When We Were Kings

Leon Gast’s stunning film thrillingly documents the legendary 1974 ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.

  • Director

    Leon Gast

  • USA 1996. 89min

  • Digital

  • Certificate

    12A

On 30 October 1974, Muhammad Ali faced off against a formidable George Foreman before a capacity crowd – and record-breaking global television audience – at a stadium in Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Dubbed the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’, it would become one of the defining moments of sporting history and of the 20th century. Winner of the Best Documentary Feature Oscar, Gast’s compelling assembly of stunning archive footage and interviews with those present at the event, alongside contemporary voices such as Spike Lee, remains one of the greatest boxing documentaries.