Sydney Sweeney’s R-Rated Drama Is One Of HBO Max’s Best New Movies (#1 Trending In The U.S.)

by

Although Sydney Sweeney’s latest sports film didn’t do well in theaters when it came out in 2025, it’s now gaining popularity on HBO Max, suggesting it’s worth a second look. Despite her rising fame, not all of Sydney Sweeney’s movies have been hits with audiences.

Sydney Sweeney experienced both successes and failures recently. In 2024, while films like Anyone But You and Immaculate performed well, Eden lost money and Madame Web received poor reviews. More recently, her thriller The Housemaid was popular, but her boxing movie, Christy, didn’t earn much at the box office despite being a well-regarded film.

Sydney Sweeney’s R-Rated Boxing Biopic Christy Was Unfairly Slated

Just five weeks before The Housemaid became a huge success, Christy premiered. This film told the true story of Christy Martin, a pioneering female boxer. Directed by David Michôd, known for Animal Kingdom, the movie covered Martin’s life from a difficult childhood, through her rise to become a leading boxer in the 1990s, and up to the 2010 shooting perpetrated by her coach and husband.

Martin’s life is a compelling and heartbreaking story with strong potential for a film. She was an incredibly skilled fighter, but her difficult childhood and the abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband created a uniquely challenging path. Her story avoids the predictable tropes often found in sports movies about overcoming adversity.

Michôd’s film does a good job of portraying the emotional power, hardship, and ultimate strength found in Martin’s life story, and Sweeney gives an outstanding performance as him. Unfortunately, the film Christy didn’t do well in theaters, which meant people didn’t notice how well-made and compelling the movie actually was.

Christy Is The Latest In A Long Line Of Great Boxing Biopics

Featuring strong performances from Ben Foster as the abusive husband, Merrit Wever as the mother, and Kate O’Brien as a former competitor, Christy is a compelling boxing movie that shouldn’t be forgotten despite not doing well in theaters. Thankfully, its popularity on HBOMax has given the film a chance to find a wider audience.

While many great boxing movies exist, each offering a unique feel, Christy is just the latest. Fans who enjoy inspiring boxing tales will love classics like Rocky (1976) and its 2015 sequel, Creed. However, films like 1980’s Raging Bull, starring Robert De Niro and directed by Martin Scorsese, explore the more brutal side of the sport.

Both The Fighter (2010) and Million Dollar Baby (2004) are powerful boxing movies – The Fighter is an inspiring story of overcoming challenges, while Million Dollar Baby is considered one of the most heartbreaking films ever made about the sport. Though it didn’t receive much attention when it first came out, the film Christy now deserves to be recognized as a classic boxing story alongside these other great movies.

Read More

2026-04-14 02:10