- Christy is Rated R by Motion Picture Rating (MPA) for language, violence/bloody images, some drug use and sexual material.
- Younger preteens might watch it, but they will likely miss the emotional nuance and could be disturbed by the darker material.
- If a parent wants to show to, say, a 12- or 13-year-old, I’d strongly recommend pre-screening first.
Story Snapshot (spoiler-light)
Ever watched a sports movie and thought, “Wait, haven’t I seen this before?” That’s kind of the vibe with Christy, David Michôd’s new biopic about Christy Martin the real-life boxing legend who broke barriers, made the cover of Sports Illustrated, and survived an unthinkable act of violence at the hands of her husband. Her true story is inspiring, but the movie built around it? Less knockout, more déjà vu.
We follow Christy (Sydney Sweeney), a small-town West Virginia girl with a mean right hook and something to prove. She rises fast from local matches to national fame but her success comes at a cost. Between her controlling trainer-turned-husband (Ben Foster) and the pressure to hide her sexuality, Christy’s fight outside the ring becomes even more brutal than the ones inside it. It’s part underdog sports flick, part domestic thriller, part identity drama and unfortunately, it tries to be all three without really nailing any.
The vibe swings between intense and overly polished. It wants to hit hard, but there’s a glossy, “Oscar-hopeful” sheen that takes the sting out. Think Rocky meets Million Dollar Baby if both took themselves a little too seriously. The tone never feels dangerous enough for the subject matter; everything’s so cleanly shot that the grit never sticks.
Let’s talk performances: Sweeney is the real deal here. She throws herself into the role literally bringing raw energy and emotion that make you wish the script had her same fight. Foster, on the other hand, goes full creep mode as Jim, Christy’s manipulative husband, though the writing gives him little to do besides seethe and snarl. Merritt Wever is wasted as Christy’s judgmental mom, stuck playing one shrill note for two hours.
The biggest issue? It’s just too predictable. The film lands every cliché from the “training montage” to the “press conference meltdown” to the “slow-mo final fight.” You can almost hear the award-season checklist being ticked off scene by scene. Even the emotional beats feel calculated like the movie’s working harder to win trophies than to tell the truth.
If you’ve seen Stranger Things for its small-town tension or I, Tonya for its mix of sports grit and self-destruction, you’ll spot Christy trying to hit the same notes. The difference is that those films commit to their chaos. Christy plays it safe and that’s the worst thing a boxing movie can do.
By the time it hits its two-hour mark, you’ll probably be wishing for the bell. The real Christy Martin’s story is one of survival, courage, and finding yourself after trauma. This movie, though, wraps her pain in so much Hollywood polish that it loses its punch.
Content Breakdown for Parents
Here’s a closer look at what you might want to know before watching with your child:
Violence & Intensity: There is boxing violence, including training, hits, and bruising though it isn’t gratuitous; it’s part of the sports storytelling. More seriously, the film covers domestic abuse and attempted murder (Christy’s husband attacks her). These are intense scenes with emotional weight. Some moments may feel visceral or likely unsettling for younger viewers, especially in the personal conflict sections.
Language: Expect strong emotional language. Characters sometimes express anger, frustration, use harsh words, though probably not sustained profanity in every scene. Reviews note emotional confrontation is frequent. The tone is rarely casual swearing for shock it tends to serve the conflict in the story.
Sexual Content / Nudity: Intimate relationships are part of the narrative, but there’s no indication of explicit erotic content or nudity in what’s been shared so far. The film handles sexuality more through implication, relationship dynamics, and emotional intimacy than graphic depiction.
Drugs, Alcohol & Smoking: The promotional material doesn’t highlight heavy substance use as a central focus, but because Christy’s real-life life had struggles, there could be references. Expect some smoking or drinking in supporting roles or as part of character backstory.
Scary or Disturbing Scenes: The attempted murder / domestic violence scenes will be the most disturbing for many. Emotional breakdowns, threats, and trauma may make some scenes hard to watch. These are integral to the story, not just shock tactics but they are heavy.
Parental Concerns
- Some scenes may feel more harrowing than expected the abused spouse story, the violence, the emotional breakdowns.
- Younger or more sensitive children might find the domestic abuse content overwhelmingly distressing.
- Because the film deals with real trauma, it can provoke questions about justice, forgiveness, or why people hurt others those may need discussion.
- The boxing scenes themselves may be intense; bruising, blood (implied or shown), and close camera work can amplify the impact.
Final Verdict
Christy is a powerful, if sometimes painful, biography of a woman whose greatest battles were as much in her heart and home as in the ring. It’s more suited for teens, families with older kids, or adults who are prepared to grapple with themes of abuse, identity, and resilience. If you lean toward skipping or pausing intense scenes, it’s best watched together, so parents and children can talk through fragile moments.
If you’d like, I can write a version specifically for Nigerian or African audiences, or compare it with similar movies. Do you want me to paraphrase this guide now as a review style (as you originally asked)?
Director: Brendan Canty
Genre: Drama, Coming of Age
Run Time: 94′
U.K. Premiere: Edinburgh Film Festival (August 15-18, 2025)
U.K. & Ireland Release: August 29, 2025 (Ireland) / September 5, 2025 (U.K.), in cinemas
U.S. Release: TBA
