The Champ (1979): cast, story & where to watch
1979 · Film · ★ 7
Released in 1979, The Champ is a drama and family film directed by Franco Zeffirelli, running about 121 minutes. “The more you love... the harder you fight.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Billy used to be a great boxer, but he's settled into a hardscrabble life that revolves around drinking, training horses, and the one bright spot in his existence — his young son, T.J. Although Billy has had custody of T.J. since his wife, Annie, left the family years ago, her return prompts a new struggle for the former fighter. Determined to hold on to his son, Billy gets back into the ring to try and recapture his past success.
Who’s in it. The Champ stars Jon Voight as Billy, Faye Dunaway as Annie, Ricky Schroder as T.J. and Jack Warden as Jackie, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, The Champ has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $30.4M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Champ page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Champ tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Champ (1979)?
- In US, The Champ is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Champ worth watching?
- The Champ holds an audience score of 7.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and family. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Champ?
- The Champ stars Jon Voight, Faye Dunaway, Ricky Schroder, Jack Warden and Arthur Hill.
- When was The Champ released?
- The Champ was released in 1979, with a runtime of about 121 minutes.