Best Boxing Movies Of All Time: 17+ Knockout Flicks You Can’t Miss

Best Boxing Movies (Top Picks At A Glance)

Boxing is a sport that has been around for centuries, and while the athletes themselves have certainly evolved over the years, the basic premise of two people trying to punch each other in the face has remained the same. For fans of the sport, there’s nothing quite like watching two highly skilled boxers face off in the ring. But for those who are less familiar with the sport, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to boxing movies.

Lucky for you, we’ve put together a list of some of the best boxing movies out there. Whether you’re interested in old classics or more recent releases, there’s something on this list for everyone. So without further ado, here are our picks for the best boxing movies ever made.

Million Dollar Baby Movie Description

Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) is a veteran boxing trainer in Los Angeles who mostly keeps to himself, except for his old friend and associate Eddie “Scrap Iron” Dupris (Morgan Freeman).

When Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) comes to Frankie’s gym looking for help, he is hesitant to train the young woman from working-class Missouri. But eventually, he agrees, and the two form a close bond that will change both of them forever.

Raging Bull Movie Description

A middleweight boxer earns his first shot at the title, and falls in love with a girl from the Bronx, but struggles to express his feelings.

This inability enters the ring and eventually he is sent into a downward spiral that costs him everything.

Rocky Movie Description

When the reigning world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed’s (Carl Weathers) scheduled opponent is injured, small-time boxer Rocky Balboa from working-class Philadelphia County is chosen to take his place.

As Rocky trains with former bantamweight contender Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith), he also starts a relationship with Adrian (Talia Shire), Paulie’s wallflower sister (Burt Young).

• How To Watch The Rocky Movies In Order

Creed Movie Description

Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) was born after his famous father, boxing champion Apollo Creed, died. Even though he never knew his dad, Adonis wants to box like him and seeks out Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) to be his trainer.

Rocky immediately sees the potential in Adonis and decides to take him under his wing, even though he has more important fights outside of the ring against an opponent who is much more dangerous than any other fighter. With Rocky’s help, Adonis quickly gets a title shot. However, it remains to be seen if he has what it takes to actually win the fight.

Southpaw Movie Description

Billy “The Great” Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a world champion boxer whose life is turned upside down when his family is tragically killed.

Hope turns to Tick Willis (Forest Whitaker), a former fighter and trainer, for help and guidance. With everything on the line, Hope fights to reclaim the trust of those he loves most.

Requiem For A Heavyweight Movie Description

Mountain Rivera (Anthony Quinn), a once-great heavyweight boxer, is now past his prime. His manager finds a way to convince him to become a wrestler, in order to make some money and pay off gambling debts.

Rivera is reluctant at first, but he eventually agrees. He is humiliated by this new endeavor, but he has the support of his trainer. He endures many challenges along the way, but he eventually becomes a wrestling champion.

The Harder They Fall Movie Description

An outlaw returns to his gang when he discovers that his enemy is being released from prison, intending to take revenge.

When We Were Kings Movie Description

The “Rumble in the Jungle”, known to be one of the most iconic heavyweight championship boxing matches of all time- took place on October 30, 1974, between champion George Foreman and challenger Muhammad Ali.

Set in Kinshasa, Zaire, this documentary not only explores via historical footage and new interviews the relationship between African-Americans and Africa during the Black Power era within the pop culture context but also delves into international politics at that time including then-dictator Mobutu Sese Seko’s atrocities.

Cinderella Man Movie Description

James J. Braddock, an ex-boxer and former day laborer, is given a one-time opportunity to fight against a rising young contender by his old manager Joe Gould.

After winning in an astonishing upset, Mae (Renée Zellweger), his frightened wife, reluctantly allows him to go back into boxing full-time. Now known as “The Cinderella Man” because of his rags-to-riches life story, Braddock sets out to beat the defending champion Max Baer (Craig Bierko).

Real Steel Movie Description

Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) was a prizefighter, but he lost his chance to win a title when heavy, towering robots took over the boxing ring. Now Charlie is just scraping by as a small-time promoter, piecing together scrap metal into low-end fighters.

He’s barely earning enough money to make it from one underground venue to the next. But after hitting rock bottom, Charlie reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship robot for his last shot at redemption.

Bleed For This Movie Description

Vinny “The Pazmanian Devil” Pazienza is a Providence-based boxer, and after winning two world title fights his fame skyrockets. But just when he’s at the peak of his career, disaster strikes in the form of a near-fatal car accident that leaves him with a broken neck and doctors telling him he may never walk again.

Unwilling to accept his fate, Vinny turns to renowned trainer Kevin Rooney (Aaron Eckhart) for help in making a miraculous comeback, to fight again just one year after his accident and win what could be his last match.

The Fighter Movie Description

Micky Ward’s (Mark Wahlberg) boxing career is a family affair. His manager is his tough-as-nails mother, and his half-brother Dicky (Christian Bale) was once a promising boxer himself but now trains Micky unreliably.

Even though Micky works hard, he’s losing until he splits from the family at his girlfriend’s advice. Finally, Micky becomes a contender for the world title and gets the possibility of redemption for his family.

The Champion Of Auschwitz Movie Description

The film examines the life of Tadeusz Teddy Pietrzykowski, a pre-war boxing champion who was among the first prisoners to arrive at the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1940.

Resurrecting The Champ Movie Description

As a sports reporter, Erik Kernan (Josh Hartnett) is struggling to make ends meet. His editor (Alan Alda) doesn’t think he has what it takes to be a successful writer, and his marriage is falling apart.

One night, he comes across Battling Bob Satterfield (Samuel L. Jackson), a former boxer who is rumored to be dead. Seeing an opportunity to boost his career, Erik decides to write the athlete’s story.

Tyson Movie Description

Mike Tyson was a highly esteemed heavyweight boxer, but he squandered his reputation with a number of less-than-admirable actions in and out of the ring.

His personal life has been just as unpredictable as his time boxing, resulting in broken relationships and confrontations with major figures such as Don King.

Knuckle Movie Description

A documentary about two warring families of Irish travelers who settle their differences through bare-knuckle boxing.

Fat City Movie Description

Boxer Tully (Stacy Keach) is inspired to restart his career after seeing potential in a teenager, Ernie (Jeff Bridges). Tully is struggling with some personal demons, like his alcohol dependency, while Ernie has different issues he’s facing.

Though Ernie’s girlfriend pressures him into marriage and fatherhood, he can put those problems aside when he enters the ring to fight. Tully’s performance begins declining as more people start noticing Ernie’s talent.

5 More Of The Best Boxing Movies (Honorable Mentions)

While our top picks for the best boxing movies showcase some of the most memorable and impactful films in the genre, many other great movies also deserve recognition. From touching dramas that explore the struggles and triumphs of aspiring boxers, to thrilling sports movies that will get your heart racing, the world of boxing cinema is full of captivating stories that are well worth watching.

So if you have watched through all our top picks, you should dive into the honorable mentions section below to see which other boxing movies you won’t want to miss!

• Jungleland (2019)
• The Bleeder (2016)
• Grudge Match (2013)
• Girlfight (2000)
• Ali (2001)