In Tyson (2025), the viewer is taken on a relentless journey through the life of Mike Tyson, one of boxing’s most compelling and controversial figures. Directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese, and brought to life by an extraordinary, transformative performance from Jamie Foxx, the film strips away the myth of “Iron Mike” and reveals the man grappling with fame, trauma, and identity. From the violent streets of Brooklyn to the global spotlight of the heavyweight championship, Tyson embraces his heights and depths with unflinching honesty.
The story begins in the hardscrabble environment of Brownsville, Brooklyn, where a young Mike is steered onto a path of discipline and hope by his mentor, Cus D’Amato — a bond that forms the emotional core of the narrative. Tyson’s meteoric rise is portrayed with visceral intensity: at just 20 years old, he becomes the youngest heavyweight champion in history. Yet the film doesn’t linger on triumphs alone; it dives headfirst into the chaos that follows — legal scandals, incarceration, sensational media scrutiny, and personal ruin — revealing how easily adoration can give way to downfall.
Jamie Foxx’s performance is nothing short of career-defining. Not content to mimic, Foxx captures the raw contradictions that define Tyson: a volatility fueled by inner pain, a fragile vulnerability behind a hardened exterior. One particularly powerful scene finds him alone in a dressing room after a loss, tearful and reflective, silently communicating his inner conflict with devastating effect. His physical transformation — from body to voice, from rage to regret — anchors the character in realism and emotion.
Scorsese’s direction elevates Tyson above typical sports biopics. Drawing stylistic inspiration from Raging Bull and The Irishman, he employs long takes, POV shots, sudden silences, and slow-motion fight sequences to place us inside Tyson’s fractured psyche — where even triumph can feel turbulent. The cinematography, paired with a thunderous score by Ludwig Göransson, blends brutality and beauty, making each punch resonate psychologically, not just physically.
Supporting Foxx is Samuel L. Jackson, portraying Don King, the flamboyant and mercurial promoter whose influence helps fuel Tyson’s rise — and also his collapse. Jackson brings a magnetic energy to the role, embodying King’s charisma and manipulation with equal force.
In the end, Tyson (2025) isn’t a tale of sports glory. It’s a raw, brooding portrait of a man caught between his own legend and his own humanity — a study of power, pain, survival, and the cost of being the “baddest man on the planet.” With its powerhouse cast, visionary direction, and emotional depth, the film promises to be more than a viewing experience; it’s a confrontation with the man behind the gloves
