The Bleeder

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The Bleeder

R

2017

1h 41m

Biography

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

82 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

He was the pride of Bayonne, N.J., a man who went 15 rounds in the ring with Muhammad Ali. But before all of that, Chuck Wepner was a liquor salesman and father with a modest prizefighting career whose life changed overnight when, in 1975, he was chosen to take on Ali in a highly publicized title match. It's the beginning of a wild ride through the exhilarating highs and humbling lows of sudden fame, but what happens when your 15 minutes in the spotlight are up?

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Critics Consensus

Chuck is hit with a handful of sports biopic clichés but ultimately punches above its weight, largely thanks to a muscular performance from Liev Schreiber.

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Barry Hertz

Globe and Mail

May 19, 2017

3/4

It may not go the distance, but it's surely worth a step into the ring.

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Bruce DeMara

Toronto Star

May 18, 2017

3/4

Liev Schreiber is top-notch in the lead role in this funny, sad and warm cautionary tale.

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

May 18, 2017

3.5/5

The film tells an achingly true story about chasing dreams and letting them slip through your hands, as well as the gravitational forces that cause one's life to seek its own level.

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Aug 13, 2021

3.5/5

[A] bruising biopic...

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Sarah Brinks

Battleship Pretension

Dec 15, 2020

Chuck is a solid addition to the boxing movie subgenre. It, of course, borrows some imagery and tropes from previous films but it tells a complete and compelling story...

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Leigh Monson

Substream Magazine

Sep 24, 2020

4/5

Chuck exists on the other side of a coin, showing the dark reality of Rocky's idealized fantasy. That alone is enough reason to pay attention to the tragedy of Chuck Wegner.

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Henry D

@Henry_Domke Sep 3, 2026

A bittersweet story about a guy who almost made it, but didn’t. Still, he hung in there, just as he did in the ring with Muhammad Ali. The appealing cinematography and realistic production evoked both the era and the place. Liev Schreiber was very convincing as a rather stupid loser who made plenty of bad decisions, but wasn’t really such a bad guy.

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Keith B B

@Okbullard Nov 20, 2025

I enjoyed it and yes I saw the actual Ali/ Wepner fight and have been a fight fan for many decades. Also I remember the knockdown controversy but didn't know much else about Wepner. It's definitely worth the watch. Finally, I've been a Liev Schreiber fan ever since he starred in Ray Donovan; he was so good in that series it was a five star performance.

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Craig W.

@CJWolfe27 Sep 8, 2025

Great movie based on a true story

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danny h

@ibast Oct 10, 2022

A boxing movie that isn't about the boxing itself. And it's good true story and some great acting.

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andrea c

@Charst Jan 1, 2022

La vera storia di Chuck Wepner vive di alti e bassi cosi come il film. Il famoso incontro contro Alì sfugge via senza grandi sussulti, così come la vita del pugile prende una piega malinconica già vista troppo spesso, specialmente tra i grandi sportivi del passato in ambito pugilistico. Comunque il racconto è piacevole e non si cercano esagerazioni utili solo a renderlo più hollywoodiano.

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Aug 7, 2021

I thought it was an interesting movie and story about the life of Chuck Wepner, the real Rocky Balboa. It was hard not to continually feel sorry for him as he was surrounded by people who loved him, including his own family members, and he couldn't see it as he continually blew that part of his life along with movie parts for Rocky.

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Philippe Falardeau

Director

Liev Schreiber

Chuck Wepner

Elisabeth Moss

Phyliss

Naomi Watts

Linda

Ron Perlman

Al Braverman

Jim Gaffigan

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Synopsis

He was the pride of Bayonne, N.J., a man who went 15 rounds in the ring with Muhammad Ali. But before all of that, Chuck Wepner was a liquor salesman and father with a modest prizefighting career whose life changed overnight when, in 1975, he was chosen to take on Ali in a highly publicized title match. It's the beginning of a wild ride through the exhilarating highs and humbling lows of sudden fame, but what happens when your 15 minutes in the spotlight are up?

Director: Philippe Falardeau
Producer: Liev Schreiber, Michael Tollin, Carl Hampe, Christa Campbell, Lati Grobman
Screenwriter: Jeff Feuerzeig, Jerry Stahl, Michael Cristofer, Liev Schreiber
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Mandalay Sports Media, Jeff Rice Films, Campbell Grobman Films
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Drug Use|Sexuality/Nudity|Some Bloody Images)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 5, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 10, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $320.7K
Runtime: 1h 41m

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