Never Back Down (2008)

All Critics (89) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (68) | DVD (5)

Movie is dopey. And with its emphasis on stupid violence, xylophone abs, and getting yourself on YouTube, it's yet another product that makes you feel bad about today's youth culture.

March 19, 2008 Full Review | Comment (1)

Gregory Kirschling

Entertainment Weekly

Top Critic

I laughed so much at the litany of clichés that I finally had to admit I was entertained from start to finish by this cheesy knock-off.

March 17, 2008 | Comments (3)

Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Top Critic

It's a little Karate Kid, a smidge of Fight Club...a lot of The O.C. (evil boy Gigandet played an evil boy on that series), and presto: probable hit.

March 14, 2008 Full Review

Michael Phillips

Chicago Tribune

Top Critic

The eternal battle between the hot-but-arrogant blond and the hot-and-likable brunet continues on new turf in the almost gleefully bad Never Back Down.

March 14, 2008 Full Review

Hank Sartin

Time Out New York

Top Critic

Towering above all is Hounsou, whose performance grants Never Back Down a measure of dignity.

March 14, 2008 Full Review

Tom Keogh

Seattle Times

Top Critic

The fights are parceled out at intervals during the last half, all leading to a climactic battle. But it's hard to build suspense when you know it is coming and you know who will win.

March 14, 2008 Full Review | Comment (1)

Ruthe Stein

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

Bloody fight film has heart, but it's no champion.

December 31, 2010 Full Review

S. Jhoanna Robledo

Common Sense Media

A naive and truly obnoxious movie about the world of Mixed Martial Arts.

October 18, 2008 Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian [UK]

While the character of Jake isn't an emotionally taxing one, Faris has his moments, especially in a low-key scene in which he attempts to explain why his character is full of rage.

October 18, 2008 Full Review

Steve Davis

Austin Chronicle

Here's what I hoped for: someone to root for, someone to root against, an inspiring coach, some eye candy and, of course, training montages. I got what I wanted.

August 27, 2008 Full Review | Comments (3)

Jeff Bayer

The Scorecard Review

A sort of teenage Fight Club, complete with daddy issues, Never Back Down is a slight refinement of the sort of picture that was ascendant in the '80s... [Blu-Ray]

August 5, 2008 Full Review | Comment (1)

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews

A generic, violent underdog story that pays a lot of lip service to non-violence when its characters aren't busy kicking and punching the tar out of each other.

July 23, 2008 Full Review

Tim Grierson

Screen International

People that actually think the trailer looks cool will probably like the movie enough and it does have some cool fights, I just couldn't get past the fact that the movie gave you no one to root for.

June 18, 2008 Full Review

Austin Kennedy

Sin Magazine

While both [this movie and "Karate Kid"] are unintentionally hilarious, the difference is no one will remember "Never Back Down" in two weeks, let alone 20 years.

June 11, 2008

Stephen Silver

The Trend

The acting is hammy, Djimon Hounsou shows up to give the flick a corny air of Karate Kid and there's nothing particularly original about the whole premise but somehow it works. It must be those abs. Or the kicks to them.

April 15, 2008 Full Review

Mike Sage

Peterborough This Week

Come back Mr Miyagi, all is forgiven.

April 8, 2008 Full Review

Matt McNally

BBC

A cliché-ridden guilty pleasure.

April 4, 2008 Full Review

Orlando Parfitt

IGN Movies UK

• 1. Ryan McCarthy: Step in or back the hell out.
  – Submitted by Justin R (4 months ago)
• 1. Ryan McCarthy: Well, we gotta give the people what they want.
  – Submitted by Jd H (15 months ago)
• 1. Ryan McCarthy: Its got to end with you looking like a bitch.
  – Submitted by Richard L (17 months ago)
• 1. Ryan McCarthy: If you gonna be the best, you have to take out the best.
  – Submitted by Carlos V (21 months ago)
• 1. Jake Tyler: This is my fight. Everyone's got one.
  – Submitted by Anish S (2 years ago)
• 1. Jean Roqua: Never give up, never back down!
  – Submitted by rob g (2 years ago)

There are no discussion threads for Never Back Down yet.