Recommendations: 10 Best Boxing Movies That Aren’t Rocky or Creed

Recommendations: 10 Best Boxing Movies That Aren’t Rocky or Creed

With Creed III hitting theaters and having already completed our ranking of the Rocky franchise, I thought it’d be fun to present a list of boxing movies that don’t feature the Italian Stallion but are just as great. Without further ado, here are the 10 best boxing movies that aren’t from the Rocky and Creed franchise. Southpaw (2015) Jake Gyllenhaal got jacked for this underappreciated boxing gem from director Antoine Fuqua about a man who loses everything but gets one final shot at fame and glory. Production values are solid all around, and the boxing matches are impressive, but this...

With Creed III hitting theaters and having already completed our ranking of the Rocky franchise, I thought it’d be fun to present a list of boxing movies that don’t feature the Italian Stallion but are just as great. Without further ado, here are the 10 best boxing movies that aren’t from the Rocky and Creed franchise. Southpaw (2015) Jake Gyllenhaal got jacked for this underappreciated boxing gem from director Antoine Fuqua about a man who loses everything but gets one final shot at fame and glory. Production values are solid all around, and the boxing matches are impressive, but this is mainly Jake’s show, and the actor delivers an emotional performance as a man trying his best not to slide into the abyss of despair. It’s understandable. He was married to Rachel McAdams and living the majestic life of an up-and-coming boxer. I’d freak out, too, if McAdams was taken from me. At any rate, while not exactly  Rocky  levels of inspiration,  Southpaw  delivers the goods, even if you have to suffer quite a bit to get to the high points. The Fighter (2010) One of my all-time favorite flicks, David O. Russell’s  The Fighter  tells the true-life tale of Micky Ward and his relationship with his problematic brother Dicky. Boxing serves as the element that brings the Ward boys (and their eccentric family) together. Still, really this 2010 drama is about people fighting to break free from the shackles of life. Micky yearns for greatness but must constantly contend with his mother and brother, Dicky battles heroin addiction. At the same time, Micky’s love interest Charlene has to battle practically everyone to keep her man on the right path. Russell’s cinematic flourishes are abundant, but the performances from the impressive cast — notably Christian Bale, who won an Oscar for his efforts — really shine.  The Fighter  is one of the best films of the modern age. Million Dollar Baby (2004) Million Dollar Baby  isn’t for the faint of heart. Directed with a heavy hand by Clint Eastwood (who won an Oscar for his efforts), this heartbreaking melodrama knocks you out with a trio of incredible performances — Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman — and its powerful story about a trailer trash gal who convinces a grizzled old trainer to give her a shot at the big time.  Million Dollar Baby  traverses some unique territory and conjures up a stunning and shocking third act that’ll leave you speechless. Cinderella Man (2005) Ron Howard’s  Cinderella Man  is nowhere as good as it thinks it is but still gets by on pure charm and Russell Crowe’s magnetic performance. Earnest to a fault, this period epic tells the tale of James J. Braddock, an Irish-American boxer who breaks his hand, falls into poverty but gets another shot at the title thanks in no small part to his manager Joe Gould (scene stealer Paul Giamatti). Co-starring Renée Zellweger,  Cinderella Man  has its moments and indeed ends on a moment of inspiration. However, it can feel too much like Oscar fodder rather than a proper examination of its subject. Still well worth a watch, though. Ali (2001) I love  Ali . Most biographical epics bite off more than they can chew, resulting in a sprawling, albeit bite-sized, view of their heroes. With  Ali , director Michael Mann wisely frames his story during a pivotal stretch in the boxing icon’s life from 1964-74. The film explores Muhammad Ali’s stance against the Vietnam War, his exile from boxing, and his eventual comeback, and paints him as a flawed individual struggling to survive in a complex world. Will Smith is magnificent in the title role, while Jamie Foxx and Jon Voight deliver solid supporting turns. Here is a true story done right.  Snatch (2000) Boxing is only a tiny part of  Snatch , but that doesn’t prevent director Guy Ritchie from producing rough and gritty fight sce...