In his first Oscar nomination in Mark Robson's compelling melodrama, Kirk Douglas gives a ferociously realistic performance as a boxer determined to succeed at all costs.
Comment
09/30/09
Champion (1949)
92
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:13
Fresh:12
Rotten:1
Average Rating:8.1/10
Synopsis: The tragic tale of a hard-bitten prizefighter who rises to the top of his profession but can't erase the scars of his underprivileged youth. In his struggle to get ahead, middleweight champ Midge... [More]
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Marilyn Maxwell, Arthur Kennedy, Ruth Roman
Director: Mark Robson
Reviews for Champion
1 - 13 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
The Set-Up, made the same year, is infinitely superior.
06/24/06
Kirk Douglas does a good, aggressive job, with a slight inclination to over-eagerness at times, which might amuse an old fight fan.
03/25/06
Top CriticIn his first Oscar nomination in Mark Robson's compelling melodrama, Kirk Douglas gives a ferociously realistic performance as a boxer determined to succeed at all costs.
07/06/05
No review available.
02/13/05
No review available.
01/14/05
One of the best fight films ever, also one of Kirk's best
10/23/04
No review available.
11/14/03
Robson's direction is all action, wasting no time in telling this compelling story, and Carl Foreman's script is sharply observant of the boxing milieu.
07/30/03
Douglas is so perfect in the role that the movie is never less than gripping.
05/24/03
Brilliant, searing, heartbreaking.
07/25/02
The contrasting black and white cinematography perfectly fits the dark mood. The fight sequences are excitingly and realistically staged.
06/13/01
1 - 13 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Fresh Links
Featured
Dressing Wonderland 
Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.
Wes Anderson on Fox
The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Win Glee DVDs
We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.
Win tickets to Cold Souls
Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser
Win the entire 007 collection
Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection
IGN RSS Feeds