A Streaming Guide to The Fire Inside
Ryan Destiny steps into the ring as Claressa Shields in The Fire Inside, a riveting biopic about the two-time Olympic gold medalist and boxing legend. Directed by Oscar-nominated cinematographer Rachel Morrison (Black Panther) in her directorial debut, and written by Barry Jenkins (If Beale Street Could Talk), the film chronicles Shields’s inspirational rise from a young girl growing up in Flint, Michigan, to becoming the only American boxer to win back-to-back gold Olympic medals. The Fire Inside is now playing in theaters as of December 25.
The film follows Shields’s journey from her preteen years to her groundbreaking victories at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic games. But it also delves into the struggles she faced beyond the ring—fighting against gender disparities in sports, navigating life in Flint’s challenging socioeconomic conditions, and questioning whether her achievements were truly recognized.
![cast of the fire inside at the los angeles premiere including director rachel morrison, ryan destiny, claressa shields, jason crutchfield and brian tyree henry](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/ryan-destiny-claressa-shields-jason-crutchfield-and-brian-news-photo-1734643274.pjpeg?resize=980:* "Los Angeles Premiere Of "The Fire Inside"")
Destiny dedicated 10 months to intense boxing training in order to accurately portray Shields in the film. “I looked at so many videos of Claressa on YouTube, and her documentary was really, really helpful,” Destiny told Entertainment Weekly.
Shields, who was also an executive producer on the film, praised Destiny’s performance, saying, “Ryan did a great job. I cry every time I watch the movie.” “Ryan came into her audition swinging and literally knocked my jaw to the floor,” Morrison added. “She brought so much humanity and grit and emotion to her performance that she made herself undeniable.”
Brian Tyree Henry stars as Shields’s coach, Jason Crutchfield, delivering what The Hollywood Reporter describes as a “soulful passion” in his performance.
Amazon MGM Studios has yet to announce an official streaming date for The Fire Inside. However, it is expected to eventually stream on MGM+ and Prime Video, as past Amazon MGM Studios films have also landed on the platforms, including American Fiction and Road House. Until then, you can head to the local theater to watch the film.