1 / 10

When We Were Kings - Muhammad Ali is a heavyweight champ and cultural icon, who brought drama and theater to the boxing ring. We commemorate the great athlete's 71st birthday by recapping the best of boxing in the movies, starting with this 1996 documentary. The film chronicles Ali's infamous 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" fight against George Foreman, and features commentary by Norman Mailer, Spike Lee and others. For a glimpse of the charismatic Ali at his greatest, look no further. (Photo: Das Film, Polygram Filmed Entertainment)

Photo By Photo: Das Film

2 / 10

Ali - Will Smith transforms into Muhammad Ali in this biopic that spans the champ's early days as Cassius Clay to the fight of his life, 1974's "Rumble in the Jungle." Smith was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Ali and his rise in sports and the formation of his controversial political ideals, including his refusal to fight in the Vietnam War. (Photo: Columbia Pictures)

3 / 10

The Great White Hope - James Earl Jones delivers an Oscar-nominated performance in this drama, based on the tumultuous career of turn-of-the-century boxing champ Jack Jefferson, who came under fire because of his relationship with a white woman.  (Photo: Lawrence Turman, Twentieth Century Fox)

4 / 10

Tyson - This documentary, a mixture of archival footage, interviews and never-before-seen photographs, paints a portrait of Mike Tyson the world had never seen. Many credit the film, which shed light on the controversial boxer's formative years and life experiences, with turning his image around after a decade of negative publicity. (Photo: Fyodor Productions, Defiance Entertainment)

5 / 10

Girlfight - Michelle Rodriguez earned her tough-girl reputation with this performance as a high school misfit who channels her anger in the boxing ring. The actress went on to play variations on the same character in huge blockbuster films like Resident Evil, Fast & Furious and Avatar.(Photo: Green/Renzi, Independent Film Channel)

6 / 10

Rocky - Sylvester Stallone was at his best, both physically and as an actor, in this inspiring drama about a Philadelphia boxer, who gets a shot at challenging a heavyweight champion. The film packed a one-two punch of major audience appeal and critical raves, winning three Academy Awards (including Best Picture) and making Sly a superstar.(Photo: Chartoff-Winkler Productions)

7 / 10

Million Dollar Baby - Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Hilary Swank left audiences in tears with this film about a gym manager, who urges a gruff, aging boxing coach to take a young upstart female fighter under his wing. The film earned Oscar nominations for best picture, director, actress and supporting actor (Freeman) and was recognized as one of the best films of the decade.(Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures, Lakeshore Entertainment)

8 / 10

Diggstown - This action-comedy is a light-hearted look at the world of boxing, starring James Woods as a fast-talking hustler who hatches a plot with his best friend, an ex-boxer, to take down the town's corrupt boss by defeating his henchmen, all 10 of them, one after another in the ring…within 24 hours. (Photo: MGM Studios)

9 / 10

The Hurricane - Denzel Washington delivers a characteristically tour-de-force performance as Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a rising boxer wrongly convicted of murdering three men in his New Jersey hometown. His fight for exoneration, which lasts two decades, becomes a national crusade and particularly touches a young woman who befriends, and defends, Carter. (Photo: Azoff Entertainment)

10 / 10

Raging Bull - Regarded as one of the best films of all time, Raging Bull features a career-making performance by a young Robert De Niro as middleweight boxing champ Jake La Motta, a physically and emotionally destructive man, who unleashes his anger both inside and outside the ring. The film catapulted De Niro, who won an Oscar for the role, and director Martin Scorcese from promising young talents to the voices of their generation.(Photo: United Artists)