Sydney Sweeney Steps into the Ring in First ‘Christy’ Trailer

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Sep 11

Written By Jonathan P. Moustakas

The first trailer for Christy reveals Sydney Sweeney’s most transformative performance yet.

Black Bear has released the knockout first trailer for Christy, a gripping boxing biopic starring Sydney Sweeney as the trailblazing Hall of Fame fighter Christy Martin. Directed by David Michôd (The King, Animal Kingdom) and co-written with Mirrah Foulkes from a story by Katherine Fugate, the film had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and is already generating strong early awards buzz.

The trailer wastes no time establishing the brutal, high-stakes world Christy is up against. From grueling gym sessions to bloodied bouts in the ring, we see Sweeney undergo a dramatic physical and emotional transformation. Set to a propulsive beat and kinetic editing, the trailer flashes between formative moments in Christy’s rise: her early sparring sessions, high-stakes fights, public scrutiny, and emotional setbacks. Known for her work in Euphoria and Reality, Sweeney disappears into the role, reportedly gaining 30 pounds of muscle through an intensive regimen that included weight training, boxing drills, and non-stop calorie intake.

“I ate a lot of PB&Js, milkshakes, everything,” Sweeney said in an interview at TIFF. “I was burning it all off during training, so keeping it up was actually one of the hardest parts.” That level of commitment is visible throughout the trailer, which teases a gritty, emotional underdog story that refuses to pull punches. Beyond the physical transformation, Sweeney channels Christy's inner turmoil, professional drive, and moments of self-doubt with a mix of grit and vulnerability.

The supporting cast is just as stacked, featuring Katy O’Brian, Merritt Wever, Ben Foster, Ethan Embry, Chad L. Coleman, Valyn Hall, and Tony Cavalero. While Sweeney dominates the screen, glimpses of the ensemble suggest a layered drama that explores Christy’s personal life as much as her professional milestones. Ben Foster appears to play a pivotal role from Christy’s past, and Merritt Wever hints at being a grounding force in her inner circle. Together, they frame Christy’s journey not just as a sports story, but as a portrait of survival, resilience, and triumph over trauma.

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Behind the camera, the film boasts an impressive creative team. Christy is executive produced by Foulkes, John Friedberg, Andrew Golov, Michael Heimler, Harrison Huffman, David Levine, Clementine Quittner, Ryan Schwartz, Nick Shumaker, and Brad Zimmerman. Producers include Kerry Kohansky-Roberts, Justin Lothrop, Teddy Schwarzman, Brent Stiefel, Sweeney, and Michôd. Their collaboration lends the film both indie prestige and broad commercial appeal.

The film arrives in theaters November 7, and if the trailer is any indication, Christy could be a major player this awards season — not just for Sweeney’s immersive physicality, but for the deeply human performance at the film’s core. With its blend of raw sports grit, emotional character study, and stylish presentation, Christy positions itself as a biopic with both muscle and heart.