The Great White Hype 1996

Overview

The Great White Hype is a 1996 American sports comedy film directed by Reginald Hudlin. The film features an ensemble cast including Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Berg, Damon Wayans, Jeff Goldblum, Jon Lovitz, Cheech Marin, John Rhys-Davies, Salli Richardson, and Jamie Foxx. The story follows a boxing promoter named Rev. Sultan who seeks to increase the marketability of his boxing matches. To achieve this, he identifies and recruits the only man to have previously defeated the current champion. The situation is complicated by the fact that this individual is white and no longer active as a professional boxer. After Rev. Sultan successfully convinces him to return to the ring, the challenger begins a period of rigorous training. Meanwhile, the reigning champion remains overly confident and neglects his physical condition, eventually falling out of shape. The film has a runtime of one hour and thirty-one minutes and was released in the United States on May 3, 1996. It is categorized as a comedy and carries an R rating.