Resurrecting the Champ

Play trailer

Resurrecting the Champ

PG-13

2007

1h 52m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

61%

Tomatometer

115 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Things are not going well for Erik Kernan (Josh Hartnett). Erik, a sports reporter, is stuck covering the bush leagues because his editor (Alan Alda) thinks he cannot cut it as writer. On top of that, his marriage is disintegrating. One night, he rescues a homeless man (Samuel L. Jackson) and discovers the guy is Battling Bob Satterfield, a former boxer rumored to be dead. Erik sees a chance to give his career a much-needed boost by writing the athlete's story.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

While sluggish in spots, Resurrecting the Champ is a sports/newsroom drama elevated by high-caliber performances by Samuel Jackson, Josh Hartnett, and Alan Alda.

Read Critics Reviews

Tom Charity

CNN.com

08/28/2007

Resurrecting the Champ is authentic in its newsroom scenes, and appropriately concerned at how entertainment value trumps diligent reporting.

Go to Full Review

Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

08/27/2007

Despite one great performance and an intriguing setup, the work is crippled by another performance that's nowhere near great, and a storyline that makes it impossible to root for the leading man.

Go to Full Review

Tasha Robinson

AV Club

08/25/2007

B-

Champ is a solid effort with a lot going for it, but it suggests that Lurie still isn't willing to relax and let viewers interpret his films.

Go to Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

11/13/2019

With Resurrecting the Champ the truth is quite simple. It's a knockout.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

06/29/2019

3/4

Towering over the entire picture is Jackson, who takes a showy role and invests it with so much humanity that it's impossible not to feel deeply for the character every step of the way.

Go to Full Review

Heather Huntington

ReelzChannel.com

08/26/2008

4/10

Nothing can wrench this movie from the grip of a saccharine, formulaic script full of plattitudes and divided allegiances.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Don S.

@dsmith1157 Mar 20

Good story, well acted, good twist.

See more

Cristian s

@cristiansj 09/09/2023

Muy buena película basada en una historia real. Historia que atrapa y la actuación de Samuel L. Jackson es excelente.

See more

chris b

@Burge 06/01/2020

I am in it as a silent on Camera it's got to be good. It is a good story I watched it and was surprised. Best movie in the world no but it has it's moments and worth taking a look at. A simple triumph of human spirit is what we need right now.

See more

09/09/2016

A fatherhood and morality tale apparently. Didn't quite knock me out with it though. Relatively original in parts, and before the twist it was compelling enough. After that point it feels a bit like that heavyweight fight after the fighters get tired and it becomes a stalemate. Alan Alda is a great curmudgeon anyway.

See more

07/27/2016

Josh Hartnett and a plot twist. Extra points for this already good story ??

See more

12/12/2014

Not bad though cause I am not a big fan of movies about boxing.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Rod Lurie

Director

Samuel L. Jackson

Champ

Josh Hartnett

Erik

Kathryn Morris

Joyce

Alan Alda

Metz

Teri Hatcher

Flak

All the King's Men

12%

40%

All the King's Men

Watchlist

The 33

49%

59%

The 33

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The 33

Deal

3%

38%

Deal

Watchlist

Cassandra's Dream

46%

49%

Cassandra's Dream

Watchlist

Grace Is Gone

63%

60%

Grace Is Gone

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Things are not going well for Erik Kernan (Josh Hartnett). Erik, a sports reporter, is stuck covering the bush leagues because his editor (Alan Alda) thinks he cannot cut it as writer. On top of that, his marriage is disintegrating. One night, he rescues a homeless man (Samuel L. Jackson) and discovers the guy is Battling Bob Satterfield, a former boxer rumored to be dead. Erik sees a chance to give his career a much-needed boost by writing the athlete's story.

Director: Rod Lurie
Producer: Mike Medavoy, Bob Yari, Marc Frydman, Rod Lurie
Screenwriter: Michael Bortman, Allison Burnett
Distributor: Yari Film Group
Production Co: Phoenix Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Some Violence|Brief Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 24, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.2M
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)