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Gladiators

Original title: The Philly Kid
  • 2012
  • R
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
Gladiators (2012)
A former NCAA champion wrestler is paroled after 10 years in prison. Now, to save a friend's life, in a series of cage fights he must agree to do the impossible - lose.
Play trailer1:54
1 Video
18 Photos
ActionDramaSport

A former NCAA champion wrestler, paroled after ten years in prison, agrees to a series of cage fights to save a friend's life and is asked to do the impossible - lose.A former NCAA champion wrestler, paroled after ten years in prison, agrees to a series of cage fights to save a friend's life and is asked to do the impossible - lose.A former NCAA champion wrestler, paroled after ten years in prison, agrees to a series of cage fights to save a friend's life and is asked to do the impossible - lose.

  • Director
    • Jason Connery
  • Writers
    • Adam Mervis
    • Adam Ratcliffe
    • Javier Rodriguez
  • Stars
    • Wes Chatham
    • Devon Sawa
    • Sarah Butler
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    2.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jason Connery
    • Writers
      • Adam Mervis
      • Adam Ratcliffe
      • Javier Rodriguez
    • Stars
      • Wes Chatham
      • Devon Sawa
      • Sarah Butler
    • 18User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Videos1

    U.S. Version
    Trailer 1:54
    U.S. Version

    Photos18

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    Top cast68

    Edit
    Wes Chatham
    Wes Chatham
    • Dillon
    Devon Sawa
    Devon Sawa
    • Jake
    Sarah Butler
    Sarah Butler
    • Amy
    Neal McDonough
    Neal McDonough
    • LA Jim
    Lucky Johnson
    • Ace
    Chris Browning
    Chris Browning
    • Marks
    Adam Mervis
    Adam Mervis
    • Ryan Maygold
    Bernard Hocke
    Bernard Hocke
    • Lenny
    Ava Bogle
    Ava Bogle
    • Allison Kaufman
    Eric Scott Woods
    Eric Scott Woods
    • Spencer
    Michael Jai White
    Michael Jai White
    • Arthur Letts
    Andrew Sensenig
    Andrew Sensenig
    • Larry
    Rich Clementi
    Rich Clementi
    • Sanchez
    Kasey Emas
    • Tina
    Kris Van Damme
    Kris Van Damme
    • Chase
    • (as Kristopher Van Varenberg)
    Marco St. John
    Marco St. John
    • Doctor
    JD Evermore
    JD Evermore
    • Parole Officer
    • (as J.D. Evermore)
    Billy Slaughter
    Billy Slaughter
    • TV Announcer #1
    • Director
      • Jason Connery
    • Writers
      • Adam Mervis
      • Adam Ratcliffe
      • Javier Rodriguez
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews18

    5.62.3K
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    Featured reviews

    5rgblakey

    Step into the cage with the Philly Kid

    With the explosion of the MMA world there have been more and more films following it but much like every other genre they don't always work. The latest to tackle the genre is the Philly Kid featuring Wes Chatham, Devon Sawa, Neal McDonough, and Michael Jai White. Can this latest fight drama deliver the one two punch is it striving for or will it get knocked down for the count?

    Philly Kid follows a former NCAA wrestler just out of jail who is forced into the underground cage fighting scene to save a friend's life. This film doesn't bring anything all that new to the genre, but it is still well crafted enough to be entertaining. The story here is a pretty straight forward formula that has been used countless times, but works to deliver the overall feel they are going for. The performances were all decent enough, but sadly Michael Jai White is barely here. He has such a commanding presence whether he is fighting of just talking that his bits are great, but isn't given anything to do to bring this movie up a notch. Neal McDonough did a great job, but in reality it would have been nice to see him and White switch places as they are both better fit for the other parts. IT was nice to see Devon Sawa who had a huge surge for a while there, then seemingly dropped out of the spotlight for a bit. Chatham did a decent job carrying the film, but just didn't bring anything all that special to the role. The real spotlight here is really the fighting which is well done, but never really pushes the boundaries to give it the stand out action it needed.

    Philly Kid is a decent addition to the MMA genre delivering some decent performances and action. With a little more time spent on stepping up the quality of the action it could have been so much more, but unless you are actually into martial arts, then it probably won't be anything you notice because it is well shot and executed. If you're looking for a decent martial arts rental then give Philly Kid a try.
    cosmo_tiger

    Another "Warrior" type movie that is actually pretty good. Fight scenes were realistic but acting was lacking. I say B+

    "I took these fights to pay off your debt, do you understand that? I fight one more time and that's where it ends." Dillon (Chatham) is among, if the the best NCAA wrestlers in the country. One night when him and his friends are at a convenience store something goes wrong and he ends up in jail. Ten years later he is finally out and ready to start his life again. After his friend is taken and beaten because he owes money Dillon agrees to do cage fights in order to pay back the debt. After he goes on a winning streak the wrong kind of people begin to find him. In the 80's it seemed like any type of fighting movie was based in the boxing world. Little by little that has changed and UFC-style is now the go to sport. After movies like "Warrior" more and more are being made about that life. To start with I will say that this is actually a very good movie with the most realistic fighting scenes I have seen in a movie in a long time. The acting is decent and passable for a movie like this, but most people don't watch this for the acting. Very entertaining and exciting but a little predictable. That doesn't really hurt the movie at all though. I recommend this. Overall, if you liked "Warrior" then you will really like this one too. I did. I give it a B+.
    7bkoganbing

    No, it's not in Philadelphia

    The Philly Kid is a film about the Mixed Martial Arts fight game and if you think it's set in Philadelphia as I did you will be wrong. It is set in New Orleans and curiously enough nobody in that whole cast speaks with anything remotely resembling an accent you would find in New Orleans. You might as well have set the film in Philadelphia.

    Other than that this is a pretty good film in the tradition of such fine boxing films like Champion, The Set-Up, The Square Jungle and the more recent Split Decisions. Young Wes Chatham and his friends Devon Sawa and Kris Von Damme are just out for an evening and truly and innocently get involved in a cop killing. Von Damme is dead, Sawa is wounded and Chatham does 10 years for something he didn't do.

    Chatham was at one a promising college wrestler and when he gets out he finds Sawa in heavy to some gamblers. He learns the mixed martial arts game and agrees to some fights to get Sawa out of debt. He also falls for Sawa's sister Sarah Butler.

    Like those other cited films The Philly Game is very honest and lucid about showing all the crookedness and double dealing that goes on. It's realistic and at times very brutal. Chatham has to navigate between gangsters, crooked promoters, and one bad crooked cop.

    The fight scenes are as realistic as when I've looked in on real mixed martial arts matches. My favorite scene is when Chatham is drugged during a match and still comes out on top. All due to a fighting heart and an old wrestling maneuver.

    The Philly Game did not get much notice coming out, but it's an undiscovered diamond in the raw if you look.
    6canike07

    Decent "B" MMA/Fight drama

    I recently rented this off ITunes. I wasn't expecting much but to be entertained for 90 minutes and that's exactly what I got. The star Wes chatham as a recently paroled ex- NCAA wrestler played a believable role as someone forced to fight in the cage in order to save his longtime friend played by Devon sawa (almost unregognizable with his new veneer teeth) the fights are pretty well choreographed and are pretty realistic. To sum things up I would recommend this to fight fans or anyone looking to be entertained for 90 minutes. This is the fourth film I've seen in the after dark action films with the exception of stash house.
    7gradyharp

    His Only Way Out is Getting Back In

    Ever since the popularity of HUNGER GAMES the concept of watching young people in cages fight each other with no holds barred even to the death, have proliferated. Says something about the audience desires, or fads, or the gladiator mentality in all mankind since the Roman arenas. THE PHILLY KID is a low budget little pertinent drama that for the genre is better than the usual. Written by Adam Mervis (who also acts the role of the main character's understanding parole officer) and directed with fine pacing by Jason Connery, the movie somehow catches fire - likely due to a cast of up and coming young actors.

    Dillon (Wes Chatham, a hunk newbie the camera loves) is a former NCAA champion wrestler has just been released form 10 years in prison for braking the neck of a thug during a holdup in front of a liquor store where he (at around age 16) was buying alcohol with a fake ID for his friend Jake (Devon Sawa, impressive in a difficult role). Dillon now lives in a filthy halfway house and is without money until his old friend Jake finds him a job in a liquor store owned by a kindly man Lenny (Bernard Hocke). Jake's sister Amy (Sarah Butler) is on the scene and eventually becomes the love interest for Dillon. It seems Jake is heavily in debt to conman Ace (Lucky Johnson) and Jake, knowing Dillon's ability as a wrestler, pleads with Dillon to fight for money in the underground cage fighting scene to save a Jake's life. Another evil force is the police officer Marks (Chris Browning) who arrested Dillon and who hates him and threatens his life if he doesn't fix a fight. Dillon trains, wins some fights, (he is supposed to fight only three fights for Ace to release Jake's debt), and is observed and ultimately trained by LA Jim (Neal McDonough). From there on it is a succession of bloody fights and gore until the end finds a resolution.

    The cat is strong and is supported by some solid work by Eric Scott Woods and Michael Jai White. It is always satisfying to see new faces take on tough roles and this cadre of actors pulls it off very well. Not a great film, but a well crafted one for the genre.

    Grady Harp

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film is called "Brawler" on the UK Netflix.
    • Goofs
      Among his many injuries, Jake gets shot in the mouth, putting a hole through his cheek. Though sutured up and leaving only a small scratch (remarkable in itself), the blast alone would have burned his mouth, yet the injury fails to impede Jake's diction in any degree.
    • Quotes

      Marks: You just killed my partner. You're dead.

    • Connections
      References Sur écoute (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      Your Love Is Convenient
      Written by Ian Honeyman and Mark Bates

      Performed by Daniel Rojas

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    FAQ18

    • How long is The Philly Kid?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 18, 2012 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Philly Kid
    • Filming locations
      • New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
    • Production companies
      • After Dark Films
      • Autonomous Films
      • Fourth Floor Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 30m(90 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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