--- title: "Christy: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/christy/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/christy" critics_score: 54 critics_reviews: 21 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Christy (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 54 from 21 reviews: 8 positive, 5 mixed, 8 negative. The reviews split almost evenly, and the one thing nearly all agree on is Sydney Sweeney. Critics praise her physical transformation and her committed, unglamorous playing of Christy Martin, and several say the boxing scenes are where the film is at its best. Merritt Wever, as Christy’s judgmental mother, and Ben Foster, as her controlling husband, draw steady praise too. The argument is over the film around her. The positive notices call it moving and rousing, a sports story that swerves the usual formula. The sceptics find it bland, formulaic and overlong, with a montage-led approach that keeps Christy’s inner life at arm’s length and a dour tone that never lifts. Two British outliers go further: Sight and Sound and The i Paper argue that Sweeney herself falls short, either dulled by the script or unable to catch Martin’s complexity. Few others agree with them. ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 5 September 2025. Festival review. Gleiberman finds the biopic powerfully compelling, moving, and rousing despite its deeply downbeat portrait of abuse. He especially praises Sydney Sweeney’s transformative performance and the film’s honest portrayal of Christy Martin’s life. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/christy-review-sydney-sweeney-1236509755/) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland Rating B+. 5 September 2025. Festival review. The critic finds the biopic grim but ultimately crowd-pleasing, with a moving portrait of perseverance that resists the usual sports-movie formula. She especially praises Sydney Sweeney’s committed, nuanced performance and the strong supporting cast. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/christy-review-sydney-sweeney-biopic-1235149362/) ## Radio Times — James Mottram Rating 4/5. Mottram calls the film a sports movie with a sting and praises Sydney Sweeney’s powerhouse performance. He also singles out the dark turn in Christy’s relationship with her controlling husband. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-vqkvu7/christy/) ## Time Out — Dan Jolin Rating 4/5. 5 November 2025. The review is positive, calling Sydney Sweeney a knockout in the true-life drama. It singles out her performance as the film’s standout. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/christy-review-2025) ## Vulture — Alison Willmore Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 7 November 2025. Willmore finds Christy more compelling than a conventional Oscar-minded sports biopic, though it does not fully explore its broader implications. She singles out Sweeney’s wholehearted portrayal of Christy’s ugliness and defeat as the film’s strongest element. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/christy-review-sydney-sweeney-could-get-an-oscar-for-this.html) ## Screen Daily — Robert Daniels Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2025. Daniels presents the film as a broad biopic while calling Sydney Sweeney a knockout. The standfirst identifies its focus as Christy Martin’s tumultuous life and her abusive trainer-husband. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/christy-review-sydney-sweeney-is-a-knockout-in-david-michods-broad-boxing-biopic/5208636.article) ## Evening Standard — Hannah Pettit Rating 3/5. 20 October 2025. Festival review. Pettit finds the biopic safe and bland, saying it misses the poignancy and nuance of Christy Martin’s story. She praises Sydney Sweeney’s convincing physical transformation and says the film is at its best during the boxing scenes. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/christy-film-review-sydney-sweeney-b1253831.html) ## Little White Lies — Mark Asch Rating 3/3/3. 28 November 2025. Asch finds the biopic solid but not especially distinctive, with Michôd’s stylistic touches insufficient to elevate it. He praises Sweeney’s energy and swagger in the boxing scenes, while noting that the fights lack atmosphere. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/christy) ## Slant Magazine — Marshall Shaffer Rating 2/4. 2 November 2025. Shaffer finds the film boilerplate and ideologically indecisive, though its domestic-violence drama is more effective than its boxing story. He praises Sydney Sweeney’s gritty, convincing performance and David Michôd’s chilling portrayal of cruelty. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/christy-review-sydney-sweeney/) ## Empire — Christina Newland Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 24 November 2025. Newland finds the film well-meaning but meandering, with a dour approach that leaves it rudderless. She praises Sydney Sweeney’s dedicated central performance but faults the material and the underuse of Katy O’Brian. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/christy/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2025. Festival review. Rooney finds the film watchable but formulaic and ultimately unaffecting. He praises Merritt Wever’s performance as Christy’s judgmental mother, while criticizing the lead character’s limited depth. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/christy-review-sydney-sweeney-david-michod-ben-foster-1236363060/) ## Los Angeles Times — Robert Abele Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 7 November 2025. Abele finds the film an efficient but slick, under-nuanced melodrama that fails to do justice to Christy Martin’s complex journey. He praises Sydney Sweeney’s physically transformed, emotionally present performance, while criticizing the film’s heavy-handed montage-driven direction. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-11-07/christy-review-sydney-sweeney-ben-foster-david-michod-boxing) ## Sight and Sound — BFI Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 26 November 2025. The critic finds the biopic disappointing and a disservice to Christy Martin. They fault Sydney Sweeney’s performance for failing to capture Martin’s complexity and the film for flattening her story. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/christy-lacklustre-boxing-drama-does-disservice-its-subject) ## The Guardian — Benjamin Lee Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2025. Festival review. Lee finds the biopic cliched and dramatically thin, with Sweeney unable to make Christy Martin feel fully realized outside the ring. He praises Sweeney’s convincing boxing presence but faults the film’s shallow characterization and lingering violence. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/sep/05/christy-review-sydney-sweeney) ## The i Paper — Francesca Steele Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). 28 November 2025. Steele finds the biopic bland and clichéd, with Sydney Sweeney’s performance dulled by the script. She praises Ben Foster’s quietly menacing portrayal of Jim and Merritt Wever’s performance as Christy’s mother. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/sydney-sweeney-oscar-christy-travesty-4063191) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 3 November 2025. Kermode finds the film compelling and true to its characters despite familiar themes and occasional heavy-handedness. She especially praises Sydney Sweeney’s performance and Merritt Wever’s chilling portrayal of Christy’s mother. [Read the review](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/christy-2025-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Rating B-. 7 September 2025. Festival review. The review is positive overall, though it says some creative choices do not land. It praises Sydney Sweeney’s committed, varied performance, while criticizing the lurid presentation of some abuse scenes. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/christy-review-sydney-sweeney-smashes-through-expectations-in-david-michods-boxing-drama-20250907/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating 6/10. 6 September 2025. Festival review. The review finds the film a formulaic sports biopic, despite its moving true story. It praises Sydney Sweeney’s commanding performance, especially her portrayal of Christy Martin’s pain and loneliness. [Read the review](https://collider.com/christy-review-sydney-sweeney/) ## Paste — Jim Vorel Rating 5.5/10. 4 November 2025. Vorel finds the film dour, overlong, and unconvincing as an inspirational sports biopic. He praises Katy O’Brian’s physicality and intensity, while criticizing the screenplay for keeping Christy’s inner life at a distance. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/christy/christy-review-sydney-sweeney-boxing-movie-problems-script-christy-martin-david-michod) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 5 September 2025. Festival review. Hammond finds the biopic overlong and familiar, though Christy Martin’s story remains compelling enough to merit an audience. He praises Sydney Sweeney’s committed performance, which he says demonstrates her acting ability. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2025/09/christy-review-sydney-sweeney-biopic-ben-foster-toronto-1236509698/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 5 September 2025. Festival review. The critic finds the film stiffly conventional and ultimately a letdown, despite its moving subject. Sydney Sweeney’s nuanced, forceful performance is singled out as its standout strength. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/christy-review-sydney-sweeney/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/christy.md