Top 3 Boxing Films You Must Watch
Why do we love to see boxers beating each other to a pulp? Why are we so fascinated by this ancient and aggressive sport? Why do we all head to new casinos Canada to find a casino bonus in throngs to place bets on anyone willing to receive blow after blow in the name of boxing glory? Fistfights have been drawing crowds since time immemorial – even a punch up at a local pub is enough to whip a crowd into a frenzy. And the atmosphere at a heavyweight title fight is like nowhere else on Earth. Fighting for our lives is primordial, and while most of us will never actually raise our fists to anyone, seeing someone else doing so seems to spark a primordial response.
One thing is for sure: nothing lights up the silver screen quite like two boxers coming to blows in a career-defining boxing match. Audiences just love to watch an underdog fight their way to the top, and they love it even more when an old dog makes a comeback when seemingly all hope is lost. Boxing movies have taken us on some wild rides over the years. Even people who have no desire to watch a real boxing match are likely to get drawn-in to a movie about an ambitious and driven boxer willing to do whatever it takes to become a champion. The Rocky franchise is proof enough of how much we’re willing to invest in a story set in the world of boxing. But Rocky is not the only movie boxer worthy of your attention. There are other boxing movies that will get your hearts racing, and we’ve put together a list of our favourites. In no particular order, here are the top 3 boxing movies that you absolutely must see before you die:
Million Dollar Baby
Million Dollar Baby is Clint Eastwood’s masterpiece. Hilary Swank plays the title character in this story of an underdog fighting her way to the top, and Swank won an Oscar for her incredible performance. This is film, however, that doesn’t follow the usual underdog storyline. Yes, she manages to overcome huge obstacles to become an incredible force in the ring, but the film does not end with the usual uplifting of spirits that usually characterises the underdog story. Spoiler alert: this film will make you cry.
Creed
There’s really no need to list any of the Rocky movies here. It kind of goes without saying that you absolutely must watch Rocky, doesn’t it? But if you’ve passed on Creed just because you saw Rocky IV and lost hope that the Rocky franchise would ever recapture the magic, you’ve made a mistake. First of all, Rocky Balboa should have already brought you back into the fold, so if you missed that too, go and watch it now. Secondly, Creed is a movie that stands on its own two feet. You don’t need to have seen any of the Rocky movies to be able to get swept away in the masterful storytelling that Ryan Coogler and Michael B Jordan bring to the table with Creed. And if you are a die-hard Rocky fan, you’re going to love this next chapter because it pays homage to the original Rocky without drowning us in 80s nostalgia.
Raging Bull
With Raging Bull, Martin Scorsese explored the dark side of boxing. Robert De Niro plays Jake La Motta, a boxer who in no way is meant to represent a role model for young and upcoming boxers. De Niro’s portrayal of an alcoholic and aggressive boxer navigating his way through the savagery associated with the boxing world is masterful. Raging Bull is, by many, considered to be Scorsese’s seminal work. It certainly sheds a much darker light on a sport that has had it controversies over the years.