In this article we will recall the best films about boxing (the list is quite large) and also mention the paintings about Muay Thai. If the dozens of the most diverse masterpieces featuring celebrities took part in the first, the Thai art, although it is a more dangerous and aggressive direction, still does not receive such attention from the directors. So, let's take a closer look at the best boxing films. The list, rating and description of the most successful paintings are later in the article.
Rocky Balboa (rating 7.4)
If talking about boxing movies, the first name that comes to mind is Rocky Balboa. This is a series of films that has now become a classic of the genre. It all started with the story of an average boxer who lived in poverty in Kensington's poor neighborhoods. During the day, the athlete was engaged in all kinds of lawlessness, participating in the dismantling of his boss, and at night boxing in the ring, sparing no strength and health, with only one goal - to become the world champion.
Who knows, maybe an inconspicuous guy would have remained a fighter of the middle arm, but suddenly he has a unique chance - to box for the world title with the famous Apollo Creed. The fact is that the first rival of a professional boxer was injured and could not enter the ring. The famous Apollo, not wanting to wait for the opponent to recover, makes a strange decision, designed to promote his promotion - to challenge the boxer Rocky Balboa, nicknamed the Italian stallion. The young man naturally agrees to the fight, because he realizes that such a chance falls once in a lifetime.
"Fighter" (rating: 7.8)
The picture “Fighter” is deservedly included in the best films about boxing. The list could not contain films based on real events. The main character Mickey is a rather average boxer: he often loses fights and does not make much impression. He is coached by his own brother, a good boxer in the past, and nowadays a drug addict and a drinker. Mickey’s manager is his own mother, who thinks extremely subjectively and believes that Mickey’s main task is to always stay with his family, and not go outside to train.
The drug-addicted brother, who is often on the prowl, and not in the boxing gym, and his overly ambitious mother, with little understanding in boxing, drive Mickey into a dead end: a fight with an opponent who is clearly heavier than the hero ends in beating the protagonist. And in addition, in a street skirmish with the police, in which Mickey got through the fault of his brother, the character is severely injured. In the future, the boxer decides to leave his mother and brother and train with qualified specialists. But this decision ultimately goes sideways for him.
“Knockdown” (rating 8.2)
What other boxing films are there? The list of the best replenishes the wonderful project “Knockdown”. This is one of the most popular films about classical martial art today, which has won the recognition of viewers and critics.
Jim Braddock, a heavyweight boxer, is going through hard times: the athlete suffers several painful defeats in a row and receives serious injuries. Having made a difficult decision, he leaves the sport, fully concentrating on providing for his family.
The era of the great depression is not the best time for an unsuccessful athlete who wants to start a new life. Jim undertakes any, even the most menial work, to get an extra dollar and feed his wife and children. However, in his mind he does not for one minute leave the desire to once again enter the ring. And in the end, he gets such a chance.
Jim is offered good money for an exhibition fight against a fighter whose opponent suddenly dropped out of the tournament. Jim agrees to resume training and begins to work hard on himself. Full of enthusiasm, the hero in the third round knocks out an opponent, thereby continuing his journey to the top of Olympus. The final opponent of Jim should be Max Baer - a boxer who has twice killed in the ring.
“Million Dollar Baby” (rating: 8.1)
The best films about boxing, the list of which would be incomplete without a picture of women's sports, are complemented by this wonderful dramatic film. This film tells mainly about women's boxing.
The main character Maggie is a novice boxer. The girl works as a waitress in an eatery, trying to make ends meet. Life is so difficult that the heroine often consumes scraps left by visitors. In the evenings, she comes to the gym and tirelessly pounds a punching bag. Strict coach Frank Dunn initially refuses to take custody of the girl, but over time, admiring Maggie’s strength of fortitude and stamina, decides to start training her, and a little later exposes her for the first amateur fights.
Shocking the audience, Maggie smashes opponents to pieces, often ending fights with just one precise blow at the beginning of the first round. Over time, the rating of a girl-boxer grows, as do the fees for victories. However, finances and fame do not help her to establish relations with an arrogant mother who does not put her own daughter in anything.
In the fateful fight, Maggie’s rival, an extremely “dirty” athlete, pushes the heroine after hitting the gong in the back, and she falls to the edge of the stool, which was set up by the coach in the corner of the ring. As a result, Maggie breaks the cervical vertebrae and becomes a paralyzed disabled person.
“Undisputed 2” (rating 7.6)
This film can only conditionally be called boxing, but nevertheless, the direction of classical martial arts is certainly present here. A hero named James Chambers, a formerly famous heavyweight boxer, is now forced to earn extra money in commercials to secure his life. Once at work, he finds himself in Russia and, as a result of the setup, he ends up in the terrible Russian Black Hills prison. Not only that this place contains the most inveterate villains (who for some reason everyone speaks English), the boxer also has to meet face-to-face with the authoritative Russian champion in prison fighting without rules, Yuri Boyko.
A certain Gaga - wealthier and more enthusiastic about betting on fights - offers James freedom in exchange for winning the fight against Boyko, and he, of course, agrees. However, the limited arsenal of boxing techniques does not allow to defeat a fighter without rules, owning deadly kicks, knees and other fighting techniques. In addition, James own second mixes some poison into the water, because of which the mind of the boxer becomes cloudy, and the Russian safely brings the battle to an end.
However, this does not end there. Gaga promises to give James a second chance. In prison, the boxer meets a former special agent paralyzed below the belt, who teaches him many tricks typical of fights without rules. And now, before the final match, Chambers is ready to surprise the Russian champion.
List of other boxing movies
Above were discussed some films about boxing. The list of the best, Russian paintings that did not make it, could be richer, but other films are significantly inferior to those listed in popularity. Among them are Gladiator, Shadow Boxing, Resurrection of the Champion, and Women's Boxing.
Ong Bak (rating 7.5)
Unfortunately, the best films about boxing, the list of which has always been very long, are rarely diluted with projects about the Thai version of this martial art. Not only are they released by units, but almost all of them look very weak and corny. Only one standing picture comes to mind - Ong Bak, the protagonist of which was played by the incredible Tony Ja, who in real life is an excellent tayboxer and acrobat. Films about Thai boxing (the list of the best is presented, in addition, by three paintings) are simply inconceivable without the participation of this master.
In the village of Nong Pradu, ordinary people live, young soldiers train. Bandits steal the head of Ong Bak, the main shrine in the village. Listening to the grief of the inhabitants, the promising warrior Ting volunteers to go to the big city and return the lost relic.
As you might guess, a fighter will face many difficulties along the way, because a bandit whose people stole the head of Buddha earns his living by stealing shrines from around the world. The second type of earnings of this villain is illegal fights without rules, on which, by chance, the main character finds himself. Hacking his way with his elbows, knees and legs, the protagonist seeks to regain the lost shrine and is ready to give everything for achieving the goal, including his own life.
Other Thai Boxing Films
Those who are interested in the best films about Thai boxing are also advised to familiarize themselves with such films as Kickboxer, Muay Thai: Honor Fighter, and Born to Fight.