Tyson (2009)
85%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 4 nominations
A fascinating, emotional, and frank confessional from Iron Mike that sheds a sympathetic light on one of boxing’s most controversial icons
Tyson is a documentary that packs a punch, and not just because it’s about one of the greatest boxers of all time. With Toback’s direction and Tyson’s own narration, the film takes us on a journey through the highs and lows of his life, from his rise to fame to his fall from grace. And while some may find Tyson’s lisp annoying, it’s hard not to be drawn in by his honesty and vulnerability. Plus, who doesn’t love a good underdog story? Whether you’re a boxing fan or not, Tyson is a knockout.
Production Company(ies)
The Samuel Goldwyn Company,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong language and some violence
Year of Release
1997
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 30m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 24, 2009 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 18, 2009
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
starring Mike Tyson, directed by James Toback, written by James Toback, documentary, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Kaleem Aftab, Damon Bingham, MPAA rating R, boxing, heavyweight champion, Iron Mike, juvenile detention, Cus D’Amato, rape charge, prison, sexual references, language, Sony Pictures Classics, Dolby Digital, Nicholas Jarecki, Damon Bingham, executive producer, complex portrait, controversial icon, emotional, frank confessional, sympathetic light, fascinating, redemption, downfall, self-justification, aggression, affection, split-screens, overlapping dialogue, self-deceiving, hands-on involvement, potential, tragic, fascinating, sympathetic, raw, riveting, rise and fall, redemption, downfall, self-justification, aggression, affection, split-screens, overlapping dialogue, self-deceiving, hands-on involvement, potential, tragic, fascinating, sympathetic, raw, riveting, rise and fall
Worldwide gross: $7,281,450
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $13,573,212
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,859
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,480,176
US/Canada gross: $7,281,450
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $13,573,212
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,520
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,020,015
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,629,552
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,075
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $18,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $33,553,456
Production budget ranking: 1,085
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $18,068,536
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$38,048,780
ROI to date (est.): -74%
ROI ranking: 1,826
James Toback – Director, Producer, Writer
Damon Bingham – Producer
Mike Tyson – Executive Producer
Nicholas Jarecki – Executive Producer
Director(s)
James Toback
Writer(s)
James Toback
Producer(s)
Damon Bingham, James Toback
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (147) | Top Critics (60) | Fresh (125) | Rotten (22)
The result is a documentary that once again highlights that, of all sports, boxing is the one that cinema has been most successful in recording…
May 15, 2018
Kaleem Aftab
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Something draws us near-perhaps [James] Toback’s own fascination, at once self-serving and empathetic, with his soft-spoken protagonist.
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 3/6
Keith Uhlich
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Ben Kenigsberg
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Just relentless lisping monotonous speech that makes the prospect of entering the ring with Mike seem attractive if only because it will be over sooner.
August 9, 2009 | Rating: 1/5
Giles Hardie
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
There is something compelling about the way he presents his version of the stories and scandals that surround him.
August 7, 2009 | Rating: 3/5
Philippa Hawker
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
He’s amazingly frank about some of the people he doesn’t like, and he breaks down when he talks about his friends and the people he loved. A surprisingly fine documentary.
August 5, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
The redeeming value of Tyson is its entrée into the mind of a wild man, a furious force of nature.
March 22, 2021
Dan DiNicola
The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)
Tyson is most a revelation onscreen when he’s captured with his children.
September 26, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
James Toback combines a vivid recapitulation of everything you think you know about “Iron Mike.”
June 18, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Toback telegraphs his intent to out Tyson’s mental health struggles through using split screens of Tyson’s narration and overlapping recordings of the same Tyson testimony.
March 21, 2020 | Rating: 2/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
A raw, riveting portrait of the rise and fall of a superstar as seen through his own eyes.
July 7, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
The knockout punches are delivered by Toback’s incredible access, supreme editing choices and ability to let Tyson talk himself into a cul-de-sac.
November 4, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Kaleem Aftab
The List…
Plot
Maureen is pregnant and her husband Eddie is missing. Nervous, Maureen shares a couple of drinks with neighbor Kiefer, who tries to rape her and then beats her. When Eddie returns and finds his wife bruised, he goes ballistic, shoots a paramedic and is put in a psychiatric institution. Ten years later, Eddie is released and finds that Maureen has divorced him and is remarried with three children, one of whom is his little girl Jeanie. Eddie goes to reclaim his wife.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson as the main subject.
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