Movies or series about sports are not always popular, but there are still some notable exceptions. Some of them are breakout projects like Rocky was for Sylvester Stallone, while others are ageless classics like Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull.
In any case, boxing movies seem to be the ultimate go-to when it comes to sports movies.
Hard Times (1975)
A directorial debut for Walter Hill, Hard Times stars Charles Bronson and James Coburn in the two title roles. Bronson plays Chaney who is a drifter freighthopping through Louisiana. He befriends the talkative hustler Speed (played by Coburn) and starts competing in the illegal bare-knuckled boxing matches.
The film is set during the Great Depression which was an important element largely discussed by critics. Some argued that this made Chaney more sympathetic. Whatever the case is, Hard Times is great at painting a picture of those years, so it will be interesting to watch for those who like period dramas too.
The Fighter (2010)
A much more recent film, The Fighter is a 2010 picture starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo. The Fighter was inspired by a documentary called High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell about the professional boxer Micky Ward and his half-brother Dicky Eklund.
The film was nominated for six Academy Awards winning two of them. The acting was praised a lot, and Bale’s transformation for the role is still one of his biggest works. Despite the plot being somewhat predictable, the movie is still very interesting to watch (and might even hold up to Raging Bull for some).
Body and Soul (1947)
Body and Soul is the oldest film on this list and probably the most unusual one when it comes to boxing movies. The elements of film noir and drama make it stand out of the crowd while its cinematography makes it one of the best moving about boxing ever made.
Partially based on 1939’s Golden Boy, the story follows Charley Davis (played by John Garfield) who, much to his mother’s dissatisfaction, decides to become a boxer. Charley becomes more and more successful, but that only leads him to make hard choices as he faces the numerous vices that he is tempted by.
The Champ (1979)
The Champ is a remake of a 1931 film of the same name. Though it wasn’t as successful as the original (which managed to win two Academy Awards and get nominated for two more), the film is still considered one of the best of his kind.
The story is quite simple. Billy Flynn (played by Jon Voight) is an ex-boxer who now has the custody of his son Timothy (played by Ricky Schroder who won a Golden Globe for his performance). Billy attempts to win back his ex-wife Annie (played by Faye Dunaway) by going back and fighting in the ring.
Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962)
Originally a teleplay, Requiem for a Heavyweight is a 1962 film directed by Ralph Nelson and starring Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason, Mickey Rooney, and Julie Harris. The story follows a boxer who is forced out of the ring due to health issues, but he still tries to get back.
One of the interesting facts about Requiem for a Heavyweight is that Cassius Clay (also known later as the great Muhammad Ali) briefly appears at the beginning of the movie in a boxing match against the main character.
The Boxer (1997)
Another relatively recent film, The Boxer is a 1997 sports drama about a boxer named Danny Flynn (played by Daniel Day-Lewis) who is also a former Provisional IRA volunteer. After he is released from prison, Danny is trying to get his life back together.
The film competed for the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and was nominated for three Golden Globes including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. The plot is a bit predictable, but the performances make this movie shine nonetheless.
Champion (1949)
Just like Body and Soul, 1949’s Champion is a film noir drama. Based on a short story by Ring Lardner, it was nominated for six Academy Awards and won one of them. Even though the film deviates a lot from the original story, it is still an interesting watch regarded by many as one of the greatest boxing films ever made.
The story follows the life of a boxer named “Midge” Kelly (played by Kirk Douglas) who struggles with his won inner demons while at the same time trying to get a career in boxing. The cast also includes Marilyn Maxwell, Arthur Kennedy, and others.
Creed (2015)
It is very rare for sequels or spin-offs to achieve such greatness, but Creed manages to do it. Starring Michael B. Jordan in the title role of Adonis Johnson Creed, it continues the story of the legendary Rocky Balboa (played by Sylvester Stallone) who now teaches the son of his ex-opponent Apollo Creed.
Other cast members include Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Tony Bellew, and Graham McTavish with the picture being directed by Ryan Coogler. The film is considered the best installment in the Rocky franchise since the original film.
Raging Bull (1980)
It is often disputed which of the two films, Raging Bull or Rocky, is the greatest boxing film of all time, but it is undeniable that both of them deserve this status. One of Martin Scorsese’s greatest works, it stars Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, and others.
The story follows Jake LaMotta, an Italian-American middleweight boxer trying to have a career in the sport. However, his awful personality, constant jealousy, anger issues, and excessive appetite seem to be spoiling his relationship with his loved ones.
Rocky (1976)
Rocky undoubtedly has some correlation with the story of its main star Sylvester Stallone. Written by Stallone himself, the film is about Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but kind working-class boxer who gets a shot at the world championship and is propelled to fame.
At the time of writing the screenplay and then while trying to sell it, Stallone didn’t have a dime in his pocket. He even had to sell his dog for forty dollars but bought him back immediately once he got paid for the film.
