Boxers are somewhat akin to modern-day gladiators. They dedicate their lives to fighting and they sacrifice their bodies for entertainment, representation, pride, and honor. One of the best ways to appreciate what they do is by watching films about the athletes — and some of the greatest boxing movies are highly ranked by several movie critics because they showcase the good, the bad, and the ugly reality of the sport.
Here are 5 of the best boxing films ever made.
5 Greatest Boxing Movies to Watch
1. Ali (2001)
Many consider Muhammad Ali to be the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) in boxing. The 2001 film Ali begins in a setting where Muhammad Ali (played by Will Smith) is already about to win his heavyweight championship against Sonny Liston — and in the real world, most of us already know that he eventually became the champion and he dominated the sport for most of his career.
Ali, however, is a film that touches more on the subject of the boxer’s outspokenness regarding the problems with segregation, racism, and going to war against Vietnam. That’s why Ali is considered one of the greatest boxing movies of all time — because the film helps people understand the boxer better when it comes to the controversial statements he made in the past.
2. Raging Bull (1980)
Almost every movie that Martin Scorcese directs is highly anticipated. That’s why it practically goes without saying that Raging Bull is a fantastic boxing film to watch. Not only does Robert De Niro star in it, but it also earned 8 Oscar nominations — and, two of which, they won. The film is based on the memoir of Jake LaMotta, Raging Bull: My Story.
Jake LaMotta was what many boxing experts and enthusiasts consider to be a “slugger” type of fighter — a boxing buzzword that essentially means to be a “brawler” or someone who doesn’t typically fight with elegance or technique, but rather a boxer who showcases the brutality of the sport. And boxing movie fans sure love watching Raging Bull because it shows just how horrifying boxing can truly be.
3. The Hurricane (1990)
Indeed, boxing can be gruesome, but unfortunately, sometimes, boxers also face other battles outside the ring — such as the life of real-life boxer Rubin “The Hurricane” Carter. His life in prison — for the murders he didn’t commit — was illustrated in the film, The Hurricane, starring Denzel Washington.
Screen Rant reviewed the film and said, “The compassionate premise is brought to life with a talented ensemble while offering one of the best Denzel Washington performances. The rage within the lead character is evident in both the boxing matches in the film as well as his everyday struggles in prison.”
4. Rocky (1976)
Rocky is another boxing film that many know about — because it’s almost undeniable what a creative genius Sylvester Stallone was for not only writing the storyline, but he also starred in it himself as Rocky Balboa. The film is what’s believed to be a pop-cultural phenomenon because almost everyone loves a good underdog story — and that’s what the Rocky trilogy is mainly about.
In real life, Sylvester Stallone was also an “underdog” when he was writing the script for Rocky. In a few of his interviews with various media outlets, he mentioned how he used to be so awfully broke, that he had to sell his dog for $40 just to survive. When he finally sold the script for the film, he bought his bullmastiff back for $15,000. Perhaps that’s why Rocky is considered to be one of the best boxing movies of all time — it’s as though Rocky Balboa is a reflection of Sylvester Stallone and his struggles.
5. The Fighter (2010)
Most of us have seen before the hard-to-believe physical transformation Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale subject themselves to for the roles they take. Thus, when both Hollywood actors star in a movie together, you can guarantee that they dedicated a lot of time and effort to the movie they starred in, The Fighter.
The Fighter also encompasses the life of another real-life person and former boxer, Micky Ward. According to IMDB, the movie is about “a fledgling boxer who tries to escape the shadow of his more famous but troubled older boxing brother and get his own shot at greatness.”
Honorable Mentions
Creating a list of the best of the best boxing movies was tough — and totally objective, of course. No list of awesome boxing movies would be complete without giving a shout-out to these masterpieces:
- Creed series
- Million Dollar Baby
Last But Not Least,
Most of the greatest boxing movies are about actual people who existed in the past and present — and most of the films listed are about their struggles with real-life problems that many others face even up to this day. If you want a feel-good or inspirational story, you can try watching these films with your loved ones or friends. However, no matter how drawn or motivated you are to try boxing, don’t do it unless you’re guided by a professional trainer or coach.