Knockout

Knockout

Year: 2011

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Anne Wheeler

ActionFamilyDrama

Matthew, the new kid, longs to join the high‑school boxing team, but the school’s champion bully, Hector, blocks his chance. Tormented daily, he befriends Dan, the janitor who once fought as an amateur. Dan agrees to train Matthew, and together they prepare for the pivotal bout that will test Matthew’s resolve and teach him the real meaning of victory.

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Timeline & Setting – Knockout (2011)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Knockout (2011). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

School, Boxing Gym

Primarily set in a suburban school and its boxing gym, the film follows Matthew as he faces bullying and fights to pursue boxing. The school environment showcases the tension between authority and student life, while the boxing gym becomes a place of discipline, mentorship, and hope. The setting anchors the story around community, resilience, and the possibility of change through sport.

🏫 School 🥊 Boxing Gym

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:17

Main Characters – Knockout (2011)

Meet the key characters of Knockout (2011), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Dan Barnes

A former pro boxer who retired due to the violence of his past. Now working as a janitor at the school, he steps in as a mentor to Matthew, offering tough love and hard-won wisdom. Through training and guidance, he helps Matthew channel aggression into discipline and pursue his boxing dreams.

🧭 Mentor 🥊 Trainer 💪 Discipline

Matthew Miller

An aspiring boxer who is relentlessly bullied by Hector Torres. He channels his passion for boxing in hopes of honoring his grandfather, once a top boxer. He struggles for parental acceptance of his boxing club, and must argue with his mom and stepfather to pursue his dream.

👊 Boxing 🧒 Youth 🛡️ Resilience

Hector Torres

The school's boxing champion and a harsh bully who targets Matthew. He is aggressive in the ring and in the hallways, embodying the cruel dynamics of adolescent competition. His behavior triggers Matthew's decision to seek mentorship from Dan.

🥊 Aggression 🏆 Champion 🎭 Rivalry

Principal Lee

The school principal who enforces rules, detains Matthew, and navigates the conflict between school policy and the students' boxing ambitions.

🏫 Authority 📚 Education

Grandfather Charlie Putman

Matthew's grandfather, once a top boxer, whose legacy inspires Matthew's dreams and gives him a personal motivation.

🧓 Family 🏁 Legacy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:17

Major Themes – Knockout (2011)

Explore the central themes of Knockout (2011), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕊️ Redemption

Dan's past as a violent pro boxer haunts him, but he chooses mentorship over revenge, guiding Matthew toward a better path. Boxing is framed as discipline and self-control rather than aggression. The relationship between mentor and student becomes a vehicle for healing and second chances.

🥊 Bullying

Hector Torres embodies the cruel dynamics of adolescence, testing Matthew's resolve and self-worth. The story examines power, fear, and how cruelty can be confronted with courage and support. The school community's response, including Principal Lee, is crucial to breaking the cycle.

💪 Mentorship

A former boxer uses his hard-won wisdom to train Matthew, translating rough experience into constructive discipline. The bond between Dan and Matthew evolves into trust, discipline, and mutual growth. The journey highlights perseverance, patience, and the idea that mentorship can change lives.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:17

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Underdog Mentorship Movies like Knockout

Inspiring stories where a reluctant mentor guides a determined underdog to victory.Find more movies like Knockout that feature inspiring mentorship stories. These films focus on a determined underdog guided by a seasoned mentor, leading to personal growth and a triumphant climax. If you enjoyed the hopeful, sincere bond between Matthew and Dan, you'll appreciate these similar character-driven dramas.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a clear arc: a protagonist faces a significant obstacle, often a bully or a system stacked against them. They find an unlikely mentor who imparts not just skills but also life lessons. The story builds steadily through training and character development towards a final, cathartic test where the underdog proves their worth.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the emotionally resonant mentor-underdog relationship, a steady, hopeful pacing that builds towards a clear goal, and a narrative that values personal growth and perseverance over pure spectacle, resulting in an uplifting and sincere viewing experience.

Steady Coming-of-Age Stories like Knockout

Character-focused journeys where teens overcome adversity through discipline and courage.Explore more coming-of-age movies with a steady pace like Knockout. These films feature teens overcoming bullies or personal challenges through hard work and mentorship. If you liked the straightforward, hopeful narrative of Matthew proving himself, you'll find similar inspiring and tense dramas here.

coming of ageperseveranceproving oneselftensehopefulself-disciplinefacing fears

Narrative Summary

The plot is straightforward, centering on a single, tangible goal for the young protagonist. The pacing is consistent, moving deliberately from the introduction of the problem, through the process of training or learning, to a climax that resolves the central conflict. The emotional core is the protagonist's internal growth as they learn to face their fears.

Why These Movies?

These films share a cohesive vibe defined by a steady, reliable pace, a medium emotional weight that tackles real adolescent struggles without being overwhelming, and a hopeful tone that assures viewers of a constructive and positive outcome for the hard-working protagonist.

Unlock the Full Story of Knockout

Don't stop at just watching — explore Knockout in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Knockout is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Knockout Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Knockout, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Knockout Summary

Knockout Timeline

Track the full timeline of Knockout with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Knockout Timeline

Knockout Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Knockout that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Knockout Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Knockout

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Knockout: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Knockout