Top Boxing Movies Ever Made: The Ultimate List

Movies are something we love to make a part of our past time; they make us feel happiness, sadness, and even devastating. History books and movies are varied, and getting into the Hall of Fame could be hard. It is necessary not just to have a good script but also good actors, a storyline, and effects.

Today, we will talk about the best movies about boxing, where the strongest one is not synonymous with winning. Films that we are going to talk about feature plots centered around a sports topic. Our editorial team also takes into account documentaries and short films, as well as classics, that are loved by the fandom.

The Golden Age of Boxing Movies

Strong bodies, left hooks, jabs, and steel jaws are the recipe for a good fighting movie. Even though the hero always wins in movies, in real life, it’s a bit different; to win, you need training, will, and a bit of luck. Nevertheless, this sports arena would be fruitful if we were part of the iGaming community. There are people winning millions and thousands of dollars in online boxing and betting, so there is always a chance we can be the next ones. However, the first step to getting into online betting is finding a good, safe platform with an international license and a good background. This is why our editorial team strongly recommends this website. It is safe, totally secure, and a sponsor of the world’s best eSports and football teams. Take a look for yourself!

Rocky (1976)

We all chanted: “Rocky, Rocky, Rocky!” This might not be the best film of all time, but sure as hell, this is the most loved movie by many people ever. 

Sylvester Stallone, also known as the Italian stallion, played the main character Rocky and wrote the script of this movie that forever changed the makeup of American movies and created a whole new world for sports films.

The movie is based on the idea of the American dream, where everything is possible to get, no matter how hard the situation, with hard work, training, and persistence, Rocky unveiled the next movie star of our times, inspiring a whole country of working-class heroes to go above and beyond their dreams.

Raging Bull (1980)

The Italian filmmaker of “GoodFellas” and other culturally iconic movies, Martin Scorsese, went one step further with Robert DeNiro making one of the best boxing movies of all time: “Raging Bull”.

A movie about middleweight boxer Jake LaMotta made DeNiro challenge his own body by gaining 60 pounds or around 30 kilograms to play this character. The film shows a sportsman’s life before, during, and after and the challenges inside his family and mind.

The Champ (1979)

It is one of the oldest films about boxing, which was talked about even on national TV by TCM. The film made such a great impact that it reached corners of the earth where no American movies were played before.

This movie with such an inspiring touch to people is the story of a father-son relationship. Starring Jon Voight, Ricky Schroder, and Faye Dunaway, the film tells about the adventures and misfortunes of a former boxer who spends his time drinking while being cared for by his young son. Audience will watch the fighting for sole custody of their child, showing a traumatic event about that even the Italian director said, “The Champ is perhaps one of the films that has hit traumatically my mind and my heart…”

Modern Classics That Redefined Boxing Movies

For now let’s turn to another group of movies that redefined the art of creating boxing films. We are sure you will definitely find something to watch. 

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

This movie revolves around a woman named “Maggie Fitzgerlad”, played by Hilary Swank, who talks to an old trainer, played by the legendary Clint Eastwood. Maggie asks to be trained.

Audiences will be pleased to see a solid positive change of usual female perspective in sports movies since the icon of Western movies offered a blow to the gut with his never-before-seen take on the female boxer. The story starts with a girl who just arrived in LA and soon joins a gym where she forges a relationship with the trainer.

The film hits all the right spots of a typical boxing movie, with an ending that anyone couldn’t expect, leaving a lasting effect on the moviegoers.

Cinderella Man (2005)

Cinderella Man, played by the iconic actor Russell Crowe. He showed this actor’s talent to play by performing a portrayal of a real-life Irish American boxer.

Directed by Ron Howard, “Cinderella Man” tells the story of James J. Braddock during his time in the Great Depression and how he overcomes all odds and fights on his way to victory. With such a plot and with talented co-actors, like Renne Zellweger and Craig Bierko, the movie touches the viewers’ hearts, bringing an emotional cocktail. And all of these happen just within 144 minutes.

Creed (2015)

The last name Creed we have been listening to since 1976 from the very first glance of the movie “Rocky”, where we saw Apollo Creed fighting the Italian stallion. And this movie goes after many years when the son of the former Heavyweight World Champion comes to the ring. Adonis Johnson shows his resilience and wants to be trained by his best friend’s dad, Rocky Balboa.

The character Adonis Johnson, played by Michael B. Jordan is a complex one. He is trying to live out of his dad’s shadow and create his own reputation; the movie shows a struggle not just in the ring but also inside the mind of a boxer.

Underrated Boxing Movies You Shouldn’t Miss

Well, we have already remembered a significant number of classic boxing movies. The majority of them have a certain place in the hearts and minds of viewers and sports fans. Now, we are planning to dive into the world of some underrated movies but the ones that certainly deserve you attention.

The Fighter (2010)

The story of a real-life boxer Micky Ward reaches his peak of glory with his fights with the late Arturo Gatti. It caught the attention of the filmmaker David O’Russell, who introduced Ward’s story to millions of moviegoers.

With the iconic Mark Wahlberg as Micky Ward, played a pivotal role as the calming force of a chaotic time. By portraying Ward’s brother, great actor Cristian Bale earned an academic award. 

The movie’s highlight revolves around the strength of family bonds and the devastation that occurs when something happens to a loved one.

Ali (2001)

We are sure you can recognize the words: “The Champ is here!” This movie is a documentary about Cassius Clay, who is on his way to becoming the best boxer of all time and becoming the renowned Muhammed Ali. 

One of the greatest boxing films, with Will Smith at the center of the ring and director Michael Mann, shows the period during which Cassius Clay was transformed into the icon Muhammad Ali. The movie shows all significant events from pivotal fights in the ring to the assassination of one of the mentors. Also, we can see the hardships of becoming an icon in a period when racism and civil rights were fighting ideologies.  

Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962)

A film by Columbia Pictures, with a memorable performance from Anthony Quinn who plays an aging boxer with a decision to make. There are two variants: a possible complete blindness or a forever victory. There is also a manager with his vision on the cash and not on the well-being of his fighter and pupil.

The script was inspired by the story of Joe Lewis, a real-life heavyweight champ who was forced to become a wrestler just to make ends meet. 

A very underrated movie, which also did not do well at the box office but catapulted the three main actors into starling fame.

Boxing Documentaries That Packed a Punch

Even though movies are usually fictional and create an atmosphere of dreams and miracles, we must remember the area of documentaries, which aims to show us real life with great accuracy and make us feel the excitement or tragedy that many boxers experience in their personal and professional life.

When We Were Kings (1996)

The film focuses on the plot of the great fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman for the heavyweight championship in 1974. It was when his famous speech appeared: “I am experienced now… I’ve done something new this fight. I wrestled with an alligator, I tossed with a whale, I handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail.”

The movie “When We Were Kings” was truly impactful. This great work won The Best Documentary Feature Oscar. The film is so loyal to the events of the 70s that even after 23 years at the time of release, it appeared to be the best time capsule of all time.

Tyson (2008)

We can’t forget about Mike Tyson, one of the meanest, toughest, and strongest boxers of all time. He was a personal avenger for Muhammad Ali and he lost. 

This movie shows the whole story of a poor kid with lots of anger and no future. It shows his trainer who loved him like a father and made him the greatest boxer of the 90s and 00s. Also shows the hardships and heartbreaking moments of being famous, from the manager stealing money to losing his mentor and being jailed for some time for a crime allegedly never committed. 

The Influence of Boxing Films on Pop Culture

Boxing films have left a permanent mark on popular culture, shaping our views (the public) and perception of sports. Such movies give us a look behind the screens of fame, a possibility to look at sports with the human side, and show the hardships we all go through in life. 

The iconic movie “Rocky” shows big obstacles and challenges to overcome as a normal person, and films, like “Million Dollar Baby”, navigate the emotional and human elements of the sport. Boxing movies show one of the most important things in humankind: strength of the body and the human spirit.

These movies continue to inspire new filmmakers and actors and give us new aspects of life we still need to explore.

Conclusion

All these films highlight physical strength and mindset, motivating us to push ourselves above and beyond. They also give us a small glance at boxing as a sport and help us understand how it works. If we get enough knowledge, we could catapult ourselves into iGaming and boxing online, in a way that allows us to earn extra money by betting on real-life box matches.

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