by far, it's "Raging Bull" starring Robert DiNero, as Jack LaMotta DiNero trained hard to lose ~ 35 lbs to be in character for the boxing, and then gained over 50 lbs to play the aging, outta shape, LaMotta after retirement from the ring
Yeah it's gonna be hard to top Scorsese. I mean I love the Rocky movies but Scorsese is on another level.
Does Anime count? Hajime no Ippo is an amazing Boxing anime, created and written by a lifelong boxing trainer in Japan. It's extremely technical and highly recommended if you love the sweet science. Otherwise it's Rocky 4.
Raging Bull might be the best film that happens to have boxing in it. It is on another level as a character study, superbly acted, and it has some very underrated fight shots. But Rocky is a much more likable protagonist , the training montages are fantastic (doesn't matter which Rocky movie), and the fights, well, they're better than the real thing they're so well shot. Rocky IV and the original Rocky both win by KO over Raging Bull, IMHO. Rocky II would win by TKO. The rest... not sure. That's not to say that I think Stallone is a wonderful human being though or that I admire his politics. I do not.
No Xero you did not just go with an anime. It's not a movie. Gonna have to give you a timeout for that. Not a great fan of Boxing movies but its probably Rocky 4 or Creed.
Not trying to be woke, but I saw an early showing of it back in the day. And it still slips my mind! Great performances. Spoiler And a hell of a gut punch.
Raging Bull is a classic. I'll go with the original Rocky. Was a cultural phenomenon. Stallone made the picture, when Hollywood didn't want to produce it. Rocky (1976) Other (modern ones) that were decent. Creed (2015) The Fighter (2010)
Since someone already said Million Dollar Baby, I will add Cinderella Man with Russell Crowe playing the part of James Braddock.
