Pugilists have been popular camera subjects since the start — boxing, at the time, being arguably the most interesting thing you do to another person in public. In the odd century-plus that’s passed since, boxing cinema has evolved past mere punching for spectacle. It’s about personal toil. Training. Strength. Sacrifice. Undying commitment to the physical vision. And then it’s about hitting somebody for money. Or respect, sure.
Tonight’s title bout: The best-reviewed boxing movies ever! In one corner, we have heavyweight classics like Rocky and Raging Bull. In the other, hungry newcomers like Creed and Million Dollar Baby. And in another corner (we have a lot of corners): hard-hitting documentaries, repped by When We Were Kings and Unforgivable Blackness. And, yes, we’re going international in this corner: see Knuckle all the way from Ireland, and China Heavyweight, all the way from, er, China.
To rank the list, we listed Certified Fresh films first, followed by Fresh and then the Rotten movies.
Think you got what it takes to take on the champs? Hit ’em where it counts! Right in the Best Boxing Movies of All Time! —Alex Vo
#1
Adjusted Score: 100268%
Critics Consensus: An engrossing documentary that’s as much about a time and a place as it is about a fight.
#2
Adjusted Score: 101141%
Critics Consensus: The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki sidesteps sports biopic clichés with a beautifully filmed, well-acted look at the balance between career fulfillment and personal happiness.
#3
Adjusted Score: 107057%
Critics Consensus: Creed brings the Rocky franchise off the mat for a surprisingly effective seventh round that extends the boxer’s saga in interesting new directions while staying true to its classic predecessors’ roots.
#4
Adjusted Score: 97163%
Critics Consensus: A beautifully-made documentary that explores the challenges and richness of both marriage and art through the lens of a fascinating and complex couple.
#5
Adjusted Score: 100230%
Critics Consensus: Arguably Martin Scorsese’s and Robert De Niro’s finest film, Raging Bull is often painful to watch, but it’s a searing, powerful work about an unsympathetic hero.
#6
Adjusted Score: 93900%
Critics Consensus: A gritty documentary that captures the brutality and banality of bare-knuckle fights among Irish Travellers.
#7
Adjusted Score: 94216%
Critics Consensus: A serious-minded drama that’s also a propulsive thriller, Catch the Fair One anchors its powerful performances in real-life horror.
#8
Adjusted Score: 94413%
Critics Consensus: A Prayer Before Dawn is far from an easy watch, but this harrowing prison odyssey delivers rich rewards — led by an outstanding central performance from Joe Cole.
#9
Adjusted Score: 100382%
Critics Consensus: Led by a trio of captivating performances from Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, and Amy Adams, The Fighter is a solidly entertaining, albeit predictable, entry in the boxing drama genre.
#10
Adjusted Score: 98590%
Critics Consensus: This story of a down-on-his-luck boxer is thoroughly predictable, but Sylvester Stallone’s script and stunning performance in the title role brush aside complaints.
#11
Adjusted Score: 97112%
Critics Consensus: Director John Ford and star John Wayne depart the Western for the Irish countryside, and the result is a beautifully photographed, often comedic romance.
#12
Adjusted Score: 99647%
Critics Consensus: Clint Eastwood’s assured direction – combined with knockout performances from Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman – help Million Dollar Baby to transcend its clichés, and the result is deeply heartfelt and moving.
#13
Adjusted Score: 108117%
Critics Consensus: Stepping out from Rocky Balboa’s iconic shadow at last, the Creed franchise reasserts its champion status thanks to star Michael B. Jordan’s punchy direction and a nuanced heel turn by Jonathan Majors.
#14
Adjusted Score: 92679%
Critics Consensus: Requiem for a Heavyweight is a stirring character study of a battered boxer that may at times pummel its message yet finely retains cinematic métier and human nobility.
#15
Adjusted Score: 91251%
Critics Consensus: Michelle Rodriguez gives a compelling performance, despite lack of a boxing background; Karyn Kusama packs a punch with this directorial debut.
#16
Adjusted Score: 90170%
Critics Consensus: A fascinating, emotional, and frank confessional from Iron Mike that sheds a sympathetic light on one of boxing’s most controversial icons.
#17
Adjusted Score: 87266%
Critics Consensus: Ben Foster’s gripping work in the central role further elevates The Survivor‘s affectingly character-driven approach to its weighty themes.
#18
Adjusted Score: 98489%
Critics Consensus: Creed II‘s adherence to franchise formula adds up to a sequel with few true surprises, but its time-tested generational themes still pack a solid punch.
#19
Adjusted Score: 87278%
Critics Consensus: Thanks in large part to one of Denzel Washington’s most powerful on-screen performances, The Hurricane is a moving, inspirational sports drama, even if it takes few risks in telling its story.
#20
Adjusted Score: 86102%
Critics Consensus: Chuck is hit with a handful of sports biopic clichés but ultimately punches above its weight, largely thanks to a muscular performance from Liev Schreiber.
#21
Adjusted Score: 87866%
Critics Consensus: With grittiness and an evocative sense of time and place, Cinderella Man is a powerful underdog story. And Ron Howard and Russell Crowe prove to be a solid combination.
#22
Adjusted Score: 83620%
Critics Consensus: The Boxer is a standard drama that packs a true emotional wallop thanks to the highly tuned central performances.
#23
Adjusted Score: 80665%
Critics Consensus: The Hammer perseveres as both an above-average sports comedy and a perfect starring vehicle for Carolla.
#24
Adjusted Score: 83415%
Critics Consensus: Implausible but entertaining and poignant, Rocky Balboa finds the champ in fighting form for the first time in years.
#25
Adjusted Score: 76865%
Critics Consensus: Thanks to muscular work from director/co-writer Max Winkler and his stars, Jungleland punches above its weight in a crowded genre.
#26
Adjusted Score: 102033%
Critics Consensus: Fat City is a bleak, mordant, slice of life boxing drama that doesn’t pull its punches.
#27
Adjusted Score: 102298%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#28
Adjusted Score: 101452%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#29
Adjusted Score: 100642%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#30
Adjusted Score: 47461%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#31
Adjusted Score: 100182%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#32
Adjusted Score: 97915%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#33
Adjusted Score: 85424%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#34
Adjusted Score: 95640%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#35
Adjusted Score: 92944%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#36
Adjusted Score: 86004%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#37
Adjusted Score: 92061%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#38
Adjusted Score: 42205%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#39
Adjusted Score: 35515%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#40
Adjusted Score: 87015%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#41
Adjusted Score: 74801%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#42
Adjusted Score: 86642%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#43
Adjusted Score: 66244%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#44
Adjusted Score: 64386%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#45
Adjusted Score: 85538%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#46
Adjusted Score: 84081%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#47
Adjusted Score: 54077%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#48
Adjusted Score: 78077%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Starring:
#49
Adjusted Score: 65229%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#50
Adjusted Score: 46097%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#51
Adjusted Score: 78776%
Critics Consensus: Though perhaps a case of style over substance, Guy Ritchie’s second crime caper is full of snappy dialogue, dark comedy, and interesting characters.
#52
Adjusted Score: 72075%
Critics Consensus: Rocky II is a movie that dares you to root again for the ultimate underdog — and succeeds due to an infectiously powerful climax.
#53
Adjusted Score: 74535%
Critics Consensus: Not as good as Swingers, but it’s still witty and goofy enough for some laughs.
#54
Adjusted Score: 77690%
Critics Consensus: Bleed for This rises on the strength of Miles Teller’s starring performance to deliver a solid fact-based boxing drama that takes a few genre clichés on the chin but keeps on coming.
#55
Adjusted Score: 36233%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#56
Adjusted Score: 73631%
Critics Consensus: Though perhaps no film could fully do justice to the fascinating life and personality of Muhammad Ali, Mann’s direction and Smith’s performance combine to pack a solid punch.
#57
Adjusted Score: 67849%
Critics Consensus: It’s noticeably subject to the law of diminishing returns, but Rocky III still has enough brawny spectacle to stand in the ring with the franchise’s better entries.
#58
Adjusted Score: 67580%
Critics Consensus: Despite a degree of predictability and cliches, the high production values and sincere performances by the leads elevate this coming-of-age story set in Nazi Germany.
#59
Adjusted Score: 67119%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#60
Adjusted Score: 19563%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#61
Adjusted Score: 65120%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#62
Adjusted Score: 43118%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#63
Adjusted Score: 19947%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#64
Adjusted Score: 68523%
Critics Consensus: Silly premise notwithstanding, this is a well-made Hollywood movie: Thrilling and exciting action with just enough characterization.
#65
Adjusted Score: 64075%
Critics Consensus: While sluggish in spots, Resurrecting the Champ is a sports/newsroom drama elevated by high-caliber performances by Samuel Jackson, Josh Hartnett, and Alan Alda.
#66
Adjusted Score: 69072%
Critics Consensus: Jake Gyllenhaal delivers an impressively committed performance, but Southpaw beats it down with a dispiriting drama that pummels viewers with genre clichés.
#67
Adjusted Score: 38768%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#68
Adjusted Score: 50499%
Critics Consensus: Handsome and simplistic, Far and Away has the beauty of an American epic without the breadth.
#69
Adjusted Score: -1%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#70
Adjusted Score: 21800%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#71
Adjusted Score: 40353%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#72
Adjusted Score: 52645%
Critics Consensus: Bruised isn’t as hard-hitting as its title might suggest, but Halle Berry impresses on either side of the camera in her directorial debut.
#73
Adjusted Score: 49652%
Critics Consensus: Hands of Stone‘s strong cast and fascinating real-life story aren’t enough to compensate for a crowded narrative and formulaic script.
#74
Adjusted Score: 46551%
Critics Consensus: Big George Foreman had a classic sports story to work with; unfortunately, the sluggishly ordinary way it’s told here is more Tomato Can than Heavyweight Champion.
#75
Adjusted Score: 42538%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#76
Adjusted Score: 41331%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#77
Adjusted Score: 31650%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#78
Adjusted Score: 15057%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#79
Adjusted Score: 43415%
Critics Consensus: Though Fighting has a likable lead performer, and the fight scenes are impressive, the paper-thin plot ultimately unravels.
#80
Adjusted Score: 24940%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#81
Adjusted Score: 15964%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#82
Adjusted Score: 18219%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#83
Adjusted Score: 39081%
Critics Consensus: Rocky IV inflates the action to absurd heights, but it ultimately rings hollow thanks to a story that hits the same basic beats as the first three entries in the franchise.
#84
Adjusted Score: 9246%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#85
Adjusted Score: 33016%
Critics Consensus: Rocky V‘s attempts to recapture the original’s working-class grit are as transparently phony as each of the thuddingly obvious plot developments in a misguided installment that sent the franchise flailing into longterm limbo.
#86
Adjusted Score: 16278%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#87
Adjusted Score: 35115%
Critics Consensus: Grudge Match is sporadically funny but meandering, and its strong cast largely mired in a plot that’s overrun with clichés.
#88
Adjusted Score: 12515%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#89
Adjusted Score: 26634%
Critics Consensus: Kirk Douglas’ flinty performance fails to overshadow an otherwise dull and cliche-ridden affair.
#90
Adjusted Score: 5254%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#91
Adjusted Score: 16343%
Critics Consensus: A bland, dumbed-down package of sports cliches.
#92
Adjusted Score: 13689%
Critics Consensus: Flat characters and uninspired comedy yield forgettable results.
#93
Adjusted Score: 13614%
Critics Consensus: Stocked with leading men who look the part but lacking an iota of original plot, Annapolis is merely a watery shadow of superior seafaring military dramas.
#94
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.