The movies will be front and center in the world of entertainment for the next several weeks.
Nominations for the 95th Annual Academy Awards were announced in January. The Oscars ceremony takes place March 12 in Los Angeles. And while this year’s big crop of nominated films doesn’t include any from the world of MMA, the sport does have an adjacency to awards season this year.
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has a small role in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” which was nominated for five Oscars – including Best Costume Design and Best Makeup & Hairstyling, which are two departments Usman as “Naval Officer” got to experience in his few times on screen.
So there you have it: That’s plenty justification to resurface our list of the best (and, let’s be honest: worst!) MMA movies of all time.
(And if we left some off the list, don’t be offended. For the record, if a movie was purely karate or kickboxing or boxing, etc., we left it off – we’re looking for reasonably modern-era mixed martial arts cagefighting kind of stuff to make the cut for this list. Sorry, old Bruce Lee and Jean Claude Van Damme flicks. We’ll save you for a different list.)
18. Locked Down (2010)
Stars: Tony Schiena, Dave Fennoy, Vinnie Jones, Bai Ling
MMA cameos: Kimbo Slice, Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin, Cheick Kongo
Cheesy tagline: He rules the streets from the inside …
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: N/A
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 4
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
Key review: “Sequel with amateur acting, weak story, lots of MMA violence.” – Brian Costello, Common Sense Media
Synopsis: A good cop is set up after a botched investigation and heads to prison. There, he’s forced into the world of underground prisoners MMA. A jailed ex-MMA champ is going to help him get justice and clear his name – but first, naturally, he has to get out of his fights with his life. Seriously. The fine folks at TapouT helped bring this bit of awful to the world. Thankfully, it was a straight-to-video situation. Just take a look at that Rotten Tomatoes audience score. Do you know how hard it is to get a 4 percent? And that’s from nearly 900 ratings, which is a more than ample sample size.
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17. Circle of Pain (2010)
Stars: Dean Cain, Tony Schiena, Bai Ling
MMA cameos: Kimbo Slice, Roger Huerta, Heath Herring, Frank Mir, Miguel Torres
Cheesy tagline: Pain is temporary. Pride lasts forever.
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: N/A
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 15
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
Synopsis: Dalton was one of the best fighters in the world when he walked away after a tragedy in the cage. He’s never going to come back. But then a dirty promoter realizes he’s got a fight left on his deal and forces him back against the nasty new superstar (Herring) who wants to break his record. It should be noted that there’s a gratuitous sex scene on a gym floor between Bai Ling (how does she wind up in nearly all these movies?!) and Herring, in case you’re into that kind of thing.
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16. Forced to Fight (2012)
Stars: Gary Daniels, Peter Weller
Cheesy tagline: Win … or die fighting.
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: N/A
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 21
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video (free to watch for Prime members)
Synopsis: A former underground fighting legend just wants to lay low and start a family – live the good life away from all the punching. But when his brother runs afoul of a nasty-ass mobster, Shane has to pay off bro-bro’s debts by fighting – and guess what? Each fight gets tougher and more brutal than the one before it, and – gasp! – he might not make it out alive! Essentially, these guys took the “Gone in 60 Seconds” plot and applied it to fighting – not that the “Gone in 60 Seconds” plot was wholly original, to begin with.
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15. Never Surrender (2009)
Stars: Hector Echavarria, Patrick Kilpatrick
MMA cameos: Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, B.J. Penn, Heath Herring
Cheesy tagline: One arena. No rules. All pain.
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: N/A
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 17
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
Synopsis: The bar got set for how many big-name fighters could get in one movie. And then there was Heath Herring, who didn’t quite ever rise to the same name value as the four colleagues on the bill with him. But hey, good for him. Stop us if you’ve heard this plot before: A former star fighter gets drawn into the underground MMA scene by a dirty promoter, then realizes instead of fighting for money or honor, he’s really fight for his life. The best thing about this movie is its title since it conjures up memories of the 1985 Corey Hart single “Never Surrender” (no relation, thankfully).
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14. Fight Valley (2016)
Stars: Susie Celek, Miesha Tate
MMA cameos: Holly Holm, Cris Cyborg, Katlyn Chookagian
Cheesy tagline: One way in. No way out.
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: N/A
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 24
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video (free for Prime members)
Key review: “Disappointing plot twists ensue in a climactic brawl starved for snappier choreography and editing.” – Andy Webster, New York Times
Synopsis: After women’s MMA finally started getting the credit it long deserved, it wasn’t long before someone came along and tried to capitalize on it with a movie. After her sister is killed in the underground fighting scene (we know, we know …), Windsor starts training and has to avenge her death and find her killer. Jabs (Tate) comes on board to train her and help her on her path. Somehow, this spawned a yet-to-be-released sequel.
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13. The Philly Kid (2012)
Stars: Wes Chatham, Devon Sawa, Michael Jai White
MMA cameo: Rich Clementi
Cheesy tagline: His only way out is getting back in.
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: N/A
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 36
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video (free for Prime members)
Key review: “Formulaic, functional guys’-night-in entertainment.” – Dennis Harvey, Variety
Synopsis: Dillon was an NCAA champ in wrestling. But in Louisiana, he has to do a dime in prison for the murder of a cop – which he didn’t commit. Once he’s paroled, guess what? He has to pay off his BFF’s gambling debts by agreeing to fight. He’s so good that it ruffles the feathers of his dirty parole officer, his girlfriend and the fight bookers – and he has to decide whether or not he’s willing to throw a fight to get out of the thing with everyone alive and well.
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12. Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown (2011)
Stars: Evan Peters, Dean Geyer, Michael Jai White, Alex Meraz, Scott Epstein
MMA cameos: Todd Duffee, Lyoto Machida, John McCarthy, Eddie Bravo
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: N/A
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 51
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
Key review: “Sequel with amateur acting, weak story, lots of MMA violence.” – Brian Costello, Common Sense Media
Synopsis: Michael Jai White is such a fixture in straight-to-video MMA-type movies, that of course he had to direct one. A troubled kid gets booted from the college wrestling team for brawling, and then naturally decides he better start training MMA. Three others are in the same general wheelhouse as him, and they’re all going to enter the same “Beatdown” tournament. When one goes rogue and frames their coach, Mike has to get revenge. If you want to see a movie that features Duffee unable to compete because he got blindsided and jumped by the bad guy in the bathroom before his fight, this is the one for you.
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11. Never Back Down 3: No Surrender (2016)
Stars: Michael Jai White, Josh Barnett, Gillian White, Esai Morales
MMA cameos: Stephen Quadros, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Michael Schiavello
Cheesy tagline: The Ultimate Showdown
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: N/A
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 55
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
Key review: “The fact that White is a total package of on-screen charisma, incredible martial arts talent, and a competent and capable director and writer make him an indispensable presence in the modern action movie landscape.” – Ed Travis, Cinapse
Synopsis: Michael Jai White went back to the “Never Back Down” well once more for this one with Barnett as his costar. Ex-MMA stud Case Walker (White) goes to Thailand with Brody James (Barnett) to help him train. Things go a little sour when Case discovers Brody has been convinced to use steroids (we can’t make this up). Then Brody gets hurt, and Case is going to have to fight in his place to not only win, but get revenge against the dirty promoter and keep his new girlfriend, a former PR flak for the promotion.
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10. Tapped Out (2014)
Stars: Cody Hackman, Krzysztof Soszynski
MMA cameos: Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida
Cheesy tagline: He lost everything … except the will to fight.
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: N/A
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 42
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video (free for Prime members)
Synopsis: A teenager sees his parents murdered in front of him. What follows is his classic trip down the wrong path to trouble and community service. Then he winds up at a karate school, meets a girl who shows him … wait for it … wait for it … an underground MMA circuit … and there, he realizes the big champ (Soszynski) is the man who killed his parents. Naturally, he needs to become an MMA superstar (with the help of Silva and Machida), enter the tournament – and beat the odds to get justice in a no-weight-class free-for-all.
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9. Blood and Bone (2009)
Stars: Michael Jai White, Eamonn Walker, Julian Sands
MMA cameos: Kimbo Slice, Bob Sapp, Gina Carano, Maurice Smith
Cheesy taglines: In a world without rules, he makes his own. | It’s time to knuckle up.
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: N/A
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
Key review: “Michael Jai White makes a convincing case here that he deserves future consideration as an action star on the order of a Vin Diesel or a Sylvester Stallone.” – Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
Synopsis: Bone gets out of prison and moves to L.A., and he quickly finds … you’re not gonna believe this one … an underground fighting circuit. Naturally, he gets involved and becomes the next big thing. But all the while, he’s also got a score to settle with the mob boss who runs the thing, particularly for the way he treats and has treated his girlfriend. Things get a little weird in this one, particular in the end credits.
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8. Damage (2009)
Stars: Steve Austin, Walton Goggins, Laura Vandervoort
Cheesy taglines: Fight hard to survive. | Bring the pain.
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: N/A
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 44
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
Synopsis: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin goes to prison for killing a guy in self defense. When he gets out and tries to go straight, the widow of his victim hits him up to let him know she helped get him paroled – and that he should foot the bill for the super-expensive heart operation her daughter needs. Goggins, who was looking for a gig after six years on “The Shield,” plays a promoter in the … yeah … uhhhh … the underground fighting circuit, which is a totally fresh concept. Naturally, Austin has to win his fights to make bank so he can save the little girl’s life.
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7. Never Back Down (2008)
Stars: Sean Faris, Amber Heard, Cam Gigandet, Djimon Hounsou
Cheesy tagline: Win or lose … everyone has their fight.
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: 23
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 34
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
Key review: “I laughed so much at the litany of cliches that I finally had to admit I was entertained from start to finish by this cheesy knock-off.” – Richard Roeper, “Ebert & Roeper”
Synopsis: An already troubled teenager finds himself having more problems when he moves to a new high school. His quick temper catches some eyes. And soon, he’s led to the world of underground fighting – can you believe it?! – and there, he realizes he can make his mark. Naturally, he’s got to beat the fighting superstar so he can win the girl and avenge a fallen friend – all while trained by Hounsou. The final fight doesn’t happen in a cage, though. It’s in the parking lot outside. Because of course it is.
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6. Fighting (2009)
Stars: Channing Tatum, Terrance Howard, Brian J. White, Luis Guzman
MMA cameo: Cung Le
Cheesy tagline: Some dreams are worth the fight.
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: 40
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 36
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
Key review: “You couldn’t call ‘Fighting’ great – at its core it is simply too cruddy – but (director Dito) Montiel has managed to inject it with the smell and feel of the streets that he clearly once knew well.” – Andrew Pulver, The Guardian
Synopsis: When Tatum still was on the cusp of becoming a global superstar, fresh off the “Step Up” and “Step Up 2: The Streets” dance flicks, he did this sometimes painful movie about … yep … an underground fighting situation. He plays a hustler who hustles the wrong guy, and then has to fight his way out of it. In the end, he gets the girl and a bunch of cash by doing what he does best – hustling.
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Honorable Mention: Kingdom (2014-17 TV series)
Stars: Frank Grillo, Jonathan Tucker, Matt Lauria, Nick Jonas, Joanna Going
MMA cameos: Joe Stevenson, Kenny Florian, Frank Trigg, Matt Hughes, Jenn Brown, Greg Jackson, Heidi Androl, Heather Jo Clark, Cub Swanson, Pearl Gonzalez, Justine Kish, Jay Hieron
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: 80 (Season 1)
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96
How to watch it: Audience Network (Directv) on demand
Key review: “‘Kingdom’ isn’t the next great television show about sports. It’s just a really great television show.” – Samantha Highfill, Entertainment Weekly
Synopsis: OK, this is a TV series – so we’re kind of cheating here. But it seems unfair to have all these really bad movies on this list and not mention something that truly was very, very good. It’s essentially a family drama using the world of MMA in Venice Beach, Calif., as its backdrop. Alvey runs a gym and will do just about anything to make sure his fighters and family succeed. There are some standout performances from many, in particular big MMA fan Tucker. Joe Stevenson and Greg Jackson served as creative/fight consultants over the show’s three-season run.
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4. Redbelt (2008)
Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Emily Mortimer, Tim Allen, Jennifer Grey, Joe Mantegna
MMA cameos: Randy Couture, Enson Inoue, Frank Trigg, Mike Goldberg, Josh Rafferty
Cheesy tagline: There’s always a way out. You just have to find it.
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: 67
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 65
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
Key review: “Ejiofor remains a supremely assured, charismatic presence, though he has his work cut out here. He is pitted against a film with a black belt in pomposity and a gold medal in preening self-regard.” – Xan Brooks, The Guardian
Synopsis: When a legendary playwright like David Mamet decides to write and direct a martial arts movie, it’s going to get some attention. Then he went out and got a really decent cast, too. A martial arts instructor played by Ejiofor has to decide whether or not to fight for money to cover some debts – something he’s opposed to. Through circumstance, he gets mixed up with some TV people, who steal one of his ideas after he consulted for them. And, of course, all roads lead to him having to fight again – just not officially – to get back his honor and some justice. Frankly, it’s not bad overall, let alone for an MMA-type movie.
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3. Here Comes the Boom (2012)
Stars: Kevin James, Henry Winkler, Salma Hayek, Bas Rutten
MMA cameos: Joe Rogan, Mark DellaGrotte, Krzysztof Soszynski, Bruce Buffer, Mike Goldberg, Herb Dean, “Stitch” Duran, Jason “Mayhem” Miller, Mark Munoz, Satoshi Ishii, Wanderlei Silva, Chael Sonnen
Cheesy taglines: No one will fight for his students like Mr. Voss. | One teacher still believes in fighting for his students.
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: 40
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 65
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
Key review: “Here Comes the Boom telegraphs every punch in its arsenal, but when the comedy connects, it can deliver with funny force.” – Scott Bowles, USA TODAY
Synopsis: Should this be all the way up and No. 2? Maybe not. But we have to give props to huge MMA fan Kevin James, who co-wrote it and stars in it. He definitely has a passion for the sport, and this was his love letter to it. He plays a former college wrestler-turned-teacher who, in order to help save the school’s band program led by Winkler, turns to fighting. Rutten plays his main trainer on his way up the regional circuit through wins over the likes of Sonnen and Miller, and DellaGrotte is there, as well. Rogan shows up to offer him a UFC fight against Soszynski. The whole thing culminates rather ridiculously with a fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and he saves the day and gets the girl (Hayek). There’s some decent low-brow comedy in there, and Rutten actually holds his own as a comedic actor. Plus, can we just give thanks that it’s not a movie about an underground fighting circuit?!
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2. Bruised (2021)
Stars: Halle Berry, Shamier Anderson, Adan Canto, Sheila Atim, Valentina Shevchenko
MMA cameos: Julie Kedzie, Yves Edwards, Keith Peterson
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: 56
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: TBD
How to watch it: Netflix
Key review: “These lady warriors deserve a film that matches their pioneering grit … that’s what Berry has delivered with ‘Bruised.’” – Joe Nolan, Nashville Scene
Synopsis: If not for the film in our No. 1 spot being the only one on the list that is Certified Fresh at Rotten Tomatoes, Berry’s directorial debut would have come out of the chute right in the top position. It’s true, there are elements of “Bruised” that we’ve seen before in other MMA or boxing movies, or just sports movies in general. But we haven’t really seen them through this particular lens from a Black woman director who also stars in it – and who also happened to train at ridiculously high levels to make sure her fight performance came off as authentic. Berry, still the only Black woman in history to win the Best Actress award at the Oscars, took on plenty to get this movie made the way she envisioned it. Her acting never will be called into question, and even if some elements of the story have their originality questioned, they can fairly quickly be forgiven thanks Berry’s direction, which seems to come about as naturally to her as fighting.
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1. Warrior (2011)
Stars: Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte
MMA cameos: Nate Marquardt, Anthony Johnson, Roan Carneiro, Josh Rosenthal
Cheesy tagline: Family is worth fighting for.
Rotten Tomatoes critics score: 83
Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92
How to watch it: Rent or buy through iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video
Key review: “The movie is so skillfully made, and the performances are so convincingly real (Hardy is sensational), that, as it reaches its cathartic, winning finish, it achieves a surprising compassion and honesty.” – Bruce Diones, The New Yorker
Synopsis: Our top pick is more than just a good MMA movie. It’s a good movie, period. Hardy and Nolte were talked about as Oscar contenders for their performances, and while they didn’t make the cut, being in the discussion for an MMA movie seems like a big deal. An estranged son returns home to his alcoholic father (Nolte), a former boxer, to make amends. Nolte is exceptional and was nominated for an Oscar and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Supporting Actor. When Tommy (Hardy) hears about a $5 million MMA tournament, he wants to enter. Problem is, his estranged brother (Edgerton) is in it, too. Of course, their paths are set to meet in the final, and they’ll have to come to terms with each other at the same time.
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