It’s that strange time of year again where in between your Friday Night Fights, commercials are now popping up with women enjoying chocolate and jewelry with more emotion than anyone ever asked to witness.
That’s right, America’s weirdest holiday, Valentine’s Day, is right around the corner.
No one actually likes this holiday, but conveniently enough, everyone’s significant other is really into it. Weird how that works out.
Anyway, after your lovely dinner and romantic walk around town is over, instead of popping in P.S. I Love You or The Notebook, throw on one of these boxing movies.
Your significant other is happy because of the time together, and you’re happy because you love boxing.
Win-Win.
Let us know what your favorite boxing-themed film is with a comment below.
1. The Rocky Series
Rotten Tomatoes: 1.5 – 4.5 stars
Instant classic, and everyone loves a good classic.
Honestly, if your date tells you that they’re not in the mood for some of the best 80’s montages of Sylvester Stallone awkwardly working out, dump them.
The Rocky films are perfect for watching a movie that you don’t need to really pay attention to, so go ahead and ask your Valentine how they enjoyed their soup earlier that night. Just make sure you’re listening for the training music and watching Rocky Balboa win in the last round of every fight.
2. Ali
Rotten Tomatoes: 3.5 stars
This film got an outstanding “good enough” review from critics and the audience.
It’s not that anyone thought the movie was bad or not well done, it’s just that when you make a movie about Muhammad Ali, it will never do the legend justice.
The biggest critique was that the film ran a little slow, and that didn’t encompass Ali’s personality. But hey, Ali films are limited, and this one seems to be the best choice we currently have.
On a positive note though, this movie is great for casual fans and Ali die-hards alike. It does a great job filling the viewer in on important details of his life.
3. Cinderella Man
Rotten Tomatoes: 4 stars
Like most boxing movies, this one follows the life of the real fighter, James J. Braddock. Except, this film did it really well.
Focused around the hardships of the Great Depression, Cinderella Man has a tough vibe to it. Hollywood did this film right in many areas, but they got hit over how much of a “bad guy” they made Max Baer out to be.
Sure, movies should have more drama in them than their counterpart real-life events, but did they really have to go around saying that Baer killed two guys instead of one?
Cinderella Man is also a bit of a slow burn, but it’s all worthwhile in the end.
4. Million Dollar Baby
Rotten Tomatoes: 4.5 stars
Females everywhere rejoiced when Million Dollar Baby came out, chanting “girls fight too,” and then immediately regretting all of it directly after the show.
What makes this film great though is that it doesn’t end the way that every other boxing movie ends (American flag draped over the shoulders with fist held high).
Maggie, the protagonist, actually gets hurt in an illegal, freak incident.
But that’s not even the end of the move. The last few (long) scenes show Maggie agonizing over her life in the hospital bed, mixed with her mom attempting to take her money and suicide attempts. And then…it’s over?
Seems like the perfect cuddling movie to me.
5. The Fighter
Rotten Tomatoes: 4.5 stars
The docudrama follows the life of Micky Ward, starring Mark Wahlberg, Amy Adams and a grossly skinny Christian Bale.
Did they portray Ward’s life and boxing record perfectly? No, but hey that’s Hollywood, and if they want to make a movie about an actual boxer and change his record around, then that’s what they’re going to do.
Oddly enough, the movie does not show the Micky Ward vs. Arturo Gatti trilogy, which is exactly what most of us were expecting the entire film to be about.
Regardless, for what it is, it’s a great movie, and the fact that it’s so recent makes it easier to watch.
6. Girlfight
Rotten Tomatoes: 4.5 stars
Predictable plot line, but there’s nothing wrong with that, especially if you’re looking for some inspiration to be a female fighter.
High school girl, Diana, decides one day that she wants boxing lessons like her brother, but the trainer is reluctant because (shock) she’s a girl. Diana is persistent though, and continues to convince the gym that she needs training and fights her way to the top.
Inspirational and a fun watch, but I think the real hidden moral here is that if the pretty, popular girls make fun of you at school, boxing is the right sport for you.
7. Gentleman Jim
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 5 stars
Maybe you’re not in the mood to watch a movie from 1942, but are you in the mood to watch a movie that was given a 100 percent rating from Rotten Tomatoes? Yes, you are.
Taking place in the late 1800’s, San Francisco, Gentleman Jim shows the life of James J. Corbett when boxing was illegal. To improve the reputation of the bloody sport, a local judge recruits upstanding gentlemen to fight, along with Corbett in the process.
Corbett takes the opportunity to shine some light on actual technique that goes into the sport, showing that with just a little bit of footwork training, you can not only win the fight, but also get the girl of your dreams.
8. Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956)
Rotten Tomatoes: 4 stars
Classic story of rags to riches, but it helps that it’s based off of the life of Rocky Graziano, who honestly needs more recognition than he’s currently given.
The movie starts out with Graziano growing up in the slums and being a stereotypical street-rat punk boy. After a slew of unfortunate events, the champ picks up boxing and it turns out he’s not too bad at it.
More slews of unfortunate events occur, but Graziano sticks with his new-found passion and rises to the top.
Another movie where you only need to halfway pay attention to get the main points, so you’re able to make as many popcorn trips as necessary.
9. Fight Club
Rotten Tomatoes: 4 stars
Does this count as a boxing movie? Yeah, we’re counting it.
Sure, it doesn’t have the classic “let me pound on this massive thawing piece of meat while I train for my next fight” montage, and there’s no actual ring that the fighters are stepping into, but if you can watch this movie and not want to beat up an absolute stranger by the end of it, then you need to put down your beer and watch the movie again.
This movie is all about the first ingredient towards boxing, which is becoming crazy enough to beat up anyone.
You have to actually watch and pay attention to the movie though, but depending on your relationship situation, this could be a good or bad thing.
10. Raging Bull
Rotten Tomatoes: 5 stars
80’s music and boxing just go incredibly well together.
The film follows Jake LaMotta in his journey to the top, but also focuses a lot on his love interest–Vicky–and the Italian mafia, which is something everybody loves to see in a movie.
Put boxing, love life and the mafia in the same movie, and I’m sure that the plot doesn’t need to go into much more detail. Don’t let that be a discouragement from watching it, though.
The best part is the end when LaMotta starts shadowboxing and chanting “I’m the boss.”
You laugh now, but you’ll be saying the same thing after the movie.
