The rise in popularity of mixed martial arts has kind of taken the sports world by storm over the past two or so decades. Whether it’s the juggernaut that is the UFC or smaller promotions, people have flocked to see fighters duke it out in droves, with impressive pay-per-view numbers everywhere.
As is often the case, when something becomes popular, plenty of movies end up getting made about it. Many MMA films have come out in the past few years, though there were some great fighting movies in the past, too. Finding the best of them can be tough but these are all ideal for longtime and new fans alike.
Never Back Down (2008)
Right around the time when MMA grew in popularity, Never Back Down hit theaters. Unfortunately, it didn’t become a success at the box office, barely grossing over $40 million. However, it did well enough to spawn a string of straight-to-DVD sequels.
Never Back Down tells the story of a frustrated teen who moves to a new high school where he discovers they have an underground fight club that he ultimately joins. Although critics weren’t big on the film, it holds a solid score on IMDb (6.5), showing that audiences liked it more.
The cast of Never Back Down is solid, including Sean Faris, Cam Gigandet, Djimon Hounsou, and Evan Peters. Some of the sequels were directed by martial artist and actor Michael Jai White and feature appearances from real MMA fighters.
Here Comes The Boom (2012)
For the most part, MMA movies tend to lie in the action or drama genres, which makes sense given the subject matter. However, one film opted to take the premise to the world of comedy, and it features some of the funniest names in Hollywood.
From Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions, Here Comes the Boom stars the hilarious Kevin James as a biology teacher who, in an attempt to get the money to save his school’s music program, becomes an MMA fighter.
Although reviews were only mixed, Here Comes the Boom is a fun watch for anyone who is a fan of Sandler’s films. It features his trademark comedy style and veterans of his movies like Henry Winkler and Salma Hayek. Of course, several real MMA fighters also pop up in the project.
Fighting (2009)
The 2000s saw the rise of Channing Tatum as a household name thanks to roles in Step Up, She’s the Man, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. One of his most underrated parts came in 2009’s Fighting.
This MMA movie tells the story of Shawn (Tatum), a small-town guy who struggles when he moves to New York until he encounters a scam artist (Terrence Howard), who notices that he can fight and gets him involved in streetfighting for cash.
It’s not the most original or unique premise, but the actors and fight sequences make Fighting into a solid entry in the fighting movie genre. Although critics would’ve liked a stronger plot and better writing, it’s still an enjoyable watch when you want to see some on-screen brawling.
Blood And Bone (2009)
Released the same year as Fighting, Blood and Bone is a lesser-known but very good entry into the world of MMA movies. Starring the aforementioned Michael Jai White (who is most famous from Spawn and The Dark Knight), the film follows a simple, yet effective setup.
Blood and Bone follows Isaiah (White), an ex-convict and martial artist who joins the world of underground fighting to fulfill a promise to his dead friend. Though the story is straightforward, it is again the action that makes this a standout movie.
What helps Blood and Bone is how authentic some of the fights feel. Having a martial artist like White in the lead role lends credibility to those scenes and the movie also features former fighters like Bob Sapp and Kimbo Slice, as well as former pro wrestler Ernest Miller.
Redbelt (2008)
The least known film on this list, Redbelt is something of a hidden gem when it comes to MMA movies. The project was made for just $7 million and got a limited release, where it didn’t make its budget back, yet it boasts several qualities that make it worth checking out.
For starters, Redbelt has a really good cast, led by Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alice Braga, and Emily Mortimer. There’s also Tim Allen’s only non-comedic role and random cameos from the likes of Jake Johnson and Ed O’Neill.
On top of that, Redbelt was well-received by critics. It sits at a solid 68% on Rotten Tomatoes, with praise going toward the cast and screenplay. The story of Redbelt centers on Ejiofor’s Mike as he tries to make money through martial arts without compromising his strict moral code.
Bruised (2020)
Bruised Halle Berry fighting in a ring
It felt like people had forgotten about how great Halle Berry is for a few years until she popped up in a scene-stealing role in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. A year later, she reminded everyone of her talent with the film Bruised.
Released to Netflix and select theaters, Bruised flew under the radar but is both directed by and starring Halle Berry. She plays Jackie, an MMA fighter who leaves the sport in disgrace, turns to underground fighting, and tries to bond with her son who she gave up as an infant.
Critics weren’t too thrilled with the screenplay (a trend in this genre) but major praise went to Halle Berry’s skills as both an actor and a director. She carries Bruised and is the reason why it was a hit on Netflix, leading the streaming service to sign her to a multi-picture deal.
Road House (2024)
Jake Gyllehaal looking serious as Dalton in Road House 2024Custom image by Yailin Chacon
It didn’t seem like people were clamoring for a Road House remake. The original is an ’80s classic that helped propel Patrick Swayze further into stardom and fans of it still rewatch it to this day. However, the 2024 update on the project was a hit.
This Road House basically tells the same story as the original, except this time around, the protagonist is actually a former UFC fighter. That helps add something to the fight scenes that people come to this movie to see.
Jake Gyllenhaal is strong as the lead and the film was praised for how it leans into its cheesy, often over-the-top nature. Road House also benefits from the wildly charismatic Conor McGregor as the antagonist, with his real MMA credentials and wild personality playing a factor.
Bloodsport (1988)
Speaking of cheesy classics from the ’80s that are beloved, Bloodsport is one of the most renowned martial arts movies ever made. A joint production between the United States and Hong Kong, Bloodsport helped turn Jean-Claude Van Damme into a star.
The movie marked one of his first major lead roles and centers on Frank Dux, an army major who goes AWOL to compete in an outlawed martial arts contest in Hong Kong. The scenes at the actual contest are some of the most engaging in any fighting movie ever.
Critics didn’t appreciate Bloodsport upon release, with Van Damme even getting nominated for the Worst New Star Golden Raspberry. However, it has since become a cult classic and spawned several sequels, while also helping to popularize martial arts films in the United States. On top of its appeal as a fun movie, it’s also hugely important.
The Smashing Machine (2025)
Dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr walks into an arena in The Smashing MachineA24 / courtesy Everett Collection
The newest entry into the world of MMA movies is The Smashing Machine and it immediately grabbed audiences when the first trailer arrived. The first thing that stands out is Dwayne Johnson in the starring role because he’s almost completely unrecognizable.
Joining Johnson in the talented cast is Emily Blunt, who plays his girlfriend. The film holds a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and comes from Benny Safdie, who most notably co-directed the critical darling Uncut Gems alongside his brother. This movie is Dwayne Johnson like we’ve never seen him before.
Warrior (2011)
Tom Hardy as Tommy taping up his hands and looking furious in Warrior.
While even some of the best MMA movies receive mixed reviews from critics, Warrior is one of the few to be critically acclaimed. That’s because this MMA film features a great screenplay, terrific performances, and fantastic fight sequences.
Warrior tells the story of two estranged brothers who both enter an MMA tournament looking to make some money. One is former Marine Tommy (Tom Hardy) and the other is a high school teacher (Joel Edgerton), struggling to provide for his family.
The MMA fights in the tournament are masterfully done and include the likes of Kurt Angle and Nate Marquardt. However, the real reason this film works so well is the relationship between the siblings and their father, played by an Oscar-nominated Nick Nolte.
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