Great film. Terrible title.
Makes it sound like a sex-change drama, or a romantic comedy.
I actually think that the ONLY reason the movie bombed was the title. Because it had everything else going for it.
Just a thought.
That's what Jim Braddock's nickname is. The title is perfect and very fitting.
Don't push it. Don't push it or I'll give you a war you won't believe. Let it go.
It wasn't really his nickname. It was something sportswriter Damon Runyon was called him in an article.
He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?
Quoted from Wikipedia:
"James Walter "The Cinderella Man" Braddock (June 7, 1905 – November 29, 1974)... "
That was actually his nickname, and what he was known as long after his boxing career was over.
What makes you think that using Braddock's nickname as the title of the movie is a bad choice? Seems to me that it's a pretty good choice.
Nixon's nickname was Dick but they didn't call his biopic 'Dick: the movie'.
'Cinderella Man' just sounds like a musical, or a story of repressed homosexuality or something.
I think the film is wonderful, just badly titled that's all.
Nixon was a politician, not a sports hero.
Jim corbett's nickname was Gentleman Jim. Guess the title of that movie?
Daniel Ruetteger's nickname was Rudy. And the movie was called...
Miguel Santos' nickname: Sugar. Hmmm
Jake Lamotta was called the raging bull.
I'm sensing a pattern, here.
Maybe the title should have been "Cinderella Man: who was a boxer in case you're childish or sexist"
Movies are IQ tests. The IMDB boards are each person's opportunity to broadcast their score.
LOL! That about sums it up perfectly.
shareThat put me off watching it at the time....and i guess it put alot of other people off.
shareYeah, me too. I just watched it on TV and was surprised how good it was. The title definitely gave me the impression it was going to be overwraught and soppy.
shareSame here, never seen it.
share@scantan Well there was some soppiness in there:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83Jr_6b9pHA
"...and you are the champion of my heart, James J. Braddock." I mean, come on!
True, but just had a sprinkling of smaltz :)
shareDidn't put me off and I don't even care for boxing. Great movie.
shareReally?
Well I'm glad people who judge a movie by its title didn't see it. Especially those who call it "homosexual".
Regardless of whether or not it was his nickname, it is creative and unique. Movie titles these days are highly unoriginal.
http://i51.tinypic.com/8w07zp.jpg
I think considering that was what he was called, it was the obvious choice. However, look at the movie poster. If the title was going to cause that reaction, they should have played up the boxing or Great Depression aspect of the movie, not the love story.
shareWhy do you suppose they refered to him as the Cinderella man?........you do know the story of Cinderella don't you? Perfectly sums up the man & the movie........you're making as if they called him Barbie Doll or Pansy Boy.
shareI don't know - I think "Bulldog of Bergen" would have been even more confusing. First off he isn't a dog, and second, if he was a dog, what is he doing in Norway's second largest city?
Even bigger box office flop...unless it would have been titled "Depression Era Boxer Movie."
@nonorton ...I think "Bulldog of Bergen" would have been even more confusing.
How about The Pride of New Jersey?
If they title this movie something simplistic such as "The Boxer" or "The Fighter" it makes another $100 million worldwide. People like things simple, like "Gladiator".
shareThe OP is right. The title should've been better, as it would've meant more box office success.
The mistake you all seem to be making is you seem to think the OP is bashing the movie. He isn't. I consider this one of the best movies of all time, but I agree that the title hampered its success. In fact, it's probably the main factor the film underperformed so severely.
Now, let me stifle the inevitable replies: Yes, a film doesn't have to be a box office smash to be good... but that's not the point. Universal should have demanded a better title, because let's be honest... I'm sure all of us who love this movie would've liked to see it receive the success it deserved. That's all that's being said.
I know I would've loved to see this as the top money-maker of 2005, as it's one of the best movies I've ever seen in theaters... or home video... or TV.
Should've done a little more market research and fixed the title to facilitate the grand success it deserved. This movie should be remembered as an epic movie that killed the box office in the summer of 2005... not one of the best movies that nobody saw.