The Champ
Emotional family drama has alcohol, gambling, violence.
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The Champ
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Champ is a moving 1979 family drama about a former boxer and single father who struggles with an addiction to alcohol and gambling. Jon Voight plays Billy, who brought up eight-year-old T.J. (Ricky Schroder) on his own. He drinks to excess and in one scene steals from T.J.'s money box. He cares deeply about his son but often makes poor choices. T.J. has to look after his father when he's drunk and the movie doesn't shy from the sadness of the situation. When T.J.'s estranged mother, Annie (Faye Dunaway), returns, Billy struggles further and vows to return to the ring. The movie features realistic boxing with bloody wounds and fatal consequences. Outside the ring, a realistic street brawl turns chaotic, Billy slaps his son, and grabs and shoves Annie. Infrequent language includes "bulls--t" and "ass." Billy is shown getting drunk and gambling, turning to these at times of stress, which lead to negative consequences. The movie is a remake of the 1931 movie of the same name.
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What's the Story?
In THE CHAMP, Billy (Jon Voight) is a former boxer and single parent, whose use of alcohol and gambling led to the breakdown of his marriage. Seven years on, he must face his past when ex-wife Annie (Faye Dunaway) returns and wants access to the son she never knew.
Is It Any Good?
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. In his first ever role, Ricky Schroder perfectly captures the rollercoaster of emotions of T.J., the eight-year-old son of Voight's troubled Billy. The film is packed with moving scenes, with complex, non-judgmental depictions of well-written characters. Under the direction of Franco Zeffirelli, Voight and Dunaway play Billy and his estranged ex-wife Annie to remarkable effect. During their first meeting in the movie, the characters' bitter history and volatile love fizzes in a performance that gives goosebumps.
However, it's the scenes between father and son that hit hardest. T.J. always calls his father "The Champ," almost willing him to be the man he wishes he was and not the man he has to put to bed when he's drunk. Billy believes his bluster, too, and when he hits a winning streak, celebrates by making a show of it, buying everyone gifts. Sure, T.J. likes the racehorse Billy buys him, but that money might have been better spent on something more domestic. As with all of Billy's grand plans, don't expect a happy ending.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how drinking and gambling is portrayed in The Champ. How did Billy's use of alcohol and gambling to avoid stressful situations impact his relationships with others? Why do drinking and gambling seem to go together so often in movies?
Discuss the relationship between T.J. and Billy. Would you describe it as a good one? Why, or why not?
Talk about the violence in the movie. Was it realistic? Do you think sports such as boxing are morally acceptable as entertainment?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 4, 1979
- On DVD or streaming: May 1, 2008
- Cast: Jon Voight, Faye Dunaway, Ricky Schroder
- Director: Franco Zeffirelli
- Studio: MGM
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts
- Run time: 121 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Award: Golden Globe
- Last updated: October 13, 2022
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