The Great White Hype (1996)

45% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
32% of users liked it
(7,527 ratings)

Boxing is more than just a sport -- it's also a business and a con game in this satirical comedy. Rev. Fred Sultan (Samuel L. Jackson) is a shrewd boxing promoter and manager whose meal ticket is heavyweight champion James "The Grim Reaper" Roper (Damon Wayans), a fighter whose skill and confidence… More Boxing is more than just a sport -- it's also a business and a con game in this satirical comedy. Rev. Fred Sultan (Samuel L. Jackson) is a shrewd boxing promoter and manager whose meal ticket is heavyweight champion James "The Grim Reaper" Roper (Damon Wayans), a fighter whose skill and confidence significantly outstrips his intelligence. While the top-ranked contender for Roper's title is Marvin Shabazz (Michael Jace), Sultan isn't too keen on the idea of Shabazz fighting Roper -- it seems that both fighters are black, and Sultan's figures show that mixed race matches stir up a lot more media attention and pay-per-view customers. Eager to find a white challenger for Roper, Sultan digs up Terry Conklin (Peter Berg), who won a Golden Gloves fight against Roper many years ago but is now out of the game and fronting a rock band called Massive Head Wound. Thanks to a few bribes and a couple of fixed fights, Sultan is able to arrange for Conklin to be next in line to battle "The Grim Reaper." However, Conklin is taking his renewed career as a boxer quite seriously, while Roper, convinced that Conklin doesn't stand a chance, has let himself go and gained a lot of weight. Suddenly Sultan realizes that Roper might just lose the piece-of-cake fight he's so carefully arranged, while journalist Mitchell Kane (Jeff Goldblum) smells a rat in Conklin's sudden rise to ranking status. Jon Lovitz, Cheech Marin, and Corbin Bernsen highlight the supporting cast, while members of the well-regarded alternative rock band Local H appear as Massive Head Wound. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Reginald Hudlin
Written By: Ron Shelton, Tony Hendra
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: May 3, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Jun 1, 2004
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today
As satire, Hype dares to play the race card but folds too soon.
Dan Fienberg, Zap2it.com
The joke is often funny and the actors all look like they're having fun, but it's still a one-joke movie that falls short of its potential
Clint Morris, Moviehole
A knockout comedy...Peter Berg is a trip!
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Breezy, biting fun.

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

Anthony L

Very funny, you don't have to be a boxing fan to enjoy!
Tim S

A fun dark comedy from HBO films.
Aurelius D

First off DAMN Salli Richardson looked good. Kind of reminded me of a young Pam Grier. Typical comedy sports movie. Heavy in the racial tones making that about so much. Funny the amount of stars in this thing. I don't get how they ended it like they did when it felt more like the… More
First off DAMN Salli Richardson looked good. Kind of reminded me of a young Pam Grier. Typical comedy sports movie. Heavy in the racial tones making that about so much. Funny the amount of stars in this thing. I don't get how they ended it like they did when it felt more like the middle of a movie. Complete crap ending. I guess maybe it was interesting in its day but I was failed to be impressed.

Cast

            Samuel L. Jackson as Rev. Fred Sultan

            Jeff Goldblum as Mitchell Kane

            Peter Berg as Terry Conklin

            Damon Wayans as James 'The Grim Reaper' Roper

            Jon Lovitz as Sol

            Corbin Bernsen as Peter Prince

            Cheech Marin as Julio Escobar

            Walter Addison as Michael Katz

            Brad Blaisdell as Press Corps #1

            Rocky Carroll as Artemus St. John Saint

            Lydell M. Cheshier as Palace Guard #3

            Alyson Croft as Pretty Young Woman #2

            Deezer D as Roper's Crony #2

            John Rhys-Davies as Johnny Windsor

            Duane Davis as Palace Guard #1

            Art Evans as Minister

            Michael Fairman as Chairman Jerry Schwartz

            Jamie Foxx as Hassan El Ruk'n

            Susan Gibney as Vivian

            Renee Griffin as Angel

            Albert Hall as Roper's Manager

            Randy Harris as 4th Palace Guard

            Anthony Johnson as Sultan's Valet

            Jarrett Lennon as Jarrett Kane

            Stu Nahan as Fight Announcer #1

            Salli Richardson as Bambi

            Brian Setzer as Himself

            Bert Randolph Sugar as Himself

            Nedra Volz as Old Lady

            Sam Whipple as Artie

            Lamont Johnson as Palace Guard #2

            Rick Scarry as White Middle American

            James Hardie as Press Corps #2

            Richard Steele as Referee

            Michael Jace as Marvin Shabazz

            Reno Wilson as Roper's Crony

            Phil Buckman as Lee the Drummer

            Leon Frederick as Roper's Cornerman

            Method Man as Himself

            Al Rodrigo as 1st press member

            G. John Slagle as Kane's Cameraman

            Ferdie Pacheco as fight announcer

            Renee Ammann as Angel

            Jonathan P. Hicks as Sports Writer

            Craig Modderno as Sports Writer

            Tim Kawakami as Himself

            Elizabeth LaRou as Pretty Young Woman

            Cristal L. House as Pretty Young Woman

            Irv L. Dotten as Roper's Crony

            James H. Hays as Roper's Cornerman
See full cast