Boxing movies traditionally do well at the Academy Awards and this year was no exception. The Fighter was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, and won two: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Christian Bale) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Melissa Leo). With the wins, The Fighter joins a select group of boxing movies that have won Oscars at the Academy Awards.
Recognition for The Fighter also raised the much-debated question of what is the greatest boxing movie of all-time? We've picked ten that are always in the discussion. Which one do you think is the best? Or was your favorite left off the list? Vote in our poll.
Academy Award Winning Boxing Movies
World's Longest List of Boxing Movies - Alphabetical
Comments
I think Gladiator with Cuba Gooding, Jr. should be added to the list.
i agree Gladiator from ’92 should be on here . it was my frist thought but it is hard to beat ROCKY and RAGING BULL they are classic movies even with out boxing. and i think GIRL FIGHT was a better boxing movie than MILLION DOLLAR BABY.
Raging Bull is my choice because of one of the screen’s greatest performances. DeNiro plays Jake LaMotta, a real boxer who had some truly classic bouts with Sugar Ray Robinson. The black and white cinemaphotography adds to the dark overall mood of the film. Intense boxing scenes. Both a great film and boxing movie. Rocky isn’t my favorite but it is a great boxing movie about a man with a dream. An inspiring and exciting work of fiction. My confusion here is On the Waterfront. Definitely one of the great American films of all time, I don’t understand it even being classified as a “boxing” movie. He “coulda been a contender” doesn’t cut it since it’s really about a man standing up to the criminal control of the dockworkers union. It may be the best movie, period but is it really a “boxing” movie? Curious to hear what others might think about my view.
The more I think about it I heartily agree with jay ivey and Josh about Gladiator. And thanks to jay ivey for mentioning Girl Fight. I stumbled onto it on cable a few years ago and thought I’ll bet this is a waste of time. Was I ever wrong! It started to draw me in and about 3/4 through I was thinking, “This is a pretty damned good movie.” I’d like to watch it right now. No big budget but that could be a plus. It’s a fascinating story, solid performances and it may be better than Million Dollar Baby now that I think of it. It definitely belongs on the list. If nothing else there should be selection of “other” with a box to write in a favorite. We might get some suggestions from an “others” box that we might all want to check out
You are missing the best boxing movie of all time, The Set Up with Robert Ryan.