The lead-up to the climax of a film’s battle, or big fight, usually entails a sequence of training, showing the hard work and dedication the main character(s) put in to win. From drinking raw eggs to practicing spells, these training montages not only cut the time spent on showing humdrum material, but aid in demonstrating the progression of strength that has resulted from training. These specific montages were popular in American cinema, specifically in the realm of movies about sports. Yet, overtime, taking these montages and transforming them for other genres became more and more popular.
There are key elements that make training montages different from any other. Usually the scene before a montage begins with a big upset or showing the lack of skills within a team. The montage, then, begins with the introduction of a motivational song, which continues throughout the progression of the sequence. This is followed by showing the main character’s progression from weak to strong, all while being supported by their trainer or close-knit circle, which can range from friends to love interests. Whatever the genre, training montages are meant to show progression in strength and character in a short period of time. Here are the best training montages in all of movie history.
7 Twilight: Eclipse
The Twilight Saga may very well be the most passive vampire series ever made, but that doesn't exactly exclude them from overly dramatic fight sequences. In the third installment to the franchise, Eclipse, the Cullens have to, yet again, defend Bella, their brother's future wife played by Kristen Stewart, from a pack of bloodthirsty vampires. However, there's a catch. These aren't just any vampires; these are newborns. As such, they are faster, stronger, and more lethal than any the Cullens have faced before. The new plot line also allowed for Jasper, played by Jackson Rathbone, to have his own backstory. The Cullens train alongside their werewolf allies to protect Bella and the rest of their family. The sequence not only serves as an essential plot point in the movie, but offers up a few laughs, watching Emmit, the strongest Cullen, get beat by Jasper.
6 Mulan
Disney films rarely ever fall short, especially when it comes to core teaching moments for the main characters. Tarzan must learn how to live like a gorilla, much like how the lost boys had to learn to live like Peter Pan. However, the 2D-animated Disney princess movie Mulan offers up a completely different scenario in which a young girl must impersonate a man in order to train and be part of the Chinese military. Mulan not only pushes the limits on traditional gender boundaries, but also challenges them. Mulan not only fools the entire militia, but also cunningly deceives the army's captain, Li Shang. Coincidentally, the two end up together at the conclusion of the film. Mulan makes the list of best training montages due to the animation's charming portrayal of a woman character accomplishing military milestones that were designed specifically for men, all of which is set to the tune of "I'll Make a Man Out of You."
5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Arguably one of the most important films in the Harry Potter movie series is the fifth installment to the franchise, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. After the return of Voldemort in The Goblet of Fire, the wizarding world isn't exactly as peaceful as it used to be. There is a sense of unease, and life at Hogwarts is a bit out of sorts after a dreadful new headmaster temporarily steps in. The students must fend for themselves, and Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), takes it upon himself to start up an after-hours training class so that young wizards can learn how to defend themselves. The Order of the Phoenix is one of the darker films in the franchise, but the training montage shows the wizards learning knew skills and discovering each of their personal Patronuses. A Patronus is a spell that is difficult to cast, but it takes a specific form based on the wizard who casts it. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has one of the most unique training sequences in modern cinema, and proves that training can take many forms, not just physical.
4 Batman Begins
The release of 2005's Batman Begins marked the start of Christian Bale's career as Batman, and one of the main focuses to the first installment is his training. Set on cleaning up the crime in Gotham City, a young man named Bruce Wayne travels to the East to be trained in the area of martial arts. Bruce's trainer Henri Ducard, played by Liam Neeson, teaches him all the ins and outs of the martial arts, from hand-to-hand combat and fighting with weapons to becoming one with the shadows. The intense training shows the diligence put in, and Bale plays it well. However, once Wayne realizes that Henri's intent is to completely obliterate Gotham City, he leaves and vows to defend the city without senseless killing.
3 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
The Empire Strikes Back, techically part five of the franchise, follows the same band of heroes from A New Hope. Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and Luke Skywalker band together in the effort to defeat Darth Vader and the Death Star. Luke separates from the group in an attempt to locate Yoda so that he can go through his Jedi training. Eventually, he finds Yoda hidden in a swamp, and his journey towards becoming a Jedi begins. Frustrated at first, Luke grows tired, thinking that his training should be more intense, but with Yoda's ever-necessary patience, Luke learns to use the Force and, more importantly, practice patience. The Empire Strikes Back concludes with one of the Star Wars franchise's best lightsaber fight scenes — the duel between Luke and Darth Vader — proving just how necessary his training was.
2 Karate Kid
The 1980s provided a slew of classics, and among these was 1984's Karate Kid. The plot of Karate Kid is a tale as old as time, as a young boy named Daniel, played by Ralph Macchio, is bullied by a group of martial arts students. He must prepare to fight and defend himself against the members of a group called the Cobra Kai, and leans on the help of a repairman who is actually highly skilled in martial arts. Mr. Miyagi, played by Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, teaches him patience, and the true beauty of martial arts. One of the best parts of the training montage between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi is the silent bond and respect the two share with one another.
1 Rocky
1976's Rocky easily sits among the top best sports films ever made. It tells the story of hard work, determination, and what it means to truly want something. Rocky is hands-down one of the best underdog stories of all time. The film follows Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer who works for a loan shark. He is selected by Apollo Creed to be his competition in an upcoming fight, and after some reluctance, Rocky agrees to fight him for the $150,000 prize. Although Creed is declared the winner at the end of a brutal fight, Rocky's training montage is the true winner of the film. The mix of lifting music and watching the progression of a man into a champion not only shows the heart of the film, but also tells a true story for so many athletes out there.