The Top 10 Boxing Movies of all Time

The First non-documentary boxing film was thought to have been shot in 1914. Since then, boxing movies have been some of the most popular in the genre of sport movies and have won countless awards as well. With all of the great films to come out since 1914 making this list was almost as hard as creating the list of the best online betting sites. Still, I got through them all, and am here to bring you my top 10 Boxing movies of all time.

10) The Setup (1949)

Robert Ryan start as Bull Thompson, a past his prime boxer who just can’t hang up his gloves. The only real person who still thinks he can fight is his manager Tiny, (George Tobias) or at least that’s what we think. The movie only clocks in at 72 minutes, but does a great job of showing the grittier side of boxing. Some might avoid this film just because it was made in 1949, but you shouldn’t, the cinematography was aheads of it’s time and you can’t help but feel the emotional pull of this movie.

James Earl Jones as Heavyweight Champion Jack Johnson “The Great White Hope”

9) The Great White Hope (1970)

The Great White Hope is a movie that was adapted from a Broadway play. In the film, James Earl Jones plays Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion. Johnson becomes involved with a white woman played by Jane Alexander, and the two are faced with abhorrent racism from the sports world and general society. Jones’ acting is what really makes this movie a must see, and even though the boxing scenes aren’t the greatest, it’s a beautiful film regardless.

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8) When We Were Kings (1996)

This documentary that follows Ali and Foreman’s “Rumble in the Jungle” is the greatest boxing documentary of all time. It even won an Oscar for Best Documentary and to this day, still carries a heavy historical significance. It was only released 22 years after the actual fight mostly due to political red tape, but this is a great look behind the curtain at a young promoter Don King. Even today this film is as fascinating as ever.

7) Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956)

Rocky Graziano was originally going to be played by James Dean in this film. Unfortunately, he passed prior to filming and a young Paul Newman was tapped for the role. The rest, as they say, is history. Given the black and white “Film Noir” treatment and direction from Citizen Kane’s editor Robert Wise, this movie flies under the radar, but is a testament to the style of old-school Hollywood. Though uncredited, both George C. Scott and Steve McQueen made their debuts in this classic.

REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT, Anthony Quinn, 1962

6) Requiem for a Heavyweight (1961)

Although released more than 60 years ago, this granular boxing classic hasn’t lost its luster and may be just as powerful today. The great acting from Anthony Quinn and Mickey Rooney is what takes this movie to another level. Don’t miss the opening scene and you might even spot a familiar actor who plays the young promising fighter destroying the main character, Louis “Mountain” Rivera. A movie that was truly ahead of its time and might hold up for another six decades.

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5) Rocky Balboa (2006)

To be honest, I loved the original Rocky films, (maybe not five as much) however when this reboot was announced I thought it could only end in disaster for the franchise. This movie did its best to get back to the roots of the original film and was rewarded for doing so. For myself, the high points weren’t the fight scenes, but the scene where Rocky talked to his son about life. All-in-all, this movie brought true closure to the character or Rocky Balboa and for anyone going into the later chapters of their life this movie will really stick with you.

Cinderella Man 2005 by Ron Howard. Jim Braddock (RUSSELL CROWE) and Manager Joe Gould (PAUL GIAMATTI)

4) Cinderella Man (2005)

Ron Howard is known for gorgeous films with great portrayals and it was obviously that Howard and Russell Crowe put time, effort, and their souls in this project. Crowe delivers as former Heavyweight Champion James J. Braddocks, a man struggling to pull himself out of poverty during the great depression in order to take care of his family. The film can be a bit cheesy at times, but the story of Braddock beating all of the odds to become Champion of the World again is hard to believe even though it’s 100% true.

The only unfortunate thing about this film in my opinion is its depiction of former Heavyweight Champion Max Baer. It was well documented that Baer was nothing short of a gentleman both in and out of the boxing ring. It’s hard for me to say this film is underrated when it performed well in the box office and received three academy award nominations, but still I feel like it doesn’t get the recognition it truly deserves.

3) Million Dollar Baby (2004)

I don’t want to talk about the plot of this movie too much, because I’d hate to give away the plot to anyone who hasn’t had the chance to watch it yet. Still, this starts out as your typical underdog rising up tale, but evolves into something so much better. There’s emotional baggage that comes with this film, and the weight of that baggage comes at you like a haymaker towards the end.

2) Raging Bull (1980)

A masterpiece from Martin Scorsese. People still ask why someone would put themselves through what it takes both physically and mentally to become to a dominant boxer. This movie gets right into the heart of that question and isn’t afraid to show the true ugliness that can be behind a man who fights for his life in more ways than one. This may be the only boxing movie where you truly hate the main character by the end. That ultimately is what makes this such a great experience.

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The Rocky Franchise is a part of Americana at this point, but the original stands apart from the rest

1) Rocky (1976)

Rocky has become more cliche than movie at this point, and unfortunately some people forget just how great this film is and was at the time it was released. The thing that truly sets this film apart from others that try to do the underdog training hard to make the most of his one chance trope, is that Rocky does with pure sincerity and heart. It’s not just a boxing movie, it’s a movie about a man’s fight with himself, and a love story about how when we fight for more than just ourselves we can accomplish so much more. This still is, and my always be my favorite movie of all time.

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