Christy is a new film hitting theaters on November 7. Written by Mirrah Foulkes and David Michôd and directed by Michôd, the film stars Sydney Sweeney, Ben Foster, Merritt Wever, and Katy O’Brian. It follows Christy Martin, who never imagined life beyond her small-town roots in West Virginia—until she discovered she had a talent for throwing punches. Driven by grit, raw determination, and an unshakable will to win, Christy charges into the boxing world under the guidance of her trainer and manager–turned–husband, Jim. But while she builds a fiery persona in the ring, her toughest fights take place outside it—where she must confront family, identity, and a relationship that could turn deadly.

As much as I love boxing movies, Christy gives off heavy Oscar-bait vibes, which has honestly made me less excited about it. There was an early screening with the real Christy Martin in attendance that I didn’t get the chance to attend. Since much of the story takes place in Apopka, it makes sense that she’d be there. Still, I can’t help but feel like I missed out on a meaningful opportunity to meet her, especially considering everything she’s been through.

It’s clear that Sydney Sweeney wants to be taken seriously as an actor. I can honestly see some parallels between her work here and Dwayne Johnson’s turn in The Smashing Machine. While I wouldn’t place Sweeney’s performance in my top ten of the year—nor do I think it’s her strongest overall—what the role demands from her is no small feat. The story spans several years, and she convincingly portrays Christy’s growth and maturity throughout. Sweeney brings enough heart and nuance to make Christy a character worth caring about, especially given everything she endures over the course of the film.

It’s easy to understand why Christy’s story was adapted for the screen. There’s so much depth and detail to her life that I could easily imagine it working even better as a miniseries. That format might have allowed for more character development and smoother pacing, rather than jumping between key years. Still, despite its straightforward storytelling and familiar boxing-movie clichés, the film finds strength in its performances, Christy’s compelling real-life story, and a powerful final act that leaves a lasting impression.

I wasn’t familiar with Christy Martin’s real-life story going in, and much of the film initially feels like territory we’ve seen many times before. I’ve followed David Michôd’s previous work, but I can’t help thinking that a female director might have brought a deeper, more personal perspective to Christy’s experiences. Still, that choice may also explain why Ben Foster delivers one of the most intense performances of his career. He’s fully committed from start to finish, and by the final act, he feels like a villain straight out of a horror film.

For much of Christy, you can sense that the main character will eventually overcome her struggles—but since I didn’t know her true story, those last 30 minutes completely caught me off guard. Without giving anything away, I loved seeing Christy’s comeback and the way it proves her strength to everyone around her. Thematically, the final act hits hard, reminding us that Christy was a fighter both inside and outside the ring.

Overall, Christy hits all the right notes as an uplifting sports drama based on Christy Martin’s life. The performances are strong across the board, and the final act truly delivers. While it occasionally falls into familiar sports-movie clichés and the pacing drags at times, it’s hard not to be moved by this real-life story of resilience. Christy may not reinvent the genre, but it’s an inspiring portrayal of a woman who refused to back down from any fight—inside or outside the ring.

VERDICT: 3.5/5 – Pretty Good