The Greatest is an authorized Muhammad Ali biopic series coming to Prime Video, and this review examines its story, performances and limits to help viewers decide what to expect. Executive producer Michael B. Jordan is behind the series about the former undisputed heavyweight champion, whose career, charisma and advocacy continue to fascinate fans. Sports dramas have found audiences on streaming, from FX’s Welcome to Wrexham and Netflix’s Drive to Survive to Apple TV’s Ted Lasso. The central question is whether this series can turn Ali’s remarkable life into equally compelling television.

What story does The Greatest tell about Muhammad Ali?

The Greatest follows Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay and played by Jaalen Best, from his breakthrough at the 1960 Rome Olympics to his pivotal 1964 championship fight with Sonny Liston (Amin Joseph). The series follows his rise amid family conflict, racial prejudice and formidable opponents. The story also centers on Ali’s family and his growing connection with civil rights leader Malcolm X (Michael Ealy).

Amazon MGM Studios produced the series in collaboration with Muhammad Ali’s estate; Ali’s widow, Lonnie, and Oscar winner Michael B. Jordan serve as executive producers. Created by Ben Watkins, showrunner of Prime Video’s Cross, the series is the first fully authorized scripted television series based on Ali’s life. Its story focuses on his early years, while later seasons could cover his rise to wider fame.

How does The Greatest portray Muhammad Ali’s struggles outside the ring?

The Greatest emphasizes the prejudice and social barriers Ali faced beyond the boxing ring. Set in the segregated South, the story shows the young boxer receiving praise from white dignitaries for his Olympic achievements while confronting hurtful remarks and gestures in his hometown. Ali initially wears his gold medal with pride, but the bigotry he encounters leaves him disillusioned. The series makes the racial hostility central to his early experience, though the point can feel overstated.

Contemporary music features throughout many scenes, a stylistic choice that may reflect the involvement of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. The music works more effectively in the boxing scenes than in some of the story’s other moments. The boxing sequences are choreographed and dramatic, creating a stage for Ali’s emergence as the sport’s central figure.

Why does The Greatest feel less compelling than other Muhammad Ali films?

The Greatest faces a demanding comparison: Ali’s life was widely filmed and explored by acclaimed filmmakers. Michael Mann directed the 2001 film Ali, starring Will Smith and made with Ali’s blessing. The documentary When We Were Kings, the miniseries Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story and Ali’s own 1977 biopic, also titled The Greatest, are among the earlier works about his story.

The Greatest can feel less effective beside those earlier portrayals. Its script retells familiar events but gives limited access to Ali’s and his family’s inner lives. The refusal of service at a restaurant, which leads Ali to throw his gold medal into a river, should be a dramatic turning point, but the scene feels restrained. The episodes follow a familiar biopic structure, despite the singular life at their center.

Does Jaalen Best capture Muhammad Ali in The Greatest?

Jaalen Best gives a capable performance as Muhammad Ali, transforming physically and imitating Ali’s cadence and confidence while also portraying his quieter side. The performance is limited by material that reduces Ali’s life to confrontations and montages instead of exploring the thinking behind his public persona and boxing greatness.

Omari Hardwick has compelling moments as Cassius Clay Sr., a father struggling to come to terms with his son’s success. Dana Gourrier brings warmth to the role of Ali’s mother, Odessa “Bird” Clay. Amin Joseph portrays Sonny Liston, including the story of Liston’s rise and his relationship with his wife, Geraldine (Erica Tazel). Michael Ealy appears as Malcolm X, and Giovanni Ribisi plays trainer Angelo Dundee, but the supporting performances cannot fully compensate for the show’s restrained drama.

The Greatest does not fully capture the excitement of Muhammad Ali’s life, despite its authorized production and some effective touches. Its behind-the-scenes drama can feel more like a summary of events than a close exploration of the people involved. The result is a conventional biopic about a figure whose story has been told more powerfully elsewhere.

The Greatest premieres November 4 on Prime Video.