In the world of boxing movies, the overlap between predictable and enjoyable is pretty much the whole piece of the pie. The protagonist is going to take some punches, get their licks in, face unsurmountable odds, blood a lot, and then ultimately triumph. Pepper in some sweaty training montages and sizzling pump-up jams and you have the makings of a perfectly serviceable sports drama. However, the best movies within the subgenre build in stakes that don’t depend entirely on the hero winning the big match (see Rocky, Creed). Despite being entertaining to varying degrees, their sequels often fail to do the same. Read More