• Trending
    • Certified Fresh & Verified Hot
    • TV Premier dates
    • New horror Movies
    • Best Movies of All Time
  • Movies
    • Movies In Theaters
    • Movies at Home
  • TV Shows
    • New TV
    • Most Popular TV
  • News
    • What to Watch
    • Guides
    • RT News
    • Awards
  • Games
    • Find Your Next Horror Watch
  • Video
  • Showtimes
  • Fanstore
  • About Rotten Tomatoes
  • Critics
  • Download the App Now
  • Logout
Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App New News Showtimes

The Champ

Play trailer Poster for The Champ PG,  1979,  2h 2m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 42% 24 Reviews Tomatometer 82% 5,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
42% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Billy (Jon Voight) used to be a great boxer, but he's settled into a hardscrabble life that revolves around drinking, training horses, and the one bright spot in his existence -- his young son, T.J. (Ricky Schroder). Although Billy has had custody of T.J. since his wife, Annie (Faye Dunaway), left the family years ago, her return prompts a new struggle for the former fighter. Determined to hold on to T.J., Billy gets back into the ring to try and recapture his past success.

Critics Reviews

View More
Bob Thomas Associated Press Nov 8, 2021
The entire production is first-class, reminiscent of MGM in its heyday. Go to Full Review
Michael Booth Denver Post Apr 1, 2007
A three-alarm, three-hanky movie of the highest order, perfect for your kids who don't get to see many truly sad films. Go to Full Review
Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Apr 1, 2007
The tear-jerking is so determined and persistent that your ducts feel as if they'd been worked over with a catheter. Go to Full Review
Tom Cassidy Common Sense Media Apr 13, 2022
4/5
This 1979 drama has moments of excitement to keep it interesting and heaps of real emotion, making it a compelling drama. But while you shouldn't expect to maintain dry eyes, The Champ is much more than a misery parade. Go to Full Review
Stephen Farber New West/California Nov 3, 2021
This film has only two moods: the mawkish and the maudlin. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Jan 22, 2020
2/4
...an often egregiously deliberate drama that rarely (if ever) wholeheartedly grabs the viewer's interest and attention... Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
George S Nov 16, 2018 Amazing film! Little Ricky Schroder is heartbreaking! Cheesy as tits and I love it!
Leia M Apr 4, 2017 Highly underated film, Heart wrenching performances from Jon Voight and Ricky Schroeder who gave it their all. Heartbreaking . See more
Hagrid S Apr 4, 2017 Could have been much better than the cliches.
Read all reviews
The Champ

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Franco Zeffirelli

Director

Jon Voight

Billy

Faye Dunaway

Annie

Ricky Schroder

T.J.

Jack Warden

Jackie

Arthur Hill

Mike

More Like This

View All
The Fugitive Kind 56% 63% The Fugitive Kind Watchlist Wild Flower 57% 55% Wild Flower Watchlist Champion 93% 73% Champion Watchlist The Cardinal 38% 67% The Cardinal Watchlist Two for the Seesaw 33% 58% Two for the Seesaw Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All
View All

The Champ

The Champ (1979) The Champ (1979) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Billy (Jon Voight) used to be a great boxer, but he's settled into a hardscrabble life that revolves around drinking, training horses, and the one bright spot in his existence -- his young son, T.J. (Ricky Schroder). Although Billy has had custody of T.J. since his wife, Annie (Faye Dunaway), left the family years ago, her return prompts a new struggle for the former fighter. Determined to hold on to T.J., Billy gets back into the ring to try and recapture his past success.
Director
Franco Zeffirelli
Producer
Dyson Lovell
Screenwriter
Walter Newman
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 20, 1979, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2008
Runtime
2h 2m
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings