Southpaw uses the world of boxing as an excuse to talk about different adversities in life, especially around emotional ties. Therefore each fight and each blow contains a meaning in itself, and with each of them the boxer will give a part of his life.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Jan 14, 2024

The entire film hinges on Gyllenhaal, because everything else onscreen adopts the worn-out blueprints of every boxing film you've ever seen.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 9, 2022

Can't punch its way out of the ring of boxing movie cliches.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Aug 10, 2021

Jake Gyllenhaal stars in a completely predictable but reasonably stirring boxing drama.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 7, 2021

Fans of sports dramas should bump this 2015 tale high up on their list.

Full Review | May 28, 2021

A solid sports redemption movie but lacks the punching power to be taken as seriously as solid sports redemption movie but lacks the punching power to be taken as seriously as "Raging Bull."Raging Bull.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 3, 2021

While the flimsy plot is essentially a boxing movie hiding behind familial drama, instead of the other way around, the acting is utterly sensational.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Dec 4, 2020

Southpaw is as blunt as a stiff jab to the face. Predictable from the get go, it starts off in one direction and never deviates from that path, for a long, long time. It pounds you physically, but leaves the internal and emotional untouched and unscathed.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Jul 4, 2020

[W]hile Southpaw is not a perfect film and, in fact, on more than one occasion harkens to deja vu moments of multiple 'Rocky' films and every boxing cliche imaginable, it is high octane emotion on every level.

Full Review | Dec 8, 2019

While Southpaw takes care to land punches on all the familiar targets, it also ducks and weaves around masculine stereotypes in some unexpected ways.

Full Review | Aug 29, 2019

There is a rawness, urgency and intensity in the 'Southpaw's' narrative that elevates its own biopic material. [Full Review in Spanish]

Full Review | Aug 16, 2019

Southpaw may have some slick moves, but its script could use a lot more punch.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jul 20, 2019

It may be less than the sum of its parts, but taken on their own, those parts often hit all the right notes.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 5, 2019

Southpaw is the film equivalent of a Quattro Formaggi pizza, enjoyable to those with the right palette but lacking the necessary ingredients to truly dazzle.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 4, 2019

It always feels like we're five steps ahead of the story, and that's because we've seen this stuff a million times before.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10 | Mar 12, 2019

It is ultimately down to Gyllenhaal's consummate ease in engaging his audience that we root for him to the very end, the flaws in the script often forgotten as he commands the screen.

Full Review | Feb 22, 2019

The elements are nothing new - tragedy, champ-turned-chump, eccentric coach, and grandstanding finale.

Full Review | Feb 9, 2019

You can almost use a checklist for every major plot point in "Southpaw," right down to the final act.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Jan 19, 2019

The main reasons to see the film are Gyllenhaal and Whitaker, and they are worthy, but few viewers will come away with new insights on the topic at hand.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Dec 14, 2018

Gyllenhaal is Oscar-worthy as the struggling lefty. The huge emotional swing required for the part is handled with ease under his calm demeanor.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Nov 2, 2018