‘Christy’ Review: Sydney Sweeney Is a Total Knockout in Brutal Boxing Drama

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Sydney Sweeney gives a powerful and heartbreaking performance in Christy, a film about the life of boxer Christy Salas. It shows her journey to fame and the terrible cost of the years she suffered domestic abuse. Christy, who faced discrimination as a woman in boxing, also hid her sexuality and, tragically, participated in prejudice against the LGBTQ+ community. Despite some uneven storytelling, Sweeney’s transformative performance carries the film to a shocking and intense finale. You’ll be deeply disturbed by the horrifying betrayal Christy endures and the difficult fight she faces afterward.

The story introduces Christy Sweeney in the late 1980s as she begins a relationship with her high school girlfriend, Rosie (Jess Gabor). Their romance is well-known, despite living in the traditionally-minded coal mining town of Mullens, West Virginia. Christy’s mother, Joyce (Merritt Wever), a devoutly religious woman, disapproves and pressures her daughter to follow traditional values and find a husband, warning her that she’ll face shame if she doesn’t. Feeling stifled, Christy channels her anger and frustration into boxing, taking on local matches for money. Though she hasn’t had any formal training, she’s incredibly resilient and a powerful fighter.

Christy catches the eye of Larry (Bill Kelly), a successful promoter, and he offers her a chance to train and fight in Tennessee with James Martin (Ben Foster). Jim, a married man and trainer, doesn’t believe in women’s boxing at all. However, when Christy easily defeats one of his male fighters in a practice session, he reluctantly agrees to train her and is amazed as she quickly dominates the local boxing scene.

As Christy’s boxing career takes off, Jim starts to control more and more of her life. Their relationship becomes romantic, and Jim persuades her to move to Daytona Beach, Florida, to train. There, Christy becomes the main financial support while continuing to win in the boxing world. Jim’s influence grows as he tempts her with the possibility of meeting influential boxing promoter Don King.

Director David Michôd (known for films like Animal Kingdom and War Machine) quickly establishes Sweeney’s boxing ability. While her physical transformation and hairstyle perfectly capture the look of the character, it’s sometimes hard to separate the actress from her tough on-screen persona. The film shows Christy constantly training – running to clear her head and escape the control of Jim – and these quieter moments are effective. They highlight her dedication to staying in top shape and emphasize that raw strength isn’t enough to win against experienced fighters; she needs skill and preparation.


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In the first act, Sweeney dominates her boxing matches with incredible power and resilience. However, the film quickly shifts focus to her complicated marriage to Jim, turning her fights into quick montages that lose their impact. Director Michôd surprisingly doesn’t fully showcase Christy’s skill as a champion; instead, the drama surrounding Christy and Jim’s public life takes over, with flashy recreations of their press interviews. While this highlights important themes, it feels excessive. Michôd overemphasizes these points, making scenes where Christy criticizes queer boxers – pressured by Jim and her mother – feel repetitive and unnecessary.

Brendan Foster is receiving award buzz alongside Sweeney for his portrayal of a deeply unlikeable character. He plays Jim, a pathetic and balding man who expertly controls Christy. Their age difference pleased Christy’s mother, which allowed Jim to isolate her from her family and completely control every aspect of her life. At the peak of her career, she wasn’t allowed to make simple decisions – she couldn’t even choose what to eat or manage her own money. What once seemed like a strong and independent woman was reduced to a depressed and addicted person, forced to obey Jim’s cruel demands.

Michôd doesn’t shy away from the raw intensity of Christy’s lowest points, and it’s in these moments that Sweeney truly excels, demonstrating incredible resilience. While her physical fight for survival showcases her courage and strength, it’s only the first step in Christy rebuilding her life and finding independence. Some of the most painful scenes involve Christy confronting her mother’s lack of support and the way she uses guilt. Sadly, the person who should have protected her instead allowed years of abuse. However, Sweeney portrays a sense of optimism as Christy fights her way back and ultimately embraces her identity as a queer woman.

The movie sometimes slows down as the director focuses on dramatic presentation and intriguing details rather than a quicker pace. While Christy is a bit lengthy at two hours and fifteen minutes, audiences consistently find themselves supporting Sweeney, who delivers a brave and physically demanding performance – potentially her best yet, and one that could earn her an Oscar nomination.

Christy hits theaters on November 7.

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2025-11-03 21:33