Grudge Match (2025)

KimNguyen
August 12, 2025

Hollywood’s Titans Return for the Ultimate Boxing Showdown in This Surprise Sequel

The gloves are coming off again. Warner Bros. has officially announced Grudge Match 2, reuniting Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone for a final, no-holds-barred boxing match that will settle their decades-long cinematic rivalry once and for all. Set to release in late 2025, this sequel to the 2013 sports comedy promises higher stakes, harder punches, and a surprising emotional depth that transcends the ring.

WHAT’S NEW IN THE REMATCH?

✔ A Fight for Legacy: De Niro’s Billy “The Kid” McDonnen and Stallone’s Henry “Razor” Sharp are pulled out of retirement for an exhibition match that turns personal.
✔ New Generation Enters the Ring: A rising young boxer (played by Creed III’s Jonathan Majors) forces the old rivals to confront their fading glory.
✔ Deeper Stakes: Health scares, family drama, and unfinished business raise the emotional intensity beyond the first film.
✔ Surprise Cameos: Rumors swirl of appearances by boxing legends (Mike Tyson? Manny Pacquiao?) and Hollywood icons.

WHY THIS SEQUEL MATTERS

The original Grudge Match (2013) was a playful nod to De Niro and Stallone’s iconic boxing roles (Raging Bull and Rocky), but the sequel aims to:

Deliver actual in-ring action (both actors trained for months)
Explore aging, regret, and redemption in professional sports
Cement their rivalry as one of Hollywood’s greatest

BEHIND THE SCENES

Director: Creed’s Ryan Coogler steps in to add dramatic weight
Fight Choreography: The Rocky and Raging Bull teams collaborated for authenticity
Training Regimen: Stallone and De Niro underwent intense physical prep (with doctors on standby)
Script: A mix of humor and pathos, with callbacks to their classic films

Release Date: December 25, 2025 (a Christmas counterprogramming gamble)

Early Buzz: Test audiences reportedly cheered and cried during the climactic bout, calling it “Rocky Balboa meets The Irishman.”

Stallone’s Take: “This isn’t about winning or losing anymore. It’s about proving we’ve still got something left.”

With both actors in their late 70s, Grudge Match 2 could be their last dance in the ring—and Hollywood’s most poignant boxing story since The Fighter.