The Top 8 Boxing Films Of All Time

Boxing as a sport has lost a lot of popularity in the United States over the past decade.  Be it due to the boom of mixed martial arts, the lack of a dominant heavyweight champion or pay-per-view prices casual fans have tuned out.  With this year's The Fighter however, fans have proved that while the sport's popularity is declining the love for a good boxing film still exists.  So what makes a great boxing film?  In this Top 8 we take a look at the best boxing films ever. 

8:     The Boxer (1997) 
        Written and Directed by Jim Sheridan 
           Starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Emily Watson

• The Boxer is the story of Danny Flynn, a promising nineteen year old fighter with ties to the Irish Republican Army.  After being held captive for fourteen years and refusing to name his associates he is released back onto the streets.  His hometown, family and friends have gone through tumultuous changes during his incarceration that he must come to terms with, all the while trying to resurrect his career.  Daniel Day-Lewis turns in an amazing performance as usual with a training program that even had cast and crew believing that he could have turned pro after filming.

7:     The Champ (1931)
        Directed by King Vodor
        Written by Frances Marion and Leonard Praskins

• Boxing and gambling go together like peanut butter and jelly, biscuits and gravy, or prom babies and dumpsters.  Nothing says dominance like being able to punch your opponent into unconsciousness and people love to be able to say that they won money off of the winner.  The Champ is an old Hollywood tearjerker of a boxer who has gambled away his son's most prized possession.  His horrible decision making has disappointed his son and Champ is willing to go through hell and high water to redeem himself.  An all time classic story of ruin, love, sacrifice and redemption.

6:     Rocky Balboa (2006)
        Written and Directed by Sylvester Stallone
        Starring Sylvester Stallone, Milo Ventimiglia and Antonio
        Tarver 

• I will be the first to admit it:  I pissed and moaned like no other when Stallone confirmed that this film was in fact being made.  Rocky V did as much damage to a franchise as any sequel before and since with most thinking that this franchise was long dead.  It turns out we were all wrong and that there was one more quality film for this iconic character.  Stallone scraps Rocky V from the canon and film picks up years after IV.  Rocky has become a local legend and restaurant owner but his life is far from rosy.  Adrian has died and his relationship with his son has been severely strained.  Rocky gets the itch to fight again (I won't spoil what lights the spark) and the current champion agrees to face Rocky in an exhibition.  On great montage later we have the best choreographed, filmed, and believable fight in any Rocky film.  There are some tender, well acted scenes between Stallone and Ventimiglia to boot.

5:     The Set-Up (1949)
        Directed by Robert Wise
        Written by Art Cohn
        Starring Robert Ryan, Audrey Totter, and George Tobias

• Another example of gambling's influence on the boxing world, Stoker Thompson (Ryan) is a thirty-five year old boxer whose best days are behind him.  He has been instructed by a local mobster and even his trainer to throw fights to help promote younger fighters and fatten wallets.  Thompson's trainer is so sure that he will lose his next fight that he doesn't even bother to tell him that the fix is in.  With this lack of communication Stoker gets his confidence back and is willing to fight for himself and his sport, consequences be damned.

4:     When We Were Kings (1996)
        Directed by Leon Gast

• When We Were Kings is the definitive boxing documentary.  Chronicling the build up to the legendary 'Rumble in the Jungle' between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman the audience is exposed to not only the fight but the goings on behind the scenes.  Ali and Foreman are both featured as well interviews from Norman Mailer, Spike Lee and others.  Fans old and new alike will be able to show this film to friends and family while telling them 'This is why boxing is special.'

3:     Rocky (1976)
        Directed by John Avildsen
        Written by Sylvester Stallone
        Starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, and Carl 
        Weathers

• Rocky did for boxing in 1976 what The Champ did in the 30s.  Written by an unknown Stallone (who insisted he play the title role over studio favorite James Caan), Rocky is the ultimate underdog story.  Rocky Balboa is working as loan shark muscle and boxing on the side until he meets trainer Mickey and pet store clerk Adrian.  With someone to fight for and someone to teach him Rocky goes from bar room brawler to championship contender.  Rocky has never been a fighter with great boxing skills.  He's the guy who wants it more and nothing you can do will stop him.  The fantastic script, great performances, and excellent direction made this film a surprise hit and instant classic.

2:     The Fighter (2010)
        Directed by David O. Russell
        Written by Scot Silver, Paul Tamasy, and Eric Johnson
        Starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, and Melissa Leo

• I know I'm going to get some grief for putting The Fighter this high on the list.  I had several reservations myself but I connected with this film much more than I had ever expected.  As a boxing fan I remember watching several of the film's featured fights on ESPN and HBO before and after Micky Ward's title win.  However the boxing takes a back seat to the tension between throughout Ward's family.  After years of being mismanaged by his domineering mother (Leo) and crack addicted, former boxing brother Dickie (Bale), Ward strikes out on his own with new management and a new girlfriend who truly believes in him (Amy Adams).  Wahlberg plays Ward well; an extremely likable guy who has had some bad fights and bad breaks but this film belongs to Christian Bale and Melissa Leo.  They bring so much depth and conviction to these people you feel as if you are watching a documentary instead of a film.  When the boxing starts (and its not until quite a bit into the film) you are almost relieved to see Micky get some peace while being punched in the head repeatedly.  One part Rocky, one part Rudy, The Fighter is a modern sports film masterpiece.

1:     Raging Bull (1980)
            Directed by Martin Scorcese
        Written by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin
        Starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty

• Let's face it.  We all knew this was going to be number one.  As much as I love to give a dissenting opinion I am not one to argue with greatness.  Raging Bull is a look into the life of self-destructive boxer Jake LaMotta (portrayed perfectly by De Niro) as he struggles with his insecurities and violent outbursts both in and out of the ring.  After chasing everyone away who has ever cared about him and being left to his own devices, LaMotta gets himself into a little bit of trouble.  After returning to New York City from prison LaMotta is slightly humbled and does his best to make peace with those he has wronged.  Life isn't peaches and cream for him though, as he is alone, broke and left to a career of personal appearances and attempting stand up comedy.

So there you have it folks, The Top 8 Boxing Films Of All Time.  Why do I love these movies so much?  It's because in all of these films the protagonists have much more going on than just trying to knock out the guy in front of them.  There are extenuating circumstances that motivate and drive these stories.  These men have chosen a complex and dangerous profession and these films not only show the audience how they are effected but how the ones around them have to cope as well.  The fights themselves aren't as important as they are the manifestation of the drama outside of the ring.  The boxing ring is home for these athletes.  They are free from worrying about family, money, orders or emotion and that is why we cheer when the final fight is over.  Because win or lose the characters have faced their dilemmas and inspire us to do the same.  I hope you've enjoyed reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it.