When the film was released, critic Bosley Crowther praised the film, writing, ""Body and Soul" has up and done it, with interest and excitement to spare, and we heartily recommend it in its present exhibition at the Globe ... Still Polonsky has written his story with such flavor and such slashing fidelity to the cold and greedy nature of the fight game, and Robert Rossen has directed it with such an honest regard for human feelings and with such a searching and seeing camera, that any possible resemblance to other fight yarns, living or dead, may be gratefully allowed."