The 2000s film promoted with the line “When America was on its knees, he brought us to our feet” was Cinderella Man.
The 2005 film tells the true-life-inspired story of boxer James J. Braddock, a former contender whose career collapses during the Great Depression. After suffering injuries and losing steady work, Braddock supports his family through manual labor before returning to the ring as an unlikely underdog.
Russell Crowe plays Braddock, while Renée Zellweger portrays his wife, Mae. Directed by Ron Howard, the film uses Braddock’s comeback as a larger portrait of Depression-era hardship and public hope. His improbable victory over Max Baer made him a symbol of resilience for audiences struggling through economic crisis.
The slogan is sometimes remembered as a general sports-movie tagline, but it specifically belongs to Cinderella Man’s marketing. It refers both to Braddock’s personal reversal and to the morale his success gave ordinary Americans.