Director James Gray’s 2000 movie, The Yards, didn’t quite hit the mark back when it was released. Over the years, the movie has found its fanbase and is praised for its highly talented cast that included, James Caan, Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, and Joaquin Phoenix.

The American crime drama film performed terribly at the global box office and looking back at it, the stars of the movie have worked in better movies that overshadow their part in this movie. However, there was something Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix will never forget, the iconic fight scene in the movie.

Mark Wahlberg talked about his fight scene in The Yards

Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix in The Yards (2000)
Released in 2000, The Yards narrates a story about Leo Handler, a former prisoner, who discovers that his uncle is a corrupt crime lord in New York City. In the movie, there is a scene where actors Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix get into a fight. As per Wahlberg, the fight got escalated,
“It became one of the better fights that I have a been a part of. He didn’t know what I was going to do. I didn’t know what he was going to do. I think he wished he knew what I was going to do after the first night of shooting because it got pretty aggressive. He’s a gamer, he’s a method guy. Between him and Ben Foster, they’ll beat their heads off the side of a tree to get into character.”
Wahlberg is not wrong as Joaquin Phoenix is well-known for his method of acting, which also earned him an Academy Award.

Joaquin Phoenix said he was black and blue for many days

Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix in The Yards (2000)
Back in 2000, Joaquin Phoenix also revealed some details about the iconic fight scene in an interview. The Joker star said,
“Mark and I blocked it out of ourselves. We wanted it to be an epic battle, falling down the stairs and out on to the street. We had elbow pads and knee pads, but on the first take Mark just grabbed me with his pinkie, flipped me into the air and I landed on my head.

Man, did I have a bump. I was black and blue for days. But I sure as hell wasn’t gonna do any f***ing John Wayne-style punching. I wanted it to be sloppy and barbaric and painful, like I’m hugging the life out of this guy who’s my friend while I’m pounding at him.”
Despite the painful punches, there is no bad blood between the actors and they really respect each other’s work. They reunited in 2007 to star in James Gray’s We Own the Night.

The Yards was a flop

A still from The Yards (2000)
The Yards is labeled as a terrible film mainly because it managed to gross only about $1.4 million at the global box office on a budget of $24 million, that’s a massive loss. Despite the outstanding cast and remarkable story-telling, it couldn’t receive positive reviews.

Over time, cinephiles have discovered this gem within the crime drama genre. It explored many themes like corruption, family, and loyalty. Despite being a flop, it managed to leave a lasting impact on the genre.