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Thriller in Manila

Play trailer Poster for Thriller in Manila 2008 1h 31m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
The intense rivalry between American heavyweight boxers Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier is examined in this documentary. Smarting from his earlier defeat by Frazier, Ali fueled a bitter feud in the media, leading up to 1975's "Thrilla in Manila," the much-hyped Philippines-set rematch of the two titans. The film depicts the landmark fight, which lasted 14 rounds, and also reveals what was happening outside of the ring as Ali and Frazier relentlessly pummeled each other.

Critics Reviews

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Todd McCarthy Variety 01/30/2009
Unavoidably fascinating, especially for fight fans, due to the participation of Frazier and other survivors of the era. Go to Full Review Andy Dehnart Reality Blurred 04/02/2020
It fails to answer the intriguing question posed at the beginning about why Ali has been so elevated by history and Frazier mostly forgotten. Go to Full Review Simon Gallagher What Culture 05/03/2014
3/5
Whether it is due to the almost-pantomime way that Ali is vilified throughout, without suitable riposte, or the quasi-grotesque manner in which Frazier comes across on screen, the overall resolution is one of melancholy and not, sadly, of triumph. Go to Full Review Cathleen Roundtree Boxoffice Magazine 01/20/2009
4/5
Perhaps Thriller in Manila will set the record straight. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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01/11/2012 One of boxing's best documentaries is the story of one of the sport's greatest rivalries. The Ali-Frazier battles went beyond the inherent emotions of the fight game; they represented the socio/racial/political struggle that defined what America was experiencing in the 1970s. The film chastises Ali for his viscious verbal attacks on Frazier and touches on how the Nation of Islam may have exploited the self-proclaimed "Greatest," for financial and political gain. Watching this film you can't help but root for Frazier who not only lost two of the three fights with Ali but failed to win the respect of a nation that poured its adulation on Ali. Whether you like boxing or not, this is a documentary worthy of your time. See more 01/07/2012 A fascinating glimpse into one of boxing's greatest bouts. Thriller in Manila deconstructs the mystique of Ali while showcasing the latter day struggles of Frazier. See more 11/21/2011 An interesting documentary for anyone who has any amount of interest in boxing. I've always considered myself a big Muhammed Ali fan, so watching this movie allowed me to see things from a different perspective. Since I wasn't alive for the actual fight, this recount was really intriguing for me to see just how dramatic it was. I never thought of Frazier as more than a big strong oaf that Ali conquered, but this movie drew a lot of sympathy for him from me when it showed how he was just a humble fighter with a huge love for the sport. Overall it's a real eye-opener for anyone who's interested in the politics of boxing. See more 11/06/2011 Sevärd och mångtydig dokumentär om rivaliteten mellan Joe Frazier och Muhammad Ali. Går väldigt långt i att problematisera Ali-myten utan att mytologisera Frazier. Kanske för långt? See more 01/16/2011 Documentary of Ali's matchup with Frazier in Manila, back in the mid 70's. Buildup, background and good commentary. See more 08/10/2010 (Watched Tue 11 Nov 2008) See more Read all reviews
Thriller in Manila

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Cast & Crew

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John Dower

Director

John Dower

Producer

John Smithson

Executive Producer

Elinor Day

Executive Producer

Andrew MacKenzie

Executive Producer

Ben Bartlett

Original Music
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Thriller in Manila

Thriller in Manila (2008) Thriller in Manila (2008) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The intense rivalry between American heavyweight boxers Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier is examined in this documentary. Smarting from his earlier defeat by Frazier, Ali fueled a bitter feud in the media, leading up to 1975's "Thrilla in Manila," the much-hyped Philippines-set rematch of the two titans. The film depicts the landmark fight, which lasted 14 rounds, and also reveals what was happening outside of the ring as Ali and Frazier relentlessly pummeled each other.
Director
John Dower
Producer
John Dower
Production Co
Darlow Smithson Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Jun 2, 2009
Runtime
1h 31m