Creed is back: the franchise-within-a-franchise that not only revitalized the Rocky brand but reinvigorated the sport as a film genre returns with a second sequel, this time helmed by star and first-time director Michael B. Jordan. The early word is promising, and it looks like we’re due for another gritty, but rousing, trip into the ring.
Boxing movies share tropes with sports movies generally, but throughout its history, the real-life version has tended to attract both bona fide athletes and a cross-section of America’s less privileged classes. With its sweaty, violent, and less-than-glamourous milieu, boxing has attracted plucky upstarts alongside the seamier elements (the histories of the American mob and boxing aren’t at much of a remove, for instance).
That complexity, while not always reflected on film, has inspired some thoughtful and deeply ambiguous narratives about the costs of fame and fortune, while also offering plenty of room for the fist-pumping moments that are the lifeblood of great sports movies. Here are 20 of the great movies that explore the many sides of America’s other national pastime.