Cinderella Man
Movie, 2005, The 2000s, Set in The Depression
Cinderella Man is #21 of 35 in release order and #21 of 35 in chronological order in the Sports Movies.
The story
The true story of boxer Jim Braddock who, following his retirement in the 1930s, makes a surprise comeback in order to lift his family out of poverty.
Cinderella Man recap
Cinderella Man (2005) tells the true story of James J. Braddock, a washed-up boxer working the New Jersey docks during the Depression who gets one more fight. Ron Howard directs this boxing biopic, reuniting with Russell Crowe after A Beautiful Mind. James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe), once a light heavyweight contender, breaks his hand, loses his licence and takes whatever dock work he can find to feed his wife Mae Braddock (Renée Zellweger) and their three children. When the power is cut and the family is split up, he goes on relief and begs for money from the boxing officials who once paid him. His manager Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti) gets him a one-night fill-in against the second-ranked contender Corn Griffin, and Braddock knocks him out in the third round. Mae opposes his return, but he keeps winning, pays back his relief money, and becomes a hero to struggling Americans. Cinderella Man follows Million Dollar Baby and comes before Invincible.
Cinderella Man ending explained
Cinderella Man ends with Braddock beating Max Baer (Craig Bierko) on points in 1935 to become heavyweight champion. Before the fight the promoter makes him watch film of Baer, who has killed two men in the ring, and Baer taunts Mae in public. Mae cannot watch and listens on the radio at home with the children. Closing text says Braddock later lost the title to Joe Louis and worked on the docks and on the Verrazzano Bridge. Baer's family and some boxing historians objected to the film's picture of Baer as a brute.
Post-credits scenes
No. Cinderella Man has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch Cinderella Man
Cinderella Man isn't on a US streaming service right now. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.0/10, Rotten Tomatoes 80%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Million Dollar Baby, before Invincible.
- Chronological order: after Million Dollar Baby, before Invincible.
Cast
- Russell Crowe as Jim Braddock
- Renée Zellweger as Mae Braddock
- Paul Giamatti as Joe Gould
- Craig Bierko as Max Baer
- Paddy Considine as Mike Wilson
- Bruce McGill as Jimmy Johnston
- David Huband as Ford Bond
- Connor Price as Jay Braddock
- Ariel Waller as Rosemarie Braddock
- Patrick Louis as Howard Braddock
- Rosemarie DeWitt as Sara
- Linda Kash as Lucille Gould
Directed by Ron Howard.