You may identify the song “The Greatest Love of All” as Whitney Houston’s paean to America’s future: its kids. But it was originally composed as the theme for The Greatest, this 1977 biopic about Muhammad Ali (and it was performed by George Benson). Starring in the lead role as the Greatest of All Time is the only person who could convincingly portray arguably the world’s most famous person: Muhammad Ali. Director Tom Gries brings the Louisville slugger to the big screen in this lovable piece of mythologizing, which concentrates on the champion’s spiritual and religious beliefs. In addition to featuring real life Ali camp mainstays Drew Bundini Brown and Howard Bingham as themselves, the film also attached a slew of Oscar® winners who came aboard for the project. They include Robert Duvall, Ben Johnson, Ernest Borgnine, and two-time Oscar®-winning screenwriter Ring Lardner Jr., who contributed to the script. Also, James Earl Jones is featured as Malcolm X and John Marley plays fight doctor Ferdie Pacheco. But the reason to see The Greatest is for the spectacle of the charming, beautiful, bigger-than-life Ali, who brings his own mix of charisma and seductive menace to the role. Director Gries was said to have remarked that if Ali had the interest to pursue more roles, he could’ve been as big a star on the movie screen and he was in the ring.

1977, 101 min, color, 35mm | Screenplay by Ring Lardner Jr., based on The Greatest: My Own Story by Muhammad Ali and Richard Durham; directed by Tom Gries, with Muhammad Ali, Drew Bundini Brown, Howard Bingham, Robert Duvall, Ben Johnson, Ernest Borgnine, John Marley, James Earl Jones

Ticketing Information

$5 for Film Independent, LACMA Film Club, and the New York Times Film Club members. Members of these three groups can purchase tickets starting at 12 pm on Thursday, June 16. Limit two tickets per membership. Proof of member status is required to reserve tickets during advance reservation period.

$7 for LACMA members, students with valid ID and seniors (65+); $10 for the general public. Members of these four groups can purchase tickets starting at 12 pm on Thursday, June 16. Two ticket limit.

PLEASE NOTE: Pre-reserved tickets for this event can be picked up at LACMA’s Ticket Office, located in the Hammer Building, on the day of the event—as early as 5:30 pm. Tickets are for general, unreserved Bing Theater seating. Ticketed guests must be in their Bing Theater seat 15 minutes prior to the advertised start time or seat(s) may be released. Reservations do not guarantee entry, even with a ticket in hand. Entry is first come, first served, so please arrive early. Program and guest participation subject to change or cancellation without prior notice. Tickets are nontransferable and can only be picked up by the individual who purchased or reserved them.