Do you want to see ‘Never Back Down’?

Never Back Down (2008)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 4.4/10
Reviews Counted: 86
Fresh: 19 | Rotten: 67

Though not without its pleasures, Never Back Down faithfully adheres to every imaginable fight movie clich�.

Average Rating: 4.4/10
Critic Reviews: 20
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 16

Though not without its pleasures, Never Back Down faithfully adheres to every imaginable fight movie clich�.

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Average Rating: 2.9/5
User Ratings: 586,526

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Movie Info

An outsider teen acclimating to a new school finds a home in a reclusive teenaged fight club in this drama from Cry_Wolf director Jeff Wadlow. Jake Tyler (Sean Faris) has just moved with his family to Orlando, FL. While Jake isn't exactly comfortable being the new kid in town, his younger brother, Charlie (Wyatt Smith), is an aspiring professional tennis star who might just have what it takes to break big. But Charlie isn't the only talented athlete in the family, because Jake used to be

PG-13, 1 hr. 53 min.

Action & Adventure

Directed By: Jeff Wadlow

Written By: Chris Hauty

In Theaters: Mar 4, 2008 Wide

On DVD: Jul 29, 2008

Box Office:$24.8M

Summit Entertainment

Never Back Down Trailer & Photos

More Photos (7)

Cast

Sean Faris
Jake Tyler
Amber Heard
Baja Miller
Cam Gigandet
Ryan McCarthy
Evan Peters
Max Cooperman
Leslie Hope
Margot Tyler
Djimon Hounsou
Jean Roqua
Wyatt Smith
Charlie Tyler
Affion Crockett
Beatdown DJ
Neil Brown Jr.
Aaron
Lauren Leech
Jenny
Tilky Jones
Eric
Steven Crowley
Ben
Tom Nowicki
Mr. Lloyd
David Zelon
Ryan's Dad
Chris Lindsay
Beat Down Referee
Kyle Sabihy
Jake's Teammate
Patric Knutsson
Vocabulary Guy
Cameron Francis
ER Doctor
Jeremy Palkowetz
Running Back
Anthony Matos
Yellow Hummer Crew
Danny Hernandez
Yellow Hummer Crew
Justin Williams
Yellow Hummer Crew
Jon McIntosh
Beat Down Computer Kid
Chele Andre
Max's Girl
David J. Perez
Miles Dupree
Jocelyn Binder
Hot Tub Chick
Deon Stein
Hot Tub Chick
Steve Zurk
Jake's Dad
Reed Baumgarten
Mansion Fighter
Devin Higgins
Mansion Fighter
Jennifer Miller
Female Mansion Fighter
Delphine French
Female Mansion Fighter
Joe Williams
Latino Mansion Fighter
Angel Hernandez
African-American Fighte...
Rachael Thompson
Ex-Girlfriend Mansion F...
Ryan Frank Rayonec
Ex-Boyfriend Mansion Fi...
Ryan Watson
Mintz
Joop Katana
Camin
Frank Santore III
Taylor
Joseph Cortez
Lopez
Craig Raboteau
Nyah
Daniel Lovette
Himoff
Tony Fuh
Stackwell
Jonathan Eusebio
Dak Ho
Peter Allende
Villa
Remington Reed
Kline
Joshua Mueller
Last Year's Opponent

Critic Reviews for Never Back Down

All Critics (89) | Top Critics (20) | 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 Source: Entertainment Weekly

| Comment (1)

Gregory Kirschling

Entertainment Weekly

Top Critic

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

March 17, 2008 Comments (2)

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 Source: Chicago Tribune

| Comment

Michael Phillips

Chicago Tribune

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 Source: San Francisco Chronicle

| Comment (1)

Ruthe Stein

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

This movie isn't bad just because it follows a formula slavishly but because it does so without verve or passion.

March 14, 2008 Full Review Source: ReelViews

| Comment

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

Even though it's as predictable as a pro-wrestling match, what it lacks in originality it makes up for in the nervous energy of youth and testosterone.

March 14, 2008 Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel

| Comment

Roger Moore

Orlando Sentinel

Top Critic

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

December 31, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

S. Jhoanna Robledo

Common Sense Media

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

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Guardian [UK]

| Comment

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 Source: Austin Chronicle

| Comment

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 Source: The Scorecard 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 Source: Groucho Reviews

| Comment (1)

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews Source: 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 Source: Screen International

| Comment

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 Source: Sin Magazine

| Comment

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 Comment

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 Source: Peterborough This Week

| Comment

Mike Sage

Peterborough This Week Source: Peterborough This Week

Come back Mr Miyagi, all is forgiven.

April 8, 2008 Full Review Source: BBC

| Comment

Matt McNally

BBC

A clich�-ridden guilty pleasure.

April 4, 2008 Full Review Source: IGN Movies UK

| Comment

Orlando Parfitt

IGN Movies UK

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Never Back Down

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It delivers a serious beatdown. It`s The Karate Kid for a new generation of martial arts fans. A wickedly cool and tremendosuly entertaining action-packed movie with a great cast and a great soundtrack. A knockout. Djimon Hounsou gives a powerful and thunderous performance.

March 10, 2008

Al S

Super Reviewer

Often stiff, dull, and bland, NEVER BACK DOWN is no ROCKY. Sure, it's a sports movie that's pretty much all about getting revenge, but besides the fighting, there's really nothing much to it. Also, the soundtrack has some good songs on it, but then again, for a sports film, music is absolutely irrelevant. The acting

September 7, 2011

Alexander Diminiano

Super Reviewer

Never Back Down Quotes

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1. Ryan McCarthy: Well, we gotta give the people what they want.
– Submitted by Jd H (2 months ago)
1. Ryan McCarthy: Its got to end with you looking like a bitch.
– Submitted by Richard L (4 months ago)
1. Ryan McCarthy: If you gonna be the best, you have to take out the best.
– Submitted by Carlos V (9 months ago)
1. Jake Tyler: This is my fight. Everyone's got one.
– Submitted by Anish S (12 months ago)
1. Jean Roqua: Never give up, never back down!
– Submitted by rob g (12 months ago)

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Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try.
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