The best boxing movies of all time
The top 3 according to 263 votes from people: Rocky (1976) · Creed (2015) · Raging Bull (1980). (Updated May 6, 2026.)
From Raging Bull to Creed: the boxing films critics and fans rank highest (Time Out, Rotten Tomatoes, TheSportster).
Top 12
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1
Rocky (1976)
The underdog story that set the standard for every boxing film.
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2
Creed (2015)
Michael B. Jordan and Stallone revive the saga.
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3
Raging Bull (1980)
Scorsese and De Niro's black-and-white portrait of Jake LaMotta.
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4
The Fighter (2010)
Boxing as family chaos, with Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg.
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5
Cinderella Man (2005)
Russell Crowe as James J. Braddock in the Great Depression.
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6
When We Were Kings (1996)
The documentary of Ali vs Foreman in Kinshasa.
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7
Fat City (1972)
John Huston's melancholy look at small-time fighters.
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8
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Clint Eastwood trains Hilary Swank's Maggie Fitzgerald.
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9
Body and Soul (1947)
John Garfield in the classic noir boxing film.
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10
Ali (2001)
Will Smith as Muhammad Ali, directed by Michael Mann.
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11
The Set-Up (1949)
Robert Wise's real-time story of an aging boxer.
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12
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Rocky's dignified last fight.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (6)
Raging Bull at #1 is correct, but Rocky is the one that makes me want to run up stairs.
When We Were Kings is a documentary and still one of the best boxing films ever made.
Where is Southpaw? Jake Gyllenhaal got so ripped for that.
Southpaw is fine but it's not on this level.
Creed is the best legacy sequel ever, Michael B. Jordan was born for that role.
The Set-Up being real time is such a cool idea for 1949.