Beast
June 1st, 2026
MOVIE: BEAST
STARRING: DANIEL MACPHERSON, LUKE HEMSWORTH, RUSSELL CROWE
DIRECTED BY: TYLER ATKINS
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 2 ½ STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 114 MINUTES
The world of MMA has given sports movies a new arena for underdog stories and tales of perseverance. From The Smashing Machine to Warrior and now Beast, there is plenty of drama to be found inside the cage. While the genre still lacks a definitive masterpiece, Beast is a welcome surprise- a story about a fighter past his prime who gets one final shot at redemption, proving to others and himself that he still has the heart of a lion. With enough grit and determination, Beast is easy to recommend to both casual viewers and hardcore MMA fans.
The film follows Patton James (Daniel MacPherson), a once-successful MMA fighter who now works on a fishing boat, struggling to support his wife and daughter. Trained by the legendary Sammy (Russell Crowe), Patton was taught to stay in the fight and never give up. But problems outside the cage forced him into an early retirement, leaving his glory days far behind. Everything changes when his troubled younger brother, Malon (Mojean Aria), dies during an unsanctioned fight with champion Xavier Grau (Bren Foster). Consumed by grief, Patton accepts a one-time bout against Grau, arranged by the champion’s slimy agent Gabriel (Luke Hemsworth), hoping to reclaim both his pride and his purpose.
As far as boxing and fighting movies go, Beast succeeds without completely avoiding the genre’s familiar tropes. There is the obligatory training montage, the worried wife who thinks the comeback is a mistake, and the reluctant trainer who needs convincing to return. What elevates the film is the screenplay, co-written by David Frigerio and Crowe, which gives its largely Australian cast the chance to create authentic, fresh-faced characters. MacPherson, in particular, has a genuine physical presence and charisma that recalls the raw appeal Sylvester Stallone brought to Rocky before he became a household name. The film rests squarely on his shoulders, and he carries it with confidence.
That is not to say Beast escapes without a scratch. Some of its weaker tropes are impossible to ignore. The comeback story offers few surprises, while the fight sequences feel more reminiscent of Karate Kid: Legends than the artistry of Raging Bull. I would also like to formally request that boxing and MMA films retire the cliché of characters sitting in front of a television or laptop, screaming at a fight. I understand the purpose- it allows emotional reactions while the action unfolds- but it has become an exhausted device. Crowe is one of the finest actors of his generation, and watching him shout lines like “Get him!” or “I knew you could do it!” feels beneath his talents. Worse, it tells the audience how to feel rather than trusting them to understand the stakes on their own.
By the end, the positives outweigh the negatives in Beast. Calling a film “solid” may sound faintly dismissive, but that is exactly what director Tyler Atkins has delivered. The action inside the cage is compelling, the performances are strong across the board, and there is enough drama to keep viewers invested until the final bell. Beast possesses the same drive and determination as its protagonist, overcoming long odds to emerge victorious. In the end, Beast earns the right to be unleashed.
2 ½ STARS
BEAST IS NOW AVAILABLE TO RENT ON DIGITAL MONDAY, JUNE 1ST, 2026.
Written by: Leo Brady
