The Royale Critics’ Reviews

Loosely based on the real-life experiences of Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight world champion, The Royale tells, in six rounds, the fictional story of Jay “The Sport” Johnson, a charismatic Negro Heavyweight Champion. It’s 1905 and as Johnson faces his opponents—and confronts his demons—he exposes the troublesome events in his life that have propelled him into the ring with a burning desire to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.