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Parents' Guide to

The Challenger

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Boxing drama only worth watching to see costar's last role.

Movie PG-13 2015 94 minutes
The Challenger Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 1 parent review

Brooklynjayjay123
Brooklynjayjay123 Parent of 7-year-old
July 19, 2018
age 10+

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

THE CHALLENGER is a boxing drama written, directed, and starring newcomer Kent Moran that also happens to be the last movie featuring actor Michael Clarke Duncan (despite having been filmed in 2012 -- the year Duncan died -- it wasn't released until September 2015). It follows Moran as Jaden, a Bronx-bred mechanic who loses his job and, facing eviction, decides to beg his former trainer, Duane (Duncan), to take a chance on him. After in-depth training, Jaden quickly emerges as a serious underdog contender to be a true boxing champ.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Other than seeing the late, great Duncan one last time, there's nothing remarkable about writer-director-star Moran's predictably inspiring boxing flick. With far better boxing movies available, from classics like Raging Bull and Rocky to more recent fare like Southpaw, it's unlikely that audiences will feel compelled to see this middling addition the genre, especially considering that the film's actual boxing scenes are so underwhelming and uninspired.

Duncan and S. Epatha Merkerson, who plays Jaden's adoptive mother, a retired social worker, are by far the best performers in the movie, making the best of their cliched characters -- the wise and steadfast boxing mentor and the ill single mother who's always believed in her son. Although Moran looks the part, fit and fast, he's disappointingly bland as a hungry wannabe boxer who defies expectations.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about boxing violence. How does it compare to the kind of violence depicted in other movies? Do different types of violence have different impact?

  • What are some of the expected scenes/plot points in a boxing movie? Does The Challenger handle those well? Why do you think training montages, pep talks, and coach-athlete relationships are included in most movies about serious athletes?

  • This is co-star Michael Clarke Duncan's final film. Discuss his many roles. Which one is your favorite?

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