The Great White Hype

1996
R
1h 31m

IMDb RATING

5.5/10

11K

YOUR RATING

Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Berg, and Jamie Foxx in The Great White Hype (1996)

Home Video Trailer from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Play trailer2:40

1 Video

35 Photos

Boxing Satire Comedy Sport

The boxing champ's promoter thinks change is needed. He finds the one man who's beaten his champ, a white man now in a rock band. Like Rocky, he trains heavily whereas the champ slacks.The boxing champ's promoter thinks change is needed. He finds the one man who's beaten his champ, a white man now in a rock band. Like Rocky, he trains heavily whereas the champ slacks.The boxing champ's promoter thinks change is needed. He finds the one man who's beaten his champ, a white man now in a rock band. Like Rocky, he trains heavily whereas the champ slacks.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.5/10

11K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Reverend Fred Sultan (Samuel L. Jackson) greets a man with shoulder length black hair and a black suit, with "Hey Vincent, Vincent, where's Jules man?", a reference to Jackson's character in Pulp Fiction (1994).

Goofs
When Roper is watching the soap opera, and throws the ring away to watch his entourage chase it, it clearly falls out of the box as it skips on the floor. Yet, when Rollo puts it on, before Roper takes it, he takes it out of the box.

Quotes
Rev. Fred Sultan: if there isn't a white heavyweight out there for you, I'm going to create you one.
James Roper: [Confused] "white heavyweight?", The words don't even go together, it's like saying "black unity"

Crazy credits
While walking back to dressing room after fight, Conklin is followed by two little people from his entourage.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Mulholland Falls/Sunset Park/The Truth About Cats and Dogs/I Shot Andy Warhol/Wings of Courage (1996)

Soundtracks
Movin' On
Performed by DJ U-Neek (as D.J. U-Neek) featuring Nyt Owl
Written by Annie Lennox, David A. Stewart (as Dave Stewart), DJ U-Neek (as D.J. U-Neek), Nyt Owl
Based on "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)"
Written by Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart (as Dave Stwart)
Produced by DJ U-Neek (as D.J. U-Neek) for U-Neek Entertainment, Inc.
D.J. U-Neek and Nyt Owl appear courtesy of U-Neek Entertainment, Inc./King Pin Records, Inc.

User reviews33

Review

Featured review

6/10

Funny, Boxing Insider type Movie

First of all, this movie is funny. Even if you're not an insider to the world of boxing, this film makes many references you'll recognize and goes over the top with it and with some of the flamboyant people who have graced the sport.

Then there is the whole idea of finding a white boxer, besides the obligatory "Rocky" that is, that people can get behind to breathe new life into the sport.

Here you have every stereotype of that world thrown in from the promoters to the media personnel who made boxing what it is today -- Hype.

Here is a promoter who is keeping his client from fighting the one guy who can actually beat him (hence ruin their meal tickets), to come up with someone else to make Hype and recover funds he already spent that he can't pay the boxing champ. That among other things. Samuel L. Jackson is fun to watch as is Jeff Goldblum and Jamie Fox and Damon Wayons as the over-hyped champ. Rounding this out is the usual bottom feeders played well by Jon Lovitz and Corbin Bernsen. This movie can be uneven at times, but overall its entertainment, and a sarcastic view into the boxing promotion world like no other. Two stars out of four.