New reviews and Rotten Tomatoes score for Sydney Sweeney’s boxing movie revealed

Critics have been weighing in on the biographical sports drama, Christy, directed by David Michôd and starring Sydney Sweeney, Ben Foster, and Katy O’Brian. The overall reception has been positive, with reviewers praising Sweeney’s transformative portrayal of boxing legend Christy Martin. However, opinions diverge when it comes to the film’s tone and narrative approach.

Dan Jolin of Time Out hailed Christy as “Sweeney’s film” and gave it a solid 4/5 rating, declaring her performance a “career-best turn” that draws favorable comparisons to Hilary Swank. Similarly, Rafer Guzman from Newsday commended the film as “a rock-solid biopic” with outstanding performances and an incredible true story. Kevin Maher of The Times (UK) chimed in with praise for Sweeney, stating that she lives up to her recent gutsy roles with a stellar performance as the boxing champion and survivor of domestic abuse, Christy Martin.

On the other hand, Marshall Shaffer of Slant Magazine found fault with the film, criticizing it for adhering too closely to the conventional inspirational sports movie formula. Benjamin Lee of The Guardian noted that although Christy’s life was marked by devastating events, the emotional impact on the audience was lacking. David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter echoed similar sentiments, calling the film “stubbornly unaffecting” and suggesting it needed a stronger emotional core beyond Sweeney’s performance.

Despite these mixed opinions, reviewers like Owen Gleiberman from Variety highlighted the film’s direct storytelling approach, allowing heroism to emerge naturally from Christy’s story. Pete Hammond of Deadline also lauded Sweeney for her dedication to the dark narrative, giving her accolades for a compelling performance. Rolling Stone’s David Fear echoed this sentiment, labeling Christy as a “decent movie” that showcases Sweeney’s commitment to her craft.

As of November 6, 2025, Christy boasts a 70% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 86 reviews. The biographical sports drama delves into the journey and personal struggles of boxer Christy Martin, played by Sydney Sweeney. Clocking in at 2 hours and 15 minutes, the film is distributed by Black Bear and carries an R rating for violence, language, and sexual content.

The film’s positive reception is underscored by its “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with most critics singling out Sweeney’s breakout performance as a standout element in Christy. The movie is seen as a pivotal moment in Sweeney’s career and a noteworthy release in 2025 for director David Michôd.