Chuck (2016)

A drama inspired by the life of heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner, who had a once-in-a-lifetime bout with Muhammad Ali that would inspire the film Rocky (1976).

Director:

Philippe Falardeau

Writers:

Jeff Feuerzeig, Jerry Stahl

Stars:

Liev Schreiber, Elisabeth Moss, Ron Perlman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Liev Schreiber	...	Chuck Wepner
Elisabeth Moss	...	Phyliss Wepner
Ron Perlman	...	Al Braverman
Naomi Watts	...	Linda
Jim Gaffigan	...	John
Michael Rapaport	...	Don Wepner
Pooch Hall	...	Muhammad Ali
Morgan Spector	...	Sylvester Stallone
Jason Jones	...	Arty
William Hill	...	Paddy
Wass Stevens	...	Johnny Dicesare
Kelvin Hale	...	Charlie Polite
Megan Sikora	...	Flo Wepner
Emil Tonev	...	Fight Ref
Georgia Ximenes Lifsher	...	Rachel

Storyline

Chuck Wepner, the "Bayonne Bleeder," he was the pride of Bayonne, New Jersey, a man who went fifteen rounds in the ring with Muhammad Ali, and the real life inspiration for Rocky Balboa. But before all that, Chuck Wepner was a liquor salesman and father with a modest prizefighting career whose life changed overnight when, in 1975, he was chosen to take on The Greatest in a highly publicized title match. It's the beginning of a wild ride through the exhilarating highs and humbling lows of sudden fame-but what happens when your fifteen minutes in the spotlight are up?

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Plot Keywords:

1960s | 1970s | boxing | bare chested male | hairy chest | 

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Taglines:

The Untold Story of the Inspiration for Rocky Balboa

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language throughout, drug use, sexuality/nudity and some bloody images

Did You Know?

Trivia

Liev Schreiber has acted in two different boxing movies set in New Jersey, this movie and The Hurricane (1999)

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Goofs

Chuck Wepner served his prison time in East Jersey State Prison in Rahway, NJ, not Northern State Prison in Newark, NJ, as depicted in the movie. This is where he met Sylvester Stallone while filming "Lock Up" in 1989.

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Connections

Features Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962)

User Reviews

I feel lucky having chosen to watch this...

This is a really good film. It's based on the true story that inspired Sylvester Stallone's Rocky movie. It has everything you want, every single actor is perfect in every way. I didn't know who was in it when I started watching and the well known actors revealed along the way sometimes took a minute or two before you knew who they were. Every single frame of this was well done. Highly recommended for folks who like paced movies about extraordinary 'normal' people. Lots of reunioning big and small screen actors came together to make this.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 May 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chuck

Filming Locations:

Clinton Diner, Maspeth, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$34,565, 7 May 2017

Gross USA:

$320,725

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$502,518

Company Credits

Production Co:

Millennium Films, Mandalay Sports Media (MSM), Campbell Grobman Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1