5 most powerful boxing films

AP

Well, of course we have to start here. Greatest boxing movie ever? That's not too much of a stretch. What more can we say that hasn't already been said? It's all so obvious.

Robert De Niro famously transformed himself inside and out, packing on the muscle to play the volatile former middleweight champion Jake La Motta. In gorgeous, intimate black-and-white with its haunting title sequence, this may just go down as Martin Scorsese's brutal masterpiece. It earned Academy Awards for De Niro (best actor) and for Thelma Schoonmaker's editing, but was criminally robbed of the best-picture prize, which went to "Ordinary People."

Warner Bros. via Reuters

Director and co-star Clint Eastwood has said this appealed to him because it was about a search for family, and indeed, the scenes he shares with Hilary Swank, who functions as a daughter figure in his life, provide the film's heart.

But as Maggie Fitzgerald, a young woman who comes from nothing, trains hard and turns herself into an unlikely champion, Swank also inspires all on her own. And the ending is just devastating, even if you know it's coming. The film earned Academy Awards for best picture, director, actress and supporting actor: Morgan Freeman as Eastwood's longtime friend and verbal sparring partner outside the ring.

MGM

I dare you to try even thinking about this movie without getting choked up — that's how powerful its conclusion is. Yes, it's a remake and yes, it's shamelessly tear-jerky, but man, is it effective.

Jon Voight stars as an ex-boxer now working as a horse trainer while raising his worshipful young son (the artist formerly known as Ricky Schroder). He decides to try in earnest for a comeback (don't they all?) when his socialite ex-wife (Faye Dunaway) shows up and threatens to tear father and son apart. Schroder displayed depth and instincts beyond his years at the film's wrenching climax.