Last month saw the release of Bruised on Netflix. The MMA drama, starring and directed by Halle Berry, is about a disgraced fighter who finds redemption in the cage and the courage to face her demons when the son she gave up as an infant unexpectedly reenters her life. In Netflix's Top 10 for a third-straight week, the film has certainly found an audience.
Fighting movies can be some of the rawest around when it comes to emotion. Usually following underdogs or those with troubled pasts, the stories evoke a strong sense of relatability as the protagonists are generally flawed and more human. While every fan of the genre has likely seen Rocky, The Fighter, The Wrestler and Million Dollar Baby, there are a number of under-seen gems viewers may have missed.
Cardboard Boxer (2016) Available On Peacock TV - 6.4
While most fighting movies see an underdog get a title shot, some fighters are just trying to survive. Cardboard Boxer stars Thomas Haden Church as a homeless man trying to escape a violent world when two teens pay him to fight others.
The film is led thanks to the captivating performance by Church, who humanizes his character. Viewers can't help but empathize with him, as he strives to survive as someone down-on-his-luck. While not fighting for a championship, he is just fighting for a better life. Cardboard Boxer also stars Terrence Howard, Boyd Holbrook and Macy Gray.
Grudge Match (2013) Available On Hulu - 6.4
Grudge Match reunites a pair of audience favorites and answers the age-old question of who would win in a fight. Starring Robert De Niro (Raging Bull) and Sylvester Stallone (Rocky), the movie follows a pair of aging boxing rivals who are coaxed out of retirement to fight one final bout, 30 years after their last match.
In addition to its two leads, the stacked cast also includes Kim Basinger, Alan Arkin, Kevin Hart, Jon Bernthal and Anthony Anderson. While the draw is seeing two boxing movie legends go at it in the ring, there is more to the story. Both boxers try to recapture past glory while recognizing past regressions. The movie looks at what it takes to be a champ and the sacrifices one has to make along the way.
Here Comes The Boom (2012) Available On Netflix - 6.4
Not all fighting movies have to be serious dramas. Starring Kevin James, Henry Winkler and Salma Hayek, Here Comes The Boom is certainly more comedic, while still having some more serious moments. The movie follows a high-school biology teacher looking to become a successful mixed martial arts fighter in an effort to raise money to prevent extracurricular activities from being axed at his cash-strapped school.
With the comedy center stage, the feel-good underdog tale has enough heart and pathos to be taken seriously. James is believable as a down-trodden teacher looking for a spark in his life and audiences can't help being invested in his quest.
Hands Of Stone (2016) Available On The Roku Channel - 6.6
A strong cast and an interesting story lead Hands Of Stone. The movie stars Edgar Ramirez as the legendary boxer, Roberto Duran, and follows his relationship with trainer Ray Arcel (Robert De Niro). Viewers follow Duran as he rises through the ranks as a 16-year-old until his retirement and all the struggles that result from doing what you believe in.
Hands Of Stone also stars Ana de Armas, Ellen Barkin, John Turturro and Usher. While the story follows some familiar movie tropes, Duran's life is interesting enough to keep viewers' attention throughout. De Niro once again plays a real person and is believable as the legendary trainer who comes out of retirement to aid Duran.
Resurrecting The Champ (2007) Available On Fubo TV - 6.7
While set in the world of boxing, Resurrecting the Champ is a fighting movie that goes further than just the sport. The movie follows an up-and-coming sports reporter who rescues a homeless man claiming to be a former boxing legend that everyone believed had passed away. Starring Josh Hartnett and Samuel L. Jackson, the film sits at 60% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Also starring Alan Alda and Teri Hatcher, Resurrecting the Champ is a story of a man blinded by glory. Hartnett plays a rising sports journalist who sees a path to fame and fortune without doing his due diligence. Jackson steals the show as a homeless boxer looking to pick up the pieces of his life.
Bleed For This (2016) Available On Apple TV - 6.8
Based on the inspiring true story, Bleed For This follows World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza, who after a near-fatal car crash, strives to make an incredible comeback. Miles Teller stars as the man who won't settle for the word "no."
The inspirational tale is led by the captivating acting of Teller and Aaron Eckhart as his unconventional trainer. The duo's chemistry shines as everyone else leaves the boxer for dead and recommends he retires. The story looks at the determination and courage it takes to continue fighting for your dream when one more hit could mean light out.
Real Steel (2011) Available To Rent On Apple TV - 7.0
At its core, Real Steel is a true feel-good father-son underdog story. Set in a future where robot boxing is the top sport, a struggling ex-boxer feels he's found a champion in a discarded robot. Starring Hugh Jackman in one of his best movies as a down-on-his-luck boxer, the movie has no shortage of heart.
While the thrilling robot boxing scenes are front and center, the film excels with its quieter moments. Real Steel's strength is the family drama between Jackman and his abandoned son. As the two bond and reconnect over a scrappy discarded robot, Jackman's past threatens to catch up with him when he starts to get another taste of success.
Fighting With My Family (2019) Available To Rent On Apple TV - 7.1
Fighting With My Family is a fish-out-of-water tale of fighting for a dream and accepting defeat. Based on a true story, the film follows a former wrestler and his family making a living performing at small venues around the country, while his kids dream of joining the WWE.
Florence Pugh stars as Saraya (Paige) Knight in a top-ranked performance, a hopeful wrestler from Norwich, England. Paige leaves her supportive family and travels to Florida where she tries to make it in the WWE despite her eccentric family background. While Paige fights for her dream, her brother has to figure out what comes next as his professional hopes start to wane.
Southpaw (2015) Available On Vudu - 7.4
Southpaw takes a look at what happens when a champion's life falls apart in front of his eyes. After a fatal incident sends him on a rampant path of destruction, a champion boxer fights to get custody of his daughter and revive his professional career. Jake Gyllenhaal is captivating as boxer Billy Hope.
Southpaw can be considered one of the best boxing movies of all time. Rachel McAdams, Forest Whitaker, 50 Cent and Naomie Harris co-star in the redemption tale, and any sports fan can appreciate Gyllenhall's plight from hero to zero. A man with nothing else to lose could easily spiral into defeat and give up, but Hope lives up to his name and fights not only in the ring but outside of it to reclaim his life.
Warrior (2011) Available On Fubo TV - 8.1
The best fighting movies step away from the ring and focus on a more familial story and Warrior is no exception. The movie follows the youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returning home to be trained by his father for a Mixed Martial Arts tournament - a path that puts him on a collision course with his estranged, older brother.
Warrior is led by stellar acting performances from Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Supporting Actor Nominee Nick Nolte. The story focuses on a fractured family trying to pick up the pieces and reconnect as all three members of the Conlon clan's lives intersect. Each fight in the tournament builds tension as these two unlikely brothers strive to do the impossible and claim victory while mending old wounds.