Monkey on My Back

1957·Movie
1h 34min·NR
66
GoodGoodWatch score

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

Monkey on My Back fingerprint

Light on feelings.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Violence6
  • Adrenaline5

Heart

Moving and melancholic

  • Pathos8
  • Melancholy7
  • Catharsis7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Dark Humor3
  • Physical Comedy2

World

Sports, a real life story, and the mind

  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality6
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Acting7
  • Character Depth7
  • Intrigue7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography6
  • Editing6
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

SHOCK by SHOCK...It Jabs Like a Hopped-Up Needle!

The painfully true story of welterweight boxing champion Barney Ross is detailed in Monkey on My Back. Cameron Mitchell stars as Ross, whose meteoric ring career is interrupted when he joins the Marines at the outset of WWII. A highly decorated hero, Ross contracts malaria oversees and is given morphine to assuage the pain. By the time he returns to the states, Ross is a confirmed drug addict. Before he can rise to the top again, he must hit rock bottom and his descent into the hell of narcotics dependency is graphically illustrated (so much so that the film was almost denied a Production Code seal). Though a cured Barney Ross served as technical advisor for Monkey on My Back, he ended up suing the producers for defamation of character -- and lost.
Boxing ChampionDrug AddictionBiographical DramaWorld War IIMoral DecayRedemption StoryHistorical SettingPsychological StruggleTrue Story

Crew

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

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Questions about Monkey on My Back

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Monkey on My Back legally?

Monkey on My Back is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+, and Amazon Prime Video with Ads in the United States. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Monkey on My Back worth watching?

66
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 67/100 (IMDb 6.9). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Monkey on My Back rated?

NRDrug use

It's rated NR in the United States. Content advisories: drug use.

How long is Monkey on My Back?

1 h 34 min

Monkey on My Back runs 1 h 34 min.

Is Monkey on My Back based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

What language is Monkey on My Back in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Monkey on My Back?

6AUCAESGBGGUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Monkey on My Back in 6 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

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