime into the fight scenes to great effect.
13
Ali (2001)
Directed By Michael Mann
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Ali
R
Biography
Documentary
Drama
Sport
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Release Date
December 10, 2001
Runtime
157 minutes
Director
Michael Mann
Writers
Gregory Allen Howard, Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson, Eric Roth, Michael Mann
Cast
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Will Smith
-
Jamie Foxx
-
Jon Voight
-
Mario Van Peebles
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The story of perhaps the greatest boxer who ever lived, Muhammad Ali, was portrayed in Michael Mann’s powerful biopic Ali. While there are many stories of fictional boxers who overcome societal pressures and rise to the top of the sport, Muhammad Ali truly lived out that tale as he became champion of the world, faced criticism for his conversion to Islam, and acted as a source of inspiration for Americans following the deaths of civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.
Smith was nominated for an Oscar for the performance.
With a committed lead performance by Will Smith, Ali was a stunning tribute to an incredible fighter. Smith embodies the legendary fighter in one of his best performances, while the movie is filled with a terrific supporting cast that includes Jamie Foxx, Jeffrey Wright, and Jada Pinkett-Smith, among others. Smith was nominated for an Oscar for the performance.
12
The Hurricane (1999)
Directed By Norman Jewison
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The Hurricane
R
Drama
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Release Date
September 17, 1999
Runtime
146 Minutes
Director
Norman Jewison
Writers
Armyan Bernstein, Dan Gordon
Cast
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-
Denzel Washington
-
Vicellous Shannon
-
Deborah Kara Unger
-
Liev Schreiber
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The Hurricane is an example of a great boxing movie that spends little time in the ring and rather delves into the life of the central fighter. The true story of boxer Rubin Carter and his wrongful conviction for triple homicide was first immortalized in a song by Bob Dylan. Denzel Washington stars as Carter, delivering one of his many Oscar-nominated performances that have cemented him as one of the greatest actors of all time.
A tragic tale of boxing, crime, and prejudice, The Hurricane cataloged Cater’s journey from a top-ranked middleweight boxer touted to become a great champion, to a murder suspect for a horrific crime, and the nearly 20 years he unjustly spent in prison. The Hurricane stripped back the curtain of real-life racism that served to cut short a young black man’s opportunity for greatness.
11
Knuckle (2011)
Directed By Ian Palmer
While the narrative boxing movies have done a great job of revealing the world of the sport, there is nothing quite like witnessing from the real athletes themselves. A powerful documentary made over 12 years, Knuckle was a behind-the-scenes look at the secretive world of Irish Traveler bare-knuckle boxing. The difficult story of three feuding families, the complexities of Irish Travelers’ long-festering rivalries, and their deep-seated sense of pride were depicted in Knuckle, a documentary just as intense and gripping as any fictional boxing movie.
As the Joyces, Nevins, and Quinn-McDonagh families fell ever further into bitter fights and feuds, they reasoned the only way to solve their issues was with their fists. It is a fascinating juxtaposition to many of the great boxing movies that deal with athletes at the top of the sport. These real people are not living such lives of luxury and are not well-known celebrities. They are simply people dedicated to the fight.
10
Cinderella Man (2005)
Directed By Ron Howard
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Cinderella Man
PG-13
Romance
Drama
History
8.7/10
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Release Date
June 2, 2005
Runtime
144 Minutes
Director
Ron Howard
Writers
Cliff Hollingsworth, Akiva Goldsman
Cast
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Russell Crowe
-
Renée Zellweger
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Cinderella Man told the extraordinary true story of heavyweight boxing champion James J. Braddock who overcame extreme poverty during the Great Depression. A devastating tale of perseverance, led by incredible performances by Russell Crowe as Braddock and Paul Giamatti as his trainer Joe Gould. Set during the Great Depression, Braddock was a man out of work and out of options, like many people, who returned to the ring to support his family. Defying the odds, he began to rise up in the sport, becoming a symbol of hope for a struggling nation.
Cinderella Man also highlighted the medical risks of the sport and the danger a boxer has of being killed in the ring, as well as the fear this profession laid on boxers’ wives and children.
Braddock makes for an interesting protagonist as he is a boxer who is talented in the ring but is a very gentle and soft-spoken man outside of the ring. Cinderella Man also highlighted the medical risks of the sport and the danger a boxer has of being killed in the ring, as well as the fear this profession laid on boxers’ wives and children.
9
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Directed By Sylvester Stallone
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Rocky Balboa
pg
Action
Drama
Sports
7/10
9/10
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Release Date
December 20, 2006
Runtime
102 Minutes
Director
Sylvester Stallone
Writers
Sylvester Stallone
Franchise(s)
Rocky
Cast
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-
Sylvester Stallone
-
Antonio Tarver
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Many people laughed at the idea of Sylvester Stallone returning to the role of Rocky Balboa and stepping back into the ring at 60 years old. However, the sixth Rocky movie ended up being the best entry in the franchise since the original. The film finds Rocky living a modest life as the former champ, now a restaurant owner, who gets inspired to return to the sport when a debate is sparked about whether a current reigning champ could have defeated Balboa.
Rocky Balboa does what none of the other Rocky sequels had been able to do and that was to make him an underdog again. The sequel finds him as a widower with an estranged son who is looking for a way to remind the world of who he is. While audiences need to suspend a lot of disbelief in seeing Rocky take on a professional boxer half his age, the fight scenes are actually thrilling and Stallone fits wonderfully back into his iconic role.
8
Creed (2015)
Directed By Ryan Coogler
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Creed
PG-13
Drama
Documentary
8/10
9.3/10
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Release Date
November 25, 2015
Runtime
2h 13m
Director
Ryan Coogler
Writers
Aaron Covington, Ryan Coogler
Sequel(s)
Creed II, Creed III
Cast
See All
-
Michael B. Jordan
-
Sylvester Stallone
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While Rocky Balboa was a surprise success, a decade after its release, many people thought the franchise was done for good. However, director Ryan Coogler found an approach that gave the Rocky franchise a new direction with a new fighter at the center. Creed stars Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed, the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed, discovered years after the boxer’s death. Proving himself in amateur boxing matches over the years, Adonis eventually seeks out his father’s old friend, Rocky, to help train him to become the next champ.
Coogler takes an exciting shot at the filmmaking, including one-take boxing scenes.
Creed is a fantastic melding of the new and the old, not relying on callbacks and nostalgia like some other legacy sequels, yet still paying respect to what came before. Coogler takes an exciting shot at the filmmaking, including one-take boxing scenes. Jordan is outstanding as the lead while Stallone earned his first Oscar nomination for acting as the older Rocky.
7
Fat City (1972)
Directed By John Huston
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Fat City
PG
Drama
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Release Date
July 26, 1972
Runtime
97 minutes
Director
John Huston
Producers
Ray Stark
Cast
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-
Jeff Bridges
Ernie
-
Stacy Keach
Tully
-
Susan Tyrrell
Oma
-
Candy Clark
Faye
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While the boxing movie genre had been around for decades and showcased stories of heroic fighters proving themselves in the ring, Fat City marked a change in the way boxing movies portrayed the sport and its athletes. Stacy Keach stars in the movie as a veteran fighter who gives his all in the ring and finds the sport taking a toll on him. As he begins to slip away from his prime, he connects with a young up-and-coming fighter (Jeff Bridges).
The story of the proven older professional and the inexperienced younger newcomer is one that has been told many times, but Fat City finds a way to subvert expectations and deliver something truly powerful. It is also a tragic story that shows the reality of the sport and the toll it takes while also allowing the audience to be in awe of these men who seek glory in such a violent world.
6
The Fighter (2010)
Directed By David O. Russell
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The Fighter
R
Biography
Drama
Sport
10/10
9/10
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Release Date
December 17, 2010
Runtime
116 minutes
Director
David O. Russell
Writers
Paul Tamasy, Scott Silver, Eric Johnson
Cast
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-
Melissa Leo
-
Christian Bale
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The Fighter told the true story of Mickey Ward, played by Mark Wahlberg, and much like some of the best boxing movies, was the tale of an ordinary person who must fight against all odds for greatness. Ward was a promising boxer who was trained by his half-brother, Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale), another fighter with a lot of promise in his day, only for his life to spiral downward due to his drug addiction.
The Fighter received critical acclaim and was nominated for seven Academy Awards…
With powerful themes of family, loyalty, and redemption, The Fighter featured strong supporting performances from Melissa Leo and Amy Adams and acted as the movie that reignited the career of filmmaker David O. Russell after a six-year absence from directing. The Fighter received critical acclaim and was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Bale also won an Oscar for his memorable performance.
5
The Boxer (1997)
Directed by Jim Sheridan
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The Boxer
R
Drama
Romance
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Release Date
December 31, 1997
Runtime
114 minutes
Director
Jim Sheridan
Writers
Terry George
Producers
Arthur Lappin
Cast
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-
Daniel Day-Lewis
Danny Flynn
-
Emily Watson
Maggie Hamill
-
Brian Cox
Joe Hamill
-
Ken Stott
Ike Weir
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Renowned method actor Daniel Day-Lewis spent over a year training as a boxer to play Danny Flynn in The Boxer. A powerful portrayal of a Northern Irish man rebuilding his life after a stint in jail for his involvement with the IRA, Day-Lewis gave his all to the role of Flynn and his desperate attempts to maintain stability in his life while the political factions around him are rapidly crumbling.
With a backdrop of real-world political tensions, The Boxer addressed the complexities of loyalty and the bleak existence of those trapped in a vicious circle of violence. Day-Lewis’ famous commitment helps transform him into a believable boxer, but the movie goes far beyond just this sports story. It is a tale of the mirrored life of a man fighting inside and outside of the ring, with one offering more purpose than the other.
4
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Directed By Clint Eastwood
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Million Dollar Baby
PG-13
Drama
Sport
8/10
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Release Date
December 15, 2004
Runtime
132 minutes
Director
Clint Eastwood
Writers
Paul Haggis
Cast
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-
Hilary Swank
-
Mike Colter
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The world of women’s boxing has been severely underrepresented in the world of cinema, but perhaps the most iconic film to tackle the subject was Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby. A heartfelt and moving film, Million Dollar Baby was led by an extraordinary performance by Hilary Swank, as Maggie Fitzgerald, a determined female boxer who convinces a grumpy old boxing coach (Eastwood) to be her mentor. As they build her professional career together, they bond grows stronger.
At first, Million Dollar Baby appeared to be something like a female-Rocky, but as its story progressed it turned into a dark drama about the unexpectedly tragic turns that life can take. It is a touching story of lonely people finding a surrogate family together in this sports world. The movie was a massive hit at the Oscars, winning Best Director for Eastwood while Swank and Morgan Freeman took home awards for their performances, and the film was awarded Best Picture.
3
When We Were Kings (1996)
Directed By Leon Gast
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When We Were Kings
Documentary
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Release Date
October 25, 1996
Runtime
89 minutes
Director
Leon Gast
Producers
David Sonenberg
Cast
See All
-
George Foreman
Self
-
Muhammad Ali
-
Don King
-
James Brown
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The documentary When We Were Kings depicted the iconic 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” heavyweight boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in the country then known as Zaire, Africa. Through archival footage and the songs of James Brown, B.B. King, and other soul music greats, When We Were Kings painted an extraordinary picture of the lead-up to, the rivalry between, and the importance of the boxing match between Ali and Foreman.
Showcasing just how political the boxing career of Ali became, When We Were Kings was an important historical document of an astounding boxing match. Both Ali and Foreman have had biopics made depicting their amazing careers, but none of them have captured the true impressive talents of their athleticism and what they accomplished as this documentary has. Along with being one of the best boxing movies of all time, it is also seen as one of the best documentaries of all time.
2
Raging Bull (1980)
Directed By Martin Scorsese
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Raging Bull
R
Biography
Sport
Drama
7/10
9.5/10
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Release Date
December 19, 1980
Runtime
129 minutes
Director
Martin Scorsese
Writers
Mardik Martin, Paul Schrader
Cast
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-
Robert De Niro
-
Theresa Saldana
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Raging Bull is one of the many collaborations between Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese, with many people considering it to be the best work they did together. De Niro stars in the movie as Jake LaMotta, a ferocious and relentless boxer whose intensity in the ring was matched by his aggressive nature outside of the ring. The movie depicts LaMotta as a brutal man in many of his relationships, with his successful life gradually deteriorating from his bombastic personality.
Raging Bull was commonly regarded as one of the best movies ever made for its rich psychological depth, sharp dialogue by screenwriter Paul Schrader, and powerful themes of inner turmoil, redemption, and violence. With stunning fight sequences and top-class cinematography, Raging Bull was a knockout of epic proportions. De Niro won his second Oscar for his transformative performance.
1
Rocky (1976)
Directed By John G. Avildsen
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Rocky
PG
Drama
Sport
9/10
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Release Date
November 21, 1976
Runtime
120 Minutes
Director
John G. Avildsen
Writers
Sylvester Stallone
Cast
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-
Sylvester Stallone
-
Talia Shire
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While there are many boxing movies, like Raging Bull, which can be quite dark, Rocky has become known as one of the most inspirational films ever made. Sylvester Stallone became a star in the movie that he also wrote with his performance as Rocky Balboa, a soft-spoken low-level boxer from Philadelphia. When the reigning champ in the sport begins looking for his next opponent, he decides to snatch an unknown talent from obscurity, giving Rocky a chance to win the title.
The movie is a touching and endearing story of the ultimate underdog who takes his one opportunity to make a name for himself and does not squander it. Rocky is not trying to win necessarily, but rather he wants to prove to the world that he is somebody. The romance he shares with Adrian (Talia Shire) adds an unexpected sweetness to Rocky that is not seen in most boxing movies.
Source: AFI
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Category: Entertainment