About
Christy Martin never imagined life beyond her small-town roots in West Virginia—until she discovered a knack for punching people. Fueled by grit, raw determination, and an unshakable desire to win, she charges into the world of boxing under the guidance of her trainer and manager-turned-husband, Jim. But while Christy flaunts a fiery persona in the ring, her toughest battles unfold outside it—confronting family, identity, and a relationship that just might become life-or-death.
Trailer
Cast
Sydney Sweeney
Christy Martin
Ben Foster
James V. Martin
Merritt Wever
Joyce Salters
Katy O'Brian
Lisa Holewyne
Ethan Embry
John Salters
Jess Gabor
Rosie
Chad L. Coleman
Don King
Tony Cavalero
James “Shortdog” Maloney
Miles Mussenden
Richard Christmas
Gilbert Cruz
Miguel Diaz
James Self
Coach
Bill Kelly
Larry Carrier
Sydney Sweeney
Christy Martin
Ben Foster
James V. Martin
Merritt Wever
Joyce Salters
Katy O'Brian
Lisa Holewyne
Ethan Embry
John Salters
Jess Gabor
Rosie
Chad L. Coleman
Don King
Tony Cavalero
James “Shortdog” Maloney
Miles Mussenden
Richard Christmas
Gilbert Cruz
Miguel Diaz
James Self
Coach
Bill Kelly
Larry Carrier
Reviews
CinemaSerf
Sydney Sweeney delivers quite charismatically here as a young woman coming to terms with her own identity, whilst discovering she has quite a powerful punch. She, Christy Salters, has to keep her relationship with Rosie (Jess Gabor) under wraps from her slightly zealous mother (Merritt Wever) as her fighting skills attract the attention of a promoter who sees potential in her no-mercy style of fighting and who sends her to his trainer Jim Martin (Ben Foster). Initially, this man just wants shot of her but gradually learns to appreciate that she has a shot at something bigger. It’s made clear that any fluidity in her sexuality is not going to be tolerated, and with Rosie finding a new man she is soon hooked up with, and married to, Jim. A career under the auspices on the enigmatic Don King (Chad Coleman) now beckons, with all it’s commitment, dedication and dollars - but as she succeeds, we all begin to realise there are cracks a-plenty in her personal life, cocaine starts to play it’s part and the dynamic of her relationship with her husband becomes more oppressive and controlling. Professionally, things are set to come to an head with her famous fight against Laila Ali and personally, how long can this toxic marriage last? The story of this woman’s achievements is certainly worth telling, and I do recall the hype around the Ali fight in 2003, but despite Sweeney’s best efforts I just found this to be an unevenly paced and frankly rather sterile depiction of Martin’s life. It spends far too long on the development phase, skirts over too much of that which makes her personable and drifts all too often into a disappointing melodrama that robs the thing of much of the vitality that this ought to have delivered. Foster looks the part, ok, but again his character is left undercooked and I really struggled to get to grips with why she ever fell for him in the first place, much less married him - especially when he presented her with a pink kit. For a film that is about addiction, in many different forms, it hasn’t any sense of urgency or spark - indeed, I did find myself looking at my watch a couple of times as this 2¼ hours plods along. What action scenes there are are well presented, but there aren’t really enough of them to help this immerse us in the very visceral and conflicted nature of this woman’s life, and in many ways this was just as much a mismatch as many of her early fights. Pity.
Read full reviewCinemaSerf
Sydney Sweeney delivers quite charismatically here as a young woman coming to terms with her own identity, whilst discovering she has quite a powerful punch. She, Christy Salters, has to keep her relationship with Rosie (Jess Gabor) under wraps from her slightly zealous mother (Merritt Wever) as her fighting skills attract the attention of a promoter who sees potential in her no-mercy style of fighting and who sends her to his trainer Jim Martin (Ben Foster). Initially, this man just wants shot of her but gradually learns to appreciate that she has a shot at something bigger. It’s made clear that any fluidity in her sexuality is not going to be tolerated, and with Rosie finding a new man she is soon hooked up with, and married to, Jim. A career under the auspices on the enigmatic Don King (Chad Coleman) now beckons, with all it’s commitment, dedication and dollars - but as she succeeds, we all begin to realise there are cracks a-plenty in her personal life, cocaine starts to play it’s part and the dynamic of her relationship with her husband becomes more oppressive and controlling. Professionally, things are set to come to an head with her famous fight against Laila Ali and personally, how long can this toxic marriage last? The story of this woman’s achievements is certainly worth telling, and I do recall the hype around the Ali fight in 2003, but despite Sweeney’s best efforts I just found this to be an unevenly paced and frankly rather sterile depiction of Martin’s life. It spends far too long on the development phase, skirts over too much of that which makes her personable and drifts all too often into a disappointing melodrama that robs the thing of much of the vitality that this ought to have delivered. Foster looks the part, ok, but again his character is left undercooked and I really struggled to get to grips with why she ever fell for him in the first place, much less married him - especially when he presented her with a pink kit. For a film that is about addiction, in many different forms, it hasn’t any sense of urgency or spark - indeed, I did find myself looking at my watch a couple of times as this 2¼ hours plods along. What action scenes there are are well presented, but there aren’t really enough of them to help this immerse us in the very visceral and conflicted nature of this woman’s life, and in many ways this was just as much a mismatch as many of her early fights. Pity.
Read full reviewClips(1)
"Meeting Don King" Clip
"Meeting Don King" Clip
Featurettes(8)
David Michôd & Mirrah Foulkes On The Challenges Of Making a Film Like Christy | BAFTA
Sydney Sweeney Recreated All of Christy Martin's Fights Exactly As They Happened for 'Christy'
Sydney Sweeney, Christy Martin, David Michôd, Katy O’Brian and More Discuss CHRISTY
real reactions. real impact. 🥊
when your movie’s called Christy… and you’re sitting next to Christy.
Sydney Sweeney goes for the KO - Christy Q&A
Sydney Sweeney talks bringing Christy Martin's story to the big screen with director David Michôd
Cast and Crew Q&A - TIFF 2025
David Michôd & Mirrah Foulkes On The Challenges Of Making a Film Like Christy | BAFTA
Sydney Sweeney Recreated All of Christy Martin's Fights Exactly As They Happened for 'Christy'
Sydney Sweeney, Christy Martin, David Michôd, Katy O’Brian and More Discuss CHRISTY
real reactions. real impact. 🥊
when your movie’s called Christy… and you’re sitting next to Christy.
Sydney Sweeney goes for the KO - Christy Q&A
Sydney Sweeney talks bringing Christy Martin's story to the big screen with director David Michôd
Cast and Crew Q&A - TIFF 2025
Behind the Scenes(3)
Inspiration
Transformation
Why Christy? - Featurette
Inspiration
Transformation
Why Christy? - Featurette