“Uppercut” arrives as an American remake of Torsten Reuther’s German film Leberhaken (2021), stepping into the well-worn ring of underdog sports dramas with its own cultural twist. Here, Toni Williams—a determined young German—settles in New York City, intent on proving herself in the boxing world. The film alternates between her first night pleading for training in Elliott’s dimly lit gym and her later life as a confident manager guiding a rising fighter.

Reuther makes his English-language debut behind the camera, writing and directing with a clear affection for intimate character studies. Luise Großmann (billed as Luiii) brings a raw earnestness to Toni’s relentless drive, while Ving Rhames grounds the story with the weathered authority of a former champion turned trainer. Their sparring of words often carries more weight than the few punches that land on screen.

Although much of the work was filmed in Los Angeles,...