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Do you like boxing? Do you like movies? Well, if you said yes then you have come to the right place. I too, enjoy a good movie with a boxing theme. With that being said, I would like to share with you my top 15 list of favorite movies that center on the sport of boxing and allow you to compare with your favorites. So continue reading my list and hopefully you will agree that these movies are the best choice to build your collection.
Here is my top 15 list of favorite boxing movies from #15 to #1:
15.) Raging Bull (1980)- This biographical film was directed by Martin Scorsese and tells the story of ex-middleweight champion Jake LaMotta. It stars Robert De Niro as LaMotta and was nominated for eight Academy Awards (including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Cinematography, Sound, and Editing). It also stars Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty in supporting roles.
14.) Annapolis (2006)- James Franco plays Jake Huard, a young man who dreams of one day attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland (hence the name). Huard enters into a boxing tournament in hopes of meeting the company's commanding officer in the final's, which he eventually does. Although he loses the fight by the judge's decision, he earns the respect of the entire academy for going the distance. Tyrese Gibson co-stars as the commanding officer, Midshipman Lieutenant (1st Class) Cole.
13.) Rocky V (1990)- This is the fifth installment in the Rocky series and centers own Rocky's retirement and financial troubles that have taken him back to his roots where it all began. He starts to make his comeback when he meets an ambitious and up and coming boxer named Tommy Gunn and takes him under his wing and trains him to be a pro. Real-life boxer, Tommy Morrison plays Tommy Gunn and of course you know who plays Rocky.
12.) Snake Eyes (1998)- O.K. I'll admit that this movie is'nt actually about boxing but rather an assassination that takes place during a crowded championship boxing match. But it is still a good watch.This movie was directed by Brian De Palma and stars Nicolas Cage as a corrupt detective who stumbles onto the plot with the help of a woman named Julia Costello played by, Carla Gugina. This movie co-stars Gary Sinise as the leader of the plot.
11.) The Great White Hype (1996)- This movie is a satire of racism in boxing. It centers on the match-up between the current undefeated heavyweight champion who is black and the only man who has beaten him since his days as an amateur, who happens to be white. The match-up was put together by Rev. Fred Sultan, who thought the black vs. white scenario would bring a lot of money since he is the promoter of the fight. Damon Wayons stars as heavyweight champion James "The Grim Reaper" Roper and Peter Berg plays the white fighter, "Irish" Terry Conklin while Samuel L. Jackson plays the Rev. Fred Sultan. Cheech Marin and Jamie Foxx add to the hilarious cast.
10.) Undisputed (2002)- This movie revolves around the prison boxing matches of a Nevada State Prison. When undisputed heavyweight champion George "Iceman" Chambers is convicted of rape, he is sent to the prison to serve his time. While there, he is given a chance at an early release if he agrees to fight the "prison champion" in a match to see who is the undisputed heavyweight champion. Peter Falk plays Mendie Ripstein, an old gangster who makes the fight happen and has enough pull to give "Iceman" Chambers an early release. Ving Rhames is "Iceman" Chambers and Wesley Snipes stars as Monroe Hutchins, the undefeated prison champ.
9.) Diggstown (1992)- This movie is about a con man named Gabriel Caine who bets the owner of a small town called Diggstown that he knows of someone who can beat any ten fighters in a 24 hour period. The bet starts out small at first but by the time the competition is over Gabriel Caine ends up owning nearly everything in the town. James Woods plays Caine and Bruce Dern is John Gillon, the mean-spirited owner of Diggstown. Louis Gossett, Jr. is the fighter who takes on the ten fighters and wins it all.
8.) Rocky III (1982)- Third installment in the Rocky series has Rocky Balboa getting ready to retire but is harassed by an up-and-coming contender named "Clubber" Lang into giving him a shot at the title, which ultimately causes Rocky to lose his title. In the rematch, Rocky is now being trained by Apollo Creed since Mickey died shortly after the first fight. Rocky soon regains his old form again and is able to knockout "Clubber" Lang in their second meeting. Mr. T plays "Clubber" Lang and once again, you know who plays Rocky.
7.) Rocky II (1979)- Second Installment in the Rocky series has Rocky Balboa in a rematch with heavyweight champion Apollo Creed to prove that the first fight was just some kind of fluke because Balboa lasted the whole fight. Rocky and Apollo duke it out the whole fight and in the last round they are both on the canvas being counted out when Rocky is able to get up before the ten count and he becomes the champion. Sylvester Stallone, Carl Weathers, and Talia Shire star.
6.) Rocky IV (1985)- Fourth installment in the Rocky series has Rocky taking on Ivan Drago, a Russian fighter who ends up killing Apollo Creed during a boxing match. This time Rocky must fight in Russia because Drago will not fight in the U.S. because he fears for his safety due to Creed's death. Rocky then travels to Russia to train in the isolated countryside and eventually knocks the Russian out and avenges his friend's death. Dolph Lundgren plays Drago while Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers reprise their roles once again.
5.) Million Dollar Baby (2004)- This is the story about a thirty-two year old waitress named Margaret Fitzgerald, who aspires to be a boxer. Maggie, as she is referred to, is able to convince a down-and-out boxing trainer named Frankie Dunn to help train her so she can turn pro. She starts her career out good at first but suffers a debilitating injury in the ring when she is sucker-punched and breaks her neck when she lands on a stool, leaving her a quadriplegic. Hillary Swank stars as Maggie and Clint Eastwood directed and stars as Frankie Dunn. This movie won Best Picture and earned Hillary Swank a Best Actress Award and Morgan Freeman a Best Supporting Actor Award.
4.) The Hurricane (1999)- This story is about boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter who was wrongfully convicted of triple murder and ended up serving twenty years before his conviction was overturned. With the help of a pen pal named Lesra, Carter is able to summon up enough strength to carry on in hopes of one day regaining his freedom. Denzel Washington plays "Hurricane Carter and Vicellous Reon Shannon plays Lesra. Washington was nominated for Best Actor.
3.) Ali (2001)- This biographical film tells the story of Muhammad Ali from 1964-1974 as he won the championship belt, lost it because he refused induction into the military, and regained it again by knocking out George Foreman in "The Rumble in the Jungle." Will Smith was nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Ali and Jon Voight was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Howard Cosell.
2.) Cinderella Man (2005)- The touching true story of boxer James J. Braddock who underwent many obstacles during the Great Depression in order to support his family. After a broken hand ends his boxing career, Braddock finds work on the docks of New Jersey for meager wages. Although times are rough, Braddock's long time manager, Joe Gould, is able to get him back in the ring. After some successful wins, Braddock is able to contend for the title against Max Baer, which he wins by unanimous decision. Russell Crowe plays James J. Braddock and Renee Zellweger plays his wife Mae.
1.) Rocky (1976)- This is my all-time favorite boxing movie. It is about a 4th-rate boxer, named Rocky Balboa, who is given a shot against the heavyweight champ, Apollo Creed. Rocky loses the fight by split- decision but is just grateful that he went the distance with the champion. This movie also centers around the relationship between Rocky and his girlfriend Adrian. Rocky was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won for Best Picture and Best Director.
So this concludes my personal choice as the best boxing movies ever made. I really hope that you agree with my selection because it was not easy trying to rank them in this order because they are all so good, but I feel confident that you will appreciate my ranking and agree that these movies are the best choice to build you collection.
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