Day of the Fight
Seen it?1951 | 13 min | Documentary
Weeknight Watchearly ratingWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With a lukewarm 5.8 out of 10 from audiences and soft box office, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 13 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1951: an older pace and style.
Stanley Kubrick’s debut documentary, following Irish-American middleweight boxer Walter Cartier on April 17, 1950—the day of his bout with Bobby James. The film traces Cartier’s quiet morning rituals, training, and anxious hours before the match, culminating in his swift victory that night in Newark. Opening with a brief history of boxing, Kubrick’s tightly crafted short captures the discipline, isolation, and tension behind a fighter’s daily routine.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
- AudiencesBelow par
5.8 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$4K worldwide on a $4K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 14K people sought it out in the past year
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Cast & crew
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
- Vincent CartierSelf, Walter's twin brother and manager
- Walter CartierSelf
- Nat FleischerSelf, boxing historian
- Bobby JamesSelf, Walter's opponent
- Judy SingerSelf, female fan in crowd (uncredited)
- Stanley KubrickSelf (man at ringside with camera) (uncredited)
- Alexander SingerSelf
- Douglas EdwardsNarrator