The Fighter

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The Fighter

R

Released Dec 17, 2010

1h 56m

Drama

Biography

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Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

254 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

For Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), boxing is a family affair. His tough-as-nails mother is his manager. His half-brother, Dicky (Christian Bale), once a promising boxer himself, is his very unreliable trainer. Despite Micky's hard work, he is losing and, when the latest fight nearly kills him, he follows his girlfriend's advice and splits from the family. Then Micky becomes a contender for the world title and he -- and his family -- earns a shot at redemption.

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Critics Consensus

Led by a trio of captivating performances from Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, and Amy Adams, The Fighter is a solidly entertaining, albeit predictable, entry in the boxing drama genre.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Overall The Fighter is a touching, soulful knockout of a movie.

Rated: A

Sep 9, 2017

Full Review

Philip French

Guardian

Both Wahlberg and Bale are excellent in their different registers, as are Melissa Leo and Amy Adams as the differently calibrated women.

Feb 7, 2011

Full Review

David Sexton

London Evening Standard

Wahlberg, always so physically solid, is deep inside himself in this role.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 4, 2011

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

While at its core, The Fighter does become a predictable boxing comeback film building to that Hollywood ending, the performances and acting clinic in action are worth your attention and audience.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 13, 2024

Full Review

Danilo Castro

Next Best Picture

Bale, Leo, and Adams are exceptional, and Russell’s ability to imbue a conventional underdog premise with his high-strung eccentricities gives the film a unique texture.

Rated: 8/10

Jul 11, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

The film falls somewhere between bare-knuckle and blue collar, brought to the screen with that docu-style handheld-camera that indie filmmakers so love to use for bracing reality, and Irish family melodrama...

Aug 19, 2023

Full Review

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Stephen H

Just superb all around. Incredible performances.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/11/24

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Audience Member

With a fantastic plot and even better acting from everyone involved, this is as good as it gets for a boxing movie. I'd dare to even say the best Wahlberg movie to date. Christian Bale does what he does best and delivers a very compelling drug addicted crap stain. Don't sleep on this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/14/24

Full Review

Tony P

Another one of my all time favorite movies which had a really good cast with a very good story!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/28/24

Full Review

Max W

Great story with a satisfying ending. Loved both Wahlberg and Bale. HEAD BODY HEAD BODY

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/27/24

Full Review

Dan R

Probably the best sport biopic movie, 2 stories being told along side each other, definitely tugging on a few heart strings. My favourite Christian Bale performance, true work of art.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/08/24

Full Review

kevin k

ABSOLUTELY, one of the WORST films EVER!!!! The character played by Christian Bale is putrid and makes me want to throw up!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BOTH the character and the portrayal are ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC!!!!! One of the WORST FILMS -->> EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mark Wahlburg / Amy Adams - YOU should NOT have been involved with this TERRIBLE film!!! Christian Bale - YOU should be ASHAMED of yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/18/24

Full Review

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David O. Russell

Director

Mark Wahlberg

Micky Ward

Christian Bale

Dicky Eklund

Amy Adams

Charlene Fleming

Melissa Leo

Alice Ward

Jack McGee

George Ward

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The Fighter: Official Clip - Micky Fights Sanchez

2:05

The Fighter: Official Clip - Making Things Right

2:13

The Fighter: Official Clip - I Thought You Were My Mother Too

1:53

The Fighter: Official Clip - Don't Call Me Skank

1:52

The Fighter: Official Clip - Dickie Sings the Blues

2:13

The Fighter: Official Clip - The Fighting Family

2:02

The Fighter: Official Clip - Dickie Takes the Cake

1:49

The Fighter: Official Clip - That's My Life

1:16

The Fighter: Official Clip - There Wasn't Even Any Good Sex in It

2:13

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The Fighter: Trailer 1

2:24

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Synopsis

For Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), boxing is a family affair. His tough-as-nails mother is his manager. His half-brother, Dicky (Christian Bale), once a promising boxer himself, is his very unreliable trainer. Despite Micky's hard work, he is losing and, when the latest fight nearly kills him, he follows his girlfriend's advice and splits from the family. Then Micky becomes a contender for the world title and he -- and his family -- earns a shot at redemption.

Director: David O. Russell
Producer: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, Ryan Kavanaugh, Mark Wahlberg, Dorothy Aufiero, Paul Tamasy
Screenwriter: Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Mandeville Films, Closest to the Hole, Relativity
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Drug Content|Sexuality|Some Violence)
Genre: Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 17, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $93.6M
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS

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