7. I Am Ali
IMBD Score: 7.2
Rotten Tomatoes: 61%
There have been several Ali-based films over the years—and this one sometimes gets a quick record scratch because it’s mistaken for the Will Smith… thing.
Skipping the 2014 film, ironically, would be a mistake.
To call Clare Lewins’ documentary “powerful” would be selling it short—and no Ali doc’ should ever miss on the hype, because that would be to out-of-character for the man himself. Lewins somehow managed to build a story out of the footage in a nonlinear tale that brings the audience into the life of a man many thought they already knew. From the opening phone call between Ali and his daughter, Hana—who doesn’t want him to take another fight—to the incredible footage that leads us to his final bout in 1981, the story that transpired over the nearly two hours is genuinely boxing history.