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Never Back Down

  • 20082008
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
101K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
302
88
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Djimon Hounsou, Sean Faris, Cam Gigandet, and Amber Heard in Never Back Down (2008)
Theatrical Trailer from Summit Entertainment
Play trailer2:29
8 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Drama
  • Sport

A frustrated and conflicted teenager arrives at a new high school to discover an underground fight club and meet a classmate who begins to coerce him into fighting.A frustrated and conflicted teenager arrives at a new high school to discover an underground fight club and meet a classmate who begins to coerce him into fighting.A frustrated and conflicted teenager arrives at a new high school to discover an underground fight club and meet a classmate who begins to coerce him into fighting.

IMDb RATING
6.5/10
101K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
302
88
  • Director
    • Jeff Wadlow
  • Writer
    • Chris Hauty
  • Stars
    • Sean Faris
    • Djimon Hounsou
    • Amber Heard
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jeff Wadlow
  • Writer
    • Chris Hauty
  • Stars
    • Sean Faris
    • Djimon Hounsou
    • Amber Heard
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 208User reviews
    • 136Critic reviews
    • 39Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos8

    Never Back Down
    Trailer 2:29
    Never Back Down
    Never Back Down
    Clip 0:52
    Never Back Down
    Never Back Down
    Clip 0:44
    Never Back Down
    Never Back Down
    Clip 0:59
    Never Back Down
    Never Back Down
    Clip 0:32
    Never Back Down
    Never Back Down
    Clip 1:06
    Never Back Down
    Never Back Down
    Clip 0:42
    Never Back Down
    Never Back Down
    Clip 1:02
    Never Back Down

    Photos178

    Alexandra Breckenridge in Never Back Down (2008)
    Amber Heard in Never Back Down (2008)
    Cam Gigandet in Never Back Down (2008)
    Sean Faris and Evan Peters in Never Back Down (2008)
    Djimon Hounsou in Never Back Down (2008)
    Djimon Hounsou in Never Back Down (2008)
    Djimon Hounsou and Sean Faris in Never Back Down (2008)
    Cam Gigandet in Never Back Down (2008)
    Djimon Hounsou and Sean Faris in Never Back Down (2008)
    Wyatt Smith in Never Back Down (2008)
    Sean Faris and Amber Heard in Never Back Down (2008)
    Sean Faris in Never Back Down (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sean Faris
    Sean Faris
    • Jake Tyleras Jake Tyler
    Djimon Hounsou
    Djimon Hounsou
    • Jean Roquaas Jean Roqua
    Amber Heard
    Amber Heard
    • Baja Milleras Baja Miller
    Cam Gigandet
    Cam Gigandet
    • Ryan McCarthyas Ryan McCarthy
    Evan Peters
    Evan Peters
    • Max Coopermanas Max Cooperman
    Leslie Hope
    Leslie Hope
    • Margot Tyleras Margot Tyler
    Wyatt Smith
    Wyatt Smith
    • Charlie Tyleras Charlie Tyler
    Affion Crockett
    Affion Crockett
    • Beatdown DJas Beatdown DJ
    Neil Brown Jr.
    Neil Brown Jr.
    • Aaronas Aaron
    Lauren Leech
    Lauren Leech
    • Jennyas Jenny
    Tilky Jones
    Tilky Jones
    • Ericas Eric
    Steven Crowley
    Steven Crowley
    • Benas Ben
    Tom Nowicki
    Tom Nowicki
    • Mr. Lloydas Mr. Lloyd
    Chele André
    • Max's Girlas Max's Girl
    Chris Lindsay
    Chris Lindsay
    • Beat Down Refereeas Beat Down Referee
    David Zelon
    • Ryan's Dadas Ryan's Dad
    Kyle Sabihy
    • Jake's Teammateas Jake's Teammate
    Patric Knutsson
    • Vocabulary Guyas Vocabulary Guy
    • Director
      • Jeff Wadlow
    • Writer
      • Chris Hauty
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown
    5.6
    Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown
    Never Back Down: No Surrender
    6.3
    Never Back Down: No Surrender
    Undisputed 3: Redemption
    7.4
    Undisputed 3: Redemption
    Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing
    7.0
    Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing
    Boyka: Undisputed
    6.9
    Boyka: Undisputed
    Blood and Bone
    6.7
    Blood and Bone
    Undisputed
    6.1
    Undisputed
    Spin
    5.4
    Spin
    Never Back Down: Revolt
    3.9
    Never Back Down: Revolt
    ExTerminators
    5.1
    ExTerminators
    Goal! The Dream Begins
    6.7
    Goal! The Dream Begins
    2.2
    Price to Pay

    Storyline

    Edit
    At his new high school, a rebellious teen Jake Tyler is lured into an ultimate underground fighting club in a Backyard Fight, where he finds a mentor in a mixed martial arts veteran. After receiving threats to the safety of his friends and family, Jake seeks the mentoring of a veteran fighter, to train his mind and body for one final no-holds-barred elimination fight with his unrelenting personal nemesis and local martial arts champion Ryan McCarthy. —Anthony Pereyra {hypersonic91@yahoo.com}
    • bad temper
    • training montage
    • body lands on a car
    • combat sport
    • fight
    • 96 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Win or Lose... Everyone Has Their Fight
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Drama
      • Sport
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving intense sequences of fighting/violence, some sexuality, partying and language - all involving teens
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sean Faris gained 15 lbs. of muscle for his role.
    • Goofs
      During the fight scene when Jake gets out of the car to fight the three guys in the Yellow Hummer, Max lifts up his video camera after Jake throws his first punch, but after the fight, when all of the students are watching the fight on the net at school, it shows that Max is recording before the fight even begins.
    • Quotes

      Jean Roqua: [Jake is considering going to the Beatdown] Do this and you can never come back in my gym again. I let you get away with it once, not twice.

      Jake Tyler: Wait! You think this is what I want? To never train with you again? Just to give some asshole the show that he's looking for?

      Jean Roqua: Then stop! Let it go.

      Jake Tyler: The night my dad died, I just let him drive. I didn't even try to stop him. Doing nothing has consequences too.

      Jean Roqua: You cannot live in the past, my friend.

      Jake Tyler: Really? If you could go back, and stop the guy who shot your brother.

      Jean Roqua: Don't push me.

      Jake Tyler: I know you would've fought that guy. I know...

      Jean Roqua: You know nothing! Seven years. Seven years, I've not seen my family. My friends. And every day, like the day before, I wake up, wash my face, look myself in the mirror, disgusted.

      Jake Tyler: Why not go back?

      Jean Roqua: And face my father? The last time he spoke to me, he said both of his sons died that night.

      Jake Tyler: Well if that's what you believe, then he was right. You gave up. Sometimes fighting the fight means that you have to do the one thing you don't want to do. You have to fight for his forgiveness. You can't just hide here forever. At least I can't. I'm gonna stop this guy. Win, lose, it makes no difference. It ends tonight. This is my fight. Everyone's got one.

      Jean Roqua: Jake, no matter what happens, control the outcome. It's on you.

      Jake Tyler: Always has been.

    • Alternate versions
      PG-13 version is 110 Minutes while the unrated version is 113 Minutes.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Horton Hears a Who!/Never Back Down/10,000 B.C./Funny Games/Paranoid Park/Conspiracy (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Teenagers
      Written by Bob Bryar, Frank Iero, Ray Toro (as Raymond Toro), Gerard Way (as Gerard Arthur Way) and Mikey Way (as Michael Way)

      Performed by My Chemical Romance

      Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.

      By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

    User reviews208

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A new "Karate Kid"
    Perhaps my descriptive summary is unkind to this film. I enjoyed it so much because it depicts a young man learning to deal with his emotions, rather than being ruled by his fear of them. It is quite remarkable, the strength of character he ultimately develops, and his interactions with his instructor are gratifyingly free of the childish morality one dreads in such a film, or the typical oriental platitudes that often hallmark them because of the origins of martial arts. At the root of this, I think, is the film's willingness to observe and comment on the 'problem' emotion of anger. Rather than leave it festering, or simply transform it 'as if by magic', the audience can almost see the transformation in the main character, through his physical exertion, which eventually leaves him free of its destructive role in his life. For most, if not all, these reasons, I enjoyed the film because it resonated with me quite closely, but it may not be everyone's cup of tea.

    If nothing else, I for one will be researching the possibilities of training in mixed martial arts!
    helpful•52
    32
    • jhobdell
    • Apr 19, 2008

    FAQ4

    • Is "Never Back Down" based on a book?
    • Where were the fighters found for this movie?
    • Which song is playing when Jake enters the Beatdown?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 14, 2008 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Vidio (Indonesia)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Get Some
    • Filming locations
      • Orlando, Florida, USA
    • Production companies
      • Summit Entertainment
      • Mandalay Independent Pictures
      • Baumgarten Management and Productions (BMP)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $24,850,922
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,603,195
      • Mar 16, 2008
    • Gross worldwide
      • $41,627,431
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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