The sports genre has inspired audiences for decades, showing the importance of perseverance and discipline to achieve great goals. Boxing films, particularly, have been ahead of the pack for their stories of strength and determination. Movies like Martin Scorcese's Raging Bull highlighted the physical and mental toll training can have on an individual. At the same time, many great boxing movies have the potential to appeal to those outside of the sport, utilizing dramatic elements and touching on subjects like family, romance, and addiction by touching on real and inspiring stories of personal triumph.

A great boxing film can transcend the sport to create a memorable drama or highlight the ins and outs of the sport through detailed breakdowns or focusing on a celebrated fighter. Either way, these 15 boxing movies exemplify why the genre is so beloved and successful. Here are the best films about boxing, ranking up to our number one pick.

Update January 7, 2024: This article has been updated with more great boxing films and where each title can be streamed.

15 Tokyo Fist (1995)

A Japanese door-to-door insurance sales agent, Tsuda Yoshiharu, decides to take up boxing after a violent meeting with a former high school friend. At the same time, other elements build up Tsuda's sense of insecurity, including seeing a woman assaulted and being unable to do anything about it. Tusda hones his body to get revenge and deal with the violent transgressions he had witnessed and failed to stop.

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What Makes it Great

Tokyo Fist is more about exploring the extremes of human pain and suffering and the body's ability to rework that energy into determination. It approaches boxing more philosophically, making it an abstract celebration of the sport. It won't be for everyone — for that reason, it just squeaks onto our list — but its abstract edge will undoubtedly appeal to those who enjoy more experimental movies. The boxing scenes also have a wonderfully dramatic and visual flair that has defined the work of the Japanese filmmaker Shinya Tsukamoto. Moreover, the score, which uses sounds from a boxing gym mixed with industrial noise, is quite a remarkable way to celebrate the potential brutality of the sport.

Rent Tokyo Fist on Apple TV

14 Bleed For This (2016)

Bleed For This is based on the real-life career of boxer Vinny Pazienza (played by Miles Teller), whose career and life are shattered after a catastrophic car accident. Despite doctors telling him that he will never fight again, he starts to train despite his horrible neck injury. The movie tells of one of the greatest comebacks ever to happen in the sport.

What Makes it Great

The real-life story of Vinny Pazienza is truly awe-inspiring and a testament to the human spirit to overcome great adversity to pursue your dreams. As such, Bleed for This will leave a strong impression on those impassioned by the drive of sports and competition as a personal journey towards finding oneself. Miles Teller gives a memorable performance as Vinny, one of many great performances that cement him as one of the best actors of his generation.

Rent Bleed For This on Apple TV

13 One Second Champion (2020)

Mixing light fantasy elements with explosive fights in the boxing ring, One Second Champion follows Chow Tin-yan, a single father who gains the ability to see one second into the future. He uses this ability to dominate the boxing world and pay for surgery for his hearing-impaired son. However, when Chow Tin-yan loses the ability, his biggest fight to date against a Thai boxer becomes the greatest challenge of his career.

What Makes it Great

Despite using slight fantasy elements, the movie does not get too fantastical or loses the focus on highlighting the 'sweet science.' Besides a thrilling final fight and matches leading up to the climax, the movie excels as a drama. This includes an underdog story of an outsider climbing up the ranks (albeit thanks to his ability) and the family element, as Chow Tin-yan, justifies his unique edge for the greater good of his family's health. This well-rounded action flick from Hong Kong celebrates both boxing and the vital role of fatherhood. One Second Champion is currently not available for Stream or Rent.

12 Ali (2001)

Muhammad Ali is easily the most famous boxer in the world, so it makes sense he would get a biopic. Director Michael Mann brought his story to life that followed his life between 1964 and 1974. The movie touches on his triumphs and controversies, including his dominance of the sport, conversion to Islam, refusal of military service, his friendship with Malcolm X, and his different personal relationships.

What Makes it Great

Will Smith gives one of the greatest performances of his career in Michael Mann's Ali, with Smith completely embodying the iconic sports figure from start to finish. However, what makes the film stand out is its willingness to tackle a broad range of subjects that made Ali such a talked-about fighter kept in the public eye, including his stance on the military, religious views, and friendships with controversial figures. Those wanting a heavier focus on action may feel slightly left out, but Ali's story deserved such a sincere celebration of the man in and outside the ring.

Rent Ali on Apple TV

11 Unchain (2000)

Unchain follows the life of a retired Japanese boxer named Kaji. Representing one of the many fighters who entered the world of competitive boxing only to disappear into obscurity, Kaji's retirement at 30 is marked only by a losing streak and an eye injury. The movie focuses on the loss after leaving the ring, including his strained relationships with his long-time friends.

Related: Best Hand to Hand Fight Scenes of the 2000s

What Makes it Great

While Unchain is technically a sports documentary, there is no denying that director Toshiaki Toyoda's approach was to create a cinematic narrative around his subject. This includes creative visuals and using quotes out of context to push the intended message of the movie's creator. While this may seem disingenuous to the subjects, Toyoda crafts an emotional and introspective look at the underappreciated side of the boxing world that sees thousands of remarkable stories go underexplored in the sport, adding to the sense of romanticism around the competitive spirit. The film is ideal for those who want to dig deeper into what it means to be a boxer and how glory is not guaranteed.

Stream Unchain on Arrow

10 The Hurricane (1999)

The biographical sports drama The Hurricane revolves around the story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a middleweight boxer who was wrongly convicted of a triple murder in New Jersey. The movie focuses on his arrest, imprisonment, and fight for justice and freedom. The movie also intersplices fights from the boxer's career, ensuring the film also pays homage to Carter's artistry in the ring.

What Makes it Great

Denzel Washington gave a tour de force performance as Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, pushing the dramatic and physical elements of The Hurricane into the realm of realism; it even got him nominated for Best Actor at the 2000 Oscars. The movie is well-written and an inspiring tale of the human spirit overcoming adversity. It is an emotional story that fans of inspiring stories from the ring will appreciate.

Stream The Hurricane on FreeVee

9 Crying Fist (2005)

Crying Fist follows two parallel storylines. The first is Gang Tae-shik, a troubled middle-aged man who hangs on to the past glory days when he was a silver medalist in boxing, now spending his days as a literal human punching bag. The second story follows troubled youth Yu Sang-hwan, who, after getting arrested and thrown in prison, decides to start over by taking up boxing. With both looking for a new shot in life, their paths eventually meet in the ring.

What Makes it Great

It is not often that both stories of the boxers in the ring are explored with such equal passion that the tension of their actual meet-up proves challenging to pick a favorite. Both characters are flawed but fascinating and worthy of the redemption they seek in the ring. This makes Crying Fist a highly engaging South Korean drama that concludes with one of the most emotionally engaging final fights committed to the genre. Both Choi Min-sik and Ryu Seung-beom give highly memorable performances. Crying Fist is not Currently Available for Stream or Rent.

8 The Fighter (2010)

David O. Russell hits the streets of Boston with his true story about professional boxers Mickie Ward (Mark Wahlberg) and Dicky Ecklund (Christian Bale). The Fighter focuses on Mickie's rise to the championship while dealing with his dysfunctional family, including his drug-addicted brother, Dicky. A family drama that plays out both in and out of the ring.

Related: Best Movies About Dysfunctional Families, Ranked

What Makes it Great

Wahlberg, Bale, and the rest of the cast all give stunning performances from beginning to end, immersing viewers in the heavily dramatic life of the Ward-Eklund family (Bale and star Melissa Leo would win Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, at the Academy Awards). Seeing the drama pour over into the boxing world provides the movie with a thrilling edge as well, where the stakes of the match hold more significant implications rather than just winning or losing. All this is woven together by a strong script that explores the importance of hard work and determination, as well as the importance of love and family.

Stream The Fighter on Netflix

7 Blue (2021)

Nobuto Urita is a dedicated boxer who struggles to win matches despite his hard work and commitment, though he takes on a prominent role in helping train boxers at the gym. When he begins to train fellow fighter and future pro, Kazuki Ogawa, their different paths in the sport start to strain their relationship and Urita's view of his viability in the sport in the long term.

What Makes it Great

Blue is another film on this list that is not so much an underdog story as it focuses on those on the fringes of sport, gym rats who never make it anywhere but still embody the passion of the competitive spirit in and outside the ring. The fights in the movie lack flash but go for a more realistic feeling and approach. The focus on drama and exploring those below 'underdog' tropes, combined with the less sensational fights, might not appeal to all. However, as a sincere love letter to the sport and everyone involved, from the bottom to the top, Keisuke Yoshida's Blue is magnificent in its execution. Blue (2021) is Currently Not Available for Stream or Rent.

6 Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Million Dollar Baby revolves around an underdog amateur boxer, Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank). In her quest for perfection, she encounters a reluctant and underappreciated boxing coach, Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood). Together, the two work to achieve her dream of becoming a professional boxer, but an accident changes Maggie's aspirations and the relationship between the two.

What Makes it Great

The endearing relationship between Eastwood and Swank is at the heart of the film, with both giving fantastic performances. The movie, also directed by Eastwood, won four Oscars in 2005, including Best Motion Picture of the Year and Best Achievement in Directing. The turn of events near the movie's climax also makes for a profoundly tragic yet well-constructed dramatic turn. Million Dollar Baby is perfect in almost every way. Still, its later emphasis on tragedy over boxing may not be the climb to the top or exploration of the sport everyone is looking for.

Rent Million Dollar Baby on Apple TV

5 Cinderella Man (2005)

Cinderella Man follows James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe), who struggles to put food on the table for his family after the economic crash. With the help of his old trainer, Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti), Braddock is given another shot at becoming champion. He overcomes all odds and inspires the masses after winning the title.

What Makes it Great

The story of Ron Howard's Cinderella Man stands out because it incorporates the despair of the Great Depression, which drove many to desperation while also leaving many wanting a hero to look up to. A period boxing movie is rare so it is nice to get a look into how the sport has been a fixture throughout history. This is one of Russel Crowe's defining roles, and his balancing of action and drama shows him at the height of his abilities. The movie was nominated for three Oscars and won Russell Crowe an AFI International Award for Best Actor.

Stream Cinderella Man on Netflix

4 Small, Slow, but Steady (2023)

Based on the real-life boxer Keiko Ogasawara, Small, Slow, but Steady follows two major trials the young hopeful faces. Firstly, the movie explored her overcoming the disadvantage of being deaf through training to balance her fighting style because of the impairment. The second tackles the epidemic, which saw many gyms closing and her fellow boxers succumbing to sickness.

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What Makes it Great

One could quickly point to the fact that the movie is topical for the time, has a strong underdog story, and has a female protagonist as reason enough to praise the film by Shô Miyake. However, the film has much more going for it, making it worthy of praise. This includes a career-defining performance from Yukino Kishii as Keiko and a heartwarming story that celebrates the sport through a unique perspective. Small, Slow, but Steady is Not Available for Stream or Rent.

3 Creed (2015)

Adonis Johnson, the son of former heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, decides he wants to follow in his father's footsteps. He decided to head to Philadelphia to track down his father's old friend/rival, Rocky Balboa, to train him. Initially rejecting the idea until Adonis's persistence wins him over, the two begin training and set their sights on making a name in the boxing world while also grappling with his family legacy.

What Makes it Great

Seeing Sylvester Stallone reprise his role as Rocky Balboa proved to be a major draw in the lead-up to Creed, with the actor, thankfully, doing a masterful job of getting back into the character and passing the torch to the next generation of fighters, Adonis (wonderfully performed by Michael B. Jordan). It is the work of Adonis as a character that truly makes the movie work, and director Ryan Coogler brings the franchise back to its gritty underdog roots while also bringing much of his own artistic vision to the material, morphing the boxing film into a story about fathers and sons. The movie is filled with heart and, under Coogler's direction, features some of the best action in the franchise. It set a solid framework, as the film has since seen two sequels, Creed II (2018)and Creed III (2023).

Rent Creed on Apple TV

2 Raging Bull (1980)

Based on the life of middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta, Raging Bull chronicles two decades of LaMotta's life. The movie focuses on his professional boxing career and the violence and temper that led him to success in the ring and personal turmoil outside of it. Focusing on the fury of LaMotta, the movie is an emotionally devasting and brutal biopic that excels in capturing the life of LaMotta.

What Makes it Great

Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull was a monumental achievement in all aspects of cinema. The story, cinematography, and performances are top-notch, creating one of the best boxing movies ever. Notably, Robert De Niro's transformation into Jake LaMotta is impressive, with the physical and mental toll the sport takes on him feeling realistic. The black-and-white cinematography works perfectly for the story. Raging Bull is a further testament to the prowess of director Martin Scorsese.

Stream Raging Bull on Prime Video

1 Rocky (1967)

Rocky Balboa is a small-time club fighter and loan shark debt collector who gets an unlikely shot at the world heavyweight championship. Rocky follows his journey as he trains and prepares to fight the reigning champion, Apollo Creed. Rocky becomes determined to prove himself by lasting fifteen rounds with Creed, something no other boxer has been able to do.

What Makes it Great

It should be no surprise that the iconic story of Rocky Balboa gets the #1 spot on this list. Stallone's screenplay was a brilliant and monumental achievement. Rocky is the classic story of an underdog rising to the top despite all odds. At the same time, it is an endearing love story between Balboa and the soft-spoken Adrian (Talia Shire). The film created one of the most successful franchises in movie history, and the original film still holds up to this day as a movie that speaks to the underdog in everyone. The training scene is one of, if not the, most iconic montage ever committed to the screen. The movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture and has remained a part of pop culture ever since.

Stream Rocky on Prime Video