Million Dollar Baby (2004)

All Critics (226) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (214) | Rotten (20) | DVD (39)

Like Eastwood, it's a relic that dazzles you with its footwork, daring and class.

August 1, 2008 Full Review | Comment

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby is a masterpiece, pure and simple, deep and true.

February 6, 2007 Full Review | Comments (8)

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

[A] solid boxing drama.

January 28, 2005 Full Review | Comment

Roger Moore

Orlando Sentinel

Top Critic

A glorious knockout punch of a movie.

January 15, 2005 Comment

Bruce Newman

San Jose Mercury News

Top Critic

No movie in my memory has depressed me more than Million Dollar Baby.

January 13, 2005 Full Review | Comments (5)

Andrew Sarris

New York Observer

Top Critic

The result is the kind of movie they don't make anymore -- a real crowd-pleaser.

January 7, 2005 Full Review | Comment

Ann Hornaday

Washington Post

Top Critic

Violent Oscar winner is inspiring but too intense for kids.

December 26, 2010 Full Review | Comments (3)

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Clint Eastwood can do it all.

April 29, 2009 Full Review | Comment

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

"Million Dollar Baby" is a tragic film about an innately paternal man's desperate need to overcome his own emotional traps and the loyal girl who facilitates his growth by her steely will and stubborn drive.

April 18, 2009 Full Review | Comment

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

This is an actor's piece, and Eastwood, Freeman, and Swank all deliver performances equal to or perhaps greater than any they've done in recent memory.

February 27, 2009 Full Review | Comment

Nick Nunziata

CHUD

Million Dollar Baby adds to Clint Eastwood's legacy in ways we might not have expected. It explores emotional terrain as he hasn't done before, and it gives him a kind of role that he has never had before.

February 2, 2009 Full Review | Comment

Tony Macklin

Bright Lights Film Journal

Just when you think he should be retiring, Clint Eastwood throws another one-two punch.

November 20, 2008 Full Review | Comment

Kit Bowen

Hollywood.com

This is Eastwood's weakest work in years, perhaps because it yokes itself to a hot-button theme instead of a story that resonates.

July 18, 2008 Full Review | Comments (12)

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

A devastating act of mercy for one character may very well cost the soul of another.

February 28, 2008 Full Review | Comment

Brandon Fibbs

BrandonFibbs.com

After the somewhat hysterical Mystic River - a flawed work dominated by a powerhouse performance from Sean Penn - this is a far more balanced piece, anchored by three terrific turns and some lean direction from Eastwood.

February 20, 2008 Full Review | Comment

James Mottram

Film4

Easily Mr. Eastwood's best film since Unforgiven.

July 14, 2007 Full Review | Comment

Joe Lozito

Big Picture Big Sound

Million Dollar Baby is a strong contender, but it suffers a TKO in the last round.

March 3, 2007 Comments (7)

Nell Minow

Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

what's great about Eastwood, is how he turns cliche to cinematic archetype, and throws in a modern twist at the same time

September 10, 2006 Full Review | Comment

Joseph Proimakis

Movies for the Masses

When you've seen the movie once and can anticipate the last act, however, the film has to rely more upon its philosophical and emotional stamina to hold your attention. The impulse to duck out and avoid the heavy blows becomes greater.

July 20, 2006 Full Review | Comment

Douglas Pratt

Movie City News

Quietly quite magnificent.

June 24, 2006 Full Review | Comment

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

HD takes it one step further, one increment of clarity beyond. (HD-DVD Edition)

April 21, 2006 Full Review | Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

• 1. Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris: Don't say that. Maggie walked through that door with nothing buts guts. No chance in the world of being what she needed to be. It was because of you that she was fighting the championship of the world. You did that. People die everyday, Frankie - mopping floors, washing dishes and you know what their last thought is? I never got my shot. Because of you Maggie got her shot. If she dies today you know what her last thought would be? I think I did all right
  – Submitted by Joseph F (4 months ago)
• 1. Frankie Dunn: Mo cuishle. It means my darling. My blood.
  – Submitted by Alejandro O (5 months ago)
• 1. Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris: [about Maggie's decision to go by air and back by car] She made her return trip by ambulance.
  – Submitted by Alyssa B (7 months ago)
• 1. Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris: Frankie likes to say that boxing is an unnatural act, that everything in boxing is backwards: sometimes the best way to deliver a punch is to step back... But step back too far and you ain't fighting at all.
  – Submitted by Chad E (8 months ago)
• 1. Maggie Fitzgerald: We're flyin'?
  2. Frankie Dunn: Would you rather drive?
  3. Maggie Fitzgerald: You're askin' me?
  4. Frankie Dunn: Would you rather fly or would you rather drive?
  5. Maggie Fitzgerald: So I finally get to decide somethin'.
  6. Frankie Dunn: That's what I'm sayin'.
  7. Maggie Fitzgerald: Fine. Fly there, drive back.
  8. Frankie Dunn: That's the stupid thing I've ever heard. Now, how are we gonna do that?
  9. Maggie Fitzgerald: You said it was up to me.
  – Submitted by Alyssa B (8 months ago)