Bruised

"It's not a second chance. It's a last chance."

2021 2h 9m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 491

DramaAction

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Jackie Justice is a mixed martial arts fighter who leaves the sport in disgrace. Down on her luck and simmering with rage and regret years after the fight, she's coaxed into a brutal underground fight by her manager and boyfriend Desi and grabs the attention of a fight league promoter who promises Jackie a life back in the Octagon. But the road to redemption becomes unexpectedly personal when Manny - the son she gave up as an infant - shows up at her doorstep. A triumphant story of a fighter who reclaims her power, in and out of the ring, when everyone has counted her out

“It's not a second chance. It's a last chance.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Halle Berry
Jackie Justice
Adan Canto
Desi
Sheila Atim
Bobbi Buddhakan Berroa
Danny Boyd Jr.
Manny Lyons Jr
Adriane Lenox
Angel McQueen
Shamier Anderson
Immaculate
Stephen McKinley Henderson
Pops
Valentina Shevchenko
Lady Killer

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Halle Berry
Writers: Michelle Rosenfarb
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 5 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Halle Berry, shot by Joshua Reis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Terence Blanchard. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Terilyn A. Shropshire shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Halle Berry and Adan Canto and Sheila Atim carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "It's not a second chance. It's a last chance.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt8310474 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Halle Berry directs. Joshua Reis behind the camera. Terence Blanchard scores. Terilyn A. Shropshire cuts. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 5 years ago.
2International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
3Directed by Halle Berry, shot by Joshua Reis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Terence Blanchard. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Terilyn A. Shropshire shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Halle Berry and Adan Canto and Sheila Atim carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "It's not a second chance. It's a last chance.".
8IMDB entry: tt8310474 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Joshua Reis
Original score: Terence Blanchard
Editing: Terilyn A. Shropshire
Production design: Elizabeth Jones
Costume design: Mirren Gordon-Crozier
Makeup / hair: Chelsea Paige
VFX supervisor: Kolby Kember
Sound: Ruy García
Stunt coordinator: William Cote
Runtime: 129 min · 2h 9m
Status: Released
Budget: $11,000,000
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Bruised (2021)

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

redlionking2024-10-22
★ 8/10
A Journey of Redemption and Resilience In Bruised, Halle Berry steps into the ring not only as the film’s star but also as its director, delivering a raw, unflinching portrayal of a fighter’s journey to reclaim her life. This film is not just about physical combat; it’s about the inner battle we all face when life knocks us down and the courage it takes to rise again. Berry plays Jackie Justice, a former MMA fighter who’s been beaten by life in more ways than one. As she struggles to escape the ghosts of her past, she is suddenly faced with an unexpected challenge: the return of her young son. This moment forces Jackie to confront her failures and to fight for something far greater than her own redemption—her son’s future. What sets Bruised apart is its unapologetic grit. Berry doesn’t shy away from showing the harsh realities of life at rock bottom. But more than the blows in the ring, it’s the emotional punches that land hardest. Through every setback, every moment of self-doubt, Bruised reminds us that true strength is born not from the absence of fear, but from facing it head-on. The law of abundance and the law of assumption are woven into Jackie’s journey. She begins the film believing in her limitations, defined by past mistakes and pain. But as she steps into the octagon one more time, we witness a profound shift. Jackie embraces her worth, not through external validation but by assuming the mantle of victory in her heart long before the bell rings. This is where her real transformation occurs—by envisioning her success, she taps into the abundance of strength and resilience that’s been within her all along. Halle Berry’s directorial debut is a testament to perseverance and self-belief. Through its relentless portrayal of struggle and survival, Bruised reminds us that no matter how many times life throws us to the mat, we always have the power to rise again. For anyone looking for a film that celebrates the fight within, Bruised is a knockout.

Production companies