Redemption drama They Fight boxes itself into a corner

Candis, who co-wrote the script with the documentary’s director Andrew Renzi, retraces the basic hero’s journey as a team effort between coaches and their students. The narrative arc is a familiar one, and Candis and Renzi don’t deviate from the formula for anything surprising or thrilling, keeping the film flat. Matches speed by to get back to the personal drama, limiting the power of the drama inside the ring. The whole exercise is rote, as even Walt’s personal problems are underwhelming. 

The adult performers do the best they can with what they’ve got, but even they can’t invigorate They Fight. As Walt and Slim, Holland and Pierce rely on each other, moving from an adversarial first meeting to brothers-in-arms on the edge of the ring—putting the kids through the paces, teaching them to run with bricks and how to properly throw a punch. Holland keeps Walt restrained, as if he were holding back the memories of his prison time from continuing to haunt him. But once his character’s redemption arc begins, Holland takes a back seat, letting his younger costars take center stage. Pierce takes on a more commanding figure, coaching not just the kids but Walt as well, showing him how to lead. Meanwhile Wiley plays a character hurt by Walt’s decisions, one whose tenuous reunion drives much of the first half of the movie, but that tension evaporates as the movie goes on, leaving an emotional void in the second half. 

Renzi’s documentary already possesses so much natural drama that this fiction version is a step down. A few moments look great, hearkening to the intensity of the source material, but others are bafflingly amateurish, as if Candis and cinematographer Mark Jeevaratnam didn’t know how to hide that their actors were standing in front of fake backgrounds. This is especially apparent in scenes like an unnaturally staged local news segment, or in one of the closing shots of a wedding, where the couple looks like they’re floating in front of rows of empty fake tables.

Given that the original film is already so slick and stylish, They Fight had its work cut out for it, and the filmmakers can’t compete. It’s a more kid-friendly version of the story, one that’s been simplified and smoothed down, but the craft lacks the finesse of a winner, knocking itself out of the ring with awkward set-ups and underwhelming storytelling. Even with a talented cast and endearing performances in its corner, that’s not enough to keep the movie standing. 

Director: Sheldon Candis
Writer: Sheldon Candis, Anthony Renzi
Starring: André Holland, Wendall Pierce, Samira Wiley, Anthony B. Jenkins, Toissaint Francois Battiste
Release Date: July 17, 2026 (Hulu)