Gladiator (1992)

25% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(9,301 ratings)

Gladiator is the kind of boxing movie that goes that extra mile -- a self-loathing boxing saga that relishes in bare-knuckled sucker punches, illegal eye-rubs, and gentlemen boxers who obey the Marquis of Queensbury rules by drop-kicking opponents when the are not only down but unconscious. James… More Gladiator is the kind of boxing movie that goes that extra mile -- a self-loathing boxing saga that relishes in bare-knuckled sucker punches, illegal eye-rubs, and gentlemen boxers who obey the Marquis of Queensbury rules by drop-kicking opponents when the are not only down but unconscious. James Marshall plays Tommy Riley, a Windy City high school student conned into participating in the illegal underground boxing arenas of the South Side of Chicago. In high school, Tommy was a prize boxer, and this skill comes in handy when his Father (John Heard) runs up a large gambling debt. When a sleazy boxing manager (Robert Loggia) spots Tommy defending himself during recess, he offers him quick money to box. Tommy, although he hates the sport, readily agrees, thinking his winnings will help his father pay off his debts. He quickly comes under the thumb of unscrupulous boxing promoter Horn (Brian Dennehy), who is involved in fight-fixing and dirty fighting. Manipulating the odds and exploiting his boxers make Horn rich and more venal. In the rancid environment, Tommy befriends another fighter, Lincoln (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a black fighter who sees fighting as his way out of poverty. Inevitably, Horn arranges for the two friends to duke it out in the ring together. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Rowdy Herrington
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

On DVD: Sep 26, 2000
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin, New York Times
The mixture may be slightly unexpected, but it still manages to be predictable all the way.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The idea of the Dennehy's illegal boxing arena is a storytelling masterstroke; it explains the small crowds at the same time it permits the boxers to fight dirty.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Let's make things perfectly clear. Gladiator is utter trash masquerading as an action picture with a message.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
The screenplay, contrived to suit the genre, is likewise replete with stock characters.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Gladiator is filmmaking by the numbers, if a particularly glossily executed package
, Time Out
Marshall makes a promising feature debut; and Herrington, pushing beyond the expected triumph-of-the-underdog clichés, underpins the crowd-pleasing Rocky-style fight action with some unobtrusive social comment and confident visual storytelling.
Eric Lurio, Greenwich Village Gazette
I prefer the remake.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Standard "boxing will keep you off the mean streets where you'll be shot" story.

Read all 8 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

How did I miss this 1992 gem?! Very impressive performances from Cuba Gooding Jr, James Marshall, and Brian Dennehy. An underrated gem that explores the underground world of professional street boxing. It was well done, and I really enjoyed it! This movie may be among one of the… More
How did I miss this 1992 gem?! Very impressive performances from Cuba Gooding Jr, James Marshall, and Brian Dennehy. An underrated gem that explores the underground world of professional street boxing. It was well done, and I really enjoyed it! This movie may be among one of the highest quality unknown films that I have come across...
Jason O

Tommy Riley (James Marshall) goes to a different school and is immediately bullied around and threatened by several of the school's students. After getting in a street fight, Pappy Jack (Robert Loggia) notices Tommy's strong and fierce punch and invites him to be a boxer.… More
Tommy Riley (James Marshall) goes to a different school and is immediately bullied around and threatened by several of the school's students. After getting in a street fight, Pappy Jack (Robert Loggia) notices Tommy's strong and fierce punch and invites him to be a boxer. Tommy was formerly a boxing champion before coming to this school and his record is undefeated. This town is full of gangs and violence, and one day Tommy helps a black boxer named Lincoln (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), and they then have a good friendship. Tommy is now making good money being a boxer and he has some friends, but something just doesn't seem right. "Gladiator" is an exciting boxing and drama movie. What makes it so great is not only the exciting fights, but the great acting by everybody in the movie, mainly James Marshall, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Tommy's promoter, Jimmy Horn (Brian Dennehy). If you like exciting boxing movies that have a plot or just great movies in general, I recommend getting "Gladiator." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. The most underrated boxing film I know of, even though it's not THAT "Gladiator" film that everyone knows.
Alexander W

I really liked this film, it was a good film that got better, and in the end failed to make me sad, good ending!
EightThirty .

Good film...Good Drama ^_^
Dean M

Great illegal boxing sequences.
Lee K

Great boxing flick that doesn't seem to make it on the tube that often. If you are a boxing fan then i suggest you have a look at this if you can. Good storyline about a underground boxing circuit and Brian Dennehy does an amazing job as the mean boxing promoter.
Sean S

The Roman Empire follows it American destiny and becomes a republic. Oh wait that didn't happen much like my enjoyment of this movie.

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Cuba Gooding Jr. as Lincoln

            James Marshall as Tommy Riley

            Robert Loggia as Pappy Jack

            Ossie Davis as Noah

            Brian Dennehy as Jimmy Horn

            John Heard as John Riley

            Cara Buono as Dawn

            Lance Slaughter as Shortcut

            T.E. Russell as Spits

            Francesca Roberts as Miss Higgins

            Debra Sandlund as Charlene

            Derek Anunciation as Teen in Classroom

            Tab Baker as Storm Trooper

            Johnny Bellino as Dawn's Father

            Mike A. Burgos as Odds Board Man

            Julian S. Campo as Bodyguard

            Kevin M. Casey as Collector

            Kenneth Scott Coopwood as Bookie

            Blake Dollard as Heavyweight Fighter

            James "Ike" Eichling as Cop on Take

            Anthony Fitzpatrick as Collector

            Mary Flynn as Teen in Diner

            Tony Gios as Bookie

            Michael Glienna as Black Death Corner Man

            Jean-Paul Griffin as Black Death

            Emily Marie Hooper as Belinda

            Franklin Dennis Jones as Ring Manager

            Jill Kiblinger as Teen in Diner

            Harve Kolzow as Timekeeper

            Anthony "Primo" LaCassa as Romano's Cornerman

            Richard Lexsee as Father in Park

            Johnny Lira as Bookie

            Theorn "Touche" Lykes as Bodyguard

            Marctwaine Nettles-Bey as Teen in Classroom

            Mike Nussbaum as Doctor

            Brian O'Shea as 4th Referee

            Patrick Outlaw as Lincoln's Opponent

            Hector Pena as Tommy's Opponent

            David Spence Perkins as Fight Fan

            Dwain A. Perry as Storm Trooper

            Mark Phillip Raff as Teen in Diner

            Antoine Roshell as Scarface

            Raul Salinas as Teen in Classroom

            Joan Schwenk as Secretary

            Mik Scriba as 1st Referee

            Jon Seda as Romano

            Chilton Shellito as Bettor

            Thomas Charles Simmons as Leo

            Desi Singh as Bookie

            Debra Stipe
            
            Virgil Strauss as 2nd Referee

            Vonte Sweet as Tidbits

            Laura Whyte as Millie

            John Louis Williams as School Guard

            John Wilson as 3rd Referee

            Jena Wynn as Laura Lee

            Tak Fujimoto
            
            Amanda Mackey-Johnson
            
            David Burton as Bettor

            John M. Watson Sr. as Hospital Patient
See full cast