The slogan "Bread and circuses" was relevant in all eras of the existence of mankind, and to this day it remains so. Only here are all sorts of varieties of spectacles these days simply in abundance. But earlier, before the advent of television and the Internet, for example, in antiquity, the choice of entertainment was limited. Theater or fights. Actually, gladiatorial battles were a favorite pastime of the ancient Romans even before our era. Human nature is very bloodthirsty. There will always be those who want to fight, but there will be even more those who want to see it. It’s good when the fighters have weapons, but it’s even more interesting if the battle is ruled without.
Fights without rules in the cinema
Although in our time the sports industry in the combat direction is very developed, boxing, wrestling, sparring in karate and other martial arts, official fights without rules in professional rings, underground and street fights also take place. After all, if prohibited, then so interesting. Well, of course, this topic has taken its place in the cinema. Now watching the fights without rules is much more convenient at the computer or in front of the TV. Below are the top films about fights without rules, the best and most interesting films in this direction are selected.
First in ratings
The best film in this subject, according to fans of this genre, “Warrior” (2011) - opens our list. Films about fights without rules were shot both before and after, but he is definitely a favorite. The story of a young fighter Tommy Conlon, who decided to win the big MMA tournament called Sparta, and his father, a former boxer, and now an alcoholic loser, helps him train. Tommy manages to qualify to meet in the ring with his own sibling. The film is very strong, in addition to showing exciting fights, it reveals deep family conflicts, problems in relations between brothers. Old grievances appear right in the ring and seriously affect the outcome of the last battle.
The legendary masterpiece of the book by Chuck Palannik
The cult ribbon of 1999 under the name “Fight Club” continues the list. Films about fights without rules are not necessarily action movies, in this case it is a drama with a deep meaning and an unexpected ending. The life of the protagonist is monotonous and boring - the endless "Groundhog Day", everything is disgusted. Once he meets a certain Tyler Durden, who has a very peculiar philosophy and outlook on life, and he loves to fight. Gradually, more and more men gather around the clerk and his new friend, who liked such a philosophy of life and fighting without rule, and they organize a kind of “Fight Club”. What finally opens up to the main character completely reverses his worldview.
Prison fights
The following on the list: “Films about fights and fights without rules” are three whole films at once: “Non-negotiable” (2002), “Undisputed 2” (2006) and “Undisputed 3” (2010). In the first part, former boxing champion George Chambers ends up in prison, where his fights take place, in which Monroe Hutchen has been the winner for 10 years, and the hero has to face the duel according to local rules. In the second film, the cast has changed, but the hero is the same, and now he goes to Russia, where he, with the help of a businessman George, is large-scale substituted and sent to prison so that he fights with local champion Yuri Boyka. The hero is arranged a personal hell so that he fulfills the requirements of the businessman, only then they will let him go. In the third film, Yuri Boyka becomes the main character, who after an injury returns to the ring of underground prison battles in order to become a champion again. These excellent fighters rightfully take their place in the ranking: "Films about fights without rules: List of the best."
Younger means more violent
Now a little about youth fights. And again, several tapes are on our list. Films about fighting without rules, youth hits - this is "Never Give Up", the first and second parts. In the first film, which was released in 2008, the main character Jake Tyler, the best football player of the school, moves with his family to another city. However, everything is not going so smoothly in the new place, there is a conflict with a local star named Ryan McCarthy. But a new friend tells Jake about the local MMA tournaments and introduces the coach. And in the second part, there’s another story: there is a closed tournament in which there are only four applicants, they have one coach (former MMA champion). Which of them will be able to take the title of winner? The answer can be found if you watch these great movies about fighting without rules. The list of the best tapes of this genre would certainly not be complete without them.
Channing Tatum's “Fight Without Rules”
Every year, the niche of the genre of films about fighting without rules is replenished with new paintings. In 2009, the tape of the same name was released and, of course, got on our list. Films about fights without rules always turn out spectacular and exciting, because life and the fate of the protagonist are usually at stake. And so it happened in “Fight Without Rules” with Sean MacArthur, who came from a provincial town to big New York. At first, the guy was interrupted by casual earnings, often not too honest, until he met with Harvey Bordon, who introduced the hero to underground battles. In the beginning, everything worked out very well for Sean, but the question is: will luck spread to the main battle?
Other thematic films
The best films about fights and fights without rules are listed above, but in fact there are much more such films. Among films of this genre, it is definitely worth highlighting Fat Man in the Ring, released in 2012. It differs in that it is, in fact, a comedy about a school teacher who entered the ring to earn money for his school. You can also note other worthy films: "Wrestler" in 2008 with Mickey Rourke in the title role; three parts of a Thai action movie called Ong Bak; “Blood and Bone” (2009), where the main role was played by Michael J. White, the star of the second part of “Indisputable”, as well as the rather recent “Tekken” (2010) and “Tekken 2” (2014) - US-Japanese projects shot on the motives of the computer games of the same name about the near post apocalyptic future.
From the classics of the genre, attention should be paid to the “legend of video salons” of the late 80s - “Bloody Sport”. This film by Jean-Claude Van Damme, like many others in his filmography, is also devoted to the subject of fights and fights without rules.
Unfortunately, in Russian cinema this genre is not developed. Back in 2002, they made a promising Russian film about fights without rules called "Time of the Barbarians." The idea and plot were pretty good, and the tape could have been successful, but the project was frozen. And it is not known whether the Russian audience will ever see him. But in 2013 and 2014, several documentaries about fights without rules were released in Russia.