Requiem for a Heavyweight

Play trailer

Requiem for a Heavyweight

Released Oct 16, 1962

1h 27m

Drama

Sports

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Fictional aging heavyweight Louis Mountain Rivera (Anthony Quinn) is felled by young Cassius Clay, the future Muhammad Ali, and finds his professional career over. His manipulative manager (Jackie Gleason) owes money on bets placed against Rivera, and convinces him to become a wrestler. Humiliated by the notion, Rivera examines the few options available in the afterglow of a boxing career. Rivera is broken and battered, but he continues to have the support of his trainer (Mickey Rooney).

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Requiem for a Heavyweight is a stirring character study of a battered boxer that may at times pummel its message yet finely retains cinematic métier and human nobility.

Read Critics Reviews

Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

This film is an honest, compassionate film in which fear, meanness, and sadism compete with generosity, loyalty, and plain shining goodness.

Feb 14, 2023

Full Review

Kate Cameron

New York Daily News

[The performers] all lend an emotional quality to the action that quickens the pulse of the audience.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 14, 2023

Full Review

Mae Tinee

Chicago Tribune

It's terse and unvarnished and carries a terrific impact.

Feb 14, 2023

Full Review

Jane Corby

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

There is an appealingly human quality about this film that may well get to any adult audience, even to those who never had a glove laid on them or even saw a prize fight.

Feb 14, 2023

Full Review

Sandra Saunders

Philadelphia Daily News

... A moving and compassionate study of a man struggling to maintain his personal dignity and integrity in a world that no longer has a place for him.

Feb 14, 2023

Full Review

Jay Carmody

Washington Star

“Requiem for a Heavyweight” is assured a top rung among 1962’s movies. Man's subhumanity to man is the theme of the film.

Feb 14, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Tony S

A prize fighter for 17 years, his career ends with being knocked out by Cassius Clay. With nowhere to turn, Mountain Rivera becomes Chief Mountain Rivera and resorts to professional wrestling. There's melancholy written all over this story.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/29/24

Full Review

Audience Member

movie,"Requiem for a Heavyweight"(1962) is a GREAT MOVIE to SEE! (I saw this at 7:30am(CT) Monday May 20, 2019 (on my TV(Spectrum channel 1248(KTBCDT2),of channel name "Movies!")(FREE(no CHARGE$) to see this movie)).) (I wrote this comment here at 9:46am(CT) Monday May 20, 2019, from GREAT city: Austin, Texas(TX).)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

ashley h

Requiem for a Heavyweight is an excellent film. It is about a Mountain Rivera who is mauled in a fight and forced to quit boxing. Anthony Quinn and Jackie Gleason give fantastic performances. The script is well written. Ralph Nelson did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama. Requiem for a Heavyweight is a must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not overly long but to the point. This is a serious old film nobody talks about, except mentioned by Jay Leno a few times.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not a bad movie, if you like boxing movies then you should watch this one.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Sad movie about a stumbly bumbly fighter.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Ralph Nelson

Director

Anthony Quinn

Louis "Mountain" Rivera

Jackie Gleason

Maish Rennick

Mickey Rooney

Army

Julie Harris

Grace Miller

Stanley Adams

Perelli

The Last Picture Show

98%

89%

The Last Picture Show

Watchlist

I Never Sang for My Father

100%

83%

I Never Sang for My Father

Watchlist

Hard Times

94%

81%

Hard Times

Watchlist

The New Centurions

60%

63%

The New Centurions

Watchlist

The Wild One

75%

71%

The Wild One

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Fictional aging heavyweight Louis Mountain Rivera (Anthony Quinn) is felled by young Cassius Clay, the future Muhammad Ali, and finds his professional career over. His manipulative manager (Jackie Gleason) owes money on bets placed against Rivera, and convinces him to become a wrestler. Humiliated by the notion, Rivera examines the few options available in the afterglow of a boxing career. Rivera is broken and battered, but he continues to have the support of his trainer (Mickey Rooney).

Director: Ralph Nelson
Producer: David Susskind
Screenwriter: Rod Serling
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures
Genre: Drama, Sports
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 1962, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 20, 2012
Runtime: 1h 27m

Most Popular at Home Now