Ali
In 1964, a brash, new pro boxer, fresh from his Olympic gold medal victory, explodes onto the scene: Cassius Clay. Bold and outspoken, he cuts an entirely new image for African Americans in sport with his proud public self-confidence and his unapologetic belief that he is the greatest boxer of all time. Yet at the top of his game, both Ali's personal and professional lives face the ultimate test.
Critics Sentiment
Ali uses rope a dope strategy and knocks out George Foreman
Ali and Sonja divorce over religious obligations and lifestyle conflicts
The film recovers dramatically from its lowest point during the relationship melodrama to peak with the spectacular Rumble in the Jungle finale.
Ali starts strong with well-executed boxing sequences and Mann's confident direction, but gets bogged down in relationship melodrama that critics found tedious and soap opera-like. The film redeems itself with an impressive and emotionally satisfying recreation of the historic Foreman fight in Zaire. Overall, reviewers appreciated Will Smith's committed performance and Mann's technical craft while criticizing the unfocused script and overemphasis on personal relationships over boxing and historical significance.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 121
Will Smith
Muhammad Ali / Cassius Clay
Jamie Foxx
Drew 'Bundini' Brown
Jon Voight
Howard Cosell
Mario Van Peebles
Malcolm X
Ron Silver
Angelo Dundee
Jeffrey Wright
Howard Bingham
Mykelti Williamson
Don King
Jada Pinkett Smith
Sonji Roi
Nona Gaye
Belinda Ali
Michael Michele
Veronica Porche
Joe Morton
Chauncey Eskridge
Paul Rodríguez
Dr. Ferdie Pacheco
Bruce McGill
Bradley
Barry Shabaka Henley
Herbert Muhammad
Giancarlo Esposito
Cassius Clay, Sr.
Laurence Mason
Luis Sarria
LeVar Burton
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Albert Hall
Elijah Muhammad
David Cubitt
Robert Lipsyte
Ted Levine
Joe Smiley
Crew
Write a Review
Rate each story beat:
