STORYLINE: MMA legend Patton James, now a commercial fisherman, is pulled back into the cage when his brother is in danger. Reuniting with his old coach Sammy, he commits to one final fight in ONE Championship against its brutal champion Xavier Grau. (IMDb)

   In this corner please welcome genre staples such as Rocky (1972), Ali (2001), and Million Dollar Baby (2004).  In the opposing corner please welcome genre challengers such as  Real Steal (2011) and The Smashing Machine (2025).   Now, coming in at 113 minutes, our feature presentation, the latest MMA motion picture. 2026’s Beast.

    Movies about boxing and mixed martial arts are filled with exciting fight sequences.  These films tend to have drama and some kind of tension spread through the plot.  Some plots tend to be thinner then others.  Let’s face it, the Rocky sequels are textbook thin plots, high adrenaline filled boxing features.  Beast fits this model to a T.

    Yes, the mixed martial arts sequences are exciting to view.  In the mold of the genre the plot is filled with drama and tension. Much like other boxing and MMA movies the story, in Beast, is predictable.  It’s been done, and done better, on proceeding boxing/MMA feature films.   That one-two punch makes Beast a fun, semi mindless popcorn flick. 

    All the MMA fights are worth the price of admission, to the movie theater.  Each punch, kick, and fall being hears in the surround sound is thrilling.  The visual counterparts are just as thrilling. These sequences are the vest part of the movie. 

    Beast is a cookie cutter MMA film, with a typical dramatic premise, an exciting fight sequences to watch on the big screen.

    Until next time, I will see you at the movies!