Play It to the Bone

Two aging boxers from Los Angeles, longtime friends with a shared ring past, get a last minute offer from a Vegas promoter when his Tyson undercard fighters vanish. He wants them to fight each other on pay per view, with the winner earning a shot at the middleweight title if all goes well. The men take the gamble, chasing glory and a payday that might ease creaking careers. They recruit Grace, Cesar's girlfriend and Vinny's ex, to drive them to Las Vegas, turning a simple plan into a road trip filled with nerves and banter. As they roll toward the strip the plan starts to wobble, testing nerves, loyalty, and the line between sport and spectacle. The stakes rise today.

Directed by Ron Shelton, the 1999 comedy drama Play It to the Bone unfolds from an original screenplay. It stars Antonio Banderas, Woody Harrelson, Lolita Davidovich, Tom Sizemore and Lucy Liu, with a budget around 24 million for fans worldwide.

Box Office: The film earned about 8.68 million worldwide against a 24 million budget, marking it as a modest performer in a crowded 1990s market and well below expectations for a boxing themed comedy of that era worldwide and beyond.

Despite modest returns the film captures a late 1990s blend of boxing grit with road trip humor. The Las Vegas setting and the dynamic between Banderas and Harrelson give it a distinct vibe that still sticks with some fans and critics who recall its cheeky banter today.

Critics noted the fast banter and the odd couple energy, while some found the plot thinner than expected. The movie probes aging and aspiration, friendship under pressure, and the price of chasing a second chance in a sport that never fully retires, offering a grounded comedic tone for audiences today.