The new movie “Christy” is one of those productions that will force you to the edge of your seat, making all the noise around you sound muffled.
Christy Martin was a female boxer, whose professional career started in 1989. The movie focuses mostly on what her life was like leading up to, and during, her hall of fame career as it touches on the challenges she faced, which were often hidden from the public eye.
Starring Sydney Sweeney, a familiar face, the movie takes unexpected twists and turns, keeping us on our toes. The role shows Sweeney’s versatile acting skills because she’s able to embody the way Christy talks and carries herself as a professional boxer, even though most people know her from different genres. She’s never played the role of an athlete on this big of a stage before. The emotion she displays in tense scenes are what really make the movie, because it makes the viewers feel the same sensations as if they were the ones in that very moment.
As a teenager, Christy found herself boxing only for fun, as she was already a full-time basketball player. The movie puts forth immediately that she doesn’t necessarily have the best relationship with her mother, who is a very conservative woman, which doesn’t mesh well with the brief romantic relationship Christy had with a girl named Rosie. Despite all this going on in the background, Christy ends up making a good impression on some serious boxing coaches who recognize her potential and make it their mission to seek it out. Over time, she not only gets into more and more competitions, but she wins. She trains nonstop which impresses not only her competitors, but also her coach.
Later on, she ends up marrying her coach while she takes on competitor after competitor. Soon enough, things start to spiral downwards as their relationship turns bitter.
After finding out just exactly what kind of person she’s married to, Christy packs a bag. She later goes back to gather more of her belongings before moving out for good. This would be a grave mistake. By some miracle, Christy is able to recover, further showcasing her grit and determination.
This movie highlights both the good and bad of Christy’s story, while also making sure the audience knows the many ways in which this woman exhibits inner strength. It’s an inspirational watch that hits home for female athletes.
However, the part of the movie that lacked context and a proper ending was the relationship between Rosie and Christy. Did they remain friends after everything that happened? I also wanted to know a little more about the mother-daughter relationship.
I am giving this movie a rating of four stars, because I think the relationships between the characters could’ve been elaborated on a bit more, but the overall plot points and mannerisms were spot on. I highly recommend giving this movie a watch if you’re looking for something that’s moving, heartfelt, and keeps you guessing.
–Nov. 6, 2025–
