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Million Dollar Baby

Million Dollar Baby is a 2004 American sports drama film directed, co-produced, scored by, and starring Clint Eastwood.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Million Dollar Baby is a 2004 American sports drama film directed, co-produced, scored by, and starring Clint Eastwood. Written by Paul Haggis and based on stories from Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner by F. X. Toole, it follows an underdog boxer and her trainer. The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Plot

The film follows Maggie Fitzgerald, a determined boxer from Missouri, and Frankie Dunn, a veteran trainer who initially resists coaching her before eventually helping her pursue her professional boxing ambitions.

Production

Million Dollar Baby was directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Paul Haggis, based on material from F. X. Toole's Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner.

Cast

The principal cast includes Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman, whose performances were widely praised.

Reception and awards

The film received strong critical acclaim and won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and acting awards for Swank and Freeman.

Key facts

  • The film stars Hilary Swank as Maggie Fitzgerald, an amateur boxer who seeks to become a professional.
  • Clint Eastwood plays Frankie Dunn, a boxing trainer who takes Maggie under his wing.
  • Morgan Freeman plays Eddie "Scrap Iron" Dupree.
  • The film is based on stories by F. X. Toole, the pen name of Jerry Boyd.
  • At the 77th Academy Awards, it won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actor.
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Canadian context

The film was released theatrically in Canada in 2004 and is widely known to Canadian audiences as an Academy Award-winning American drama.[9][16]

Frequently asked questions

What is Million Dollar Baby about?
It is about Maggie Fitzgerald, an aspiring boxer, and Frankie Dunn, the trainer who helps her pursue a professional boxing career.
Who directed Million Dollar Baby?
Clint Eastwood directed the film.
Who stars in Million Dollar Baby?
The film stars Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman.
What awards did Million Dollar Baby win?
It won four Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actor.
What is Million Dollar Baby based on?
It is based on stories from Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner by F. X. Toole.
What genre is Million Dollar Baby?
It is a sports drama film.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million_Dollar_Baby
    Supports: Director, cast, plot overview, source material, and Academy Award wins
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Million-Dollar-Baby
    Supports: 2004 release, Eastwood direction and starring role, and Academy Award recognition
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/million_dollar_baby
    Supports: Genre, U.S. theatrical release date, and MPAA rating
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405159/
    Supports: Cast, plot summary, and critical reception themes
  5. Box Office Mojo — https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2288158209/
    Supports: Wide release date and basic plot premise