Never Back Down

2008

Never Back Down

Critics Consensus

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

23%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 84

34%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 609,723
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Movie Info

Jake Tyler is a tough kid who leads with his fists, and often, with his heart. He is the new kid in town with a troubled past. He has recently moved to Orlando, Fla., with his family who has relocated to support his younger brother's shot at a professional tennis career. Jake was a star athlete on the football team at home, but in this new city he is an outsider with a reputation for being a quick tempered brawler. Making an attempt to fit in, at the invitation of a flirtatious classmate, Baja, Jake goes to a party where he is unwittingly pulled into a fight with a bully named Ryan McDonald. While he is defeated and humiliated in the fight, a classmate introduces himself to Jake and tells him about the sport known as Mixed Marshall Arts (MMA). He sees a star in Jake and asks that he meet with his mentor, Jean Roqua,. It is immediately apparent to Jake that MMA is not street fighting, but rather an art form he wants to master. Roqua will take Jake under his wing, but it is up to Jake to find the patience, discipline, willingness and reason within him to succeed. For Jake, there is much more at stake than mere victory. His decision will not just settle a score; it will define who he is.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (for mature thematic material involving intense sequences of fighting/violence, some sexuality, partying and language--all involving teens)
  • Genre:
    Action & Adventure
  • Directed By:
    Jeff Wadlow
  • Written By:
    Chris Hauty
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $24,767,490
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Summit Entertainment

Cast

Sean Faris
as Jake Tyler
Amber Heard
as Baja Miller
Cam Gigandet
as Ryan McCarthy
Evan Peters
as Max Cooperman
Leslie Hope
as Margot Tyler
Djimon Hounsou
as Jean Roqua
Wyatt Smith
as Charlie Tyler
Affion Crockett
as Beatdown DJ Swagga
Neil Brown, Jr.
as Aaron
Lauren Leech
as Jenny
Tilky Jones
as Eric
Steven Crowley
as Ben
Tom Nowicki
as Mr. Lloyd
David Zelon
as Ryan's Dad
Chris Lindsay
as Beat Down Referee
Kyle Sabihy
as Jake's Teammate
Patric Knutsson
as Vocabulary Guy
Cameron Francis
as ER Doctor
Jeremy Palkowetz
as Running Back
Anthony Matos
as Yellow Hummer Crew
Antony Matos
as Yellow Hummer Crew Member
Daniel Hernández
as Yellow Hummer Crew Member
Danny Hernandez
as Yellow Hummer Crew
Justin Williams
as Yellow Hummer Crew
Justin A. Williams
as Yellow Hummer Crew Member
John McIntosh
as Beat Down Computer Kid
Jon McIntosh
as Beat Down Computer Kid
Chele Andre
as Max's Girl
David J. Perez
as Miles Dupree
Jocelyn Binder
as Hot Tub Chick
Deon Stein
as Hot Tub Chick
Steve Zurk
as Jake's Dad
Reed Baumgarten
as Mansion Fighter
Devin Higgins
as Mansion Fighter
Jennifer Miller
as Female Mansion Fighters
Delphine French
as Female Mansion Fighter
Joe Williams
as Latino Mansion Fighter
Rachael Thompson
as Ex-Girlfriend Mansion Fighter
Angel Hernandez
as African-American Fighter
Jonathan Eusebio
as Dak Ho
Ryan Frank Rayonec
as Ex-Boyfriend Mansion Fighter
Ryan Watson
as Mintz
Joop Katana
as Camin
Frank Santore III
as Taylor
Joseph Cortez
as Lopez
Craig Raboteau
as Nyah
Daniel Lovette
as Himoff
Tony Fuh
as Stackwell
Peter Allende
as Villa
Remington Reed
as Kline
Joshua Mueller
as Last Year's Opponent
Susie Benchasil
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News & Interviews for Never Back Down

2008 MTV Movie Awards Winners
2008 MTV Movie Award Nominations Announced
UK Box Office Breakdown: Son of Rambow Highest New Entry
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Critic Reviews for Never Back Down

All Critics (84) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (65)

View All Critic Reviews (84)

Audience Reviews for Never Back Down

  • Sep 13, 2015
    Better than I expected with some pretty good fight scenes, Ok the acting is pretty bad and it did feel like adult version of Karate Kid, But if you can ignore all of that and just enjoy the fights you will like it.
    Jamie C Super Reviewer
  • Nov 29, 2013
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img]
    Directors C Super Reviewer
  • Nov 25, 2011
    Decently entertaining with a good pace, but, ultimately, the movie includes every fighting movie cliché in the book. It is a typical movie about the underdog that must beat the championship fighter and win the girl. No legitimate ingenuity as the film is incredibly predictable. The fight scenes are overly cinematic, but the choreography is quite good. An adrenaline-charged teen flick that isn`t quite the worst Rocky imitation. (see "Ricky 1")
    Suneel J Super Reviewer
  • Sep 24, 2011
    Not the film it inspires to be. Karate kid for UFC
    Brendan N Super Reviewer
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