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Fighting

  • 2009
  • PG-13
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
35K
YOUR RATING
Channing Tatum in Fighting (2009)
In New York City, a young counterfeiter (Tatum) is introduced to the world of underground street fighting by a seasoned scam artist (Howard), who becomes his manager on the bare-knuckling brawling circuit.
Play trailer2:32
13 Videos
96 Photos
ActionCrimeDramaRomanceSport

In New York City, a young counterfeiter is introduced to the world of underground street fighting by a seasoned scam artist, who becomes his manager on the bare-knuckling brawling circuit.In New York City, a young counterfeiter is introduced to the world of underground street fighting by a seasoned scam artist, who becomes his manager on the bare-knuckling brawling circuit.In New York City, a young counterfeiter is introduced to the world of underground street fighting by a seasoned scam artist, who becomes his manager on the bare-knuckling brawling circuit.

  • Director
    • Dito Montiel
  • Writers
    • Robert Munic
    • Dito Montiel
  • Stars
    • Channing Tatum
    • Terrence Howard
    • Luis Guzmán
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    35K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Dito Montiel
    • Writers
      • Robert Munic
      • Dito Montiel
    • Stars
      • Channing Tatum
      • Terrence Howard
      • Luis Guzmán
    • 106User reviews
    • 102Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos13

    Fighting: Trailer
    Trailer 2:32
    Fighting: Trailer
    Fighting
    Clip 0:47
    Fighting
    Fighting
    Clip 0:47
    Fighting
    Fighting
    Clip 0:43
    Fighting
    Fighting
    Clip 0:54
    Fighting
    Fighting
    Clip 0:38
    Fighting
    Fighting
    Clip 0:57
    Fighting

    Photos96

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    Top cast96

    Edit
    Channing Tatum
    Channing Tatum
    • Shawn MacArthur
    Terrence Howard
    Terrence Howard
    • Harvey Boarden
    Luis Guzmán
    Luis Guzmán
    • Martinez
    Zulay Henao
    Zulay Henao
    • Zulay Velez
    Michael Rivera
    Michael Rivera
    • Ajax
    Flaco Navaja
    Flaco Navaja
    • Ray Ray
    Peter Anthony Tambakis
    Peter Anthony Tambakis
    • Z
    • (as Peter Tambakis)
    Anthony DeSando
    Anthony DeSando
    • Christopher Anthony
    Roger Guenveur Smith
    Roger Guenveur Smith
    • Jack Dancing
    Brian White
    Brian White
    • Evan Hailey
    Ivan Martin
    Ivan Martin
    • Stockbroker Jerry
    Danny Mastrogiorgio
    Danny Mastrogiorgio
    • Trader Jim
    Altagracia Guzman
    • Alba Guzmán
    Gabrielle Pelucco
    • Lila
    Angelic Zambrana
    Angelic Zambrana
    • Kimo's Girl
    Dante Nero
    Dante Nero
    • Kimo
    Jim Coope
    • Roommate Sal
    Melody Herman
    • Fine Claudette
    • Director
      • Dito Montiel
    • Writers
      • Robert Munic
      • Dito Montiel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews106

    5.634.9K
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    Featured reviews

    8luke_morgan

    Cool Fighting Movie! Understated and Excellent Cast

    Not sure what disposition everyone else was in when watching this movie but it must have been a dark one.

    Yes, its a formulaic fighting movie and I can understand that it might rub you up the wrong way but I really liked the minimal insecure way in which the down on their luck main characters Shawn (Channing Tatum) Harvey (Terrence Howard) held themselves acting wise and I thought they established an excellent rapport by the end. The casting overall felt just right.

    Neither of them were likable in the beginning and it was this roughness that gave the film more realism. I don't think you can really compare this to Never Back Down which was, like many beat em up movies, more of a glossy cartoon with human actors. 'Fighting' has more of a grime to it, made immersing by excellent cinematography of NYC and cool locations.

    I liked the fact that the fight scenes were not an all singing and all dancing over stylised Tonay Jaa affair. Because of this I felt totally absorbed by the 'in the crowd' camera shots; catching different angles. You really felt the fighting was more realistic, as if you've ever been in a fight you'll know that technique can only take you so far- Its really down to mind, heart and of course luck.

    Nothing was overstated in this film and I think that might be the reason it has received such bad rating. I don't care that it felt budget and its nice to have an understated fighting movie for once without too many bells and whistles.
    4colin_coyne

    Not a knockout !!!

    There seemed to be a positive attitude before the film started – which was given a helping hand by the "star" of the film Channing Tatum (who plays Shawn MacArthur) making a guest appearance before the film started to introduce the movie.

    A bit of a poor man's Rocky, with (believe it or not) an even worse story. Delving into the seedy, underground world of bare-knuckle fighting – with no holds barred.

    A new kid in town, down on his luck in the big City meets up with and becomes unlikely friends with a less than successful con man / fight promoter and his entourage of misfits and vagabonds. The fights get increasingly intense as each opponent gets bigger and stronger than the last, until the big showdown with a boyhood nemesis.

    Meanwhile, as a sub-plot, the up-and-coming fighter tries to woo a club waitress by always turning up whenever she is around … alas, I suppose stalking has the same effect as a bunch of roses to some people today.

    This was a poorly directed film, and the characters were pretty wooden, the story was very laboured and moved very slowly.

    The redeeming features were some of the fight scenes (that were a bit on the brutal side), and the "comedy" performance of the girlfriend's Mother that kept popping into the room on the most inappropriate of moments! Although the fight sequences may be of interest to some – I would say that many others would find these quite off putting.

    The film tries to save itself with some plot twists, but, unfortunately – you could see these punches coming from a long way off.

    Channing Tatum in the opening introduction before the film started described the plot line of the movie as being loosely based on "Midnight Cowboy" – but it is a very loose connection both in story, acting ability or finished result – and this film definitely wasn't the winner.
    5SnoopyStyle

    Acting

    Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum) is a NYC street hawker. Harvey Boarden (Terrence Howard) leads a team of hustlers and tries to run him off. Shawn is able to fight them off. They meet up again and Harvey offers him an underground fight. Martinez (Luis Guzmán) is another promoter. Zulay Velez is the single mom waitress love interest. Evan Hailey is a rival fighter who was on the same college wrestling team coached by Shawn's father.

    This has a feel of something more interesting than a B-movie. Terrence Howard does that to his films. He makes it better than it should be. This is most notable for an early starting role for Tatum. He has solidified this character type with a chip on his shoulder. The fight scenes tries to be indie gritty. Other than that, this movie doesn't stand out.
    4CNasrudan

    B-Movie At Best

    It was well made, but clearly not worth seeing in theaters. All in all, besides a number of movies that this resembles (as you can read in the other IMDb comments), it was truly a poor case of storytelling. The dialog was very close to being on the nose allowing for the most predictable storyline and course of events. Best parts were the fighting which was filmed "O.K." and the women, a.k.a. "sex." New York felt very real throughout this movie, but with the American Gangster soundtrack being used repetitively it quickly lost it's realism. Acting was cool, but then again the characters were unbelievable and boring.

    I say 4 out of 10. It could have been filmed like clover-field and still received the same rating. If the story would have been more original, then I would have said higher rating.

    Oh and the "Antagonist" throughout this storyline made me laugh. My 5 year old nephew could take him down let alone our main character.
    7hakra1

    completely misunderstood by the reviewers

    The low critics are coming from the wrong audience, who expected a fight movie with a lot of action. this is a well acted drama, the title 'fighting' is about the fights of life everybody has to struggle with. fight scenes all in all not more than 8 minutes. the dialogues and the situations are very realistic, so that people who have been in similar situation and trying to survive in the streets will appreciate this movie.

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    Related interests

    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance
    Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in Moneyball (2011)
    Sport

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Channing Tatum broke his nose during one of the fight scenes.
    • Goofs
      When Shawn arrives at the night club following his first fight, he steps out of the car clearly sporting two bruises on his face. After the scene shifts to the interior, his bruises have all disappeared.
    • Quotes

      Shawn MacArthur: So, what, I'm gonna fight this... this guy, and then what? What happens?

      Harvey Boarden: Well, we go in, you win, you get $5,000 dollars. You lose, you get nothin'.

      Harvey Boarden: So we get paid tonight?

      Harvey Boarden: Yes, we will get paid. You keep askin' me the same question.

    • Alternate versions
      USA Blu ray release includes a Unrated version.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Rotten Tomatoes Show: 17 Again/State of Play/Crank High Voltage (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City
      Written by Michael Price and Daniel Walsh (as Dan Walsh)

      Performed by Bobby Bland (as Bobby 'Blue' Bland)

      Courtesy of Geffen Records

      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

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    FAQ22

    • How long is Fighting?Powered by Alexa
    • Is "Fighting" based on a book?
    • Why did Shawn get so mad at Harvey and Zulay?
    • What are the differences between the PG-13 cut and the Unrated cut?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 24, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
      • Spanish
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Peleador Callejero
    • Filming locations
      • DeKalb Av/Washington Park, Fort Greene, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Rogue Pictures
      • Misher Films
      • 5150 Action
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $23,091,010
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,024,370
      • Apr 26, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $32,482,728
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 45m(105 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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