The Champ
A washed-up boxing champion risks everything in a desperate comeback to keep his young son from being taken by his wealthy estranged mother.
Overview
A father's fight for his son leads him back to the ring in a gripping tale of redemption.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- sentimental
- poignant
- earnest
- tearjerker night
- boxing movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the remake visually attractive and earnestly performed but overextended, excessively sentimental, and less effective than the original.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Billy’s alcoholism, gambling history, custody struggle, and return to boxing accumulate into deliberately heightened emotional pressure.
Billy returns to the ring to provide for and retain custody of his eight-year-old son T.J.
Billy is an ex-champion whose boxing career was derailed by booze and gambling, then attempts a comeback for his child.
The custody conflict with Annie is materially connected to Billy’s ability to return to professional boxing and support T.J.
Films like The Champ, and why
The Champ (1931)
sentimental sports drama centered on a flawed father and child, with a tearjerker tone
Cinderella Man
emotionally direct boxing drama focused on paternal sacrifice and redemption
The Wrestler
family-centered sports drama about an estranged parent trying to protect a child
Rocky
classic boxing melodrama combining working-class hardship, parental devotion, and sacrifice
Movie Details
- Director
- Franco Zeffirelli
- Release Date
- 1979-07-07
- Runtime
- 121 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (217)
Cast
- Jon Voight
- Faye Dunaway
- Ricky Schroder
- Jack Warden
- Arthur Hill
- Strother Martin
- Joan Blondell
- Mary Jo Catlett
- Elisha Cook Jr.
- Stefan Gierasch
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Champ about?
- A washed-up boxing champion risks everything in a desperate comeback to keep his young son from being taken by his wealthy estranged mother.
- What is The Champ like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Champ as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Champ violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Champ as mild.
- What did critics think of The Champ?
- Critics broadly found the remake visually attractive and earnestly performed but overextended, excessively sentimental, and less effective than the original.
- Which films are like The Champ?
- Films with a similar feel include The Champ (1931), Cinderella Man, The Wrestler, and Rocky.
- How long is The Champ?
- The Champ runs 121 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Champ?
- In United States, The Champ is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
