The Cut (2024) on Lionsgate Play | Jan 30, 2026

The Cut is a hard-hitting sports drama that goes beyond the boxing ring to explore obsession, desperation, and the physical limits of the human body. Streaming on Lionsgate Play from 30 January 2026, this intense film delivers a raw look at what happens when ambition turns dangerous.

Running with a tense and grounded narrative, The Cut isn’t just about fighting an opponent — it’s about battling time, age, and the body itself.

Story Overview

At the center of the film is a retired boxer, once feared and respected, now chasing one final shot at glory. However, there’s one brutal condition: he must make weight. That requirement sets off a dangerous chain of decisions.

He isolates himself in a room in Las Vegas, cutting himself off from the outside world. There, under the guidance of an unscrupulous trainer, he undergoes an extreme and illegal weight-cut program. As the days pass, the physical strain becomes unbearable, while the psychological pressure grows even heavier.

What begins as discipline slowly turns into obsession. The line between determination and self-destruction blurs. Meanwhile, the people around him question whether the title is worth the cost. The film builds tension not just through boxing, but through the ticking clock and the boxer’s deteriorating state.

Orlando Bloom in a Transformative Role

Orlando Bloom stars as the aging fighter known as “The Wolf of Dublin.” This role showcases a side of Bloom that is raw, intense, and emotionally exposed. He portrays a man torn between pride and survival, ambition and consequence.

His performance captures both the physical exhaustion and the inner turmoil of someone refusing to let go of the past.

Supporting Cast

The film is strengthened by a powerful ensemble:

• Caitríona Balfe as Caitlin Harney
• John Turturro as Boz
• Gary Beadle as Donny Hoff
• Clare Dunne as Mother
• Andonis Anthony as Paolo

Each character adds emotional weight, showing how the boxer’s choices affect not just himself, but everyone around him.

Direction and Style

Directed by Sean Ellis, the film uses a claustrophobic and gritty visual style that mirrors the boxer’s confinement. The screenplay by Justin Bull, based on a story by Mark Lane, focuses on psychological tension as much as physical endurance.

Instead of flashy sports moments, the film emphasizes the slow, painful process of preparation — making the drama feel real and unsettling.

Themes Explored

• Obsession with past glory
• The cost of ambition
• Physical limits of the human body
• Aging and identity
• Morality versus desperation

These themes give The Cut emotional and psychological depth beyond a typical sports film.

Why You Should Watch The Cut

If you enjoy:

• Gritty sports dramas
• Character-driven stories
• Intense physical transformations
• Psychological tension

Then The Cut delivers a powerful, uncomfortable, and unforgettable experience.