Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Thought-provoking boxing drama has profanity, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Girlfight
What's the Story?
In GIRLFIGHT, high school senior Diana (Michelle Rodriguez) gets in trouble for fighting one too many times: If she doesn't turn things around, she'll be expelled. Running an errand, she enters a boxing gym and is immediately drawn to the sport. Behind her father's back, she starts training in earnest and finds that the better she gets at boxing, the better she's able to cope with everything else going on in her life. She starts to fall for fellow boxing hopeful Adrian (Douglas Santiago), but can their relationship survive when they have to face each other in the ring?
Is It Any Good?
Yes, there's plenty of boxing in this sports-themed drama, but it's actually a thought-provoking character study. Girlfight follows a young woman who's turning her life around while she blazes a trail in a male-dominated sport. Rodriguez has tremendous magnetism in her debut movie role as Diana, a character who's very hard to get to know but impossible not to admire.
Director-writer Karyn Kusama crafts a documentary-like neutrality with a somber, quiet mood that's realistic without being overly gritty. Kusama doesn't solve all of Diana's problems for us, either, and teens will find themselves pondering her future long after the movie is over.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Girlfight's theme of women fighting to participate in male-dominated sports such as boxing. Can you think of other sports that women have made an impact in that were traditionally male-dominated? Who are some female athletes you admire who've paved the way for other women in their chosen sport?
What do you think will become of Diana after the credits roll? Do you imagine she'll become a successful boxer, maybe even a pro? What obstacles might she still have to overcome?
Did you know very much about boxing before you saw this movie? Did it seem realistic? Does knowing more about the sport change your opinion about it?
Diana shows great perseverance in both her training and in challenging the views of those around her. Why is that an important character strength? Can you think of times in your life when you've shown perseverance to achieve something?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 22, 2000
- On DVD or streaming : March 27, 2001
- Cast : Michelle Rodriguez , Jaime Tirelli , Paul Calderon
- Director : Karyn Kusama
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studios : Green/Renzi , Independent Film Channel (IFC)
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Perseverance
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Language
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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