SnagFilms has acquired the exclusive U.S. distribution rights (theatrical, digital, home video and television) to The Good Son: The Ray Mancini Story. The intimate documentary is based on the book of the same name by Mark Kriegel. After a strong festival run including screenings at The Hamptons International Film Festival and The Philadelphia Film Festival, the film will be released on Ultra VOD July 16th and hit theaters on August 9th.
Directed by Jesse James Miller (Uganda Rising, My American Exodus), the documentary tells the story of Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini, who wasn’t merely the lightweight boxing champ – he was a national sports hero, personifying blue-collar toughness and tight ethnic family ties. His vow to win the championship for his father, the original “Boom Boom,” captivated the country. On the cusp of breakout celebrity, Ray fought Korean challenger Duk Koo Kim in an epic bout that left Kim in a fatal coma, and changed Mancini’s life and boxing itself. Now, 30 years later, Ray Mancini faces Kim’s fiancée and the son he never knew.
“THE GOOD SON shows the power of family and the struggles of working people, the appeal of celebrity and the risks of fame, and most of all, the bonds between fathers and sons,” said SnagFilms CEO Rick Allen. “When the film brings together the Mancini and Kim families, the competing emotions of revenge or forgiveness make for a climax more powerful than Hollywood could manufacture. It is a story we are proud to bring to audiences across the country.”
“I am happy to partner with SnagFilms and be given the opportunity to share my story with a wider audience”, said Ray Mancini. “I’m excited that the video on demand and theatrical distribution strategy they have developed for us will ensure that the largest possible audience can see the movie.”
THE GOOD SON includes appearances by fellow Youngstowner Ed O’Neill (Modern Family), boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, actor and pugilist Mickey Rourke and all of the surviving central characters. The project was developed and executive produced by Chris Tavlarides and Jimmy Lynn.
THE GOOD SON will be available to rent on Video on Demand via cable and satellite providers and iTunes on July 16th, followed by a theatrical opening in select theaters nationwide on August 9th. Gathr will handle theatrical distribution on behalf of SnagFilms.
