Never Back Down (2008)
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 cliché.
Average Rating: 4.4/10
Critic Reviews: 24
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 19
Though not without its pleasures, Never Back Down faithfully adheres to every imaginable fight movie cliché.
liked it
Average Rating: 2.9/5
User Ratings: 586,526
My Rating
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
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Cast
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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
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Never Back Down Trailer & Photos
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.
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.
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.
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.
Towering above all is Hounsou, whose performance grants Never Back Down a measure of dignity.
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.
Bloody fight film has heart, but it's no champion.
A naive and truly obnoxious movie about the world of Mixed Martial Arts.
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.
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.
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]
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.
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.
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.
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.
Come back Mr Miyagi, all is forgiven.
A cliché-ridden guilty pleasure.
Audience Reviews for Never Back Down
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Ryan McCarthy: Step in or back the hell out.
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- Ryan McCarthy: Well, we gotta give the people what they want.
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- Ryan McCarthy: Its got to end with you looking like a bitch.
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- Ryan McCarthy: If you gonna be the best, you have to take out the best.
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- Jake Tyler: This is my fight. Everyone's got one.
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- Jean Roqua: Never give up, never back down!
Discussion Forum
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Latest News on Never Back Down
June 2, 2008:
2008 MTV Movie Awards WinnersForget to tune into the 17th annual MTV Movie Awards last night? No problem -- here's a list of the...
May 14, 2008:
Hauty, Wadlow, and Baumgarten Are The EternalsThe Never Back Down creative team -- writer Chris Hauty, director Jeff Wadlow, and producer Craig...
May 6, 2008:
2008 MTV Movie Award Nominations AnnouncedIt's almost time to hand out some golden popcorn -- the nominations for the 2008 MTV Movie Awards...
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