Boxing legend, Muhammad Ali has passed away leaving behind arguably the most prominent sporting legacy of all time.

Ali, who had long suffered from Parkinson’s
syndrome which impaired his speech and made the
once-graceful athlete almost a prisoner in his own
body, died on Friday at the age of 74. In his wake lies
a career like no other.

Many films have tried to chronicle his life, but the
story of his life is however too big for one movie.

Below are five that focus on parts of his life, either in documentary or lightly fictionalized form. Though,
none does him complete justice, together they’ll
show you why Ali is regarded as the greatest boxer of all time.

1. Ali the Fighter (1971).


Ali the Fighter was made when the Muhammad Ali-
Joe Frazier fight was still fresh in everyone’s memory. Thus, a generous portion of the documentary’s running time is given over to graphic footage of that famous bout. The documentary also chronicles the backstage tensions before their fight. Directed by Williams Greaves, it further profiles the late heavyweight boxing champion, Joe Frazier, Burt Lancaster and George Foreman.

2. The Greatest (1977).



With Muhammad Ali cast as himself, The Greatest covers Ali’s life from his ‘Cassius Clay’ days to the celebrated Ali/George Foreman bout. Along the way, the film focuses on Ali’s conversion to Islam and his potentially career-breaking decision not to serve in the Army.

3. When We Were Kings (1996).



This documentary reveals the behind-the-scenes story of the Rumble in the Jungle, the legendary 1974 bout between an aging Ali (then 32) and a brutal young George Foreman (still decades away from becoming a cuddly electric-grill pitchman). It is
consider by many as the greatest movie about boxing ever made.

4. Ali (2001).



This film covers the most pivotal decade of the fighter’s life. Notoriously obsessive director Michael Mann and the star of the movie, Will Smith devoted nearly two years and over 100 million dollars from
the coffers of Columbia Pictures and other financiers to creating this biography of boxing great
Muhammad Ali, which focuses on the ten-year period of 1964-1974. In that time, Ali quickly dominates his sport, meets and marries his first wife ( Jada Pinkett - Smith), converts to Islam (changing his name from Cassius Clay), and defies the United States government by refusing to submit to military conscription for duty in Vietnam.

5. Facing Ali (2009).



Directed by Pete McCormack, Facing Ali centres on opponents he faced during his career: George Chuvalo, Sir Henry Cooper, George Foreman, Joe
Frazier, Larry Holmes (a former sparring partner of Ali), Ron Lyle, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Leon
Spinks and Ernie Terrell.