Million Dollar Baby

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Million Dollar Baby

PG-13

2004

2h 25m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

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268 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) is a veteran Los Angeles boxing trainer who keeps almost everyone at arm's length, except his old friend and associate Eddie "Scrap Iron" Dupree (Morgan Freeman). When Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) arrives in Frankie's gym seeking his expertise, he is reluctant to train the young woman, a transplant from working-class Missouri. Eventually, he relents, and the two form a close bond that will irrevocably change them both.

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Critics Consensus

Clint Eastwood's assured direction - combined with knockout performances from Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman - help Million Dollar Baby to transcend its clichés, and the result is deeply heartfelt and moving.

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Namrata Joshi

Outlook

01/08/2019

3/4

The film does obliquely posit a new model of womanhood, one about risking the all-important beauty for a larger mission. But more than Maggie, the show actually belongs to the guilt-ridden Frankie...

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

02/27/2015

3/5

A heartfelt, creditable picture.

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Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

02/27/2015

I don't think it's his masterpiece, but it's a big, beautiful, sad film with unforgettable performances.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

12/30/2024

5/5

Million Dollar Baby is emotionally gut-punching and holds up as one of the best films of the 21st century.

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Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

06/27/2023

An authentically earnest film about desperate and failed characters looking for humanity and salvation from each other, both inside and out of the ring.

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David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

02/15/2021

The characters Eastwood plays are not answerable to anyone, except themselves. As long as they pull a long face, furrow their brows and look pained after the fact, they are permitted to commit any number of crimes.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Feb 11

Success in 2 hours and 12 minutes. Winner of 4 Academy Awards in 2005, and they are: Best Picture, Best Actress (Hilary Swank), Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman) and Best Director (Clint Eastwood).

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Christian K

@ckacar Feb 6

Eastwood's straightforward directing style excels here and pulls solid performances from the cast. The ending is very effective. I got taken out of it a little when the known dirty fighter is allowed to throw an elbow as well as punch her when she is down in 2004 and the WBA with cameras everywhere is just like sure lets keep the fight going.

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Fifty T

@RT01421419 Dec 2

Swank, Freeman, Eastwood - Three Performances for the Ages: This is no female Rocky... it's something far more profound. Eastwood crafts a devastating meditation on surrogate family, dignity, and impossible choices, dressed in boxing gloves. Hilary Swank delivers career-best work, physically and emotionally transformed into a fighter whose determination breaks your heart. But what elevates this beyond sports drama is the central relationship: Eastwood's wounded father figure and Swank's desperate daughter-figure finding redemption in each other. Morgan Freeman, in one of his finest roles (that's genuinely saying something), provides the soul. The film masterfully balances the visceral thrill of boxing sequences with quiet, tender character moments. Yes, the ending is divisive and gutting... but it's earned, thoughtful, and thematically honest rather than exploitative. At 8.5/10 for me, this stands as top-tier Eastwood: classical filmmaking with emotional depth, anchored by three powerhouse performances. The mix of action and devastating emotion creates something that lingers long after the final frame.

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Gareth G

@RT72841295 Sep 26

Simply a Masterpiece

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Justin W

@Loonsan Aug 17

I'm not a fan of drama but this is pretty damn good what life teaches you. What doesn't killed you, will definitely strengthen you in body and soul.

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Johannes S

@RT64416087 Aug 12

At first one of the most inspiring tales, and then the absolute gutwrenching ending. The latter half keeps you glued to the screen!

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Clint Eastwood

Director

Clint Eastwood

Frankie Dunn

Hilary Swank

Maggie Fitzgerald

Morgan Freeman

Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris

Anthony Mackie

Shawrelle Berry

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Synopsis

Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) is a veteran Los Angeles boxing trainer who keeps almost everyone at arm's length, except his old friend and associate Eddie "Scrap Iron" Dupree (Morgan Freeman). When Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) arrives in Frankie's gym seeking his expertise, he is reluctant to train the young woman, a transplant from working-class Missouri. Eventually, he relents, and the two form a close bond that will irrevocably change them both.

Director: Clint Eastwood
Producer: Clint Eastwood, Albert S. Ruddy, Tom Rosenberg, Paul Haggis
Screenwriter: Paul Haggis
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Malpaso Company
Rating: PG-13 (Some Disturbing Images|Language|Thematic Material|Violence)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 15, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 14, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $100.4M
Runtime: 2h 25m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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