Premiering at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival, They Fight is based on a 2018 documentary of the same name. The Stereo Geeks were sent advanced screeners and here, Ron reviews the film, which follows a formerly incarcerated boxing coach, played by André Holland, as he attempts to reintegrate into his community. Having left boxing behind, the coach finds himself inexplicably drawn back into the world when a motley crew of teenagers evince interest in becoming boxers.

In They Fight, Walt Manigan (André Holland) has been recently released from prison after a stint involving drugs. But while his hard-fought freedom has been much awaited, Walt finds a frigid world outside. His former partner, Ketta (Samira Wiley), wants nothing to do with him and doesn’t want him around their child. Walt can’t find a place to stay or sleep, nor can he find any work. How is he supposed to get back on his feet when the world is so hostile?

Worse, the chronic pain that led him to drugs in the first place rears its ugly head. Walt is terrified of falling back into the ways that took him away from his family. But the place he finds solace in is the very last place he expected to be–the boxing gym.

At a small youth gym run by Slim (Wendell Pierce), Walt gets to sleep and earn his keep. When young friends Peanut (Anthony B. Jenkins) and Quincey (Toissaint Francois Battiste) ask for help improving their boxing, Walt is, at first, resistant. But the boys’ insistence and resilience change Walt’s mind and he soon finds himself training Peanut and Quincey along with the other young boxers at the gym, where he teaches them all how to ‘lock in’ on their goals.

Under Walt’s mentorship, Peanut and Quincey find their way to the National Championship where they face off against each other and their own insecurities.

I don’t know what it is about boxing films, but I always seem to choose them over other sports films. I don’t even like boxing! The sport is violent and dangerous, and I don’t even understand the rules that well. But if there’s a film about boxers, I’m going to end up watching it. I love The Fire Inside and I will always fight its corner. I loved Creed (okay, that may have been more because of Michael B. Jordan), and I even enjoyed The Fighter, despite Mark Wahlberg.

They Fight isn’t like any of those films. Boxing isn’t the main story here–instead, this film is about community, rehabilitation, mentorship, and family. Walt’s struggle to reintegrate into society is the throughline of this film and that’s what sets this story apart from its predecessors. 

Incarceration is such a default reaction in the justice systems of North America, but what is the point of it if there are no support systems once formerly incarcerated people return to the world? Why is there no place where they can find safe housing? Why aren’t there job opportunities? Because they can’t get housing without getting jobs, and they can’t get jobs without getting housing. They’re set up to fail. 

Throughout They Fight, you see Walt desperately trying not to make any mistakes; he’ll only take work that is honest. He ignores his pain because he fears becoming addicted to pain medication. But that only makes working harder. It’s so unusual to see a film that acknowledges that sports like boxing can lead to chronic pain, and that can become a slippery slope to addiction. And it’s a battle that Walt is constantly in, not a one-and-done.

But the community aspect of They Fight was just as powerful. Slim giving Walt a chance, knowing his background, but also knowing how much of an asset Walt could be for his young boxers, is testament to how people can stand up for each other, despite the mistakes of the past. Slim has strict rules for Walt but he is also understanding of his circumstances. And he’s such a champion of the downtrodden; I loved that about Slim.

Then there’s the mentorship angle. The youth at the gym come from different circumstances and They Fight takes time to show what’s happening in these boys’ lives. Beyond their sweet smiles and friendly demeanour, these children are living with abandonment, unwell parents, and the constant fear that the rug is going to be pulled out from under them. Having the stability of mentors like Walt and Slim, and supporters like Ketta, keeps them grounded and focused when nothing else in the world is stable.

The family aspect of They Fight is the undercurrent of this film. Yes, Walt wants his family back, but I appreciate the film showing Ketta’s resolve to protect her son, even if it means keeping him away from his father, who may or may not be reformed. I like that the film also shows us how Ketta gives up her time and energy for others, and is a constant source of positivity to those around her, even though she herself is suffering from great loss. To be such a light in one’s community, that’s a powerful takeaway in the world we live in.

Of course, the boxing scenes are engaging and well-paced. I was a bit discomfited by watching children boxing but I appreciate how the film cuts before things get too violent. There’s no blood or flying teeth in this film, thank goodness. All the fights are clean and coordinated, and the editing ensures that viewers get a good feel for the energy of a boxing match without having to watch children fighting each other too much.

My biggest draws for watching They Fight were stars Holland and Wiley, who I’ve followed since their incredible performances in Moonlight, Castle Rock, for Holland, and Orange is the New Black and The Handmaid’s Tale for Wiley. They’re extraordinarily talented actors who have the ability to disappear into their roles. But what’s made them stand out for me is how well they capture human emotions without ‘acting’ it out. They’re so natural on the screen and I couldn’t wait to see them in this film.

Wiley’s role is much smaller than I expected it to be; but whenever she’s on screen, you forget you’re watching an actor. Her Ketta is battling grief, fiercely protective of her child, trying to be there for the students who come to her for support, while fighting her complicated feelings for Walt. In a few short scenes, Wiley conveys so much heart and personality; you can’t help but instantly love Ketta and you can see why Walt is so desperate to win her back.

Wendell Pierce is a darling in They Fight. His Slim tells it like it is, but he also knows when to soften himself to make others comfortable. He’s a people-person as much as he’s a boxing coach, and the speed at which he takes the youth in his gym, and Walt, under his wing demonstrates why Slim is such a go-to person in their community. I love the little nuances Pierce brings to his portrayal of Slim; the way he eats and the way he looks other characters in the eye when he has a point to make. He’s got such a presence about him and I loved watching him.

Holland is a showstopper here in the quietest way. This is not the over-the-top performance you’d expect in a boxing film. Holland’s Walt is struggling every minute of every day, emotionally and physically. He has no path and no help, and his one goal to be reunited with Ketta and their child seems completely unachievable. I also like that, while Holland doesn’t resemble the real Walt, he manages to capture some of the mannerisms and facial expressions of the real Walt, as we see at the end of the film. I noticed that Holland was moving and expressing himself differently than I’ve seen him do before, and it immediately made me feel like I was watching a whole different person, and not an actor.

But the true stars of They Fight are the debutants, Jenkins as Peanut and Battiste as Quincey. One of my lifelong struggles with child actors is that they so often know they’re acting, so you end up getting a performance that’s stilted and unnatural. Jenkins and Battiste are completely the opposite. They are so natural, their performances and chemistry with each other and the grown up cast members is so organic, I could have been watching the documentary instead of fiction. What incredible finds these two young actors are; I hope they have long, storied careers.

I loved the heart of They Fight. It’s about the people that sports brings together. It’s a feel-good story of finding community and family through times of grief and despair, while showcasing the plight of formerly incarcerated people. Well-paced and with excellent performances, this is a must for film lovers.

They Fight is currently streaming on Hulu and Disney+.