Summary

• Boxing biopics are some of the best sports movies, blending the intense action of the sport with the dramatic lives of real-life athletes.
• These biopics are more grounded and rooted in reality compared to other sports movies, as they are based on well-documented events.
• While liberties are taken to make the films more compelling, boxing biopics still maintain a balance between captivating drama and historical accuracy.

Boxing biopics are among some of the best sports movies based on real-life events, and they've earned such a distinction by weaving in the tense, adrenaline-fueled action of the sport with the often tumultuous and dramatic lives of the real-life people the films are based on. Furthermore, boxing biopics tend to be far more grounded and rooted in reality than most other sports movies, since many of the biopics made in the genre are based on well-documented events. While the entertainment industry has to take some liberties with the source material to translate the real-life drama into more compelling filmmaking, boxing biopics are still a cut above the rest.

Similar to any other biopic in the sports movie genre, filmmakers typically have a much easier time developing fictitious stories based on real-life athletes, since they can better manipulate the onscreen drama and facts without facing any backlash about insincerely portraying its events. Biopics - or more specifically, boxing biopics world, have a much more difficult time attaining success because the athletes are typically well-respected globally, and it is far more challenging to tell an exciting story without sensationalizing the real-life events depicted. Nevertheless, Hollywood has produced a few quality boxing biopics that successfully strike a balance between compelling movie drama and a healthy respect for historical accuracy.

10 Tyson (1995)

Michael Jai White stars as Mike "Iron Mike" Tyson in the TV Movie Tyson

Directed by Uli Edel, Tyson is a 1995 made-for-TV movie that sees martial arts star and prolific B-movie actor Michael Jai White in the role of the former world heavyweight boxing champion, Mike "Iron Mike" Tyson. The movie chronicles Tyson's troubled upbringing navigating the rough streets of New York City, to becoming the youngest heavyweight boxing champion ever, to his unfortunate fall from grace and imprisonment. Although Mike Tyson is one of the most respected figures in the world of boxing, his tumultuous personal life and the toxic relationship between himself and former promoter Don King are covered extensively in a movie that humanizes Tyson without vilifying him.

9 Chuck (2016)

Liev Schreiber stars as one of Muhammad Ali's rivals Chuck Wepner in Philippe Falardeau's Chuck

Inspired by the 1975 heavyweight bout between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner, Chuck centers around a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the then relatively unknown Wepner to fight against Ali in a fight that was predicted to end within three rounds in Ali's favor. However, despite losing in the last round, the resolve that Wepner displays makes him a local hero to his community while also inspiring a young Sylvester Stallone to write the screenplay for Rocky. Although Wepner lets the fame get to his head, thus resulting in drug use and prison time, Chuck is ultimately an endearing story about beating the odds through sheer belief in oneself.

8 Big George Foreman (2023)

Khris Davis stars as "Big" George Foreman in George Tillman Jr.'s Big George Foreman

Big George Foreman follows the life of former world heavyweight boxing champion "Big" George Foreman and his rise from a humble upbringing in Texas to his legendary showdown against Muhammad Ali at the Rumble in the Jungle to his retirement and second reign as boxing champion well past his prime. Although Big George Foreman makes changes to the real-life George Foreman's story, it retains the heart of what makes Foreman's legacy so impactful not just on boxing, but on humanity. Despite everyone telling Foreman to retire and pursue other avenues, he displays an uncanny resolve and beats a heavyweight champion half his age, thus displaying anything is possible.

7 Hands Of Stone (2016)

Édgar Ramírez stars as Roberto "Hands of Stone" Duran in Jonathan Jakubowicz's Hands of Stone

Hands of Stone is based on the life and boxing career of legendary boxer Roberto "Hands of Stone" Duran, and his triumph through a rough upbringing. Additionally, Hands of Stone does something most boxing biopics usually don't do, and that's focus on the struggles of Duran's equally legendary trainer, Ray Arcel, thus highlighting how vital the two men were in each other's lives. Blending well-choreographed boxing scenes with engaging drama, Hands of Stone benefits from stellar performances and a formulaic story that's broken up with emphasis on the lives and challenges of more than just its protagonist, thus making it a unique entry in the boxing biopic genre.

6 Bleed For This (2016)

Miles Teller stars as light-middleweight boxer Vinny Pazienza in Ben Younger's stylized biopic

Based on the real story of former lightweight and light middleweight boxing champion Vinny Pazienza, Bleed for This tells the inspiring story of Pazienza surviving a near-fatal car crash that would leave the athlete nearly unable to walk, mounting a triumphant comeback and shocking the world of boxing. Rife with inspired performances by leads Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart, Bleed for This's greatest strength lies in its ability to craft an engaging drama about the human spirit against the backdrop of tense back-and-forth boxing action. As such, audiences believe that Pazienza was one of the toughest men alive both inside and outside the ring, thus highlighting the power or perseverance.

5 Ali (2001)

Will Smith plays Heavyweight Champion of the World Muhammad Ali in Michael Mann's biopic

Michael Mann's Ali centers around legendary world heavyweight boxing champion and social activist, Muhammad Ali, in a gripping drama that emphasizes the trials and tribulations he overcame between 1964 and 1974. While Smith lacks the appropriate energy and charisma that Ali proudly boasted, he captures the essence of the former champion in a sincere retelling of some of the icon's most important moments inside and outside the right. Moreover, Mann's masterful direction of the source material and attention-to-detail combined with Emmanuel Lubenezki's rich cinematography and the inspired performances of the ing cast make Ali one of the most faithful boxing biopics in the genre.

4 Cinderella Man (2005)

Ron Howard's Cinderella Man sees Russell Crowe as light-heavyweight title contender James J. Braddock

Cinderella Man sees Russell Crowe reunite with Ron Howard as James J. Braddock in a movie about overcoming insurmountable odds and making one's own luck. Dubbed the Cinderella Man by boxing pundits, Braddock's story is inspiring because, despite claims that he's washed up and incapable of attaining his former success, he goes on to fight the formidable Max Baer in a tense heavyweight bout that sees him win and secure the heavyweight championship against all odds. One of Ron Howard's best movies, Cinderella Man's inspiring story is also bolstered by great performances from Crowe, Paul Giamatti, and Renée Zellweger that convincingly sell the action and drama.

3 The Fighter (2010)

Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale star as Micky Ward and Dicky Ecklund in David O. Russell's The Fighter

The Fighter is David O. Russell's 2010 drama based on the lives of "Irish" Micky Ward, and his more popular yet troubled older half-brother, Dick "Dicky" Ecklund, in a drama rife with sibling rivalry, crime, and the pursuit of greatness. While the drama seen inside the ring is perfectly tense and engaging al on its own, The Fighter really thrives on its ability to make audiences care about the tumultuous personal lives of Ward and Ecklund, who are played by Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale respectively. Their struggle and eventual understanding of one another perfectly mirrors Ward's desire to overcome his boxing hurdles and become champ.

2 The Hurricane (1999)

Norman Jewison's sports drama sees Denzel Washington as former middleweight boxer Rubin "The Hurricane" Carter

Norman Jewison's The Hurricane sees Denzel Washington as Rubin "The Hurricane" Carter, a former middleweight boxer who was wrongfully convicted of murder, and the fight that he and his loved ones fought to prove his innocence. In addition to its engaging story and strong dialogue, The Hurricane is notable for its powerhouse performance by its lead, Washington, as well as the moving score by Christopher Young. While being a strong boxing biopic, The Hurricane serves as a masterclass in rexamining the legal system and how it treat citizens of color while also displaying the sheer will, heart, and determination of Carter both inside and outside the ring.

1 Raging Bull (1980)

Robert De Niro portrays former middleweight champion Jake LaMotta in Martin Scorsese's 1980 Oscar-winning film

Martin Scorsese's 1980 boxing biopic, Raging Bull, is notable for its black-and-white photography as well as the Oscar-winning performance of its lead, Robert De Niro. Among the incredible acting performances of its cast and the sharp editing of longtime collaborator, Thelma Schoonmaker, Raging Bull tells the story of middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta, and how his obsession with becoming champ ruined both his personal and professional lives. Without judging LaMotta, Raging Bull examines how a man's ego and unwillingness to change can be both beneficial and detrimental in a heart-wrenching drama that continues to inspire movies well after its original release.