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Cardboard Boxer

  • 2016
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
Thomas Haden Church and Terrence Howard in Cardboard Boxer (2016)
Trailer for Cardboard Boxer
Play trailer2:02
2 Videos
11 Photos
Drama

Gentle and broken, a homeless man is coerced by two teens to fight other men on video for cash but soon finds comfort in an unlikely friend and the lost diary of a young girl.Gentle and broken, a homeless man is coerced by two teens to fight other men on video for cash but soon finds comfort in an unlikely friend and the lost diary of a young girl.Gentle and broken, a homeless man is coerced by two teens to fight other men on video for cash but soon finds comfort in an unlikely friend and the lost diary of a young girl.

  • Director
    • Knate Lee
  • Writer
    • Knate Lee
  • Stars
    • Thomas Haden Church
    • Terrence Howard
    • Boyd Holbrook
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    3.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Knate Lee
    • Writer
      • Knate Lee
    • Stars
      • Thomas Haden Church
      • Terrence Howard
      • Boyd Holbrook
    • 43User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
    • 41Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Cardboard Boxer
    Trailer 2:02
    Cardboard Boxer
    Cardboard Boxer Trailer
    Trailer 2:01
    Cardboard Boxer Trailer
    Cardboard Boxer Trailer
    Trailer 2:01
    Cardboard Boxer Trailer

    Photos10

    View Poster
    View Poster
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    View Poster
    + 7
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    Top cast48

    Edit
    Thomas Haden Church
    Thomas Haden Church
    • Willie
    Terrence Howard
    Terrence Howard
    • Pope
    Boyd Holbrook
    Boyd Holbrook
    • Pinky
    Rhys Wakefield
    Rhys Wakefield
    • J.J.
    Macy Gray
    Macy Gray
    • Den Mother
    William Stanford Davis
    William Stanford Davis
    • Jazzy
    Zach Villa
    • Tyler
    Adam Clark
    Adam Clark
    • Skillet
    Conrad Roberts
    Conrad Roberts
    • Methusalah
    Patrick Davis Alarcón
    Patrick Davis Alarcón
    • Evan
    • (as Patrick Davis)
    James Logan
    James Logan
    • Mullet
    David Henrie
    David Henrie
    • Clean Cut Man
    Johanna Braddy
    Johanna Braddy
    • Clean Cut Girl
    Jay Charan
    Jay Charan
    • Pawn Shop Clerk
    Elyse Cole
    Elyse Cole
    • Young Girl
    Paul Sanchez
    Paul Sanchez
    • Army Recruiter
    Stuart McLean
    Stuart McLean
    • Motel Clerk
    LeJon
    LeJon
    • Dumpster Diver
    • (as Lejon Stewart)
    • Director
      • Knate Lee
    • Writer
      • Knate Lee
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews43

    6.43K
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    Featured reviews

    7carvey-539-442296

    Don't judge a book by its cover!

    I attempted to watch what I thought would be a meaningless time passer movie before bed.... I ended up watching a real solid attempt at an emotional movie.. I found my self falling deeper into the pain this movie portrayed. From the first 5 minutes to the last 5 minutes I was fully committed to what this movie has to offer. A film like this really shows a person how hard some people have it and what we all take for granted.. The weak and nieve get prayed upon by the "superior" but in the end we are all human and are capable of amazing things... Most viewers will see the title and move right on by thinking it's just another .50 cent cheap thrill, that lately has seemed to over saturate the movie industry. This is not that kind of movie. Enjoy it as I did and come away feeling pretty blessed about how lucky you have it.
    8graemeburke-28832

    Caught me by surprise

    Generally, I don't go for dramas much, and I really dislike long draw- out dramas. I watched Cardboard Boxer knowing zero about it apart from the title, and got totally sucked into the story. Its a story about a human being, not a "homeless person". It didn't dwell on the plight of the homeless, or try to preach about the class divide.

    I thought the movie made outstanding use of its unashamedly simplistic characters and setting to tell a very thoughtful story with a rich vein of truth and humanity at its core. I found much I could empathise with despite never having been anywhere near homeless myself.

    But yes, it is no more about "bumfights" than Romeo and Juliet is about hot-rods and Brylcreem. For people wanting to see that sort of thing, give this one a miss and skip straight to WWE.

    Whatever its shortcomings may be, this movie tackles some of the darkest places in the soul of man and still manages to bring the viewer through it feeling optimistic and uplifted without having to resort to anything as patronising as a 'happily ever after'.

    Cardboard Boxer touches on many facets of human-nature, but at its heart, it's a love story told through the eyes of someone so utterly alone that they have never even known anyone well enough to develop an unrequited crush, let alone fall in love. By rights, it should be the type of utterly depressing movie that makes me switch off after 10 minutes, but it was quite the opposite. That's a pretty neat trick Mr. Lee.
    9fallguy_jack

    A Great Movie You Probably Won't Watch

    A powerful and well acted movie.

    Thomas Hayden Church - Who? Was exactly the impression he left on me before this movie, then I looked the movie up here and clicked on his name because his face was familiar... oh ya, The Sandman from that weak spiderman movie and wings. Not really an impressive actor -

    Until This.

    The average person may not make if far through the movie because it removes them from their "out of sight, out of mind" comfort zone.

    When the pathetic kind of people who watch bum fights find out there's more to it than that, they will be less inclined to give it a shot, but they're beyond help anyway.

    The few with the constitution to watch this movie will not be disappointed. There's a kind of poetry in that I suppose... Just like this film.

    P.S. Remember - Food Banks can do MUCH more with money than you can at a supermarket, they can get produce fresh straight from farmers at waay better prices. Half the crap food donated has to be thrown out anyway, so do everyone involved a favor and donate money to food banks.
    annjenkinvegan

    Move Will Make You Cheer Out Loud!

    This is the best feel good movie in years. If you have a heart, it will leave you breathless at times, emotionally exhausted, having laughed and cried, and then feeling so good! It is right on with the feelings one has in being homeless, as I too could not get out of my homeless circumstances, though I tried different cities and states, until in Florida, in utter hopelessness and desperation from years of this I begged a police officer in West Palm Beach to arrest me, but instead he took me to his home, became my biggest hero, and got me out of homelessness. But more importantly, buy this movie, don't rent it! It is a rare gem, and the best medicine for anyone who needs to feel good, and a move such as this one will heal the broken heart.
    8matthijsalexander

    A good drama with a hint of action

    First of all.... don't be fooled by the word Boxer. I generally get thrown off by movies about boxers as I feel this gerne his been swallowed, digested and eventually ended up in the sewer through a process we all privately enjoy. Anyways, I think this film portrays the fear of every human: Loose everything, become homeless and adapt to the street life. I could not imagine, can you? Where do you go? What do you do? What does one do for entertainment? What does one do for money? This film, I think, provides a great glimpse into the life of a homeless man and reveals hardship, friendship and the ups and downs one may or may not encounter.

    His love for his new found treasure, his thoughts, his emotions, his actions are captivating and intriguing. This movie will make you think, will make you appreciate, will touch your soul (I am a cold person and not easily touched or moved).

    Enjoy this movie over candle light, with your better half. Men have a chance to appear empathetic and sympathetic, while still getting a bit of violence in. Win win.

    Superb movie which will be greatly underestimated. Enjoy!

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the making of this movie, Thomas Haden Church went in disguise as a homeless man in LA, when the cameras weren't around people acted like he was an actual homeless person.
    • Goofs
      Staff Sergeant had Sergeant Major stripes in recruiting office.
    • Soundtracks
      Blood Red Orange
      Written by Dustin O'Halloran and Sara Lov

      Performed by Devics

      Published by Seasoned Eyes Music (BMI)

      Courtesy of Splinter Records

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 16, 2016 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Боксер-марионетка
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Night and Day Pictures
      • MJW Films
      • MJW Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 28m(88 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16 : 9

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