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The Champ (1979)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 5/10
Reviews Counted: 20
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 12

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 3

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Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 7,275

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Movie Info

Billy (Jon Voight) is on the road with his son T.J. (Ricky Schroder), fighting low-end boxing matches for drinking money before moving on to the next town for another match. When his ex-wife (and T.J.'s mother) Annie (Faye Dunaway) shows up, it's to tell him that she wants custody of the boy. She has remarried and has risen to social prominence in her community. She wants the same for T.J. Determined to keep his son with him, Billy decides to train properly in order to be a success instead of

PG, 2 hr. 3 min.

Sports & Fitness, Drama

Directed By: Franco Zeffirelli

Written By: Walter Newman

In Theaters: Mar 20, 1979 Wide

On DVD: Jul 9, 2002

MGM Home Entertainment

The Champ Trailer & Photos

Cast

Jon Voight
Billy Flynn
Faye Dunaway
Annie
Rick Schroder
T.J. Flynn
Jack Warden
Jackie
Arthur Hill
Mike
Strother Martin
Riley
Joan Blondell
Dolly Kenyon
Mary Jo Catlett
Josie
Elisha Cook Jr.
Georgie
Bill Baldwin
Race Track Announcer
Jeff Blum
Jeffie
Randall "Tex" Cobb
Bowers
Larry Duran
Bowers' Handler #2
Dana Elcar
Hoffmaster
Gina Gallego
Cuban Girl
Stefan Gierasch
Charlie Goodman
Shirlee Kong
Donna Mae
Eddie Lopez
Dorothy Strelsin
Dolly's Guest
Jeff Temkin
Ring Announcer
Joe Tornatore
Hesh
Ken Wahl
Jodie Wilson
Mrs. Riley
Bob Gordon
TV Reporter
Allan Miller
Whitey
Sonny Shields
Bowers' Handler #1
William Fuller
Steward
Wally Rose
Bowers' Manager
Ernesto Morelli
Bar Patron
Kristoff St. John
Sonny
Wallace Beery
Ricky Schroeder

Critic Reviews for The Champ

All Critics (22) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (12) | DVD (9)

A three-alarm, three-hanky movie of the highest order, perfect for your kids who don't get to see many truly sad films.

April 1, 2007 Full Review Source: Denver Post

| Comment

Michael Booth

Denver Post

Top Critic

The tear-jerking is so determined and persistent that your ducts feel as if they'd been worked over with a catheter.

April 1, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

The most offputting thing about such canny, tear-stained movies as The Champ is not their na�vet� but their unholy sophistication. These movies don't mean to deal with the world as it really is, but as it should be.

May 9, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Vincent Canby

New York Times

Top Critic

Zeffirelli's inferior remake to King Vidor's 1932 classic, starring Jon Voight in the Oscar-winning role that Wallace Beery had originated, is a manipulative tear-jerking melodrama.

August 21, 2010 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

The original film took 85 minutes, this one 121; the extra length has not improved the story.

April 1, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

A pointless update of King Vidor's '30s weepie.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment (1)

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Pale remake of Wally Berry classic.

January 4, 2005 Comment

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan Source: Kansas City Kansan

Voight is fine as boxer on a comeback, but Ricky Schroeder steals the film. I dare you not to cry!

November 11, 2004 Comment

Michael A. Smith

Nolan's Pop Culture Review Source: Nolan's Pop Culture Review

I admit it. I cried.

February 13, 2004 Comment

Victoria Alexander

FilmsInReview.com

Seek out the 1931 King Vidor version.

August 21, 2003 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Champ

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Effective tearjerker is peopled with fine talent, some like Joan Blondell underused, but will stop at nothing to wring those tears from the audience.

April 23, 2009

jay nixon

Super Reviewer

Good movie.

April 23, 2009

Leigh Ryan

Super Reviewer

The Champ Quotes

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1. T.J. Flynn: I want Champ! I want Champ!
– Submitted by Melinda G (3 months ago)
1. Mike: What about me... I'm real too.
– Submitted by Melinda G (3 months ago)