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{{short description|2004 American sports drama film by Clint Eastwood}}
{{Infobox_Film | name = Million Dollar Baby
{{about|the 2004 film}}
| image =Million Dollar Baby poster.jpg
{{Distinguish|Billion Dollar Baby{{!}}''Billion Dollar Baby''|Million Dollar Maybe}}
| caption =
{{use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
| director = ]
{{Infobox film
| producer = ]<br />]<br />]
| name = Million Dollar Baby
| writer = ] (story)<br />]&nbsp;(screenplay)
| image = Million Dollar Baby poster.jpg
| starring = ]<br />]<br />]
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| music = ]
| cinematography = ] | director = ]
| editing = ] | screenplay = ]
| based_on = {{Based on|'']''|]}}
| distributor = '''-USA-'''<br>]<br>'''-non USA-'''<br>]
| producer = {{Plainlist|
| released = ], ]
* Clint Eastwood
| runtime = 132 minutes
* ]
| language = ]/]
* ]
| budget = $30 million ]
* Paul Haggis
| imdb_id = 0405159
}} }}
| starring = {{Plainlist|<!-- per poster billing block -->
* Clint Eastwood
* ]
* ]
}}
| narrator = Morgan Freeman
| cinematography = ]
| editing = ]
| music = Clint Eastwood
| studio = {{Plainlist|
* ]
* Epsilon Motion Pictures
* ]
* ]
}}
| distributor = ] (United States and Canada)<br>Lakeshore International (international)
| released = {{Film date|2004|12|5|New York|2004|12|15|United States}}<!--]-->
| runtime = 132 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $30 million{{sfn|Eliot|2009|p=309}}{{sfn|Hughes|2009|p=156}}
| gross = $216.8 million<ref name="boxofficemojo" />
}}


'''''Million Dollar Baby''''' is a 2004 American ] starring ]. It is directed, co-produced, scored by and starring ] from a screenplay written by ], based on stories from the 2000 collection '']'' by ], the pen name of fight manager and ] Jerry Boyd. It also stars ]. The film follows Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald (Swank), an underdog amateur boxer who is helped by an underappreciated boxing trainer (Eastwood) to achieve her dream of becoming a professional.
'''''Million Dollar Baby''''' is an ] winning ] ]tic ] ] by ].


''Million Dollar Baby'' was theatrically released on December 15, 2004, by ]. It received critical acclaim and grossed $216.8 million worldwide. The film garnered seven nominations at the ] and won four: ], ], ] (for Swank), and ] (for Freeman). It has since been cited as one of the best films of the 2000s, the 21st century and ].<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|last1=Dargis|first1=Manohla|last2=Scott|first2=A.O.|title=The 25 Best Films of the 21st Century...So Far|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/09/movies/the-25-best-films-of-the-21st-century.html|website=The New York Times|date=9 June 2017|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="parade.com">{{cite web |date=6 October 2023 |title=We Ranked the 100 Best Movies of All Time! |url=https://parade.com/1222580/samuelmurrian/best-movies-all-time/ |website=]}}</ref>
The film stars Eastwood, ], and ]. It is the story of an under-appreciated boxing trainer, his elusive past and his quest for ] in helping an underdog amateur female boxer (the film's title character) achieve her fragile dream of becoming a professional. The film won four ], including ].


==Plot==
The screenplay was written by ], based on short stories by ], the pen name of fight manager and "]" Jerry Boyd. Originally published under the title ''Rope Burns'', the stories have since been republished under the movie's title.
Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald, a waitress from the ], enters the Hit Pit, a rundown boxing gym in Los Angeles operated by Frankie Dunn. Dunn is a cantankerous Irish-American trainer estranged from his daughter. Maggie asks Frankie to train her, but he refuses because he does not want to train women and believes Maggie is too old. Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris, Frankie's friend and the gym's handyman, allows her to train at the Hit Pit regardless. Frankie's prize prospect, "Big Willie" Little, signs with rival manager Mickey Mack after becoming impatient with Frankie rejecting offers for a championship bout, so Maggie gets her chance.


With Frankie's coaching, Maggie fights her way up in the women's amateur boxing division. Since she has earned a reputation for quick knockouts, Frankie bribes managers to put their trainee fighters against her. Scrap, concerned when Frankie rejects several offers for big fights, arranges a meeting for Maggie with Mack, but out of loyalty to Frankie, she declines. Frankie bestows Maggie a Gaelic nickname embroidered on her boxing robe, ], but does not tell her its meaning. The two travel to Europe as she continues to win. Maggie eventually saves enough of her winnings to buy her mother a house. Still, her mother berates Maggie for endangering her welfare checks, claiming everyone back home laughs at her.
It was released on ] on ], ]. It was released on ] on ], 2006 <ref> Business Wire . March 16, 2006 </ref>, one of the earliest releases on that media format.


Frankie is finally willing to arrange a title fight. He secures Maggie a $1 million match in Las Vegas against the ] women's welterweight champion, Billie "The Blue Bear" Osterman, a German ex-prostitute who has a reputation as a dirty fighter. Maggie begins to dominate the fight, but Billie knocks her out with an illegal ] from behind after the bell rings to end the round. Maggie lands hard on her corner stool, breaking her neck and leaving her a ventilator-dependent ].
== Plot ==


Frankie goes through the ], seeking multiple doctors' opinions in denial, lashing out in anger at Scrap, and trying to bargain with God through prayer. He later apologizes to Scrap and blames himself for Maggie's injuries. Scrap tells him not to, as Maggie owes it to him for getting her shot at the world championship.
{{spoiler}}


While in the hospital, Maggie looks forward to her family's visit. They arrive late, having first toured ] and ]. Accompanied by an attorney, their sole concern is getting Maggie's assets transferred to them. Disgusted, she orders them to leave and threatens to report their ] if they try to contact her again.
<!-- No Fair Use rationale, image removed ]]]-->
Maggie (]), a young female amateur who aspires to prove her worth by becoming a successful boxer, is taken in by Frank Dunn (]), a down-and-out boxing trainer who has been cast aside by most of society, including his estranged daughter Katie. Dunn aids Maggie in realizing her goal while developing a stronger-than-blood bond. Initially, Dunn is dispassionate toward Maggie because she is a 31-year-old female. Maggie, however, perseveres in her attempts to gain Dunn's favor by training each day in his gym, even when others discourage her. Frank's friend and employee, ex-boxer Eddie "Scrap Iron" Dupris (]), sympathizes with Maggie's efforts and convinces Dunn to coach her short-term (Dupris is also the narrator of the film, who reveals the extent to which Maggie and Dunn's relationship transforms both their lives).
]'']]
Having experienced no intimate relationship with his own daughter, Dunn forms a stronger bond with Maggie, whose family does not care for her well-being, and decidedly coaches and manages her professional career. With his expertise, Maggie fights her way up to the women's ] boxing division, eventually placing a match in ] against the ] women's welterweight champion (played by real life boxer ]), who is known for her foul play. During the match, an attack after the bell by her opponent sends Maggie crashing to the mat, directly in the path of her corner stool. Dunn frantically tries to move it out of the way, but cannot. As a result, Maggie hits it with neck-shattering force and is severely paralyzed. Dunn, venting his rage at the unjust circumstance, originally blames Dupris for convincing him to bring her in but in the end blames himself for her downfall having trained her against his better judgment.


Maggie develops bedsores and undergoes an amputation for an infected leg. She asks Frankie to help her die, declaring that she has everything she wants out of life. A horrified Frankie refuses, so Maggie later bites her tongue in an attempt to bleed to death. Knowing the fatherly affection Frankie has developed for Maggie, Frankie's priest warns him that he will never find himself again if he goes through with Maggie's request. Frankie sneaks into the hospital one night, unaware that Scrap is watching from the shadows. Just before administering a fatal injection of ], he tells Maggie the meaning of "mo cuishle": "my darling, and my blood", then gives Maggie a final goodbye kiss. He leaves and retires from boxing altogether. Scrap writes to Frankie's daughter, informing her of her father's true character.
In the medical rehabilitation facility, Maggie holds out hope for her family in visiting her, whom Dunn makes repeated calls about the tragic news but to no avail. However, the family arrives several days later (in theme park wardrobe) with an attorney in tow to turn over Maggie's fortunes to them. This appalls Dunn who realizes their motives but when her mother insists that Maggie sign the paperwork that would confirm the family as the beneficiary, she sees through the facade and tells her mother off for good. Eventually, Maggie confides to Dunn that she has "seen it all" and asks to be relieved of suffering. Dunn flat out refuses and begins to question the morality of it all, even speaking with a priest who objects. She attempts suicide by biting her tongue multiple times in an attempt to bleed to death. Her attempt fails since her efforts are subdued and causes Dunn to realize that her suffering should last no more. Dunn ultimately commits ] by injecting her with an overdose of ]. As the narrator, Dupris states that Dunn then disappears. The film's narration by Dupris is revealed to be a letter to Dunn's daughter, who has forsaken him all the while, to inform her of her father's true character.


==Cast==
<!-- No Fair Use rationale, image removed ] & ]]]-->
* ] as Frankie Dunn, a gruff but well-meaning elderly boxing trainer
* ] as Mary Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald, a determined, aspiring boxer trained up by Frankie Dunn
* ] as Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris, Dunn's gym assistant and former boxer
* ] as Dangerous Dillard Fighting Flippo Bam-Bam Barch or "Danger", a simpleton would-be boxer
* ] as Willie "Big Willie" Little, a boxer whom Dunn has trained for years
* ] as Billie "The Blue Bear" Osterman, a former prostitute and vicious boxer
* ] as Father Horvak, the priest of the church which Dunn attends
* ] as Shawrelle Berry, an overzealous boxer and frequent tenant of Dunn's gym
* ] as Earline Fitzgerald, Maggie's selfish mother
* ] as Mardell Fitzgerald, Maggie's welfare-cheating sister
* ] as Omar, a boxer and Shawrelle's best friend
* ] as Mickey Mack
* ] as Sally Mendoza
* ] as J.D. Fitzgerald, Maggie's incarcerated brother
* ] as Mr. Johnson, a lawyer
* ] as Billie's Manager
* ] as Billie's Cut Man


==Development and production==
== Featured cast ==
After being fired from the television series '']'', Paul Haggis wrote the script on ], and it took four years to sell it.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 February 2008 |last=Leibowitz |first=Ed |title=The Fabulist: Paul Haggis Reflects on His Career Los Angeles Magazine |url=https://www.lamag.com/longform/the-fabulist-paul-haggis-reflects-on-his-career/ |website=Los Angeles Magazine }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Clarke |first=Cath |date=6 January 2011 |title=Paul Haggis: 'You have to question your beliefs' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/jan/06/paul-haggis-interview |website=The Guardian}}</ref> The film was stuck in ] for years before it was shot. Several studios rejected the project even when Clint Eastwood signed on as actor and director. Even Warner Bros., Eastwood's longtime home base, would not agree to a $30 million budget. Eastwood persuaded Lakeshore Entertainment's Tom Rosenberg to put up half the budget (as well as handle foreign distribution), with Warner Bros. contributing the rest. Eastwood shot the film in less than 40 days between June and July 2004.{{sfn|Eliot|2009|p=309}}{{sfn|Hughes|2009|p=156}} Filming took place in Los Angeles and film sets at Warner Bros. Studios.{{sfn|Hughes|2009|p=156}} The titular phrase 'million dollar baby' was used as an insult during ] by ] to ], the latter of whom was an underdog at the time. Eastwood had his daughter Morgan Colette appear in a cameo as a girl who waves to Hilary Swank's character at a gas station. {{sfn|Hughes|2009|p=157}}<ref>Fold 3 WWII Crew photos</ref>


Eastwood had confidence in Swank's acting, but upon seeing Swank's small physique, he had concerns, "I just thought, 'Yeah, this gal would be great. If we can get her trained up. If we can get a little bit more bulk on her, to make her look like a fighter'...She was like a feather. But what happened is, she had this great work ethic."<ref name="cbs1">{{cite web |author=Leung |first=Rebecca |date=March 2, 2005 |title=Hilary Swank: Oscar Gold – 60 Minutes |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/02/60II/main677647.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120130114/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/02/60ii/main677647.shtml |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |access-date=September 9, 2010 |publisher=CBS News}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" width="50%"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Actor !! Role
|-
| ] || Danger Barch
|-
| ] || Frankie Dunn
|-
| ] || Eddie 'Scrap' Dupris
|-
| ] || Maggie's mother
|-
| ] || Billie's Manager
|-
| ] || Father Horvak
|-
| ] || Omar
|-
| ] || Billie 'The Blue Bear'
|-
| ] || Maggie Fitzgerald
|}


Consequently, to prepare for her role, Swank underwent extensive training in the ring and weight room, gaining 19 pounds of muscle, aided by professional trainer ]. She trained for nearly five hours every day, winding up with a potentially life-threatening ] out of blisters on her foot. She did not tell Eastwood about the infection because she thought it would be out of character for Maggie.<ref name="cbs1"/>
Full cast and credit listing .


==Reception==
== Awards and nominations ==
===Box office===
''Million Dollar Baby'' initially had a limited release, opening in eight theaters in December 2004.{{sfn|Hughes|2009|p=160}} In its later wide release opening, the film earned $12,265,482 in North America and quickly became a box-office hit both domestically and internationally. It grossed $216,763,646 in theaters; $100,492,203 in the United States, and $116,271,443 in other territories. The film played in theaters for six and a half months.<ref name="boxofficemojo">{{cite web |title=Million Dollar Baby (2004) |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=milliondollarbaby.htm |work=] |access-date=1 January 2021 }}</ref>


===Critical response===
''Million Dollar Baby'' received the ] of 2004 at the ]. Eastwood was awarded his second ] Oscar for the film and also received a ] nomination. Swank and Freeman received ] and ] Oscars. The film was also nominated for the ] and ] awards. The film beat what many thought to be the front-runner, ]'s '']'', which had won the Golden Globe and the BAFTA for Best Drama. However, ''Million Dollar Baby'' was more popular with critics.
On Rotten Tomatoes, ''Million Dollar Baby'' has an approval rating of 90% based on 269 reviews, with an average rating of 8.40/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Clint Eastwood's assured direction—combined with knockout performances from Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman—help ''Million Dollar Baby'' to transcend its clichés, and the result is deeply heartfelt and moving."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/million_dollar_baby/ |title=''Million Dollar Baby'' (2004) |work=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango Media |access-date=April 1, 2021 }}</ref> On Metacritic it has a weighted average score of 86 out of 100, based on reviews from 39 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/million-dollar-baby |title=''Million Dollar Baby'' Reviews |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=February 27, 2019 }}</ref> Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a grade "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= Million Dollar Baby (2005) A |work= CinemaScore |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= 2018-12-20 }}</ref>


] of the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' gave the film four stars and stated that "Clint Eastwood's ''Million Dollar Baby'' is a masterpiece, pure and simple," listing it as the best film of 2004.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=7 January 2005 |title=Million Dollar Baby |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/million-dollar-baby-2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725064529/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/million-dollar-baby-2005 |archive-date=July 25, 2020 |access-date=November 26, 2007 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |via=RogerEbert.com}}</ref> Michael Medved stated: "My main objection to ''Million Dollar Baby'' always centered on its misleading marketing, and effort by Warner Brothers to sell it as a movie about a female '']'', with barely a hint of the pitch-dark substance that led ] of the ''New York Observer''...to declare that "no movie in my memory has depressed me more than ''Million Dollar Baby''."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarris |first=Andrew |date=2005-01-17 |title=Why Clint Eastwood's Baby Knocked Me Down, Not Out |url=https://observer.com/2005/01/why-clint-eastwoods-baby-knocked-me-down-not-out/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Observer |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>Medved, Michael. "My 'Million Dollar' Answer", OpinionJournal/Dow Jones & Company, Inc. (February 17, 2005). .</ref>
The film was also nominated for and won a number of Golden Globes, SAG Awards and the Directors's Guild Awards.


{{Multiple image
'''] ] (Oscars)'''
| align = right
| direction =
| total_width = 300
| image1 = Hilary Swank Life Ball 2013 (cropped).jpg
| alt1 =
| caption1 =
| image2 = Morgan Freeman, 2006 (cropped).jpg
| caption2 =
| caption_align = center
| header_align = center
| width1 = 380
| width2 = 431
| height1 = 500
| height2 = 500
| footer = The performances of ] and ] garnered critical acclaim, thus earning them the ] for ] and ] respectively.
}}


In early 2005, the film sparked controversy when some ] protested the ending. The Disability Rights Education Fund released a statement about the film in February 2005 that included the following: "Perhaps the most central stereotype fueling disability prejudice is the mistaken assumption inherent in the message of the movie that the quality of life of individuals with disabilities is unquestionably not worth living. This stereotype is contradicted by the personal experience of many thousands of people with significant disabilities in this country and around the world who view our own lives as ordinary and normal. It is further contradicted by plenty of hard data. Research overwhelmingly shows that people with disabilities find satisfaction in our lives to the same degree, or greater, than does the general public."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Million Dollar Baby Built on Prejudice about People with Disabilities|date=13 February 2005 |url=https://dredf.org/2005/02/13/million-dollar-baby-built-on-prejudice-about-people-with-disabilities/ |website= Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund |access-date=2021-02-15|language=en-US}}</ref>
* Won - ] — ]


The ''Chicago Tribune'' reported that protests against the film by disability activists occurred in Chicago, Berkeley, and other cities, and that Clint Eastwood had lobbied for weakening provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2, 2005 |title=Why 'Million Dollar Baby' infuriates the disabled |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-02-02-0502020017-story.html |access-date=2021-02-15 |website=chicagotribune.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Gaura |first1=Maria Alicia |last2=Gathright |first2=Alan |date=2000-09-30 |title=Eastwood Wins Suit Over ADA / But jury says resort needs improvements |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Eastwood-Wins-Suit-Over-ADA-But-jury-says-2736250.php |access-date=2021-02-15 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Won - ] — ]


Wesley J. Smith in ''The Weekly Standard'' also criticized the film for its ending and for missed opportunities; Smith wrote "The movie could have ended with Maggie triumphing once again, perhaps having obtained an education and becoming a teacher; or, opening a business managing boxers; or perhaps, receiving a standing ovation as an inspirational speaker."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Wesley J. |date=March 2, 2005 |title=A Million Dollar Miss |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-million-dollar-miss/ |newspaper=CBS News}}</ref>
* Won - ] — ]


Eastwood responded to the criticism by saying the film was about the ].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/13/arts/how-dirty-harry-turned-commie.html |title=How Dirty Harry Turned Commie |first=Frank |last=Rich |date=February 13, 2005 |newspaper=The New York Times }}</ref> In an interview with the ''Los Angeles Times'', Eastwood distanced himself from the actions of characters in his films, noting, "I've gone around in movies blowing people away with a ]. But that doesn't mean I think that's a proper thing to do".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jan-27-wk-mdb27-story.html |title='Baby' plot twist angers activists |first=Chris |last=Lee |date=January 27, 2005 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times }}</ref> Roger Ebert stated that "a movie is not good or bad because of its content, but because of how it handles its content. ''Million Dollar Baby'' is classical in the clean, clear, strong lines of its story and characters, and had an enormous emotional impact".<ref name="spoiler">{{cite web |date=January 29, 2005 |author=Roger Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/critics-have-no-right-to-play-spoiler |title=Critics have no right to play spoiler |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=January 1, 2021 }}</ref>
* Won - ] — ], ], ]


The Gaelic nickname for Swank's character comes from the original phrase ''a chuisle mo chroí'', meaning "O pulse of my heart"; one critic noted that the use of Gaelic in the film led to some interest in the language and the phrase.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web |date=February 26, 2005 |last=Davis |first=Wes |title=Opinion {{!}} Fighting Words (Published 2005) |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/26/opinion/fighting-words.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529194619/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/26/opinion/fighting-words.html |archive-date=2015-05-29 |url-access=registration }}</ref>
* Nominated - ] — ]


===Top ten lists===
* Nominated - ] — ]
''Million Dollar Baby'' was listed on many critics' top 10 lists for films released in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/awards/2004/toptens.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103161156/http://www.metacritic.com/film/awards/2004/toptens.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 3, 2007|title=Metacritic: 2004 Film Critic Top Ten Lists|website=Metacritic |date=January 3, 2007}}</ref>
* 1st&nbsp;– A.O. Scott and Manohla Dargis, ''The New York Times''
* 1st&nbsp;– Roger Ebert, ''Chicago Sun-Times''
* 2nd&nbsp;– Richard Schickel, ''Time''
* 2nd&nbsp;– Lisa Schwarzbaum, ''Entertainment Weekly''
* 2nd&nbsp;– Jonathan Rosenbaum, ''Chicago Reader''
* 2nd&nbsp;– Claudia Puig, ''USA Today''
* 2nd&nbsp;– Keith Phipps, ''The A.V. Club''<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-year-in-film-2004-1798208952|title=The Year In Film: 2004|first=Noel|last=Murray|date=5 January 2005 |website=The A.V. Club}}</ref>
* 2nd&nbsp;– Ty Burr and Wesley Morris, ''Boston Globe''
* 3rd&nbsp;– Kevin Thomas and Kenneth Turan, ''Los Angeles Times''
* 3rd&nbsp;– Jack Matthews, ''New York Daily News''
* 3rd&nbsp;– Glenn Kenny, ''Premiere''
* 3rd&nbsp;– Carla Meyer & Ruthie Stein, ''San Francisco Chronicle''
* 3rd&nbsp;– Peter Travers, ''Rolling Stone''
* 4th&nbsp;– Mike Clark, ''USA Today''
* 4th&nbsp;– David Ansen, ''Newsweek''
* 4th&nbsp;– Jami Bernard, ''New York Daily News''
* 5th&nbsp;– Robert Koehler, ''Variety''
* 5th&nbsp;– James Berardinelli, ''Reelviews''
* 6th&nbsp;– Stephen Holden, ''The New York Times''
* 6th&nbsp;– Scott Tobias, ''The A.V. Club''<ref name="auto"/>
* 6th&nbsp;– Richard Roeper, ''Ebert & Roeper''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.innermind.com/misc/e_r_top.htm|title=Ebert and Roeper Top Ten Lists (2000-2005)|website=www.innermind.com|access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref>
* 9th&nbsp;– Desson Thompson, ''Washington Post''
* 10th&nbsp;– Nathan Rabin, ''The A.V. Club''<ref name="auto"/>
* Top 10 (listed alphabetically)&nbsp;– Ron Stringer, ''L.A. Weekly''
* Top 10 (listed alphabetically)&nbsp;– David Sterritt, ''Christian Science Monitor''
* Top 10 (listed alphabetically)– Shawn Levy, ''Portland Oregonian''
* Top 10 (listed alphabetically)&nbsp;– Carrie Rickey and Steven Rea, ''Philadelphia Inquirer''


==Accolades==
* Nominated - ] — ]
''Million Dollar Baby'' received the award for ] of 2004 at the ]. ] was awarded his second ] Oscar for the film, and he received a ] nomination. ] and ] received ] and ] Oscars, respectively. ], Eastwood's editor for many years, was nominated for ], and ] was nominated for the ] award.


The film was named the third "Best Film of the 21st Century So Far" in 2017 by ''The New York Times''.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> It also ranked number 63 on '']''{{'}}s list of the "100 Best Movies of All Time" in 2023.<ref name="parade.com"/>
'''] ]'''


{| class="wikitable"
* Nominated - Best Foreign Feature Film — ]
|-
'''] ] (Eddies)'''
! Award
! Category
! Subject
! Result
|-
|rowspan=7|]
|]
|], <br />] and <br />]
|{{won}}
|-
|]
|rowspan=2|Clint Eastwood
|{{won}}
|-
|]
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|]
|{{won}}
|-
|]
|]
|{{won}}
|-
|]
|Paul Haggis
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|rowspan=2|]
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|Best Editing
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|Best Foreign Feature Film
|Clint Eastwood
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|]
|Paul Haggis
|{{won}}
|-
|]
|Best Contemporary Feature Film
|] <br />Jack G. Taylor Jr.
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|Best Film
|Clint Eastwood <br />Albert S. Ruddy <br />Tom Rosenberg <br />Paul Haggis
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|]
|Morgan Freeman
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=4|]
|]
|Hilary Swank
|{{won}}
|-
|]
|Morgan Freeman
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|Clint Eastwood
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|Clint Eastwood <br />Albert S. Ruddy <br />Tom Rosenberg <br />Paul Haggis
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|Best Casting for Feature Film: Drama
|]
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|]
|Clint Eastwood <br />Albert S. Ruddy <br />Tom Rosenberg <br />Paul Haggis
|{{won}}
|-
|]
|]
|Clint Eastwood
|{{won}}
|-
|]
|]
|Clint Eastwood
|{{won}}
|-
|]
|]
|Clint Eastwood
|{{won}}
|-
|]
|Outstanding Director
|Clint Eastwood
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|Best Sports Movie
|Clint Eastwood <br />Albert S. Ruddy <br />Tom Rosenberg <br />Paul Haggis
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|]
|rowspan=2|Hilary Swank
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=5|]
|]
|{{won}}
|-
|]
|Clint Eastwood
|{{won}}
|-
|]
|Morgan Freeman
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|Clint Eastwood <br />Albert S. Ruddy <br />Tom Rosenberg <br />Paul Haggis
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|rowspan=2|Clint Eastwood
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|]
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|]
|Alar Robert Murray <br />] <br />David Grimaldi <br />Jason King
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|]
|Hilary Swank
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|]
|Morgan Freeman
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=3|]
|]
|Clint Eastwood <br />Albert S. Ruddy <br />Tom Rosenberg <br />Paul Haggis
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|rowspan=3|Clint Eastwood
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|{{nom}}
|-
|]
|]
|{{won}}
|-
|]
|]
|Clint Eastwood <br />Albert S. Ruddy <br />Tom Rosenberg <br />Paul Haggis
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=5|Phoenix Film Critics Society Award
|Best Actress
|Hilary Swank
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Actor
|rowspan=2|Clint Eastwood
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Director
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Supporting Actor
|Morgan Freeman
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Film
|Clint Eastwood <br />Albert S. Ruddy <br />Tom Rosenberg <br />Paul Haggis
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=2|]
|]
|Hilary Swank
|{{won}}
|-
|]
|Paul Haggis
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=3|]
|]
|Hilary Swank
|{{won}}
|-
|]
|Morgan Freeman
|{{won}}
|-
|colspan=2|]
|{{nom}}
|-
|}


==Home media==
* Nominated - Best Edited Feature Film — ]
The film was released on VHS and DVD on July 12, 2005, and all editions of the Region 1 DVD, except for the deluxe edition, came with a paperback copy of the book ''Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner''. An HD DVD release was issued on April 18, 2006.<ref name="HDDVDReleases">{{Cite web |date=November 15, 2006 |title=Million Dollar Baby Blu-ray Review |url=https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/303/milliondollarbaby.html |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=bluray.highdefdigest.com}}</ref> The Blu-ray Disc version was released on November 14, 2006.<ref name="BDReleases">{{Cite web |title=Historical Blu-ray Disc Release Dates {{!}} High Def Digest |url=https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/releasedates_historical.html |access-date=March 12, 2012 |website=bluray.highdefdigest.com}}</ref> It was the first ] winner released on either high-definition optical disc format in the U.S.; it and '']'' (also starring Eastwood and Freeman) were the only ones released in the U.S. on HD DVD prior to the first one released in the U.S. on Blu-ray, '']''.<ref name="BDReleases" /> The film is also available online through video on demand and most major streaming platforms.
'''] American Screenwriters Association'''


==See also==
* Won - ] — ]
{{Portal|Film}}
'''] ]'''
* ]
* ]
* ]


==References==
* Nominated - Feature Film - Contemporary Film — ], ]
{{Reflist}}
'''] ]'''


;Bibliography
* Nominated - Best Supporting Actor — ]
* {{cite book|last=Eliot|first=Marc|title=American Rebel: The Life of Clint Eastwood|publisher=Harmony Books|year=2009|isbn=978-0-307-33688-0|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/americanrebellif00elio}}
'''] ] Awards'''
* {{cite book|last=Hughes|first=Howard|title=Aim for the Heart|publisher=I.B. Tauris|year=2009|isbn=978-1-84511-902-7|location=London}}


==External links==
* Won - ] — ]
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0405159|Million Dollar Baby}}
* {{TCMDb title|592673|Million Dollar Baby}}
* {{mojo title|milliondollarbaby|Million Dollar Baby}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|million_dollar_baby|Million Dollar Baby}}
* {{Metacritic film|title=Million Dollar Baby}}
*
*
* at the Sports Movie Database


{{Clint Eastwood}}
* Nominated - ] — ]
{{Paul Haggis}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for ''Million Dollar Baby''
|list =
{{AcademyAwardBestPicture 2001-2020}}
{{Blue Ribbon Award for Best Foreign Film}}
{{César Award for Best Foreign Film}}
{{David di Donatello Best Foreign Film}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Film}}
{{Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Foreign Language Film}}
{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film}}
{{Nikkan Sports Film Award for Best Foreign Film}}
}}


{{Authority control}}
* Nominated - ] — ]

* Nominated - ]
'''] ] (Artios)'''

* Nominated - Best Casting for Feature Film: Drama — ]
'''] - ]'''

* Won - ]
'''] ] Awards'''

* Won - Best Director — ]
'''] ]'''

* Won - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures — ], ], ], ], ] and ]
'''] ]'''

* Nominated - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in International Film — ]
'''] ]'''

* Nominated - Best Sports Movie
'''] ]'''

* Won - ] — ]
'''] ]s'''

* Won - ] — ]

* Won - ] — ]

* Nominated - ] — ]

* Nominated - ]

* Nominated - ] — ]
'''] ]'''

* Nominated - ] — ]
'''] ]'''

* Won - ] — ]
'''] ]'''

* Nominated - Best Female Performance — ]
'''] ] (Golden Reel Award)'''

* Nominated - Best Sound Editing in Domestic Features: Sound Effects/Foley — ], ], ], ]
'''] ]'''

* Special Achievement Award — ], For producing, directing, acting and composing.
'''] ]'''

* Won - Best Director — ]
'''] ]'''

* Nominated - Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award — ], ], ]
'''] ] Awards'''

* Won - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role — ]
'''] ] Awards'''

* Won - Best Director — ]

* Nominated - Best Original Score — ]
'''] ] Awards'''

* Won - Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role — ]

* Won - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role — ]

* Nominated - Outstanding Performance by a Cast — ], ], ]
'''] ]s'''

* Nominated - Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published — ]

== Criticism ==

{{spoiler}}

===Disability rights activists===
In January and February 2005, the film became controversial when some ] protested the ending of the film, in which Frank carries out Maggie's wish to die after she becomes ] as a result of a ] suffered during her last fight. Prominent among these critics was ], long-time NPR and NBC correspondent and paraplegic .

'']'' also criticized the movie for its ending and for missed opportunities .

=== The Myth of "Pulling the Plug" ===
{{pov}}

The ending of the film is based on the myth that a patient of sound mind cannot have her life support removed. In reality, if the patient is aware and awake enough to instruct someone to end her treatment, she can simply order the hospital to cease care and the hospital must comply once the necessary legal forms are secured. Attempting to force treatment on a person of sound mind who refuses it is considered assault. A patient may also specify her wishes for treatment ahead of time in the form of a ]. However, if the patient can communicate and is of sound mind after the injury, it is a simple matter of instructing the hospital to cease care. There is absolutely no rule prohibiting a patient from securing a ] order after an injury has taken place, as some appear to believe. Nor is there any presumption that a patient who is paralyzed is of unsound mind. Most people with spinal injuries continue to direct their legal affairs, though they may arrange to have ] given to a third party if they become unconscious. Merely being on pain killers or being depressed does not remove a patient's ability to direct his or her legal affairs.

Refusing treatment has never been considered by the judicial system to be a form of suicide, and enforcing a DNR order is not considered ]. Medical staff refusing to comply with a lawful DNR is unlawful and may result in both civil and criminal consequences.

Hollywood has placed similar "pull the plug" sequences in films for many decades. They serve as a dramatic convention to create conflict between personal loyalty and the obligation to the laws of the state. The fact that there are not and never have been any laws obligating the very ill to accept treatment has not prevented this motif being used.

=== Christian Right and social conservatives ===

Possibly around the same time, the movie was criticized by activists from the ] and social conservatives, including ] and ], on the same issue. Medved stated that: "My main objection to ''Million Dollar Baby'' always centered on its misleading marketing, and effort by Warner Brothers to sell it as a movie about a female ], with barely a hint of the pitch-dark substance that led Andrew Sarris of the New York Observer to declare that 'no movie in my memory has depressed me more than ''Million Dollar Baby'''" .

=== Irish language speakers ===

Some ] speakers have also criticized the fact that the phrase ''Mo Chúisle'' (pronounced Muh Khooshla), a term of endearment meaning ''My pulse'', <ref> IrishGaelicTranslator.com. </ref> was misspelled in the movie as ''Mo Cuishle'', as shown on the back of Maggie's robe. In Irish and other ]s, consonants ] when preceded by a vowel, hence the "c" in "cúisle" turns into a guttural "ch". It is translated in the film as "My darling, my blood". The original phrase is short for ''A chúisle mo chroí'', meaning "O, pulse of my heart" <ref name=nytimes> Wes Davis . New York Times. February 26, 2005 </ref>. Nevertheless, it was cited as one of the most influential phrases from a Hollywood film that year. The movie has also been praised for awakening interest in the Irish language in the U.S. <ref name=nytimes/>.

=== Sportswriters ===

On a more topical level, ''Million Dollar Baby'' has been criticized by some ]s as being greatly inaccurate and confusing from a boxing perspective. The boxing scenes are un-realistic and it is obvious that the boxer who injured Maggie would be disqualified or even taken to court.

=== Responses to criticism ===

Eastwood responded to the criticism by pointing out the movie was about the ] . In an interview with the '']'', Eastwood distanced himself from the actions of characters in his films, noting, "I've gone around in ] blowing people away with a ]. But that doesn't mean I think that's a proper thing to do" . ] of the ], who named the film his favorite of 2004, believes "a movie is not good or bad because of its content, but because of how it handles its content. ''Million Dollar Baby'' is classical in the clean, clear, strong lines of its story and characters, and had an enormous emotional impact" .

== Trivia ==

* Upon its original release, all editions of the ] DVD, except for the "Deluxe Edition", came with a ] copy of the book '']''.

== References ==

<references/>

== See also ==
* ]

== External links ==

{{wikiquote}}

* {{imdb title|id=0405159|title=Million Dollar Baby}}
*
*
*{{rotten-tomatoes|id=million_dollar_baby|title=Million Dollar Baby}}
*{{mojo title|id=milliondollarbaby|title=Million Dollar Baby}}
* at the Sports Movie Database

{{AcademyAwardBestPicture 2001-2020}}

{{Clint Eastwood}}


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Latest revision as of 16:09, 7 January 2025

2004 American sports drama film by Clint Eastwood This article is about the 2004 film. For other uses, see Million Dollar Baby (disambiguation). Not to be confused with Billion Dollar Baby or Million Dollar Maybe.

Million Dollar Baby
Theatrical release poster
Directed byClint Eastwood
Screenplay byPaul Haggis
Based onRope Burns: Stories from the Corner
by F.X. Toole
Produced by
Starring
Narrated byMorgan Freeman
CinematographyTom Stern
Edited byJoel Cox
Music byClint Eastwood
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures (United States and Canada)
Lakeshore International (international)
Release dates
  • December 5, 2004 (2004-12-05) (New York)
  • December 15, 2004 (2004-12-15) (United States)
Running time132 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$30 million
Box office$216.8 million

Million Dollar Baby is a 2004 American sports drama film starring Hilary Swank. It is directed, co-produced, scored by and starring Clint Eastwood from a screenplay written by Paul Haggis, based on stories from the 2000 collection Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner by F.X. Toole, the pen name of fight manager and cutman Jerry Boyd. It also stars Morgan Freeman. The film follows Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald (Swank), an underdog amateur boxer who is helped by an underappreciated boxing trainer (Eastwood) to achieve her dream of becoming a professional.

Million Dollar Baby was theatrically released on December 15, 2004, by Warner Bros. Pictures. It received critical acclaim and grossed $216.8 million worldwide. The film garnered seven nominations at the 77th Academy Awards and won four: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (for Swank), and Best Supporting Actor (for Freeman). It has since been cited as one of the best films of the 2000s, the 21st century and of all-time.

Plot

Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald, a waitress from the Ozarks, enters the Hit Pit, a rundown boxing gym in Los Angeles operated by Frankie Dunn. Dunn is a cantankerous Irish-American trainer estranged from his daughter. Maggie asks Frankie to train her, but he refuses because he does not want to train women and believes Maggie is too old. Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris, Frankie's friend and the gym's handyman, allows her to train at the Hit Pit regardless. Frankie's prize prospect, "Big Willie" Little, signs with rival manager Mickey Mack after becoming impatient with Frankie rejecting offers for a championship bout, so Maggie gets her chance.

With Frankie's coaching, Maggie fights her way up in the women's amateur boxing division. Since she has earned a reputation for quick knockouts, Frankie bribes managers to put their trainee fighters against her. Scrap, concerned when Frankie rejects several offers for big fights, arranges a meeting for Maggie with Mack, but out of loyalty to Frankie, she declines. Frankie bestows Maggie a Gaelic nickname embroidered on her boxing robe, Mo Cuishle, but does not tell her its meaning. The two travel to Europe as she continues to win. Maggie eventually saves enough of her winnings to buy her mother a house. Still, her mother berates Maggie for endangering her welfare checks, claiming everyone back home laughs at her.

Frankie is finally willing to arrange a title fight. He secures Maggie a $1 million match in Las Vegas against the WBA women's welterweight champion, Billie "The Blue Bear" Osterman, a German ex-prostitute who has a reputation as a dirty fighter. Maggie begins to dominate the fight, but Billie knocks her out with an illegal sucker punch from behind after the bell rings to end the round. Maggie lands hard on her corner stool, breaking her neck and leaving her a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic.

Frankie goes through the five stages of grief, seeking multiple doctors' opinions in denial, lashing out in anger at Scrap, and trying to bargain with God through prayer. He later apologizes to Scrap and blames himself for Maggie's injuries. Scrap tells him not to, as Maggie owes it to him for getting her shot at the world championship.

While in the hospital, Maggie looks forward to her family's visit. They arrive late, having first toured Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood. Accompanied by an attorney, their sole concern is getting Maggie's assets transferred to them. Disgusted, she orders them to leave and threatens to report their welfare fraud if they try to contact her again.

Maggie develops bedsores and undergoes an amputation for an infected leg. She asks Frankie to help her die, declaring that she has everything she wants out of life. A horrified Frankie refuses, so Maggie later bites her tongue in an attempt to bleed to death. Knowing the fatherly affection Frankie has developed for Maggie, Frankie's priest warns him that he will never find himself again if he goes through with Maggie's request. Frankie sneaks into the hospital one night, unaware that Scrap is watching from the shadows. Just before administering a fatal injection of adrenaline, he tells Maggie the meaning of "mo cuishle": "my darling, and my blood", then gives Maggie a final goodbye kiss. He leaves and retires from boxing altogether. Scrap writes to Frankie's daughter, informing her of her father's true character.

Cast

Development and production

After being fired from the television series Family Law, Paul Haggis wrote the script on spec, and it took four years to sell it. The film was stuck in development hell for years before it was shot. Several studios rejected the project even when Clint Eastwood signed on as actor and director. Even Warner Bros., Eastwood's longtime home base, would not agree to a $30 million budget. Eastwood persuaded Lakeshore Entertainment's Tom Rosenberg to put up half the budget (as well as handle foreign distribution), with Warner Bros. contributing the rest. Eastwood shot the film in less than 40 days between June and July 2004. Filming took place in Los Angeles and film sets at Warner Bros. Studios. The titular phrase 'million dollar baby' was used as an insult during pre-fight publicity by Sonny Liston to Muhammad Ali, the latter of whom was an underdog at the time. Eastwood had his daughter Morgan Colette appear in a cameo as a girl who waves to Hilary Swank's character at a gas station.

Eastwood had confidence in Swank's acting, but upon seeing Swank's small physique, he had concerns, "I just thought, 'Yeah, this gal would be great. If we can get her trained up. If we can get a little bit more bulk on her, to make her look like a fighter'...She was like a feather. But what happened is, she had this great work ethic."

Consequently, to prepare for her role, Swank underwent extensive training in the ring and weight room, gaining 19 pounds of muscle, aided by professional trainer Grant L. Roberts. She trained for nearly five hours every day, winding up with a potentially life-threatening staphylococcus infection out of blisters on her foot. She did not tell Eastwood about the infection because she thought it would be out of character for Maggie.

Reception

Box office

Million Dollar Baby initially had a limited release, opening in eight theaters in December 2004. In its later wide release opening, the film earned $12,265,482 in North America and quickly became a box-office hit both domestically and internationally. It grossed $216,763,646 in theaters; $100,492,203 in the United States, and $116,271,443 in other territories. The film played in theaters for six and a half months.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, Million Dollar Baby has an approval rating of 90% based on 269 reviews, with an average rating of 8.40/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Clint Eastwood's assured direction—combined with knockout performances from Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman—help Million Dollar Baby to transcend its clichés, and the result is deeply heartfelt and moving." On Metacritic it has a weighted average score of 86 out of 100, based on reviews from 39 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a grade "A" on an A+ to F scale.

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film four stars and stated that "Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby is a masterpiece, pure and simple," listing it as the best film of 2004. Michael Medved stated: "My main objection to Million Dollar Baby always centered on its misleading marketing, and effort by Warner Brothers to sell it as a movie about a female Rocky, with barely a hint of the pitch-dark substance that led Andrew Sarris of the New York Observer...to declare that "no movie in my memory has depressed me more than Million Dollar Baby."

The performances of Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman garnered critical acclaim, thus earning them the Academy Award for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor respectively.

In early 2005, the film sparked controversy when some disability rights activists protested the ending. The Disability Rights Education Fund released a statement about the film in February 2005 that included the following: "Perhaps the most central stereotype fueling disability prejudice is the mistaken assumption inherent in the message of the movie that the quality of life of individuals with disabilities is unquestionably not worth living. This stereotype is contradicted by the personal experience of many thousands of people with significant disabilities in this country and around the world who view our own lives as ordinary and normal. It is further contradicted by plenty of hard data. Research overwhelmingly shows that people with disabilities find satisfaction in our lives to the same degree, or greater, than does the general public."

The Chicago Tribune reported that protests against the film by disability activists occurred in Chicago, Berkeley, and other cities, and that Clint Eastwood had lobbied for weakening provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Wesley J. Smith in The Weekly Standard also criticized the film for its ending and for missed opportunities; Smith wrote "The movie could have ended with Maggie triumphing once again, perhaps having obtained an education and becoming a teacher; or, opening a business managing boxers; or perhaps, receiving a standing ovation as an inspirational speaker."

Eastwood responded to the criticism by saying the film was about the American dream. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Eastwood distanced himself from the actions of characters in his films, noting, "I've gone around in movies blowing people away with a .44 Magnum. But that doesn't mean I think that's a proper thing to do". Roger Ebert stated that "a movie is not good or bad because of its content, but because of how it handles its content. Million Dollar Baby is classical in the clean, clear, strong lines of its story and characters, and had an enormous emotional impact".

The Gaelic nickname for Swank's character comes from the original phrase a chuisle mo chroí, meaning "O pulse of my heart"; one critic noted that the use of Gaelic in the film led to some interest in the language and the phrase.

Top ten lists

Million Dollar Baby was listed on many critics' top 10 lists for films released in 2004.

  • 1st – A.O. Scott and Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
  • 1st – Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
  • 2nd – Richard Schickel, Time
  • 2nd – Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
  • 2nd – Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
  • 2nd – Claudia Puig, USA Today
  • 2nd – Keith Phipps, The A.V. Club
  • 2nd – Ty Burr and Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
  • 3rd – Kevin Thomas and Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
  • 3rd – Jack Matthews, New York Daily News
  • 3rd – Glenn Kenny, Premiere
  • 3rd – Carla Meyer & Ruthie Stein, San Francisco Chronicle
  • 3rd – Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
  • 4th – Mike Clark, USA Today
  • 4th – David Ansen, Newsweek
  • 4th – Jami Bernard, New York Daily News
  • 5th – Robert Koehler, Variety
  • 5th – James Berardinelli, Reelviews
  • 6th – Stephen Holden, The New York Times
  • 6th – Scott Tobias, The A.V. Club
  • 6th – Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
  • 9th – Desson Thompson, Washington Post
  • 10th – Nathan Rabin, The A.V. Club
  • Top 10 (listed alphabetically) – Ron Stringer, L.A. Weekly
  • Top 10 (listed alphabetically) – David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor
  • Top 10 (listed alphabetically)– Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian
  • Top 10 (listed alphabetically) – Carrie Rickey and Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Accolades

Million Dollar Baby received the award for Best Picture of 2004 at the 77th Academy Awards. Clint Eastwood was awarded his second Best Director Oscar for the film, and he received a Best Actor in a Leading Role nomination. Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman received Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Actor in a Supporting Role Oscars, respectively. Joel Cox, Eastwood's editor for many years, was nominated for Best Film Editing, and Paul Haggis was nominated for the Best Adapted Screenplay award.

The film was named the third "Best Film of the 21st Century So Far" in 2017 by The New York Times. It also ranked number 63 on Parade's list of the "100 Best Movies of All Time" in 2023.

Award Category Subject Result
Academy Award Best Picture Clint Eastwood,
Albert S. Ruddy and
Tom Rosenberg 		Won
Best Director Clint Eastwood Won
Best Actor Nominated
Best Actress Hilary Swank Won
Best Supporting Actor Morgan Freeman Won
Best Adapted Screenplay Paul Haggis Nominated
Best Film Editing Joel Cox Nominated
ACE Eddie Best Editing Nominated
Amanda Award Best Foreign Feature Film Clint Eastwood Nominated
American Screenwriters Association Discover Screenwriting Award Paul Haggis Won
Art Directors Guild Award Best Contemporary Feature Film Henry Bumstead
Jack G. Taylor Jr. 		Nominated
Billie Award Best Film Clint Eastwood
Albert S. Ruddy
Tom Rosenberg
Paul Haggis 		Nominated
Black Reel Award Best Supporting Actor Morgan Freeman Nominated
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Actress Hilary Swank Won
Best Supporting Actor Morgan Freeman Nominated
Best Director Clint Eastwood Nominated
Best Film Clint Eastwood
Albert S. Ruddy
Tom Rosenberg
Paul Haggis 		Nominated
Casting Society of America Award Best Casting for Feature Film: Drama Phyllis Huffman Nominated
César Awards Best Foreign Film Clint Eastwood
Albert S. Ruddy
Tom Rosenberg
Paul Haggis 		Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Award Best Director Clint Eastwood Won
David di Donatello Awards Best Foreign Film Clint Eastwood Won
Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directing Clint Eastwood Won
Director's Guild of Great Britain Outstanding Director Clint Eastwood Nominated
ESPY Award Best Sports Movie Clint Eastwood
Albert S. Ruddy
Tom Rosenberg
Paul Haggis 		Nominated
Florida Film Critics Circle Award Best Actress Hilary Swank Won
Golden Globe Award Best Actress Won
Best Director Clint Eastwood Won
Best Supporting Actor Morgan Freeman Nominated
Best Motion Picture—Drama Clint Eastwood
Albert S. Ruddy
Tom Rosenberg
Paul Haggis 		Nominated
Best Original Score Clint Eastwood Nominated
Grammy Award Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media Nominated
Motion Picture Sound Editors Award Best Sound Editing (Sound Effects & Foley) Alar Robert Murray
Bub Asman
David Grimaldi
Jason King 		Nominated
MTV Movie Award Best Female Performance Hilary Swank Nominated
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actor Morgan Freeman Won
National Board of Review Award Best Film Clint Eastwood
Albert S. Ruddy
Tom Rosenberg
Paul Haggis 		Nominated
Best Director Clint Eastwood Nominated
Best Actor Nominated
New York Film Critics Circle Award Best Director Won
Producers Guild of America Award Best Theatrical Motion Picture Clint Eastwood
Albert S. Ruddy
Tom Rosenberg
Paul Haggis 		Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award Best Actress Hilary Swank Won
Best Actor Clint Eastwood Nominated
Best Director Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Morgan Freeman Nominated
Best Film Clint Eastwood
Albert S. Ruddy
Tom Rosenberg
Paul Haggis 		Nominated
Satellite Award Best Actress Hilary Swank Won
Best Adapted Screenplay Paul Haggis Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Best Actress Hilary Swank Won
Best Supporting Actor Morgan Freeman Won
Best Cast Nominated

Home media

The film was released on VHS and DVD on July 12, 2005, and all editions of the Region 1 DVD, except for the deluxe edition, came with a paperback copy of the book Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner. An HD DVD release was issued on April 18, 2006. The Blu-ray Disc version was released on November 14, 2006. It was the first Best Picture winner released on either high-definition optical disc format in the U.S.; it and Unforgiven (also starring Eastwood and Freeman) were the only ones released in the U.S. on HD DVD prior to the first one released in the U.S. on Blu-ray, Crash. The film is also available online through video on demand and most major streaming platforms.

See also

References

  1. ^ Eliot 2009, p. 309.
  2. ^ Hughes 2009, p. 156.
  3. ^ "Million Dollar Baby (2004)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  4. ^ Dargis, Manohla; Scott, A.O. (June 9, 2017). "The 25 Best Films of the 21st Century...So Far". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  5. ^ "We Ranked the 100 Best Movies of All Time!". Parade. October 6, 2023.
  6. Leibowitz, Ed (February 1, 2008). "The Fabulist: Paul Haggis Reflects on His Career Los Angeles Magazine". Los Angeles Magazine.
  7. Clarke, Cath (January 6, 2011). "Paul Haggis: 'You have to question your beliefs'". The Guardian.
  8. Hughes 2009, p. 157.
  9. Fold 3 WWII Crew photos
  10. ^ Leung, Rebecca (March 2, 2005). "Hilary Swank: Oscar Gold – 60 Minutes". CBS News. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  11. Hughes 2009, p. 160.
  12. "Million Dollar Baby (2004)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  13. "Million Dollar Baby Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  14. "Million Dollar Baby (2005) A". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018.
  15. Ebert, Roger (January 7, 2005). "Million Dollar Baby". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2007 – via RogerEbert.com.
  16. Sarris, Andrew (January 17, 2005). "Why Clint Eastwood's Baby Knocked Me Down, Not Out". Observer. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  17. Medved, Michael. "My 'Million Dollar' Answer", OpinionJournal/Dow Jones & Company, Inc. (February 17, 2005). Archived at TownHall.com.
  18. "Million Dollar Baby Built on Prejudice about People with Disabilities". Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. February 13, 2005. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  19. "Why 'Million Dollar Baby' infuriates the disabled". chicagotribune.com. February 2, 2005. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  20. Gaura, Maria Alicia; Gathright, Alan (September 30, 2000). "Eastwood Wins Suit Over ADA / But jury says resort needs improvements". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  21. Smith, Wesley J. (March 2, 2005). "A Million Dollar Miss". CBS News.
  22. Rich, Frank (February 13, 2005). "How Dirty Harry Turned Commie". The New York Times.
  23. Lee, Chris (January 27, 2005). "'Baby' plot twist angers activists". Los Angeles Times.
  24. Roger Ebert (January 29, 2005). "Critics have no right to play spoiler". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  25. Davis, Wes (February 26, 2005). "Opinion | Fighting Words (Published 2005)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015.
  26. "Metacritic: 2004 Film Critic Top Ten Lists". Metacritic. January 3, 2007. Archived from the original on January 3, 2007.
  27. ^ Murray, Noel (January 5, 2005). "The Year In Film: 2004". The A.V. Club.
  28. "Ebert and Roeper Top Ten Lists (2000-2005)". www.innermind.com. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  29. "Million Dollar Baby Blu-ray Review". bluray.highdefdigest.com. November 15, 2006. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  30. ^ "Historical Blu-ray Disc Release Dates | High Def Digest". bluray.highdefdigest.com. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
Bibliography

External links

Clint Eastwood
Films directed
Related
Family
Category
Paul Haggis
Films directed
Films written only
TV series created
Other works
Awards for Million Dollar Baby
Academy Award for Best Picture
1927–1950
1951–1975
1976–2000
2001–2025
Blue Ribbon Award for Best Foreign Film
César Award for Best Foreign Film
David di Donatello Award for Best International Film
1950s–1960s
1970–2000
2001–present
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Film
Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Foreign Language Film
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film
1966–2000
2001–present
Nikkan Sports Film Award for Best Foreign Film
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