
The Fighter
2010, Biography/Drama, 1h 56m
252 Reviews 100,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
Led by a trio of captivating performances from Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, and Amy Adams, The Fighter is a solidly entertaining, albeit predictable, entry in the boxing drama genre. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Micky Ward
Dicky Eklund
Charlene Fleming
Alice Ward
George Ward
Self
News & Interviews for The Fighter
Critic Reviews for The Fighter
All Critics (252) | Top Critics (63) | Fresh (228) | Rotten (24)
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Overall The Fighter is a touching, soulful knockout of a movie.
September 9, 2017 | Rating: A | Full Review… -
Both Wahlberg and Bale are excellent in their different registers, as are Melissa Leo and Amy Adams as the differently calibrated women.
February 7, 2011 | Full Review… -
Wahlberg, always so physically solid, is deep inside himself in this role.
February 4, 2011 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
The Fighter looks at first as if it is going to be a far more interesting movie than the straightforward and even rather undemanding drama we finally get.
February 3, 2011 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review… -
Russell throws so much at the screen that there is little time to make your mind up.
February 3, 2011 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review… -
[A] rickety, unfocused contraption of a film that sputters and chugs along without offering any hint of why its director thought it was worth making.
February 3, 2011 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Fighter
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Dec 21, 2014Amy Adams can do no wrong in my eyes. I'm not usually into sports biographies but "The Fighter" is an all-around solid film adaptation.Chihoe H Super Reviewer
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Jul 26, 2013The metaphor comparing life with a boxing ring has always called my attention. The more I keep growing up, the more I realize that's true in many ways, even if the clashes are more often psychological and emotional rather than physical, despite that life has some serious punches prepared for you. The reality is, however, that both in life and in the ring, you decide to take the punches. In both situations you have to fight back, but there are some drawbacks that you can avoid. This "docudrama" emphasizes just that. <i>The Fighter</i> is not a boxing film. It is a feature that explores the fears of an overprotective family that does not trust people that they haven't known. The irony of that resides in the fact that one is born without knowing anybody. So, in this process of overprotecting what is already known, even if the cruel world out there may offer you better opportunities of growth and perseverance development, you become in the kind of people that you despise and have a lack of trust to. That is the main issue of the family, and that is why every single character in the film made at least one mistake. You name it: racism, prejudice, immaturity, conservatism, drug addiction, hypocrisy, sexism, family abandonment, abandonment of friendships... And still, all the characters, in their flaws, had admirable positive traits as well. This is the first film by O. Russell that I truly like. Its greatest achievement is to portray every single life-hardship aspect I mentioned before as complementary elements to the main story rather than melodramatic, manipulative or biased excuses to steal awards and force the feelings of shame and remorse in the audiences. Such is the usefulness of great performances by an entire cast, especially Christian Bale, which is his second best performance imho. 74/100Edgar C Super Reviewer
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Nov 20, 2012The Fighter feels like a movie coming from someone who is still honing their trade--you catch glimpses of brilliance like the raw feel of the fights coupled with their effective camerawork as well as the movie's deep emotional appeal. By and large, however, The Fighter comes off amateurishly, as if Russell knows better than do some of the hackneyed things he does in composing the film. There are some really stupid parts, and I personally prefer more subtle acting than what Bale delivers here (just because you jump headlong into being a crazy druggie DOESN'T mean it's good acting). Overall, the Fighter is decently entertaining, but is like someone who's had a bit too much to drink: every now and then you'll catch a moment of gold, but not before they throw 5 times more garbage at you.Jeff L Super Reviewer
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Oct 27, 2012Bale gives an excellent performance. A strong film.Christian C Super Reviewer
The Fighter Quotes
"Irish" Mickey Ward: | Cut me Mick! |
Dicky Eklund: | I gotta go p/u a rock man! |
Dicky Eklund: | I gotta go pick up a rock man! |
Micky Ward: | I'm the one fighting, I know what I need. |
Charlene Fleming: | And you need Dicky? |
Micky Ward: | I want Dicky back. And I want you, Charlene, and I want O'Keefe, and my family. |
Charlene Fleming: | You can't do that to us. |
"Irish" Mickey Ward: | (to george ward) what you doing running in hear like a silverback fucking gorilla.? |
"Irish" Mickey Ward: | [to george ward] What you doing running in hear like a silverback fucking gorilla? |
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