Rent Giant (2025)
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Based on the remarkable true story of legendary British-Yemeni boxing champion Prince Naseem "Naz" Hamed (Amir El-Masry / Ghaith Saleh / Ali Saleh) and his relationship with Irish boxing trainer Brendan Ingle, 'Giant' charts Naz's inspiring rags-to-riches underdog tale from his humble beginnings in Sheffield to becoming champion of the world. The film explores the unlikely and tender relationship between Naz and his trainer Ingle - a steel industry worker who ran a humble boxing gym in a church hall in the North of England; and the instrumental role that Ingle played on Naz's road to success. With exhilarating and visceral scenes in the ring, coupled with deeply moving and intimate moments behind the curtain, 'Giant' is an inspiring biopic of one of the greatest showmen the sporting world has even seen - the untold true story of the boy behind The Prince. - Actors:
- Pierce Brosnan, Amir El-Masry, Toby Stephens, Katherine Dow Blyton, Ali Saleh, Ghaith Saleh, Olivia Barrowclough, Arian Nik, Connor Porter, Archie Thompson, Callum Hanney, Samir Arrian, Belal Stitan, Eisa Mohammed, Aron Yacobi, Mehdi Mangoli, Elika Ashoori, Asan N'Jie, Kelvin Ade, Sanchez Brown
- Directors:
- Rowan Athale
- Producers:
- Stuart Ford, Mark Lane, Kevin Sampson, Ross Williams
- Writers:
- Rowan Athale
- Aka:
- Gigante
- Studio:
- True Brit Entertainment
- Genres:
- Drama, Sports & Sport Films
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 20/04/2026
- Run Time:
- 110 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English LPCM Stereo
- Subtitles:
- English Audio Description, English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 2.39:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
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Reviews (2) of Giant
Surprisingly Good Biopic, For Non-Sports Fans too, Well-Written with Great Acting - Giant review by PV
I really enjoyed this. I had not expected much so was pleasantly surprised.
I am no sports of boxing fan, to the success of Prince Naseem Hamed passed me by rather back in the 1990s.
This though is REALLY a film about CHARACTER - the Irish trainer and his protégé that he spots age 7 and mentors to world championship success and riches.
It's a sad, touching and moving film in the end. Not sure about the technique at the end which may confuse some, but...watch to the end to see real-life footage and learn of other boxing champions the same trainer trained to world champion success. I know Sheffield well, used to live there, but in a student area not the one shown here (Wincobank is halfway to Rotherham!)
This biopic does not include the prison sentence for dangerous driving that Naz had to serve in 2006, and no reference to it in the interesting facts on screen at the end of the film, which is silly. It happened. Say it.
Anyway, a decent biopic about flawed men and fathers and sons. 4 solid stars.
Brosnan is excellent in a film about male egos & incredible sporting achievements from poverty - Giant review by Timmy B
"Prince" Naseem Hamed is a legendary British boxer, who in his heyday was known for his theatrical ring entrances, his phenomenal talent/technique and his truly incredible ability at making people either love or hate him. But he was made into this incredible fighter by an Irish trainer called Brendan Ingle, who ran a boxing gym in a poverty-stricken part of Yorkshire. The film looks at not only his early life, but also the massive fallout as Naseem gets more successful & starts to push out Ingle, as well as the integral part that larger-than-life boxing promotor Frank Warren had in shaping Naseem's dominance & theatricality in the sport.
In some ways, I did debate whether to give this film 3 or 4 stars. Because as much as the performers are outstanding and the film manages to avoid a lot of the clichés that this genre has, it was also at times a bit shallow. Part of this has to do with the fact that Naseem himself isn't featured much as the story goes on, the narrative instead seeing the hurt & isolation that Ingle suffers, as well as his clear loyalty to his best pupil even after being snubbed so mercilessly in front of the boxing press. But I did genuinely enjoy it.
Casting-wise, Brosnan is watchable in almost everything I've seen him in. And you get the sense that he relishes playing such a larger-than-life Irishman who was changing young people's lives, especially when most Irish at that time were associated with the Troubles. I did also feel that the film was very fair to Ingle in showing that, at times, he was extremely controlling as well as insisting that he was put front & center of everything that Naseem did, like an embarrassing father with their gifted child. But the film does not do this in such a way that you start to loathe Ingle, which could so easily have been the result in less skilful hands.
And Amir El-Masry is absolutely perfect as Naseem, as well as the 2 child actors who portray his early life. For example, after the opening scenes where the family is relentlessly racially abused (something the film shows repeatedly and something I commend,) you really feel the joy he has as his obvious talent and ability silence all the doubters.
However, there are some things which don't land particularly well. The representation of the media, in the composite character of Vicki Quinn, at times felt like it had been forced into the script and didn't always ring true. And I also did feel that Naseem's brother Riath, whilst he may very well have behaved appallingly, was in many ways just the stereotypical family member who is whispering poison in the protagonist's ear and splitting the characters apart.
But I want to end this review on what for me was ironically the best & most enjoyable element: 23 years ago, Brosnan and Toby Stephens starred Die Another Day, without question one of the worst Bond films ever made, but in no way the fault of either actor. And it is so wonderful to see them reunited in Giant, especially the fact that they share multiple scenes together as two extremely eccentric & egotistical men. The chemistry they have is a joy to watch, as they chew up scenery and dialogue with relish. And it made me hope that they work together again soon, as it is so clear how well they act in each others company & bring out the best in each other.