There’s something about boxing that lends itself to such good movies. I think it’s the grittiness and stripped-down nature of just punching someone that makes us look at people closer and examine our own relationships with the world.

Today, I want to review my favorite boxing movies and talk about why I believe they’re the best of all time.

Let’s dive in.

1. When We Were Kings

Bar none, this is the best movie about boxing ever made. I know it’s a doc and not a feature, but if you want to understand boxing, this is the movie to watch.

This Academy Award-winning documentary chronicles the legendary “Rumble in the Jungle” between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire.

The film is a vibrant and delightful look at Ali at the height of his charisma and boxing prowess, capturing the cultural and political significance of the event.

2. Raging Bull

Martin Scorsese’s black-and-white masterpiece is a brutal and unflinching portrait of middleweight champion Jake LaMotta.

It’s a dark movie that deals with a lot of personal demons.

Robert De Niro’s transformative, Oscar-winning performance as the self-destructive and paranoid fighter is the stuff of legend.

3. Rocky

As a Philadelphian, I will always have a soft spot for Rocky. It’s the ultimate underdog story. The movie transcended the sports genre to become a cultural phenomenon.

Sylvester Stallone’s heartfelt script and performance as the down-and-out club fighter who gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot at the heavyweight title.

The film earned the Academy Award for Best Picture.

4. Million Dollar Baby

Clint Eastwood’s poignant and powerful drama stars Hilary Swank as Maggie Fitzgerald, a determined waitress who convinces a hardened trainer, Frankie Dunn (Eastwood), to take her on.

It’s a riff on a father-daughter movie that breaks your heart over and over again.

What begins as a classic boxing story evolves into a deeply moving exploration of friendship, ambition, and sacrifice.

The film’s devastating third act earned it four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress for Swank, and Best Supporting Actor for Morgan Freeman.

5. Creed

Ryan Coogler’s masterpiece is both a thrilling boxing film and a powerful character study. It riffs on the Rocky mythos and adds a lot of heart for the new generation.

Michael B. Jordan delivers a star-making performance as Adonis Creed, the son of Apollo Creed, who seeks to forge his own legacy with the help of a reluctant mentor, Rocky Balboa.

The film’s innovative and technically impressive fight choreography and heartfelt story earned Sylvester Stallone a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

6. The Fighter

David O. Russell takes on the true story of “Irish” Micky Ward. Mark Wahlberg stars as Ward, but it’s Christian Bale’s Oscar-winning performance as his troubled older brother and former boxer, Dicky Eklund, that steals the show.

The film’s authentic portrayal of working-class life and its electrifying fight scenes make it a modern classic. And its cinematography and direction keep it feeling gritty and real.

7. Cinderella Man

Ron Howard’s inspiring biographical film tells the incredible true story of James J. Braddock, with a powerful performance by Russell Crowe.

The story follows a washed-up boxer who makes a miraculous comeback during the Great Depression to become a symbol of hope for a nation.

8. Ali

Michael Mann’s ambitious biopic captures a pivotal decade in the life of Muhammad Ali, with Will Smith delivering a transformative and Oscar-nominated performance as the charismatic and controversial champion.

We dig into Ali’s boxing career, his conversion to Islam, and his refusal to be drafted into the Vietnam War.

9. The Set Up

A classic film noir, where Robert Ryan stars as an aging boxer who is supposed to take a dive in a fixed fight but decides to fight for his dignity instead.

The film’s realistic portrayal of the seedy underbelly of the boxing world and its suspenseful narrative make it a hidden gem of 40s movies and one of the best boxing movies of all time.

10. Fat City

I feel like more people need to see this movie. Directed by the legendary John Huston, it’s a realistic look at the lives of two down-on-their-luck boxers struggling to survive.

Stacy Keach and a young Jeff Bridges give powerful performances as fighters at different stages of their careers, clinging to the slim hope of a better life.

Summing It All Up 

I am a massive fan of boxing movies. I really think they dig deep into character and use physical action to show moral dilemmas.

These are some of my favorites, but I’m pumped to hear yours.

Let me know what you think in the comments.