Christy
2025 · United States · 135 min
- Director
- David Michôd
- Screenplay
- David Michôd, Mirrah Foulkes
- Producer
- Teddy Schwarzman, Sydney Sweeney
- Music
- Antony Partos
- Editing
- Matt Villa
What the critics say
67 % Rotten Tomatoes positive reviewsCast
What it is about
In 1989 in Itmann, West Virginia, a college basketball player wins a local women's boxing contest, and boxing soon becomes the centre of her life. Her local coach offers to train her for a professional career that takes her to Florida and, eventually, into the orbit of Don King, one of the most powerful promoters in the sport. The film follows her rise as one of the best-known female boxers in America during the 1990s, along with the family and personal conflicts that come with it.
How it was made
The project was announced in May 2024, with David Michôd directing from a screenplay he wrote with Mirrah Foulkes. Sydney Sweeney, who also produced, trained for months in boxing and weightlifting and performed her own fight scenes rather than using a stunt double. Principal photography began in late September 2024 in North Carolina and wrapped in mid-November. Antony Partos composed the score.
Reception and legacy
The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and reached American cinemas in November. Critics gave it mixed reviews, though Sweeney's performance drew broad praise, and its opening box-office take was modest. For now, its place in film history remains limited.
Stills
Trailer
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Trivia
No stunt double in the ring
Sydney Sweeney refused to use a stunt double for the boxing sequences, and trained intensively to carry out that physical work herself.
The real Christy Martin on set
Christy Martin was involved in making the film and spent some time on the set during production.
More films by David Michôd
The King
Animal Kingdom
War Machine
The RoverOriginal Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (es) and Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.