When a film dives into sports, authenticity is key to keeping audiences locked in. That’s especially true in combat sports, where great storytelling and convincing performances — often with actors doing their own stunts — elevate movies into classics like “Creed,” “Rocky,” “Warrior” and “The Wrestler.”
“Christy” should be mentioned in the same vein as these films, as Sydney Sweeney delivers a genuine execution that provides insight into the grit and perseverance Christy Martin went through to be one of the most important and influential boxers in history. David Michôd directs this biographical sports drama that transports the viewer into Christy’s struggles and journey through overcoming opponents in the boxing ring and having to confront family members who didn’t support her, and her ex-husband and trainer, who abused her and tried to end her life.
The film, starring Sweeney as Christine Renea Salters (previously Martin), chronicles the rise of former professional boxer Martin to become America’s most successful female boxer in the 1990s. Released by Black Bear Pictures and screened at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, and recently at the Denver Film Festival. The film also stars Ben Foster, who plays James V. Martin, Christy’s coach turned abusive husband. The festival presented Foster with the inaugural Outlaw Award before the screening, and he then answered questions about his role and career.
Throughout the decades chronicled in Christy’s life, the film does a solid job of representing multiple eras through music and fashion. Michôd depicts a sense of hope and optimism about Christy’s hopes to become a boxer in a world that doesn’t take women’s boxing seriously. There are strong supporting performances from Merritt Wever as Joyce Salters, Christy’s mother, and Bryan Hibbard as Big Jeff, Christy’s friend and member of her fight team. A biopic about boxing is only as strong as its lead actor, and Sydney Sweeney shines in portraying Christy, not only in the fight scenes but also in the training sequences.
Other boxing movies have better fight scenes, but the filmmakers shot the bouts well, and I believed Sweeney’s portrayal of a menacing boxer with knockout power. With Christy’s professional record of 49 wins and 32 victories by knockout, it was vital for the film to present Christy as an intimidating force, but also her trash talk of her opponents. The film accomplishes this with each knockout feeling vicious. The film does show the aftermath of one of her defeats, but I would have liked to see how she reacted to the losses that she suffered in the early part of her career.
It’s obvious that Sydney Sweeney embodied the physical qualities of Christy, but the biggest strength of the film is the emotional moments that she goes through. Christy is now married former opponent and ring rival Lisa Holewyne, portrayed by Katy M. O’Brian, but the film shows Christy battling with her sexuality of being a lesbian, causing tension with everyone in her life due to their homophobia. Sweeney’s performance drew me into her battling being her true self versus having the life she always dreamed of being wealthy, a championship fighter, and the acceptance of her family.
Christy’s relationship with her former husband, James V. Martin, was disturbing to watch as Foster transformed into the role of one of the most despicable characters I’ve seen portrayed in film. His emotional, physical, and psychological abuse of Christy was hard to watch and rooted the film in Christy’s struggle to maintain her lifestyle that she worked hard for, or leave her husband and risk losing her boxing career. Keep in mind that if you see the film, there are multiple depictions of domestic abuse.
Despite its runtime of 135 minutes, the movie never felt long and delivered a complete narrative of Christy’s life. The only negative is that I wish the film presented more of her losses in her career and crafted the world of professional boxing in the 90s. Those not familiar with boxing in the 90s may not feel the importance of Christy fighting on the undercards of legendary boxing pay-per-views of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Félix Trinidad, and Julio César Chávez.
The film is currently under fire from different celebrities and critics of Sydney Sweeney appearing in a controversial jeans ad, but those who give Christy a chance should be impressed with performances that are top-notch and do a solid job of presenting a full narrative of Christine Renea Salters’ legendary boxing career.
Score: 9
Related: Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Christy’ Sets a Depressing Record at the Box Office
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
