The Boxer

R

Released Dec 19, 1997

1h 53m

Drama

List

81%

72 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Rising teen boxer and Belfast native Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis) was imprisoned for 14 years after getting involved with the Irish Republican Army. Newly freed from jail in his early 30s, Danny returns home and attempts to put his life back together. Reopening his neighborhood gym and reconnecting with his lost love, Maggie (Emily Watson), now a single mother while her husband is in prison, Danny battles against his former IRA compadres, including the militant Harry (Gerard McSorley).

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Critics Consensus

The Boxer is a standard drama that packs a true emotional wallop thanks to the highly tuned central performances.

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Alec B

The connection between boxing and the violence of northern Ireland is a bit on the nose but Day-Lewis is brilliantly low key key here.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/20/24

Full Review

Audience Member

The connection between boxing and the violence of northern Ireland is a bit on the nose but Day-Lewis is brilliantly low key key here.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The incredible fight scenes and the noir IRA story get lost in a much less interesting romantic story, no matter how well acted it is.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie is very pleasent, it has a very interesting setting and a great plot. At first I was afraid it was going to be the usual boxing movie, but it was not. I think the irish setting in that period of history is the most interesting part of the movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

charlie l

The Boxer squanders a strong story and stellar performances with a pacing that just doesn't quite match.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Hands down the most yearning, romantic, chemistry between the two leads in any movie - ever! The rest of the movie isn't bad either, but put Daniel and Emily in the same space and everything else fades away.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

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Jim Sheridan

Director

Daniel Day-Lewis

Danny Flynn

Emily Watson

Maggie

Brian Cox

Joe Hamill

Ken Stott

Ike Weir

Gerard McSorley

Harry

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

In each film he makes, Day-Lewis seems to adopt a new persona.

May 14, 2013

Full Review

David Stratton

sbs.com.au

An intelligent, provocative piece of cinema, with something quite bold to say in the Irish context.

Rated: 4/5

May 14, 2013

Full Review

Carrie Rickey

Philadelphia Inquirer

Day-Lewis has the ability to make the will to nonviolence look positively volcanic. And Watson, with her 200-watt incandescence, makes longing look radiant.

Rated: 3/4

May 14, 2013

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Gritty boxing picture.

Rated: B

Nov 12, 2023

Full Review

Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

Despite the limitations of its script, this story about violent men and the cycles of death and destruction that repeat themselves has dialogue that feels grounded in the real world.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 5, 2022

Full Review

Rachel Wagner

rachelsreviews.net

It is well acted and directed... It's just the script that could have been a little more memorable.

Rated: B-

Mar 12, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Rising teen boxer and Belfast native Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis) was imprisoned for 14 years after getting involved with the Irish Republican Army. Newly freed from jail in his early 30s, Danny returns home and attempts to put his life back together. Reopening his neighborhood gym and reconnecting with his lost love, Maggie (Emily Watson), now a single mother while her husband is in prison, Danny battles against his former IRA compadres, including the militant Harry (Gerard McSorley).

Director: Jim Sheridan
Screenwriter: Jim Sheridan, Terry George
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Hell's Kitchen Films
Rating: R (Some Violence|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 19, 1997, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.8M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: SDDS, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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