If you've been meaning to revisit one of cinema's most electrifying collaborations, now's the time. Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull — widely hailed as Robert De Niro's crowning achievement — is about to lose its free streaming home on Plex. The film will be removed from the platform in June 2026, so fans and newcomers alike should queue it up before it vanishes.
Released in 1980, Raging Bull tells the brutal, true story of middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta, whose explosive temper and jealousy destroyed his career and personal life. De Niro's transformative performance — for which he gained nearly 60 pounds to play the older, washed-up LaMotta — earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. The film itself was nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture, and won two.
Scorsese's black-and-white masterpiece is often cited as one of the greatest films ever made. The American Film Institute ranked it No. 4 on its list of the 100 greatest American movies, and it's a staple of every serious cinephile's watchlist. The visceral boxing sequences, shot by cinematographer Michael Chapman, remain some of the most harrowing and beautifully composed in film history.
Beyond De Niro, the film features stellar supporting turns from Joe Pesci as LaMotta's brother Joey and Cathy Moriarty as his wife Vickie. Pesci earned his first Oscar nomination for the role, and Moriarty was also nominated. The film's raw emotional power and unflinching look at toxic masculinity have only grown in stature over the decades.
For those who haven't seen it, Raging Bull is more than a sports movie — it's a character study of a man at war with himself. The famous "You f***ed my wife?" scene is a masterclass in tension, and the final act's quiet redemption is heartbreaking. It's also a prime example of Scorsese's ability to blend violence with artistry, a theme he'd revisit in later classics like Goodfellas and The Irishman.
If you're looking for other action-packed or intense films to stream, check out our list of 8 Upcoming Thriller Movies Ranked by Anticipation for more edge-of-your-seat viewing. And for fans of classic cinema, don't miss 10 Action Movies That Belong in the Criterion Collection — Raging Bull would certainly fit right in.
Plex's free, ad-supported tier has been a go-to for classic films, but titles rotate regularly. Raging Bull's departure is a reminder to catch these gems while they're available. After June 2026, you'll need to rent or buy it elsewhere — or hope it lands on another streaming service.
So grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and watch De Niro deliver the performance of a lifetime. Raging Bull is a knockout that never gets old.
