List of boxing films

This is a list of films about boxing featuring notable sports films where boxing plays a central role in the development of the plot. __TOC__

List Title Year Genre Notes Leonard–Cushing Fight1894DocumentarySilent filmCorbett and Courtney Before the Kinetograph1894DocumentarySilent filmBoxing Match; or, Glove Contest1896DocumentarySilent filmThe Corbett–Fitzsimmons Fight1897DocumentaryA full-length version of a 19th-century title bout.The Gordon Sisters Boxing1901DocumentarySilent filmThe Joe Gans – Battling Nelson Fight1906Archival footageSilent footage of most of the championship bout that lasted an astounding 48 rounds. The film company ran out of money – and film – in the 38th round and had to stop shootingThe Johnson–Jeffries Fight1910DocumentaryFootage from a bout between heavyweights Jack Johnson and James J. Jeffries.The Knockout1914Short subject, comedyTo show his girl how brave he is, Pug (Roscoe Arbuckle) challenges a champion.The Third String1914ComedyA man poses as a boxer to impress a barmaid and is forced to fight the champion.The Champion1915Short, comedyCharlie Chaplin puts a "good luck" horseshoe into his boxing glove and wins.The White Hope1915DramaAn Earl's sister returns to a boxer in time to help him win.Twenty-One1918ComedyA young man trades places with a lookalike boxer and learns to fight for what he wants.Square Joe1922DramaAn innocent boxer is convicted of killing a policeman during a raid on a gambling operation. He is sentenced to death and his friends attempt to locate the real murderer.The World's Champion1922DramaTo impress a British noblewoman, a man goes to America to put up his dukes.The Leather Pushers1922SerialAfter his father goes broke, a young man (Reginald Denny) fights for money.The Champeen1923Short subject, comedyOur Gang members promote and fight a boxing match.Hogan's Alley1925ComedyA knockout earns Lefty (Monte Blue) the title, but nearly costs him his girl.Battling Butler1926ComedySilent film directed by and starring Buster Keaton.One-Punch O'Day1926ComedyA whole town's money is riding on Jimmy O'Day (Billy Sullivan).The Shock Punch1926DramaRandall Savage floors a boxing champ, then a construction boss to win a girl.The Ring1927DramaAlfred Hitchcock silent film about a pugilist known as "One-Round Jack."Knockout Reilly1927DramaFalsely convicted of a crime, Reilly (Richard Dix) fights the guy who framed him.Boxing Gloves1929Short subject, comedyAn Our Gang remake of The Champeen (1923)Night Parade1929DramaA father tries to persuade his middleweight-champ son not to take a dive.The Shakedown 1929DramaA boxer who makes a living losing fixed matches decides to turn his life around.Hold Everything1930ComedyGeorges Carpentier's training is disrupted by an amateur called Gink (Joe E. Brown).City Lights1931ComedyA tramp (Charlie Chaplin) accumulates money by boxing to help a flower girl.The Champ1931DramaStory of a boy's love for a doomed ex-boxer. Academy Award for Wallace Beery.Iron Man1931DramaLightweight contender Kid Mason is betrayed by his scheming wife (Jean Harlow).Sidewalks of New York1931ComedyBuster Keaton stars as a gymnasium owner.Winner Take All1932DramaWashed-up Jimmy Kane (James Cagney) fights to help a young widow.The Big Timer1932ComedyCooky Bradford ends up fighting for, and falling for, his manager's daughter.They Never Come Back1932DramaA boxer framed for a crime fights to pay the debt of the friend who betrayed him.The Life of Jimmy Dolan1932DramaBelieved to be dead, a boxer (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) tries to begin a new life.Madison Square Garden1932DramaAfter a boxer (Jack Oakie) takes a beating, his fellow fighters come to his rescue.The Bermondsey Kid1933DramaA British newsboy ends up in a fight contest against a friend.The Prizefighter and the Lady1933Romantic ComedyReal-life boxer Max Baer co-stars in a glove story with Myrna Loy.Palooka1934ComedyJoe Palooka leaves rural life to follow a trainer (Jimmy Durante) to the big city.The Personality Kid1934DramaRitzy McCarty (Pat O'Brien) wins fixed fights, cheats on wife.Excuse My Glove1936ComedyA meek British man accepts a dare to step into a boxing ring at a fair.Conflict1936DramaJohn Wayne as a con man who loses bare-knuckle bouts on purpose.The Milky Way1936ComedyA milkman (Harold Lloyd) who can deliver a punch becomes an overnight sensation.Prison Shadows1936DramaOut on parole, a boxer called "Killer" ends up with most of his opponents dead.Two-Fisted Gentleman1936DramaA fast-rising prizefighter jilts his girlfriend and takes up with a blonde.Keep Fit1937ComedyA department store employee (George Formby) takes up boxing.Kid Galahad1937Crime, dramaNick Donati (Edward G. Robinson) turns a young bellhop into boxer Kid Galahad.The Duke Comes Back1937DramaDuke Foster weds a rich girl, then fights to aid her embezzler father.Hollywood Stadium Mystery1938MysteryA crimefighter and writer both try to solve a murder in a boxing ring.The Crowd Roars1938DramaAccidentally killing a friend in-ring, "Killer" McCoy must save woman he loves.Kid Nightingale1939DramaA singing waiter punches a customer, becomes a prizefighter.Golden Boy1939DramaA promising violinist (William Holden) risks his hands by prizefighting.Winner Take All1939DramaRodeo cowpoke turned pugilist fights for a female sportswriter (Gloria Stuart).There Ain't No Justice1939DramaAn aspiring boxer (Jimmy Hanley) discovers corruption in the sport.The Kid from Kokomo1939ComedyA manager (Pat O'Brien) helps a Hoosier palooka find his mother.They Made Me a Criminal1939DramaAccused of murder, a boxing champ (John Garfield) becomes a fugitive.City for Conquest1940DramaJames Cagney as a fighter who is blinded in the ring.Golden Gloves1940DramaA sportswriter sets out to clean up amateur boxing. Pride of the Bowery 1940 Comedy The East Side Kids turn to the boxing ring to help a friend. Here Comes Mr. Jordan 1941 Comedy A fighter taken too soon is reincarnated in a new body. Remade in 1978 as Heaven Can Wait, using American football as backdrop instead of boxing. Knockout 1941 Drama Arrogant boxer Johnny Rocket (Arthur Kennedy) has a manipulative manager.Bowery Blitzkrieg 1941 Comedy The East Side Kids end up in Golden Gloves bouts in this Bowery Boys tale.Ringside Maisie 1941 Romance Ann Sothern falls for the manager of a fighter blinded in the ring.The Pittsburgh Kid 1941 Drama Real-life boxer Billy Conn plays a contender falsely accused of a murder.Sunday Punch 1942 Rom-Com A janitor and a medical student become pals, then rival prizefighters.Treat 'Em Rough 1942 Comedy The Panama Kid (Eddie Albert) learns his father's accused of embezzling.Gentleman Jim1942BiographicalLight-hearted biopic, with Errol Flynn as heavyweight champ James J. Corbett. The Great John L.1945BiographicalBoston strong boy John L. Sullivan wins the belt, battles the bottle.Joe Palooka, Champ1946ComedyFirst of 11 Monogram films featuring comic-strip character.The Kid from Brooklyn1946ComedyRemake of 1936 milkman tale, this time with Danny Kaye.The First Glove1946ComedySoviet sports comedy film directed by Andrey Frolov about young boxer Nikita Krutikov.Body and Soul1947Film noirJohn Garfield is a boxer involved with corrupt promoters. Three Oscar nominations.Killer McCoy1947DramaMickey Rooney fights to pay off his dad's gambling debts.Whiplash1948Film noirA painter adopts the ring name "Mike Angelo" when he fights for a sadistic club owner. The Big Punch1948DramaRefusing to take a dive, an honest kid (Gordon MacRae) gets framed for a murder.The Set-Up1949Film noirA has-been boxer's manager bets on him to lose, with dire consequences if he doesn't.Fighting Fools1949ComedyThe Bowery Boys work at a boxing arenaChampion1949Film noirAn arrogant fighter (Kirk Douglas) makes it to the top, alienating all who care about him. Six Oscar nominations.Duke of Chicago1949ComedyChicago's retired Jim Brody makes a comeback against champ Killer Bronski.Right Cross1950RomanceJune Allyson takes over dad's fight promotions, handles boxer Ricardo Montalbán.The Golden Gloves Story1950DramaAn amateur boxer falls in love with a referee's daughter.Iron Man 1951 Drama A coal miner turned prizefighter loses control inside the ring.Day of the Fight 1951 Documentary Stanley Kubrick's first film, a documentary on middleweight Walter Cartier.The Quiet Man1952RomanceA visiting American ex-boxer (John Wayne) meets an Irish lass (Maureen O'Hara) and literally has to fight for her. Seven Oscar nominations.The Fighter1952DramaA story by Jack London about a fighter during the 1910 Mexican rebellion.Flesh and Fury1952DramaA deaf boxer (Tony Curtis) wins the title, undergoes an operation so he can hear.The Ring1952DramaA young Mexican (Lalo Ríos) seeks respect of Americans and love of a beauty (Rita Moreno).Glory Alley1952DramaSocks Barbarossa (Ralph Meeker) bolts from a New Orleans ring one night, without explanation.The Joe Louis Story1953BiographicalThe life and career of the longtime champ, played by Coley Wallace.Off Limits1953ComedyA boxer (Mickey Rooney) is drafted into the Army, so his manager (Bob Hope) enlists.It's Always Fair Weather1953MusicalFight manager Gene Kelly discovers his contender is about to take a dive.The Flanagan Boy1953DramaBritish film about a rising ring star who falls for a millionaire's wife.The Square Ring1953DramaBritish film about one night's events inside a boxing arena.Champ for a Day1953DramaAfter his manager is murdered, a heavyweight schemes to get even. Tennessee Champ1954DramaA devoutly religious boy mistakenly believes he killed a boxer (Charles Bronson).The Long Gray Line1955BiographicalA look at the 50-year career of Martin Maher who served as boxing instructor at West PointThe Harder They Fall1956Film noirA former sportswriter (Humphrey Bogart) works for a mobster who fixes fights.Somebody Up There Likes Me1956BiographicalTwo-time Oscar-winner based on life of Rocky Graziano, played by Paul Newman.The Square Jungle1956DramaA grocery clerk (Tony Curtis) fights his way to the middleweight title.World in My Corner1956DramaNew Jersey boy (Audie Murphy) seeks fame, fortune to impress millionaire's daughter.The Leather Saint1956DramaA young Episcopalian minister (John Derek) boxes to raise funds for his church.Monkey on My Back1957BiographicalBarney Ross's boxing career leaves him with a morphine habit.The Crooked Circle1957DramaA sportswriter (Steve Brodie) helps a contender cope with criminals.And the Same To You1960ComedyFilm adaption of the 1958 ITV Play of the Week episode, "The Chigwell Chicken."Requiem for a Heavyweight1962DramaA punchy fighter (Anthony Quinn) is betrayed by his manager (Jackie Gleason).Kid Galahad1962MusicalA young Catskills car mechanic (Elvis Presley) turns out to pack quite a punch.Legendary Champions1968DocumentaryHarry Chapin's look at boxers of yesteryear.Urtain, el rey de la selva... o así1969DocumentaryFilm about future European heavyweight champion José Manuel Ibar. Notably features Spanish singer Marisol.The Great White Hope1970Romantic dramaBased on Jack Johnson, story of black prizefighter in early 20th century. Oscar-nominated performances by James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander.Fat City1972DramaA broke, broken-down fighter (Stacy Keach) tries a comeback as a young one (Jeff Bridges) learns the ropes. Oscar nomination for Susan Tyrrell.All American Boy1973DramaThe young boxer Vic Bealer (Jon Voight) in search for some direction in his life.Muhammad Ali: The Greatest 1974 Documentary Photographer William Klein's look at Muhammad Ali.Hard Times1975DramaIllegal bare-knuckle bouts in Louisiana, starring Charles Bronson.Let's Do It Again1975ComedyBill Cosby and Sidney Poitier as Atlanta men who rig a match for a good cause.Rocky1976DramaAcademy Award winner for Best Picture about a Philadelphia pug (Sylvester Stallone) who gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.The Greatest1977DramaBiographical film with Muhammad Ali as himself.Every Which Way but Loose1978ComedyA trucker (Clint Eastwood) with a pet orangutan fi