The Boxer

Play trailer

The Boxer

R

1997

1h 53m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

71 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Rising teen boxer and Belfast native Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis) was imprisoned for 14 years after getting involved with the Irish Republican Army. Newly freed from jail in his early 30s, Danny returns home and attempts to put his life back together. Reopening his neighborhood gym and reconnecting with his lost love, Maggie (Emily Watson), now a single mother while her husband is in prison, Danny battles against his former IRA compadres, including the militant Harry (Gerard McSorley).

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

The Boxer is a standard drama that packs a true emotional wallop thanks to the highly tuned central performances.

Read Critics Reviews

Bob Thomas

Associated Press

May 14, 2013

In each film he makes, Day-Lewis seems to adopt a new persona.

Go to Full Review

David Stratton

sbs.com.au

May 14, 2013

4/5

An intelligent, provocative piece of cinema, with something quite bold to say in the Irish context.

Go to Full Review

Carrie Rickey

Philadelphia Inquirer

May 14, 2013

3/4

Day-Lewis has the ability to make the will to nonviolence look positively volcanic. And Watson, with her 200-watt incandescence, makes longing look radiant.

Go to Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Nov 12, 2023

B

Gritty boxing picture.

Go to Full Review

Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

Jan 5, 2022

4/5

Despite the limitations of its script, this story about violent men and the cycles of death and destruction that repeat themselves has dialogue that feels grounded in the real world.

Go to Full Review

Rachel Wagner

rachelsreviews.net

Mar 12, 2019

B-

It is well acted and directed... It's just the script that could have been a little more memorable.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Matthew D

@OceanSage 5 days ago

Daniel Day-Lewis portrays an Irish boxer and IRA fighter, returning from prison back to his former love to discover his homeland deeply divided. Irish director Jim Sheridan’s Irish sports romance drama The Boxer (1997) is genuinely astounding to me. The Boxer ranks up there with the very best Irish films. Irish and English actor Daniel Day-Lewis is phenomenal as Irish boxer and IRA fighter Danny Flynn. Day-Lewis is so incredible because of his reserved performance full of nuance. English actress Emily Watson is lovely, gentle, and touching as Danny’s love interest Maggie. Scottish actor Brian Cox is brilliant as the IRA leader Joe Hamill, who just wants to negotiate peace to free his fellow Irish people. I also liked Scottish actor Ken Stott as the alcoholic boxing coach Ike Weir. He’s full of despair for all the kids that’ve died during The Troubles. In all, The Boxer is a fantastic film featuring two excellent acting performances by Daniel Day-Lewis and Emily Watson.

See more

Alec B

@Alec97 Feb 20, 2024

The connection between boxing and the violence of northern Ireland is a bit on the nose but Day-Lewis is brilliantly low key key here.

See more

Mar 4, 2022

The connection between boxing and the violence of northern Ireland is a bit on the nose but Day-Lewis is brilliantly low key key here.

See more

Chris G

@RT19045642 Nov 6, 2021

The incredible fight scenes and the noir IRA story get lost in a much less interesting romantic story, no matter how well acted it is.

See more

Apr 9, 2021

This movie is very pleasent, it has a very interesting setting and a great plot. At first I was afraid it was going to be the usual boxing movie, but it was not. I think the irish setting in that period of history is the most interesting part of the movie.

See more

charlie l

@RT19434991 Oct 14, 2020

The Boxer squanders a strong story and stellar performances with a pacing that just doesn't quite match.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Jim Sheridan

Director

Daniel Day-Lewis

Danny Flynn

Emily Watson

Maggie

Brian Cox

Joe Hamill

Ken Stott

Ike Weir

Gerard McSorley

Harry

One True Thing

86%

71%

One True Thing

Watchlist

Clockers

75%

74%

Clockers

Watchlist

The Last Temptation of Christ

82%

84%

The Last Temptation of Christ

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Last Temptation of Christ

The Chamber

13%

39%

The Chamber

Watchlist

The Caveman's Valentine

46%

51%

The Caveman's Valentine

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

24 Stars Who Dominated the Boxing Ring

View more photos

Synopsis

Rising teen boxer and Belfast native Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis) was imprisoned for 14 years after getting involved with the Irish Republican Army. Newly freed from jail in his early 30s, Danny returns home and attempts to put his life back together. Reopening his neighborhood gym and reconnecting with his lost love, Maggie (Emily Watson), now a single mother while her husband is in prison, Danny battles against his former IRA compadres, including the militant Harry (Gerard McSorley).

Director: Jim Sheridan
Producer: Arthur Lappin
Screenwriter: Terry George
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Hell's Kitchen Films
Rating: R (Some Violence|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 19, 1997, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.8M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: SDDS, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings