chrjama giacinto georgina
Carlito Austin
Whether it is a professional bout or an Olympic competition, boxing as a sport has always made an
impact across the globe due to the intense mental and physical prowess required to master it.
Through the years, filmmakers have used this love for the combat sport to masterfully curate
intense narratives around it and spawn some of the best sports drama films in the world. From
biographical adaptations on legends like Mohammad Ali to fictional human interest stories, these
boxing films are sure to transport you ringside with every uppercut, hook, and jab.
This fictional tale takes viewers to the sullen streets of Dongri in Mumbai, where local goon Ajju
(Farhan Akhtar) is the real deal. Acting as an extortionist for his boss Jaffar Bhai, he takes up
boxing when a local coach introduces him to Mohammad Ali's videos on YouTube. Getting hooked
to the sport, he eventually rises through the ranks as Aziz Ali to win the state championship.
However, personal relationships, religious segregation, and financial woes land him in a hole of
hopelessness that tests his resilience.
This Anurag Kashyap-directorial revolves around a struggling boxer from Uttar Pradesh, Shravan
Singh (Vineet Kumar), who runs errands for a local politician and the State Boxing Federation
head, Bhagwan Das Mishra (Jimmy Sheirgill). Frustrated with not getting enough opportunities,
Shravan goes to Varanasi to train under a local fighter. Things take a worse turn for him when he
falls in love with Mishra's niece, Sunaina (Zoya Hussain). What follows is Singh's constant efforts
to achieve his boxing dream and marry the love of his life despite constant interferences by his
former corrupt boss.
Jake Gyllenhaal plays a pro boxer Billy "The Great" Hope, who spirals into a life of alcohol and
drugs after losing his wife in a freak accident. His miseries escalate when his only daughter, Leila,
is taken by Child Protective Services because of his reckless demeanour. Realising he needs to
fight the demons inside his head and bounce back, Billy meets former boxer Tick Wills and
requests him to retrain him. Meanwhile, he also starts visiting Leila to regain her trust. As he
gradually gets his life back together, he gets the opportunity to fight the man responsible for his
distress.
As the title suggests, this biographical sports drama showcases the life of Olympic bronze medal-
winning boxer Mary Kom (played by Priyanka Chopra). The story chronicles her journey from an
amateur fighter in Manipur to her victory in the 2008 World Boxing Championships in Ningbo,
China. Mary first discovers a notable coach in a boxing gym and convinces him to train her. As she
improves and shows prowess as a boxer, familial pressure and societal prejudice threaten to
hinder her dreams.
Journeying through 10 years in boxer Mohammad Ali's life, this biographical film highlights some of the most influential moments of his career. Going from 1964 to 1974, it depicts him winning the
heavyweight title from Sonny Liston, his conversion to Islam, his critique of the Vietnam War, and
more. It also covers the social and political transition in the United States post the killings of
Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr Will Smith essays the role of Ali in the film.
Martin Scorsese brings forth a stellar biopic on Italian-American boxer, Jake LaMotta (Robert De
Niro), adapted from his 1970 memoir, Raging Bull: My Story. The plot illustrates Jake's marvellous
in-ring career that stands in contrast to his toxic presence outside of it. His rage, insecurities, and
an inhuman appetite for violence force his relationships with his loved ones to crumble, leaving him with nothing but the solitude of his own destruction.
Sylvester Stallone's cult classic film, which was followed by eight sequels, is a benchmark for
sports drama films. It narrates the tale of an amateur fighter, Rocky Balboa (Stallone), from
Philadelphia, who gets a shot at challenging the world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (Carl
Weathers). Due to his original opponent getting injured, Apollo decides to hog the limelight by
fighting the local boxer, and the duo faces off in a high-profile bout. With nothing to lose, Rocky
comes out all guns blazing, and the overconfident champion realises that he may have bitten off
more than he can chew.
One of the most iconic boxing films of all time, Rocky is the ultimate underdog story. When heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed, visits Philadelphia looking for an unknown boxer to take on in an exhibition match, Rocky sees it as a chance to break into the big time.
After realising that his unreliable trainer/brother, Dicky, and manager/mother, Alice, may not have his best interests at heart, Micky breaks away from his family looking for a trainer that can take him to the top.
Fueled by childhood resentment, ex-marine Tommy Conlon (Tom Hardy) returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh after 10 years to face his recovering alcoholic father and recruit him as his trainer for Sparta, an upcoming Mixed Martial Arts contest.
While technically not a drama, When We Were Kings is one of the best boxing documentaries of all time. When We Were Kings explores the relationship between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali as African Americans and the African continent in the Black Power era following their 1974 championship fight in Zaire.
Following aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald, played by Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby is a tale of a determined working class woman trying to break into boxing. When Maggie finally gets her shot at a championship fight, a dirty move by her aggressive opponent tragically changes her life forever.
Legendary boxing movies feature characters who literally fight for everything they have with a hunger unmatched by other genres. The tale of the fighting spirit is more than just a mental game, but a way of life beautifully and brutally depicted by some of the best and brightest stars. The greatest boxing films capture that fighting spirit and depict motivating stories unique to the sports genre.
From true-story redemption to iconic fictional characters, IMDb voters have spoken on the best of the best when it comes to the best boxing films in the game. The knock-down, drag-out depictions of a sport that requires the toughest minds and bodies in the game are enough to inspire any athlete down on their luck. Luckily, there's no shortage of the best boxing films fans of the genre can binge-watch right now.
This match-up has Rocky fans of old (and newly inspired by the franchise revival) on the edge of their seats. Not only does Rocky have a front-row seat to the past, but Adonis has more rounds and emotions to battle. This sequel packed multiple punches, enough to justify its existence and make it a formidable installment in this cinematic universe.
The sixth installment in the Rocky franchise, Rocky Balboa is an inspiring movie that revolves around the titular character (played by Sylvester Stallone), who abandons his routine as a small business owner for one last fight. His shot at glory is complicated by his arrogant opponent, the inexperienced boxer Mason Dixon (Antonio Carver).
Capturing the classic unwavering determination and unconquerable spirit that are always present in Rocky films, the 2006 movie reminds fans why they fell in love with the character in the first place. Full of heart and led by a true champion, Rocky Balboa's imperfections are minimal when compared to the uplifting narrative and, of course, intense boxing sequences.
A wholly original combination of genres, director Shawn Levy's Real Steel mashes sports and sci-fi together to create a thrilling film set in a future where robot boxing is a prestigious event. It follows the disillusioned former prizefighter Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), who doesn't enjoy the same reputation he once did after robots entered the ring. He soon teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to train a discarded robot and get another shot at success.
An unforgettable and weird movie, Real Steel is far from perfect. Its wildly entertaining premise doesn't fully make up for its flimsy writing and somewhat predictable plot, but it's impossible not to have a bit of fun watching such a bizarre future full of robot matches.
A successful follow-up, Rocky II featured a rematch between Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) and Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) as the two battle their pride in different ways. While the second film didn't earn the critical acclaim and award recognition of its predecessor, the return still proved successful.
Stallone would go on to produce and star in four more films as Balboa, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V, and Rocky Balboa. The boxing features would garner mixed reviews from its loyal fans as Rocky graced the screen over a 30-year period. Compared to the rest of the franchise, however, Rocky II is a solid entry worth seeing for Stallone's incredible performance as he goes against Weathers' intimidating character.
Competing in the same year for viewership as Creed, Southpaw still earned its due as a solid boxing movie. After announcing his retirement and a tragic turn of events, Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal) must fight not only for the custody of his daughter but to revive his career, getting his life back on track.
This boxing drama reinforces the standard tropes of the genre where the main characters like Billy are hungry for redemption. Using the destruction as fuel, Southpaw features a strong performance from Gyllenhaal, who plays the character with surprising depth and emotionality. It's worth discovering for any of the actors' and genre's fans who want to make sure they've seen the good ones.
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