Best movies like Hard Times
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
In the depression, Chaney, a strong silent streetfighter, joins with Speed, a promoter of no-holds-barred street boxing bouts. They go to New Orleans where Speed borrows money to set up fights for Chaney, but Speed gambles away any winnings.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: realistic, tense, harsh, serious, neo noir, atmospheric, captivating, cynical, action adventure, exciting
Best tv shows and movies like Hard Times (1975):
Similar in 87%
Deadly Bet (1992)
Plot Summary:
Jeff Wincott plays a gambler who puts his life on the line to buy his way out of the clutches of a mobster.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 396
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: independent film, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 85%
Penitentiary (1979)
Plot Summary:
A hitchhiker named Martel Gordone gets in a fight with two bikers over a prostitute, and one of the bikers is killed. Gordone is arrested and sent to prison, where he joins the prison's boxing team in an effort to secure an early parole and to establish his dominance over the prison's toughest gang.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: independent film, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 83%
The Circuit 2: The Final Punch (2002)
Plot Summary:
Prisoners are dying at the Ogden Correctional Institution, a prison where a corrupt Warden has taken justice and business into his own hands. In the bowels of this prison, an underground fighting society has been formed. The Circuit is flourishing until investigative reporter Nicole Kent is thrown into the mix, and into Pike's cell where she is viciously attacked and left for dead. Enter Dirk Longstreet. Dirk, who was once a fighting champion on the Eastern seaboard circuit, now has to sit idly by as his girlfriend fights for her life. Dirk decides to fight for revenge.
IMDB Rating: 4.1
IMDB Votes: 260
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 78%
Penitentiary II (1982)
Plot Summary:
An ex-con, on parole and trying to straighten his life out, decides to resume his boxing career when one of his prison enemies escapes and kills his girlfriend.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 763
Genere: Crime, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: independent film, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 90%
Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962)
Plot Summary:
Mountain Rivera is at the end of his boxing career after a knockout by Cassius Clay in the seventh round. His left eye is one punch from permanent trauma, his ears turned to cauliflower, his speech slurred from "being hit a million times," and he slings punches anytime he hears a bell, but his trainer and 'cutman' Army, and Miss Miller, a manipulative social worker, support his illusion that he could be a movie usher, a camp counselor, or a romantic partner for Miller.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: black and white, atmospheric, bleak, retro, sincere, rough, serious, realistic, contemplative, gloomy
Similar in 90%
Bloodsport 2 (1996)
Plot Summary:
After thief Alex Cardo gets caught while stealing an ancient katana in East Asia, he soon finds himself imprisoned and beaten up by the crowd there. One of the guards, Demon, feels upset by Alex appearance and tortures him as often as he gets the opportunity. Alex finds a friend and mentor in the jailhouse, Master Sun, who teaches him a superior fighting style called Iron Hand. When a 'best of the best kumite' is to take place, Demon gets an invitation. Now Master Sun and Alex need to find a way to let Alex take part in the kumite too.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: suspense, intense, serious, realistic, independent film, fast, unusual plot structure, humorous, bad ending, melancholic
Similar in 85%
Death Warrior (2009)
Plot Summary:
A gritty MMA fighter is forced into a twisted, underground gambling ring in which he must fight to the death with other MMA fighters in order to save his wife from certain death at the hands of a maniacal crime boss. In a desperate race against time, he is forced into a series of increasingly violent life and death matches while simultaneously piecing together the puzzle which leads him to uncover.
IMDB Rating: 2.9
IMDB Votes: 715
Genere: Action, Drama, Horror
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, suspenseful, tense, captivating, psychological, rough, realistic
Similar in 89%
Ring of Fire (1991)
Plot Summary:
The main character, Johnny Woo, is a Chinese doctor who has given up fighting in the ring. His brother is a teacher in a kick-boxing club. Johnny Woo fall in love with Julie, whose brother is a teacher in a rival kick-boxing club. Tension builds up.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 884
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: independent film, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, fast, cult film
Similar in 86%
American Brawler (2013)
Plot Summary:
A martial arts instructor must enter the world of illegal pit fighting in order to save his family and his dojo.
IMDB Rating: 4.2
IMDB Votes: 352
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 83%
Crossing the Line (1990)
Plot Summary:
An unemployed Scottish miner (Liam Neeson) is forced into bare-knuckle boxing to make ends meet.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Sport
Country: UK
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, cult classic, sincere, bleak, gloomy, independent film, cult film
Similar in 81%
Damage (2009)
Plot Summary:
An ex-con battles it out in the cage to pay for the operation that would save the daughter of his victim. Along the way he finds fatherly love, and friendship, in the most unlikely of places.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: exciting, captivating, psychological, tense, perverse, cult classic, rough, humorous, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 83%
Undisputed III: Redemption (2010)
Plot Summary:
Russian inmate Boyka, now severely hobbled by the knee injury suffered at the end of Undisputed 2. No longer the feared prison fighter he was, he has declined so far that he is now good only for cleaning toilets. But when a new prison fight tournament begins - an international affair, matching the best fighters from prisons around the globe, enticing them with the promise of freedom for the winner - Boyka must reclaim his dignity and fight for his position in the tournament.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 44000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, saga, cult classic, extraordinary, cult film
Similar in 83%
Fatal Contact (2006)
Plot Summary:
A young man learns the fighting techniques of Sanda from a coach. The two become best friends as the young man prepares to enter an underground tournament, competing against some of the top fighters of the world.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, suspenseful, realistic
Similar in 86%
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006)
Plot Summary:
Sequel to the 2002 film. This time, Heavyweight Champ George "Iceman" Chambers (White) is sent to a Russian jail on trumped-up drug charges. In order to win his freedom he must fight against the jailhouse fighting champ Uri Boyka (Adkins) in a battle to the death. This time he is not fighting for a title, he is fighting for his life!.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 39000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, serious, realistic, exciting, rough, saga, cult classic, unusual plot structure, extraordinary, weird
Similar in 83%
Lionheart (1990)
Plot Summary:
Lyon Gaultier is a deserter in the Foreign Legion arriving in the USA entirely hard up. He finds his brother between life and death and his sister-in-law without the money needed to heal her husband and to maintain her child. To earn the money needed, Gaultier decides to take part in some very dangerous clandestine fights.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 39000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, suspenseful, sentimental, psychological, motivational, grindhouse, cult classic, serious, realistic
Similar in 90%
Unbeatable (2013)
Plot Summary:
Fai, once a world champion in boxing, escapes to Macau from the loan sharks and unexpectedly encounters Qi, a young chap who is determined to win a boxing match. Fai becomes Qi's mentor and rediscovers his passion to fight not only in the ring but for his life and the cares.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: tense, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, captivating
Similar in 75%
Gladiator (1992)
Plot Summary:
A story of two teenagers trapped in the world of illegal underground boxing. One is fighting to save his fathers life and using the money pay off gambling debts accumulated by his father. The second is fighting for the money to get out of the ghettos. While being exploited by a boxing promoter the two teens become friends. An explosive ending puts the two friends in the ring against each other.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, rough, harsh, hood, motivational, exciting, sentimental, inspirational, touching
Similar in 90%
Rocky IV (1985)
Plot Summary:
After iron man Drago, a highly intimidating 6-foot-5, 261-pound Soviet athlete, kills Apollo Creed in an exhibition match, Rocky comes to the heart of Russia for 15 pile-driving boxing rounds of revenge.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 223000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: inspirational, tense, suspenseful, entertaining, action packed, saga, feel good, patriotic, action adventure, psychological
Similar in 84%
Fat City (1972)
Plot Summary:
Two men, working as professional boxers, come to blows when their careers each begin to take opposite momentum.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, realistic, neo noir, serious, captivating, cynical, cult classic, bleak, ironic, entertaining
Similar in 90%
Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown (2011)
Plot Summary:
Four fighters different backgrounds come together to train under an ex MMA rising star and then ultimately have to fight each other and the traitor in heir midst.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 20000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: exciting, suspenseful, serious, realistic, inspirational, suspense, erotic, cult classic, teen, visually appealing
Similar in 87%
Rocky II (1979)
Plot Summary:
After Rocky goes the distance with champ Apollo Creed, both try to put the fight behind them and move on. Rocky settles down with Adrian but can't put his life together outside the ring, while Creed seeks a rematch to restore his reputation. Soon enough, the "Master of Disaster" and the "Italian Stallion" are set on a collision course for a climactic battle that is brutal and unforgettable.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 227000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: inspirational, sincere, rough, feel good, captivating, entertaining, action packed, saga, action adventure, motivational
Similar in 86%
Never Back Down (2008)
Plot Summary:
Rebellious Jake Tyler is lured into an ultimate underground fight Scene at his new high school, after receiving threats to the safety of his friends and family Jake decides to seek the mentoring of a veteran fighter who trains him for one final no-holds-barred elimination fight with his nemesis and local martial arts champion Ryan McCarthy.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 105000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: inspirational, serious, exciting, entertaining, intense, suspenseful, teen, motivational, cult classic, realistic
Similar in 77%
Rocky III (1982)
Plot Summary:
Now the world champion, Rocky Balboa is living in luxury and only fighting opponents who pose no threat to him in the ring, until Clubber Lang challenges him to a bout. After taking a pounding from Lang, the humbled champ turns to former bitter rival Apollo Creed for a rematch with Lang.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 208000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: inspirational, captivating, suspenseful, action packed, action adventure, suspense, psychological, motivational, uplifting, saga
Similar in 87%
Boyka: Undisputed IV (2016)
Plot Summary:
In the fourth installment of the fighting franchise, Boyka is shooting for the big leagues when an accidental death in the ring makes him question everything he stands for. When he finds out the wife of the man he accidentally killed is in trouble, Boyka offers to fight in a series of impossible battles to free her from a life of servitude.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 31000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: Bulgaria, USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, realistic, suspenseful, serious, disturbing, cult classic
Similar in 84%
The Valachi Papers (1972)
Plot Summary:
When Joe Valachi (Charles Bronson) has a price put on his head by Don Vito Genovese (Lino Ventura), he must take desperate steps to protect himself while in prison. An unsuccessful attempt to slit his throat puts him over the edge to break the sacred code of silence.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Italy, France
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: tense, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful, neo noir, poliziottesco
Similar in 86%
Undisputed (2002)
Plot Summary:
Monroe Hutchens is the heavyweight champion of Sweetwater, a maximum security prison. He was convicted to a life sentence due to a passionate crime. Iceman Chambers is the heavyweight champion, who lost his title due to a rape conviction to ten years in Sweetwater. WHen these two giants collide in the same prison, they fight against each other disputing who is the real champion.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 34000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Sport
Country: USA, Germany, Japan
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: suspense, talky, stylized, intense, exciting, tense, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 75%
Blood and Bone (2009)
Plot Summary:
In Los Angeles, an ex-con (White) takes the underground fighting world by storm in his quest to fulfill a promise to a dead friend.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 35000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: exciting, inspirational, brutal, harsh, rough, suspenseful, serious, intense, motivational, hood
Similar in 80%
Honor (2006)
Plot Summary:
In a world where street gangs collide with the law, neighborhood friends, Raymond and Gabriel, must decide which side of the battle to join. This will be the ultimate fight - the one for power, family, and HONOR.
IMDB Rating: 4.2
IMDB Votes: 594
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: exciting, captivating, suspense, crime drama, psychological, tense, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 82%
The Funeral (1996)
Plot Summary:
The story concerns the funeral of one of three brothers in a family of gangsters that lived in New York in 1930s. Details of the past of the brothers and their families are shown through a series of flashbacks.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: neo noir, surprise ending, independent film, philosophical, hood, tense, rough, clever, serious, captivating
Similar in 77%
Raging Bull (1980)
Plot Summary:
When Jake LaMotta steps into a boxing ring and obliterates his opponent, he's a prizefighter. But when he treats his family and friends the same way, he's a ticking time bomb, ready to go off at any moment. Though LaMotta wants his family's love, something always seems to come between them. Perhaps it's his violent bouts of paranoia and jealousy. This kind of rage helped make him a champ, but in real life, he winds up in the ring alone.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 373000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: black and white, stylized, atmospheric, depressing, breathtaking, bloody, visual, harsh, neo noir, poignant