The Champ_
"The more you love... the harder you fight."
Billy used to be a great boxer, but he's settled into a hardscrabble life that revolves around drinking, training horses, and the one bright spot in his existence — his young son, T.J. Although Billy has had custody of T.J. since his wife, Annie, left the family years ago, her return prompts a new struggle for the former fighter. Determined to hold on to his son, Billy gets back into the ring to try and recapture his past success.
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Franco Zeffirelli →
Year context
The Champ was released 47 years ago in 1979.
The Champ is a Drama film with a runtime of 2h 1m.
CAST (20)
Jon Voight
Billy
Faye Dunaway
Annie
Rick Schroder
T.J.
Jack Warden
Jackie
Arthur Hill
Mike
Strother Martin
Riley
Joan Blondell
Dolly Kenyon
Mary Jo Catlett
Josie
Elisha Cook Jr.
Georgie
Stefan Gierasch
Charlie Goodman
Allan Miller
Whitey
JB
Jeff Blum
Jeffie
Dana Elcar
Hoffmaster
Randall "Tex" Cobb
Bowers
Kristoff St. John
Sonny
Gina Gallego
Cuban Girl
Jody Wilson
Mrs. Riley
RM
Reginal M. Toussaint
Groom
BG
Bob Gordon
TV Reporter
GP
Gene Picchi
Dolly's Trainer
CREW
BOX OFFICE
$30.4M
Revenue
STUDIOS (1)
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
121 min (2h 1m)
Language
MO
Country
Rating
7.0/10 (207 votes)
Popularity
6
Box Office
$30,441,738
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is The Champ about?
Billy used to be a great boxer, but he's settled into a hardscrabble life that revolves around drinking, training horses, and the one bright spot in his existence — his young son, T.J. Although Billy has had custody of T.J. since his wife, Annie, left the family years ago, her return prompts a new struggle for the former fighter. Determined to hold on to his son, Billy gets back into the ring to try and recapture his past success.
How long is The Champ?
The Champ has a runtime of 121 minutes (2h 1m).
Who directed The Champ?
The Champ was directed by Franco Zeffirelli.
Who stars in The Champ?
The cast of The Champ includes Jon Voight, Faye Dunaway, Rick Schroder, Jack Warden, Arthur Hill.
How much did The Champ make at the box office?
The Champ earned $30,441,738 worldwide at the box office.
What is the rating of The Champ?
The Champ has a rating of 7.0 out of 10 based on 207 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (1)
Drama
KEYWORDS (13)
sports
gambling
boxer
remake
alcoholic
single father
racetrack
alcoholic father
mother child separation
boxing
father son relationship
retired prizefighter
mother son reunion